FCs & OCs

What's the difference between an FC and an OC? An FC (Feature Character) is a character who comes from canon. That means that Marvel made them up and defined at least their basic attributes, whether in the movie or in a comic. An OC (Original Character) is a blank slate created just for roleplay; you write them from start to finish, and they can be anything you want them to be. Historically, XMM has tended to be roughly 60% Original Characters and 40% Feature Characters, with the mix changing according to mood. OCs and FCs interact freely on XMM - in fact, if you don't have a vast comic knowledge, it can often be difficult to tell who's who.

Feature Characters

For the FC, expectations are more defined in terms of character consistency That is, they must resemble the FC in more than just name and power. We recognized that there are many interpretations possible. Even major figures, such as Xavier, Jean, or Magneto, inevitably change with every new writer. Sometimes these changes are slight, sometimes they're revolutionary, but certain aspects remain, because the characters must be at least vaguely recognizable as who and what they are in roleplay. It's generally a good idea to keep broad core traits consistent. Traits which characters are well known for (Quicksilver's cockiness, Angel's altruism) should be played off of rather than discarded. Keep in mind though, that we are a movieverse game, so if you take on an FC from the first movie, you should remain true to their movie characterization.

Another issue to keep in mind is that FCs are likely to be RP'ed by more than one player over the course of their lifetime on the game. The FC you want might have an on-game history with several people, sometimes spanning several years. In many instances, it's possible to simply wipe a character and start over. In others, however, doing so would cause major problems for other characters who've interacted with the character, and it's considerate to incorporate as much game-canon history into your FC's background as possible. Staff and other players are always willing to help a new FC-player by explaining history, providing logs, and being available for RP. If you are interested in a major FC, it's best to check 'fcroster' on game and chat with staff briefly about any additional history you'd need to incorporate in your application. Check 'fcs' to see what FCs are currently played.

After you've been accepted, be aware that major changes (death, maiming, marriage, etc.) to an FC should always be discussed with Admin. As certain FCs are often taken up again by succeeding players, drastic changes to them will require more justification and should be carefully thought out. Ultimately, when in doubt, ask Admin.

Original Characters

An OC is where your skills at character creation get to shine. There’s such a wide range of personalities, powers, and histories you can try your hand at. Play a citizen just trying to struggle along, thanks, or a human who feels threatened by chaotic mutant events. Play a mover and a shaker. OCs are up to you. While the application standards are a little lower (because you and only you define what your OC is), they are not ICly or OOCly less important than FCs. The primary difference is that you will define your own roles rather than take them on, as major FCs often do.

Defining your own roles means that people will probably have few or no preconceptions about your OC when beginning play. The disadvantage is that people may not see your name on the WHO or WHERE and get immediately excited. The advantage is that you have a huge margin of control as to what people do end up saying when they see your name on WHO. Your OC can go any direction you want within the rules of the game. Your OC can be whoever you want them to be. OCs can join any faction, interact with any other character, start all sorts of TPs, achieve all sorts of political power. Some of the most important characters on the game are OCs. Some of them started out as citizens with unimpressive powers and resources. Some of them are human.

You also have more freedom to engage in RP that might drastically change your character - an OC is yours to do with as you wish. Although we do ask that you get Admin permission for large-scale plots and drastic character changes (such as winning millions in the lottery or having a serious change in powers), for the most part you're free to do as you wish.

On XMM, some players are more comfortable playing FCs, some really enjoy OCs, and some have a good mix of both. We encourage you to play what makes you happy.