In the Realism and balance thread I posted a suggestion that I feel might be more appropriate with it's own thread.
Several times people have asked and suggested some kind of reward and incentive for their characters permanently dying. Now for most this reward should be the mark you left upon the server. However some perma-death situations really don't make a whole lot of a mark. I can think of two recent ones that didn't really leave any lasting impression and, in another couple of months the characters will probably be forgotten. Not everyone can have a spectacular death, not everyone should. There are plenty of characters out there that are currently warranting a perma-death, however such action would more then likely severly detract from their enjoyment of the game.
My suggestion was this, as an incentive for people to finish off their character, upon perma-death the player will have two options. First option is already open to them, they can make another character, start it from level 1 and progress it however they see fit. The second added option would be that they would have a choice of one character off a list of characters categorized to a Setting specific role. These characters would be premade on paper only, would be leveled to a specific level on creation and their background set. It would then be the players job to flesh out that character and fulfill the characters role in the server. The choices of character would be limited according to previous level, with the highest level being 10 (half of twenty), and would be divided into two categories (instead of the 3 that I suggested in the other thread). These categories would be Static and Plot. Static characters would be designed to fill certain static roles in the setting (ie Vallaki Guard, Barovian Guard, Vallaki Militia, Red Vardo trader, Morninglord Lightcarrier, Ezrite Anchorite) These characters would be meant for day to day roleplay and would have no real specific plot goal. What would happen to them would be determined by the players actions and in game events. Plot based characters however would have a very specialized role to play, would have a little more detailed background creation and would have their end already predesignated. Plot characters would be created specifically to further DM/Player plots (short term or long term) and their life expectancy would vary from a few days to a few months. Due to the Plot characters life expectancy upon death of the plot character the player would be able to select another pre-made character of either category of the same level.
I personally think this would aid alot in roleplay and help fill some niches in the server at times of need.
Please feel free to post comments or suggestions. But please limit it to something constructive, this is after all.. Only a suggestion.