I like this topic. I like these answers. So interesting to read about how other people come up with their characters.

I tend to come up with a character in extremely loose concept form prior to the roleplay, and then kind of let it flow with the story. I find myself sort of "channeling" a character, knowing instinctively whether they would or wouldn't do something, or when I've written something "wrong" for them. Since joining this site I've probably created/resurrected like a dozen characters (I've had hundreds in aeons past though lol). I've mainly been playing males, and I find that I really enjoy it that way. I have issues IRL with my gender identity so it's extremely therapeutic/cathartic to express/explore the masculine in my writing.