What's so appealing about having an OC?

[ÜberTriangle]

What's so appealing in having OC? Please, tell me, I have my theories but I still don't understand.

[Navron]

It gives the audience a recognizable character that fits into the fandom, yet still has subtle hints to their actual selves. Not really that big of a deal. Just for fun.

[bartekko]

Well, simply put, an OC is what you'd hope to look like in pony world, pretty much your avatar.
cba to write more

[Freewave]

If you're a superstar brony musician it gives you a chance to be drawn by your fans, make endless tumblr posts with your own image, and even ship with other musicians and not feel but about it in the morning i guess. Basically it's just an element of roleplay (very popular in the community) and a way to bridge the gap between the cartoon and reality with a pony self. Besides not everyone wants to have their real image shown everywhere (well except for Tombstone of course) and it's a great way to have a cool image without showing a pimply teenager instead.

[GhostXb]

What is an OC? Why must we always use abbreviations? Based on what people are saying, it sounds like an avatar.

[Navron]

OC stands for original character, although I think the discussion is more related to having a separate pony persona, or ponysona as some have called it.

I actually have one mainly for operational security reasons. It's not in my best interest for people to know my face, considering most people know I'm still active duty.

[CommandSpry]

Just so I can have a go to character if I want to represent myself in a joking way on a comedy video or a comedic catchphrase post, so that I do not use my real picture because 1) It's boring 2) It's boring 3) It's my real goddamn picture.

And since I like MLP, my choice of a retarded avatar is a pony. I just use it to have fun, rarely even.

[Kopachris]

I'd think roleplay is the number one reason. I'd kind of like to adopt the background pony "Orion" as my own OC/ponysona, as "Orion" has been my legal middle name since birth.

[Symphon]

There are a bunch of reasons, most of which named here. Not to mention it gives the ability to some people to act differently online, to become a new character. It allows them to be someone different from real life, which ever direction they may take that.

[Captain Ironhelm]

I've never had a use for one to this point.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I fail at having an OC. So I will eventually create one.

At least I don't have a red and black alicorn OC. *hipster glasses: engaged*

[ceresbane]

From my understanding it the personification or rather ponysonification of a person who wishes to vicariously live through a fiction version of themselves while fitting in an imaginary utopian and very fictional universe.

Problem is, people tend to get over excited over the idea and kinda idealise themselves into perfect beings.

That's fine in privacy but in public? It's the biggest mistake. And boy does their butthurt hurt, when their "perfect self" is ridiculed by people who think him/her is flawed.

[senntenial]

actually the only reason of having an oc is so you can request porn of it

[Raddons]

I'm pretty ugly IRL.

My OC isn't.

[Beetie Swelle]

actually the only reason of having an oc is so you can request porn of it

This man speaks the truth.

[Lavender_Harmony]

SOmething for fans to draw, it's useful for album art, avatars and so forth, and it's just nice idk.

[Navron]

actually the only reason of having an oc is so you can request porn of it

You don't request r34 of your OC, silly. You judge if you're popular enough when the fandom draws r34 of your OC.

[PhillyPu]

actually the only reason of having an oc is so you can request porn of it

You don't request r34 of your OC, silly..

Oh shit.

Uh... does drawing r34 of your own OC count?

[ceresbane]

actually the only reason of having an oc is so you can request porn of it

You don't request r34 of your OC, silly..

Oh shit.

Uh... does drawing r34 of your own OC count?

you request of yourself to be naked, posed provactively and to be exhibitioned as porn in pony form. Just thinking about it has that rising feelin of dread and utter terror as you try to get in the mindset of someone who thinks that's a good idea.

seems legit.

fans of any kind have done stranger things.

actually no... turning yourself into anthromorphic pastel ponies for the purposes of masturbation to appeal for various fetishes is pretty much taking the cake.

you sir are terrifying. I wish to study you.

[vladnuke]

You don't request r34 of your OC, silly..

Oh shit.

Uh... does drawing r34 of your own OC count?

you request of yourself to be naked, posed provactively and to be exhibitioned as porn in pony form. Just thinking about it has that rising feelin of dread and utter terror as you try to get in the mindset of someone who thinks that's a good idea.

seems legit.

fans of any kind have done stranger things.

actually no... turning yourself into anthromorphic pastel ponies for the purposes of masturbation to appeal for various fetishes is pretty much taking the cake.

you sir are terrifying. I wish to study you.

It's tumblr, man.

Those guys don't operate on the same rules as everyone else.

[Makkon]

I don't have an OC, but people have been trying to make one for me for a while. They've even taken this conundrum of an avatar I put up and changed it into a pony OC. It's flattering, but not what I want.
I don't want an OC, I want to represent myself.

[nOk]

I think it would be fun to have an OC, but not as something to represent me. Although I love mlp dearly, I don't need it to show people who I am. If I had an OC, I would give it another personality entirely. (And if I had a graphic tablet, I'd start a tumblr myself, because I CAN draw )

[Makkon]

Then you, my friend, should get a tumblr so I can follow you.

[Hammock]

What I notice with too many OCs is that they either make theirs incredibly powerful (like time travel or spacial control) or a slightly different version of a main character.

I had to make one at a point to talk with friends and such but I kept it simple. Mine is nice, upper class and has a talent for brewing tea. Perfect for small talk on a forum or to exercise my English stereotype in a Skype call.

My advice would be to keep it simple but add a few little quirks that you can build on later if you so wish.

I don't actually role play but when I got invited into a themed chat, my quirks let me turn tea brewing into enchanted potions!

[Stars In Autumn]

I personally thought long and hard about an OC and I can't come up with one that's unique enough to be cool but not so outlandish or OCish to be stupid. If you ponified me personally I'd probably be a very boring pony. So I don't really have an OC, even though my profile is of one.

I can see the appeal, however. People want OCs in the same way they want character customization in video games. It's just an alternative you.