Okay, I'm also getting a bit tired of the sinewy, muscular, and other waaay too overused char adjectives. But instead of saying "Oh, that's bad! Use fibrous!"... I want to look at why people choose certain keywords. First off, let's do the "I look good" keywords. Voluptuous - K, this word could mean many things, but 99 out of 100 times refers to breasts, large ones, well shaped, etc. commonly coupled with an "I look strong" keyword. Usually belongs to a "fuck me pc" with muscles. Well-groomed - People using this keyword tend to have the personality trait of being well-informed or having good etiquette as well, the connontation is one of finesse. Sleek - Somewhat subjective, though it could be sleek-haired or sleek-nosed without the subjective meanings. It connontates someone who is sly and often witty. Beautiful, Attractive, etc. - These are -highly- subjective... it's a wonder they even get through the app process. Secondly, the "I am strong keywords". Sinewy - Refers to hidden strength, strength of character, or such... usually found in sneakier types. Muscular - This demon of overuse almost invariably belongs to the skull-bashers or elf-kickers. It belies a visible strength, and often is coupled with one of those "I look good" keywords. Wiry - Pent up strength is brought out by this highly used keyword. Like a whip, the character's personality tends to strike home, or strike quickly and disappear. Chiseled and Statuesque - This screams noble who works out. Almost always belonging to nobles, this keyword has been a bulwark of the noble scene for generations.I think this says it well. Above quote is credited to "Eternal" at gamemasternick[spamfilter]@yahoo.com.
Another note:
The other day I was walking down the street. I saw a sinewy fellow. I cant remember anything else about him, but I am sure he was sinewy, so I immediately dropped into a full bow because, as everyone knows, -all- templars are sinewy. I suppose it is just an aesthetics thing, but I like to see more original character descriptions. I dont judge character descriptions in my head based upon my need for a dictionary to figure out what it means, but more on its ability to bring a memorable feature of a character out. For me, generally my most boring characters (description wise) described their hair color or eye color in a description. This is sort of the lowest of the low when it comes to descriptions. You cant get much more basic then hair color. Eye color, in my opinion, is also weak. Unless someone has really strange, eyes color is one of the first things that people forget, and usually one of the last ways people use to describe each other. Did you see the man who mugged you? Yeah officer, he had blond hair and blue eyes. Personally, my favorite short descriptions have been ones that broke the traditional mold. I am not a huge fan of the the adjective noun, adjective race/gender form. The descriptions that stick out in my mind usually were simple and lacked a comma. However, instead of describing a traditional feature like hair or build, it describes something a little more odd. The demon tattooed man, the hunched elven cripple, the grimy old hag or the mekillot branded dwarf all strike me as being far more interesting. Namely, they describe something unusual. You might not be completely understand what it is describing, but you know it is probably worth a look. I usually find that people with descriptions like the above will be the ones inclined to write a description that is more then just giving the size and color of a persons various limbs. Notice that none of the above descriptions needed a dictionary to figure out either. They were strange not because the words used in their description came from some defunct form of 17th century English, but because they actually described an original feature(s) of interest. But hey, who knows? Maybe I will make the stately, sinewy youth and start ordering people around and demand that they pay a tax wonder how long it would take for people to realize I am neither a templar nor a noble, but a rinth rat wearing a tattered cloak.Unknown who put this one up, but mail me if you want credit. On to the madness.