Usually somewhere between the mid-20's to mid-30's for me, so 25-35 years old. Since most of my roleplays are usually set in fantasy or sci-fi universes, it makes sense. A 25 year old is someone who knows [i]some[/i] skill, but has a lot to learn, and this is good for character development. But if I want to go with my typical veteran warrior or bounty hunter, I usually choose 30-35 years old. This lets them have some experience, and it makes it feel more 'right'. I think 31 is the most comfortable to me. It really just depends on the type of roleplay (guild roleplays, for example, I'd start at about 25).

Before I go on this rant below let me say that yes, sometimes children and teen characters [i]do[/i] make sense, especially if it's a RP about school, or childhood, what have you.

But good [i]grief[/i], I can't [b]stand[/b] to see 16 year old boys swinging massive greatswords with skills equal to my 31 year old nordic warrior. Or an 11 year old girl able to cast powerful magics that only an aging wizard should be able to cast. Sure, it's fiction, and in fiction you can break the rules, but there [i]has[/i] to be a cut-off point. When I get in a situation where some teenager is wielding the biggest sword in the world and is outdoing me... nuh uh, no freakin' way. It doesn't fit. Doesn't make sense. It's preposterous!

And I'll admit, there's a chance it may be possible. I use to go to school with this guy who did nothing but chop lumber his entire life - never worked out or lifted weights a day in his life. He was massive, his arms are as big as tree-limbs, and the first-time he played football he could bench-press more than anyone else; and that was the very first time he laid back on a weight bench! At 16, you better believe he could've swung a greatsword.

I ain't never met no 11 year old who would be smart enough to cast magic. I know this very smart 10 year old, but at that age she's still a kid, thinks like a kid, and wants to act like a kid, which is fine... but I just can't see someone like her casting magic in a roleplay!

End of rant.