[hr][hr][center][color=palegreen][h1]Character Sheets[/h1][b]< a.k.a. Le [s]Mary Sue[/s] You in the RP World >[/b][/color][/center]
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Oh yes, everyone's favorite section is here to gorge your eyes-- okay, not really. Lame jokes aside, I'm pretty sure most of you can agree that it doesn't matter if you're a prideful GM who would rather to make your own rules than following other people around, or a lazy, laid-back player (like me!) who can't be bothered with the hassle and just want to have fun away from real life... Character Sheet (Char Sheet, or CS) is the one thing that every single roleplayer has to go through, usually before you can officially be a part of the wonderful cast in the many RPs out there.

Again, like the previous chapter on Interest Checks, I will not go into boring lectures on the technical details about the categories in a Character Sheet (I believe it has already been covered by other members before), but focus on the visual appeal aspect.

While the purpose of an Int Check is similar to advertising, a Char Sheet has a much bigger role to play in any RPs:
[list][*]One, it serves as an application form for potential players to submit the character they have in mind they want to pitch to the GM [s]and get themselves killed in the IC later[/s];
[*]Two, once your character is accepted, it becomes the official profile of your character. This is especially important in RPs with heavy lore or are heavily character-driven, where the GM and players would need to use the Char Sheet as reference point to maintain consistency In-Character.[/list]
Similar to Int Check, the use of images, colors and proper separations between categories and paragraphs (headers, indents and horizontal lines) are useful to give a sleek, clean look that is not just pleasing, but [b]comfortable[/b] to the eyes. After all, the GM will be squinting at your Char Sheet, and later all the other players are going to read it too.

Here be a simple, mobile-friendly layout I've put together to give you a gist of how coding is an essential factor in the readability of your CS:

[hider=Sample CS][hr][hr][center][color=dodgerblue][h1]Character Name[/h1][b]OPTIONAL. Other names; i.e. nickname, codename, name written in some ancient tongue that nobody cares, etc.[/b][/color]

[img]http://www.caliper.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Place-Image-here3.jpg[/img]

[color=dodgerblue][i]"OPTIONAL. A quote here that can show an important aspect of your character. May be quotes by some famous scientific madmen, or something [s]dirty[/s] quirky that came out of your character's mouth in IC, I dunno."[/i][/color]
[color=darkgray][b]— Le owner of the epic one-liner, obviously.[/b][/color][/center]
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[color=dodgerblue][b]NAME[/b][/color]
[indent]Yes - your [i]full[/i] name, please.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]OTHER NAMES[/b][/color]
[indent]For your embarrassing nicknames, badass alias, shady secret identities... or even lame-o online monikers.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]GENDER[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-section: Sexuality. Dude or dudette? Or even hermaphrodite? Or you're just proud to be agender like a boss.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]AGE[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-section: Birthdate. Can range from newborn babies, to decaying vampire ruined by [i]Twilight[/i]'s sparkling diamond statues.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]RACE[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-section: Nationality. Racism is everywhere. Deal with it.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]DISTRICT[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-sections: Birthplace, Hometown, etc. Better mark your territories fast, or you'll be homeless for Christmas. Wait, Christmas' already over. Oh well.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]APPEARANCE[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-sections: Attire, Accessories. Sadly, first impression is everything, especially in today's society where looking like outrageous Barbie clones is better than being just a humane human.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]PERSONALITY[/b][/color]
[indent]The most important part about any characters, ever. This is where the GM will use to review your ability to play the character you're applying for well - or at least to whatever standards the GM has in mind.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]HOBBIES[/b][/color]
[indent]Other names: Likes & Dislikes. Optional since this can be weaved into the character's personality section, but some GMs like to have a separate category for this.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]HISTORY[/b][/color]
[indent]Other names: Backstory, Biography/Bio, etc. Another important section about your character, and also where the GM can use to determine if your character (1) suits their RP setting, and (2) if you truly grasp the GM's world you are about to hop into.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]RELATIONSHIPS[/b][/color]
[indent]Other names: Dynamics. May be part of one CS, or some GMs may prefer to split into a separate sheet.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]ABILITIES[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-sections: Powers, Talents, etc. Especially important in RP settings where regulation of power level among the cast is essential. Also a place where the GM can whip your ass into shape if you think you can get away playing some shady omnipotent OP troll.[/indent]

[color=dodgerblue][b]OTHERS[/b][/color]
[indent]Sub-sections: Trivia, Theme Music, Quotes, etc. Basically this is the place where whatever extra nuggets [s]of your Self-Insert[/s] about your character cannot fit into any of the conventional categories the GM has specified in their CS templates.[/indent][/hider][h3]Notes:[/h3][list][*]The sample above is merely what it's meant to be: a [i]sample[/i]. You are free to tweak around, (i.e. rearrange and regroup the categories, add or remove the sections...) Anything you want to do to make a CS template that fits your RP, or to make your CS look professional and neat (if you're a player).[/list]
[list][*]Adding to my previous point, I tried to keep the sample design as simple as possible without stepping down on the aesthetic appeal. I'd say this sample is how a basic CS should at least look like with some good use of coding art.[/list]
[list][*]The categories and sections as depicted in the sample are not comprehensive and only for viewing purpose only. After all, the main purpose of this article is to help you beautify your CS, not teach you how to write the meat of the CS.[/list]
[list][*]Some categories have things like 'sub-sections' and 'other names' - what do they mean? As I've said, this sample is a generic, basic structure you can use as a base reference. Different GMs, or depending on RP settings (sometimes even player preferences), may split the main header into further sub-categories, or use other terms to replace those conventional ones. I chose to group them together accordingly where appropriate to focus on the overall appeal, not the technical structure of what a CS should have.[/list]

[hr][hr][center][color=palegreen][h2]Bonus Material[/h2][b]< Going Further >[/b][/color][/center]
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Here's a list of more advanced samples for reference for those who want inspirations to make more complicated layouts:

[list][*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/84337]Tsukune Reservoir Chronicle[/url]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/132949]Gowi's Character Log [2.0][/url]
[*][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/88314]NuttsnBolts: Characters of Interest[/url][/list]
[indent](If you'd like your stylized CS to be featured in this list, drop me a PM with the link. Credits will be given accordingly where appropriate.)[/indent]

You can also refer to [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3951572][b]this post[/b][/url] by [@NuttsnBolts] for more tips on Char Sheet coding.

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[b]Coming Next:[/b]
[indent][s]Huh, you still want more?[/s][/indent]