my first suggestion would be don't app one at all. there's never been a good turnout from a bioware protag. but, if you're dead set on doing it:
- echoing what was said by the anons above. what bioware gives you is canon. the sooner you accept that as word of god fact, the easier things are going to be for everyone else having to deal with your sparkle snowflake. and for the sanity of everyone else, either in your cast or not, don't give them some tragic abuse backstory. no one wants to hear it.
- assume no one gives one single sad fuck about your character. bioware rpers have been around a million blocks with the protags and chances are there have been 999,999 before you who have soured the experience. from wardens to sheps to hawkes to inquisitors and before long ryders will join the bunch. your protag is only special to you. try not to take it personally when no one cares.
- i cannot stress this enough, in the case of dragon age protagonists, DO NOT GO IN ASSUMING ALL CASTMATES WILL KNOW YOURS! don't get a flushed fanny and blur the ic/ooc line when they don't icly recognize your protag! don't bully castmates into changing their own world state just to make an adjustment for yours! i've personally had this happen and it's rude af & admittedly why i'm extra salty toward bioware protags in general.
- tacking on to the previous point but this is important enough to have a point of its own: in the case of romances, DO NOT ASSUME YOUR CANON LI IS GOING TO BE OKAY PLAYING IT IN A GAME. always ask first if you want to do a ship. most smart people who app a protag already know not to go in with a world state romance, but there are a lot out there who feel entitled enough to assume whatever LI is already in the game has just been sitting there pining away for their sweet, sweet protag ass. though, tbf, this mostly happens with the warden/alistair or inquisitor/cullen ships.
- include relevant information of their history in your application. don't spring some stupid shit on the game after you've joined (ie the exxie wank). make that information readily available for castmates & gamemates to easily find in your journal. protags are fandom ocs basically. you have to be responsible for providing proper information.
this is tough love, anon. i say all this as someone who's been rping from bioware stuff for around 7 years. not looking to discourage you from doing what you want to do, but you gotta be aware of this shit before going in. good that you're asking first, though.
Re: malleable protagonists
- echoing what was said by the anons above. what bioware gives you is canon. the sooner you accept that as word of god fact, the easier things are going to be for everyone else having to deal with your sparkle snowflake. and for the sanity of everyone else, either in your cast or not, don't give them some tragic abuse backstory. no one wants to hear it.
- assume no one gives one single sad fuck about your character. bioware rpers have been around a million blocks with the protags and chances are there have been 999,999 before you who have soured the experience. from wardens to sheps to hawkes to inquisitors and before long ryders will join the bunch. your protag is only special to you. try not to take it personally when no one cares.
- i cannot stress this enough, in the case of dragon age protagonists, DO NOT GO IN ASSUMING ALL CASTMATES WILL KNOW YOURS! don't get a flushed fanny and blur the ic/ooc line when they don't icly recognize your protag! don't bully castmates into changing their own world state just to make an adjustment for yours! i've personally had this happen and it's rude af & admittedly why i'm extra salty toward bioware protags in general.
- tacking on to the previous point but this is important enough to have a point of its own: in the case of romances, DO NOT ASSUME YOUR CANON LI IS GOING TO BE OKAY PLAYING IT IN A GAME. always ask first if you want to do a ship. most smart people who app a protag already know not to go in with a world state romance, but there are a lot out there who feel entitled enough to assume whatever LI is already in the game has just been sitting there pining away for their sweet, sweet protag ass. though, tbf, this mostly happens with the warden/alistair or inquisitor/cullen ships.
- include relevant information of their history in your application. don't spring some stupid shit on the game after you've joined (ie the exxie wank). make that information readily available for castmates & gamemates to easily find in your journal. protags are fandom ocs basically. you have to be responsible for providing proper information.
this is tough love, anon. i say all this as someone who's been rping from bioware stuff for around 7 years. not looking to discourage you from doing what you want to do, but you gotta be aware of this shit before going in. good that you're asking first, though.