Soulsearching in the MUCK

I've been mentally occupied to some degree over the weekend pondering what to do on/with Furryfaire. There's really only half a dozen people I even talk to there. I actually RP with about half that number, and the scenes are... fragmented off-grid things with limited continuity. Some days that's entertaining and fun enough. Some days it's flat out impossible to get into. Either way, it's sort of missing what I've long viewed as the point of being on a MUCK - a fact that is driven home by seeing some people actually playing on-grid these days.

When control of the MUCK was recently given over to a new head wizard, I thought "well, I'll see what system shakes out before I look at making any new characters." I truly hate it when I have a character going and a change of rules comes down that alters what they can or cannot do. It's frustrating and fun-sapping. Now, though, it appears there isn't likely to be any real RP system in the foreseeable future (aside: references to the PPS should probably be removed from starting rooms and such). There's ups and downs to that which could be argued until we're old(er) and gray. In immediate, practical terms to me, it just means I have one less excuse for putting off some sort of decision.

Which brings me to the other excuses, mostly internal.

I sorta of made a few characters under the last system (was that really there for two years?). One never actually was created on the MUCK, another was made but not played, and a third was played only very briefly. The last I guess I just couldn't quite get into. The second was a character that I liked, but I really couldn't envision any scenes for. All of them were hindered by my own inability/reluctance to generate RP myself. And if I want to actively play anyone, that's something I still may have to overcome even if there might be enough active players to flow along with.

I have been "encouraged" to bring some sort of gunsmith onto the scene of a currently-active group (amusing enough since I made a gunsmith for a potential WoD MUCK too). After some thinking, a kid of Cyra's seems a possibility, though I haven't decided what traits might show in a hoomiku/skole hybrid. Between a super-inventor mother and some schooling in Tarantis, firearms knowledge should be simple enough. I don't really have much conceptualized out beyond that, though. I don't want to simply copy over Cyra, though she embodies most of what I think of when I think hoomiku adventurer. I suppose it'd be logical to try to infuse some of Spiritstorm's outlook or religion to some degree.

But what (and how much) do I make her good at? And what to make her poor at? Actually, I've come to feel the latter might be better in a lot of ways for defining a character. I'm accustomed to having some sort of mechanics around to tell me how I'm allowed to answer those questions. In the absence of such, I'm unsure.

Then I just have to overcome my own inertia and do something. So help me, it used to be easier...

Edit: Even more frustrating to have a board post saying "We won't be using the system that's been in place anymore" and then being told by a non-head wiz "Oh, we had a wizchat discussion that decided we are using that system for now." What the holy @#$* is someone who wasn't there supposed to think? Especially when the system in question rewards you for buying in early - such that not doing so slows your character advancement.