Tutorial How to create an awesome character for your roleplays (with an example) - a guide by someone with 10+ years of roleplaying experience

InvisiblexInk

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I'm not sure if such a tutorial has been made before. Apologise if it has, but I want to contribute in some way to this forum in the best way I know how. I do a lot of long term roleplaying, which often means that there will be a lot of characters that appear, often for long periods of time! So it's easier for me to create character sheets for them and describe them there, than have to constantly scroll up in the roleplay to see how they look again. In this tutorial I'll be showcasing how to create a character, and I'll do it while creating a character for a science-fiction-themed roleplay with space exploration as the main defining future of the universe.

  • Step 1: Establish a clear concept or idea for your character!
First thing's first, figure out the concept or idea for your character. This is all dependent on the type of roleplay you're going to engage in. But the basic premise is: make the character fit the roleplay genre. You will want to try and make everything about your character try to revolve around this genre, because you want your character to fit the genre. It's no biggie if there are a few things out of place. After all, a few outliers can actually make a character seem more natural!
An example in the case of this tutorial, the character is for the sci-fi genre. So I'm going to think about what basic idea I want for the character. Right now I'm leaning towards a smuggler of sorts, so I'll keep that in the back of my mind while continuing the creation process.


  • Step 2: Define the character's background!
Currently, the only thing we have written down so far is that they're a smuggler. With this, we can delve deeper and try to write a background that ultimately leads to this occupation of theirs. When writing background, try to consider the character's family, their upbringing, their education, and past experiences. Keep their personality traits, values, and beliefs in the back of your minds though because we'll need those when we get to writing up the personality for your character.
For our character, the smuggler, I'm going to portray them as someone who has lived a tough life. I envision them to be someone who grew up on a distant, rough planet. They were raised in a lawless environment and had to learn to navigate the dangerous underworld of the space trade. I'm also going to add in that they were orphaned at a young age, and only had their own wits and resourcefulness to rely on thereafter. As they grew up, they found an allure in space travel, and joined a group of smugglers, which helped hone their piloting skills. During their time as a smuggler, they developed a reputation for being daring, and became specialised in transporting all sorts of contrabands and goods through hidden routes to outsmart authorities. And because of how they grew up, they developed a strict code of conduct, which makes them refuse dealing in dangerous substances or engaging in activites that may hurt innocent lives.
When one is a smuggler, they come into contact with all sorts of odds and ends, so it will be no different for our character. During one of their smuggling runs, they got their hands on an artefact of immense power, which put them in the eyes of not only the law, but also dangerous criminal syndicates.


  • Step 3: Decide name and determine physical attributes!
Now we get to finally name our character. Here we should consider their age, their appearance, their height and build, any distinguishing features they may have, how they dress, physical abilities, etc. Make sure that the physical attributes and abilities are consistent with their background and occupation, as well as with the roleplay genre too!
I'm envisioning him to be a male and will go by the name of Jax Mallory, a human male in his early 30s. He's about 6 feet (183cm) tall, and has an athletic build. His features reflect a life of adventure, with a scruffy beard and tousled dark hair that falls just above his ear piercings. He has steel-blue eyes, which makes him look quite captivating. Constant exposure to the suns of distant planets has given his skin a slightly tanned complexion, which complements his few notable scars. His distinguishing features would be a tattoo on his left forearm of a stylised star map, and a cybernetic implant on his right temple, which augments his visual perception, allowing for enhanced analysis and targeting capabilities. Given that he's a smuggler and so far it seems like he lives a fairly carefree, relaxed lifestyle, I'm going to reflect that in his dress style. Jax will favour a worn, brown leather jacket adorned with numerous pockets and patches from the planets he's visited. Underneath that he wears a simple black shirt. His trousers are durable and flexible, ideal for swift movement.


  • Step 4: Give 'em some personality!
So, to determine a character's personality will involve considering their traits, behaviours, and attitudes.
For our Jax Mallory the smuggler, here are some traits, behaviours, and attitudes I've decided on:
- Independent and quick-witted
- Cunning and quick
- Risk-taker and adventurous
- Charismatic and charming
- Pragmatic and opportunistic
- Loyal to his crew
These will be expanded up when actually writing up the personality. ;)


  • Step 5: What are their goals? o:
This is more of an optional step, but it helps in remembering the true goals and motivations for your character within the roleplay. What do they seek? Adventure? Redemption? Knowledge? Riches? Power? Ensure that the goals and motivations align with the overall narrative and how they may evolve throughout the roleplay. :)
For our boy, Jax, I imagine his primary goal is wealth and financial independence. I mean, how can he not want this? He's a smuggler! But, a close second to these goals would be freedom and autonomy. He's being chased after by not only the law, but by criminals that want their hands on the artefact he found!


  • Step 6: Now, we put it all together. :)
Here is the fun part, putting it all together in a nice little character sheet. Touch up on points you didn't consider before or may have left out, and you're left with a rather nice character sheet! Observe.

===================================================

Name: Jax Mallory

Age: 32

Height: 6'0" (180 cm)

Physique and features: Jax possesses a lean and athletic physique, a testament to his years of evading authorities and engaging in daring escapades. He has rugged features that reflect a life of adventure, with a strong jawline, piercing blue eyes, and a perpetually scruffy beard. His unkempt dark brown hair falls just above his shoulders, giving him a somewhat roguish appearance. Scattered across his body are a few discreet scars, remnants of past encounters. His skin has a tanned complexion due to constant exposure to the suns of the planets he has travelled to.

Personality:
Jax is a fiercely independent individual who thrives on his freedom and autonomy. He resists the shackles of authority and societal norms, preferring to forge his own path and make his own rules. Quick-witted and sharp-tongued, Jax possesses a razor-sharp mind that allows him to think on his feet and adapt to unpredictable situations. His cunning nature and ability to assess risks swiftly enable him to navigate through challenging circumstances with finesse.

Ever the risk-taker, Jax has an insatiable appetite for adventure. He relishes the adrenaline rush that comes with each daring escapade, seeking out the most dangerous smuggling missions and relishing the thrill of outmaneuvering his pursuers. His audacity knows no bounds, and he is willing to push the boundaries and take calculated gambles to achieve his goals.

Jax's charisma and charm are among his most potent assets. He possesses a magnetic personality that draws people to him, effortlessly winning allies and turning potential adversaries into valuable contacts. With his silver tongue and natural charm, Jax can smooth-talk his way out of tight spots or negotiate favorable deals. However, beneath his charismatic veneer lies a pragmatic and opportunistic mindset. Jax is adept at identifying opportunities and exploiting them to his advantage, always seeking the most lucrative ventures that promise to line his pockets.

While Jax values his personal freedom, he is not devoid of loyalty. He deeply cares for his crew, viewing them as an extension of his family. Jax stands by his comrades in times of peril and demonstrates unwavering loyalty, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie among his team. He understands that their collective success relies on trust and cooperation, and he goes to great lengths to ensure their safety and well-being.

Background: Jax Malloy was born on a distant colony planet in the outer rim of the galaxy. Growing up in a rough and lawless environment, he quickly learned to navigate the dangerous underworld of the space trade. Orphaned at a young age, Jax had to rely on his wits and resourcefulness to survive. As a teenager, Jax found himself drawn to the excitement and allure of space travel. He joined a group of smugglers who operated covertly within the interstellar trade routes. Under the mentorship of a seasoned smuggler, he honed his piloting skills, acquired an intimate knowledge of the black market, and learned the art of evading authorities and rival factions.

During his time as a smuggler, Jax developed a reputation for being daring, resourceful, and loyal to his crew. He specialized in transporting illicit goods and contraband across the galaxy, using his expert piloting skills and knowledge of hidden routes to outsmart space authorities and rival criminal syndicates. Despite his chosen profession, Jax has a strict code of conduct, refusing to deal in dangerous substances or engage in activities that cause unnecessary harm to innocent lives.

However, Jax's life took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon a mysterious artifact of immense power during one of his smuggling runs. Recognizing the danger it posed, Jax decided to keep the artifact hidden and away from the hands of those who would misuse it. This decision set him on a path of constant pursuit, as powerful factions and individuals sought to recover the artifact, making Jax a target.

Goals and motivations: Jax's primary goals revolve around attaining wealth and securing his freedom and autonomy. He is driven by a relentless pursuit of financial success, constantly seeking lucrative smuggling opportunities that can fill his coffers. He dreams of amassing enough wealth to live a life of luxury, free from the shackles of societal expectations and the reach of oppressive governments. Jax is motivated by the desire to remain an independent operator, evading authorities and organizations that seek to control or restrict his actions. He yearns to chart his own course through the galaxy, answering only to himself and his trusted crew, unburdened by the constraints of conventional life. Additionally, the mysterious artifact holds a deep fascination for him, and he is determined to unlock its secrets and harness its power. Jax seeks to leverage the artifact to gain an upper hand in his smuggling endeavors, potentially opening doors to rare and valuable resources or uncovering ancient knowledge that could change the course of his own fate and that of the galaxy. The artifact serves as both a symbol of potential wealth and a gateway to untold possibilities, fueling Jax's desire for adventure and discovery.

===========================================================

Woop woop! And there you have it. We have an anti-hero sort of character who is strapped and ready for roleplaying! I hope you all enjoyed this lil tutorial. Feedback is always appreciated. c:
 
I'm not sure if such a tutorial has been made before. Apologise if it has, but I want to contribute in some way to this forum in the best way I know how. I do a lot of long term roleplaying, which often means that there will be a lot of characters that appear, often for long periods of time! So it's easier for me to create character sheets for them and describe them there, than have to constantly scroll up in the roleplay to see how they look again. In this tutorial I'll be showcasing how to create a character, and I'll do it while creating a character for a science-fiction-themed roleplay with space exploration as the main defining future of the universe.

Plenty such have (it's a pretty common topic after all), but contributions to the site and to helping people navigate more satisfying ways of enjoying the hobby are always welcome!


I definitely will try to give a comment with better (read: more) feedback when I have more time for it, but I want to say something that stood out to me on a quick skim: Other than steps 1 and 6, there's no need or indeed special benefit to following this order over not doing so, in fact rather than being treated as separate, it might very much help to think of them as all interlinked, simultaneously causing and being caused by one another. Further, I'd argue one step is not completely but largely irrelevant for the fundamentals of building the character (personality and background I find extremely important, physical appearance isn't irrelevant but in a non-visual medium like this one, it's not what makes a character).
 
Other than steps 1 and 6, there's no need or indeed special benefit to following this order over not doing so, in fact rather than being treated as separate, it might very much help to think of them as all interlinked, simultaneously causing and being caused by one another.
You're right, there's no special order to it. I think I just have a habit of listing things out in steps and that's my mistake. x)
 
Years ago, when I was RPing in the short-lived MMORPG WildStar, a new RPer asked me how to make an awesome, badass character that everyone in the community recognizes and loves. I was pretty well-known in the community, and even some of the game developers knew my character, which was a huge honor for me.

My advice to them was that there is no special trick to it. Just make a character you enjoy, and don't worry about trying to make a character that everyone else will see as cool. Most importantly, RP with many people and be active within the community. While MMORPG RP is different from Forum RP, I think the point still stands: just make a character you like and have fun. And follow the rules and lore of the setting, of course!

I like your tutorial. It's simple and to the point. Creating a character should be fun, not stressful or complicated!
 
This is neat. There's one thing that I like to do, and I call this the vacuum test. Once you have everything that makes your character unique, strip all of it away. Anything that distinguishes them from the average person in the respective universe.

Then, put them in a room with another character. Just a completely empty room, and write.

If you manage to create a memorable interaction, then congratulations! You have a good character!
 
This is neat. There's one thing that I like to do, and I call this the vacuum test. Once you have everything that makes your character unique, strip all of it away. Anything that distinguishes them from the average person in the respective universe.

Then, put them in a room with another character. Just a completely empty room, and write.

If you manage to create a memorable interaction, then congratulations! You have a good character!
I've never tried this, but now I'll definitely give it a go to see how my characters improve. Thank you. :)
 

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