Advice/Help Tips on Creating the Best Character Possible for a story/rpg

[Elowyn]

Hi,

Does anyone have good feedback on character creation? More specifically, general guidelines, rules of thumb to follow, etc.?

A few things...
1. go basic. assume i'm a newbie.
2. only experienced & successful roleplayers please!
3. i prefer responses from those who have GM'ed before.

Thanks!

-Nycto, ze Night

**also, general roleplaying tips that may not be readily apparent also wanted!

 

[MiracleGrazer]

When I create a character, I generally have an arc in mind that I want my character to develop towards! Their attitude and background all reflect this arc that I'm trying to achieve, and everything else like appearance or equipment is just personal flavor.

That being said, I don't think weaknesses necessarily add to a character, typically because people see it as a way to make a character not overpowered. Instead it should be seen as an aid to understand what your character must do to overcome their flaws.

 

[Elowyn]

When I create a character, I generally have an arc in mind that I want my character to develop towards! Their attitude and background all reflect this arc that I'm trying to achieve, and everything else like appearance or equipment is just personal flavor.

That being said, I don't think weaknesses necessarily add to a character, typically because people see it as a way to make a character not overpowered. Instead it should be seen as an aid to understand what your character must do to overcome their flaws.

oooh that's good.

But also when it's a multiplayer and there's a GM involved, what the usual procedure? Like, does the GM typically take into account these character arcs and compensate for it in the story? Or is it more like, you yourself have to pilot this character arc & development?

 

[Idea]

2. only experienced & successful roleplayers please!

Define "experienced and successful"

 

[MiracleGrazer]

oooh that's good.

But also when it's a multiplayer and there's a GM involved, what the usual procedure? Like, does the GM typically take into account these character arcs and compensate for it in the story? Or is it more like, you yourself have to pilot this character arc & development?

This is where player and GM interaction becomes vital. You as a player do not exist for a GM to share their story, but to be a part of it. Talk to your GM about it, the best GMs will work with you.

 

[Elowyn]

Define "experienced and successful"

uh... you count ?

 

[Idea]

uh... you count ?

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Truth be told, I'd say those most successful are the ones that tend to have less quality. They simply don't bother and neither do their partners and boom, successful RP, both players playing as freely as possible. it's a way too, even if it's a way I would never want to go with

 

[Elowyn]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Truth be told, I'd say those most successful are the ones that tend to have less quality. They simply don't bother and neither do their partners and boom, successful RP, both players playing as freely as possible. it's a way too, even if it's a way I would never want to go with

Hm. That's an interesting point you bring up.
Perhaps more freedom means players use the roleplay to whatever end they want?
But in rp's with more focus and better quality it takes more dedication and commitment of the members, thus narrowing the possibility and chances of success.

 

[Elowyn]

Idea I mean, one has to realize that writing is work! A good story necessitates purpose, direction, and effort.

A lot of the people here may be just hobbyists, or casual/amateur writers. Of course, there are the more experienced ones as well... it just takes time to find a small circle of 'professional roleplayers' that you can count on to deliver.

 

[Idea]

I mean, one has to realize that writing is work! A good story necessitates purpose, direction, and effort.

Haha, I like you already. Because you just said the very thing I've been working to spread around in 2/3s of discussion threads regarding RPs. Yeah, RP is a hobby, but it involves writing , a productive activity, so it naturally takes work.

However, I believe you are wrong about one thing: Experience has nothing to do with the matter. Sure, your views and style change and improve over time, but by no means does that imply we choose this or that path. One may (and many do), with experience, actually take it more casually instead of more seriously. And you know, that's a valid way of going about it too. But whatever the case may be, it's always about mindset and overall goals. People like you and I may want to have better writing and more interesting stories, others may simply want mindless fun. It's up to each individual in that regard.

Personally, I'm of the mindset that I don't want to waste my time, I want everything I do to be worth it. As such I work and think of ways to improve my writing and style. I am a planner by nature and a writer and worldbuilder by heart.

Now regarding my thoughts on making the best character possible, I would say you want to juggle five elements:

1. Consistency- I would argue this is the MOST important part of a character. everything else tends to come as a consequence of doing this well. Consistency is both the character staying true to what that character is, can do and would do, AND what the consequences or impact of that would be. Most traps you fall into as a writer will result from failing to adhere to this one element of your character.

2. Cooperative Tendencies- How a character interacts and how they might cause others to act or help the plot progress is the key aspect of a character's presence in the story. This isn't necessarily a mandatory no exceptions thing, as many characters are pure lonewolf outcast who are bland as hell and still work because they are supposed to be. However as a rule of thumb, the better your character helps OTHER characters move foward and be explored, the more the character causes interaction with characters and the world, the better they are. Inversely if they cause the plot to stall, if they break apart interactions etc... they are that much worse.

3.Don't have just a tip, have the iceberg- One thing I was taught is that knowing someone better makes us like them more. I would like to add that this is due to relating to them as people, even if we're talking about an animal or an object. If we know there is more depth to them than their surface, that cna make us relate and care a lot more. I would say this really goes for characters. Don't make it up as you go along, have the character be a real person, and as a real person, their history , tastes, opinions, all of it should exist, whether it is actually revealed or not, and that should come across in how the character acts, thinks and speaks. entering a room, a plummer may notice the humidity in the edges, whereas an artists would comment on the fine paiting of the walls, as an example.

4.Thematic Placement- This part is really optional but generally speaking it can improve a chracter. Ask yourself the question, what is this story about? What is the goal, what is the message, the tone and other things like that.... Then ask, what's missing , what roles could my character fit into that help me explore the many branches of those themes? Having a character that helps create the tone or explore the themes of the story is a nice bonus and can make the character that much deeper.

5.Brandon Sanderson's levers of character quality- All of Brandon Sanderson's lessons on writing are great tips for learning, but one thing that comes to mind in this topic is something he once mentioned in writing excuses (and I'm saying this last simply because it's not my own thoughts, but extracted from another's) that characters have three main types of qualities- proactiveness (their directly actions, as opposed to reactions, in the plot), competence (their skills, power level, sheer awesomeness) and their , I'm missing the word, so I'll say good personality traits. If you picture this as three levers, basically what happens is if all three are too high at once or too low at once, your character is going to be really unlikeable. But if you make sure to balance them out in relation to one another, even if one is super high and another super low, you can make a very likeable character.





Hope this helped. of course, there are exceptions to everything and this advise isn't overly specific- it would be lying if I tried being too specific, since good characters can't fit into an infinity of different molds. Still, as I said, hope it helps.

 

[Elowyn]

Haha, I like you already. Because you just said the very thing I've been working to spread around in 2/3s of discussion threads regarding RPs. Yeah, RP is a hobby, but it involves writing , a productive activity, so it naturally takes work.

However, I believe you are wrong about one thing: Experience has nothing to do with the matter. Sure, your views and style change and improve over time, but by no means does that imply we choose this or that path. One may (and many do), with experience, actually take it more casually instead of more seriously. And you know, that's a valid way of going about it too. But whatever the case may be, it's always about mindset and overall goals. People like you and I may want to have better writing and more interesting stories, others may simply want mindless fun. It's up to each individual in that regard.

Personally, I'm of the mindset that I don't want to waste my time, I want everything I do to be worth it. As such I work and think of ways to improve my writing and style. I am a planner by nature and a writer and worldbuilder by heart.

Now regarding my thoughts on making the best character possible, I would say you want to juggle five elements:

1. Consistency- I would argue this is the MOST important part of a character. everything else tends to come as a consequence of doing this well. Consistency is both the character staying true to what that character is, can do and would do, AND what the consequences or impact of that would be. Most traps you fall into as a writer will result from failing to adhere to this one element of your character.

2. Cooperative Tendencies- How a character interacts and how they might cause others to act or help the plot progress is the key aspect of a character's presence in the story. This isn't necessarily a mandatory no exceptions thing, as many characters are pure lonewolf outcast who are bland as hell and still work because they are supposed to be. However as a rule of thumb, the better your character helps OTHER characters move foward and be explored, the more the character causes interaction with characters and the world, the better they are. Inversely if they cause the plot to stall, if they break apart interactions etc... they are that much worse.

3.Don't have just a tip, have the iceberg- One thing I was taught is that knowing someone better makes us like them more. I would like to add that this is due to relating to them as people, even if we're talking about an animal or an object. If we know there is more depth to them than their surface, that cna make us relate and care a lot more. I would say this really goes for characters. Don't make it up as you go along, have the character be a real person, and as a real person, their history , tastes, opinions, all of it should exist, whether it is actually revealed or not, and that should come across in how the character acts, thinks and speaks. entering a room, a plummer may notice the humidity in the edges, whereas an artists would comment on the fine paiting of the walls, as an example.

4.Thematic Placement- This part is really optional but generally speaking it can improve a chracter. Ask yourself the question, what is this story about? What is the goal, what is the message, the tone and other things like that.... Then ask, what's missing , what roles could my character fit into that help me explore the many branches of those themes? Having a character that helps create the tone or explore the themes of the story is a nice bonus and can make the character that much deeper.

5.Brandon Sanderson's levers of character quality- All of Brandon Sanderson's lessons on writing are great tips for learning, but one thing that comes to mind in this topic is something he once mentioned in writing excuses (and I'm saying this last simply because it's not my own thoughts, but extracted from another's) that characters have three main types of qualities- proactiveness (their directly actions, as opposed to reactions, in the plot), competence (their skills, power level, sheer awesomeness) and their , I'm missing the word, so I'll say good personality traits. If you picture this as three levers, basically what happens is if all three are too high at once or too low at once, your character is going to be really unlikeable. But if you make sure to balance them out in relation to one another, even if one is super high and another super low, you can make a very likeable character.





Hope this helped. of course, there are exceptions to everything and this advise isn't overly specific- it would be lying if I tried being too specific, since good characters can't fit into an infinity of different molds. Still, as I said, hope it helps.

Man, I like you too.
I-I-I'm so flattered~! Thanks so much for the follow ~

OMG. Those 5 things you mentioned are superb; would probably qualify to kill off 97% of my writing/roleplaying/character mistakes. Thanks pal~ Definitely I'll refer to it in the future!!!

 

[Idea]

Man, I like you too. 3
I-I-I'm so flattered~! Thanks so much for the follow ~

My thanks as well
You have only yourself to thank for my follow. I don't give them without really good cause, and your words impressed me to that extent. So be proud of yourself

OMG. Those 5 things you mentioned are superb; would probably qualify to kill off 97% of my writing/roleplaying/character mistakes. Thanks pal~ Definitely I'll refer to it in the future!!!

Glad to hear I could be of assistance XD

 

[Elowyn]

Idea YO. Did you know today's his birthday? He's 42! (according to google)

Just wished him a happy birthday on FB O.o
This is so crazy.

 

[Idea]

O. Did you know today's his birthday? He's 42! (according to google)

Who's birthday?

 

[Elowyn]

Who's birthday?

THE Brandon Sanderson!

 

[Elowyn]

 

[Idea]

THE Brandon Sanderson!

Now that's one massive coicidence lol

Now off to facebook with me! Also...

YAAAAAAAAYY!

 

[Elowyn]

#idon'tbelieveincoincidences
#ibelieveinGod

 

[Idea]

#ibelieveinGod

Me too, but it's a way of saying things

Also how did you do that? Can't remember where to post on someone's chronlogy

 

[Elowyn]

Me too, but it's a way of saying things

Right, right, an expression. I also have my reservations about expressions. Cuz they came from somewhere, right? ... Plus, I also enjoy being very literal. It's fun that way~~~

 

[Elowyn]

Also how did you do that? Can't remember where to post on someone's chronlogy

*shrugs* I just posted under someone's birthday post about him. IDK!

XD I'm am not fluent in technology...

 

[Peacemaker .45]

Whenever I am writing a new character, I first have to take into account the type of story it is before I make a character for it. If it’s a survival one or a SciFi, I need to consider the genre, and then the RP and RP universe it’s in so I can make a character that fits that specific RP within the confines of universe in it.

From there, my biggest thing is backstory. I can’t stress enough how important backstory is to me in the process of writing a character. I like to go with a complex backstory, however, one that isn’t quite all know. I like to leave mystery in the character which (I hope at least) I can examine in the RP and use that as a character arc sort of thing. My best character I have every written started out with a unique backstory, however all of it wasn’t known. In conversations in the with characters, more is revealed for me, which can raise more questions than answers. After using that character for like two years, she’s become such an awesome character (I do hate bragging), and even now, still not everything is known and she still has her arcs ahead of her. I can’t stress enough how much I love this character, because I’ve had a chance to write a really unique and mysterious backstory that became something huge.

I’m rambling on now at this point. I can go on and on about my character.

Aside from backstory, I need to come up with flaws of the character, ones that can and will be exploited in the RP. Also, with this, I need to make them human, I need to make them relatable to the characters in the story and the readers themselves. Going off of flaws, one thing I particularly like are showing my character’s weaknesses. If the character lost people, let’s say, that they care about, and the pain and loss continues, my character has to change and evolve as a result (be it short term or long term change). And furthermore, they’re not Superman. They’re human. They will fall, they will fail, they won’t always get it right.

Okay, pretty sure this isn’t typing together at this point, but if you got something out of my unorganized thoughts, awesome! If not, yeah I got nothing out of them either. They sound better in my head.

 

[Idea]

They sound better in my head.

I know the feeling pal

 

[Elowyn]

Whenever I am writing a new character, I first have to take into account the type of story it is before I make a character for it. If it’s a survival one or a SciFi, I need to consider the genre, and then the RP and RP universe it’s in so I can make a character that fits that specific RP within the confines of universe in it.

From there, my biggest thing is backstory. I can’t stress enough how important backstory is to me in the process of writing a character. I like to go with a complex backstory, however, one that isn’t quite all know. I like to leave mystery in the character which (I hope at least) I can examine in the RP and use that as a character arc sort of thing. My best character I have every written started out with a unique backstory, however all of it wasn’t known. In conversations in the with characters, more is revealed for me, which can raise more questions than answers. After using that character for like two years, she’s become such an awesome character (I do hate bragging), and even now, still not everything is known and she still has her arcs ahead of her. I can’t stress enough how much I love this character, because I’ve had a chance to write a really unique and mysterious backstory that became something huge.

I’m rambling on now at this point. I can go on and on about my character.

Aside from backstory, I need to come up with flaws of the character, ones that can and will be exploited in the RP. Also, with this, I need to make them human, I need to make them relatable to the characters in the story and the readers themselves. Going off of flaws, one thing I particularly like are showing my character’s weaknesses. If the character lost people, let’s say, that they care about, and the pain and loss continues, my character has to change and evolve as a result (be it short term or long term change). And furthermore, they’re not Superman. They’re human. They will fall, they will fail, they won’t always get it right.

Okay, pretty sure this isn’t typing together at this point, but if you got something out of my unorganized thoughts, awesome! If not, yeah I got nothing out of them either. They sound better in my head.

Teehee~ Thanks, you're fine.

Can I get a link to this character's CS? (promise I won't be copying it)

 

[Peacemaker .45]

Teehee~ Thanks, you're fine.

Can I get a link to this character's CS? (promise I won't be copying it)

Yeah, sure.

Admittedly, the CS is really out of date (since I made her in 2015) in some areas, and a lot of it needs to change, since the character has gone through a lot of change. But if you want to look at the waaaaaay outdated (and kinda crappy) CS, here’s the link. (I did just update the history though since I needed to do that.) She’s the first one on the page.

The Dead Hills - Character Sign Up

Her history is also so long and complex. What I have written is the shortest (and no most effective) way of describing her history. She’s been through and done a lot.