Member
Sigil
Dion
Strang3F0xLady
Romero
canaryrose
Nallore
Warrior in the Shadows
Kuro
Veilsight
@Inkarnate If that works out for you, do let me know - I am willing to revamp for future Rp's if someone can show a new way of doing it that works. This is an old format I used to draw inspiration from for Cs's. It is a set up from story writing site I had found.. good... 12, 13 years ago? It is massively indepth - makes mine look like a cake walk in comparison but it had some good details for fleshing out characters. Granted, it had to be redone a lot for specific Rp's, setting, and so forth but was a good base for ideas. It was used as a teaching tool on the AQ forums for the longest time, think it is still in their RP Academy Section actually. This is more a life and psychological massive break down for the inner workings and drive of a character than anything.
@ArenaSnow God yes, always pm the Gm if you want to keep somethings behind the scenes. I have a laundry list of Rpers that have sent me notes on their characters with the majority of their character history so I know what is up but so it is kept from the group at large for a later reveal. Not to mention if they have specific goals for a character or a want of a story arc - that way I can work it in and still let everyone experience the surprise when it is finally revealed. Collaborative works don't have to be limited to just a collab post, work with the Gm's - most are more than willing to stash away those monkey wrenchs for you and toss them into the RP at the right time.
The Core Basics
Name:
Nicknames:
Appearance:
Gender
Age
Height
Weight
Hair Color
Eye Color
Makeup
Distinguishing Features - examples are scars, tattoos, and birthmarks.
Clothing style
Ethnicity (when applicable)
Physical Abilities:
Physical Limitations:
Background Details - Socioeconomic
Personal Religion:
Place of Birth:
Family Structure:
Parental Details:
Race or Ethnicity
Class of Living
Personal Religion
Personal Habits
Living or Deceased?
Relationship with Character
Relationship with Character’s Siblings
Sibling Details: Profiling each separately is helpful.
Race or Ethnicity - Mostly if different, like in the case of half-breeds having one side more dominant than the other.
Class of Living
Personal Religion
Personal Habits
Living or Deceased?
Relationship with Character
Relationship with Character’s Other Siblings
Significant Other/Spouse Details: Bet you saw this one coming..
Race or Ethnicity
Class of Living: If different from the character. Especially if “holding the fort”.
Personal Religion
Personal Habits
Living or Deceased?
Relationship with Character
Relationship with Character’s Family
Relationship with their own Family
Life Story Aspects
This is where the true meat of history and character starts to come from, and as such, this portion of the guide poses questions rather than listing aspects to address outright. The more questions you can answer with detail, the more detail you have for your character, and the deeper you can portray them with your writing. Richer histories can help guide your character’s actions and add to the evolution of any story they take part within.
How did your character arrive here?
What was their life like before the story began?
How did they grow up?
Was their childhood pleasant? Difficult? Traumatic or uneventful?
Have they gone through struggles or hardships, and were they overcome? Or are their effects lingering even now?
Has their life progressed according to their plans and motives?
Is their current path in life something they chose, or were they forced onto it?
Does your character have any regrets?
Has there been any particularly special circumstances that have shaped your character into who they are today?
Psychological Factors
This is where the idea of digging down deep into the rabbit hole of a character’s being really starts becoming apparent. Possibly uncomfortable, too, but such is the nature of the writer.
Outer Goal: Usually a physical desire - get stronger, get faster, etc.
Inner Goal: Usually based on emotional or psychological desires.
Overriding Objective in Life:
Goals outside the scope of the story:
Defining Characteristics:
Hopes and Desires:
Fears and Phobias:
Dirty little secrets:
Does the character have introverted or extroverted tendencies?
Are they more of a thinker or a feeler?
What do you see as the biggest contradiction, or set of contradictions, your character’s life out?
Are they selfish or selfless? Or totally self-centered?
What are their favorite foods, drinks, activities? Hated ones?
Level of education OR important learning experiences?
Deepest secret:
Wildest Fantasy:
Who do they admire, or used to admire? Why?
Philosophy
This section is mostly concerned with a character’s attitudes towards various aspects and people, and merely has a short list of example aspects to consider attitudes towards. Also politics, when they may be relevant.
Self
Others
Friendship
Physical relationships
Love
Family
Acquaintances
Marriage
Home country
Location of the story
The world at large
Religion as a whole
Their own religion
Do they have any superstitions?
Are they actively political, aware of politics, or entirely apathetic to the concept?
What is their political philosophy?
Do they support or protest any public causes?
Do they have a life motto?
Life & Lifestyle
Who are their closest friends?
What is their job, career, or occupation?
How do they feel about their job?
Do they have any noted accomplishments?
Are they famous? Or, perhaps, infamous?
Do they belong to any particular organizations or clubs?
Do they have any favorite forms of entertainment? A bard, or the setting appropriate equivalent, like a specific TV show or band.
What are their hobbies?
From the Book of Questions
Afina originally brought up using this particular outside resource as a wonderful utility for delving even deeper into your character. It may well be worth checking your local library for it, and it isn’t all that expensive to add it to your personal reference library. This guide includes a very small selection of useful questions derived from the book. As for explaining what it is...I shall quote Afina carte blanche because her introduction for it is also rather wonderful.
“A further source of great questions to ask your characters is the brilliant work ‘The Book of Questions’. This is filled with juicy and thought-provoking questions that explore personal philosophy, morality, politics, knee-jerk reactions, secret fantasies, wishes, and much more. It’s also a great party activity to sit around with your friends and pass the book around as you each take turns selecting questions for all to answer.”
A. If your character were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would they most regret not having told someone? Why haven't they told them yet?
B. Would your character accept $1,000,000 to leave the country and never set foot in it again?
C. Your character is given the power to kill people simply by thinking of their deaths and twice repeating the word "good-bye." People would die a natural death and no one would suspect them. Are there any situations in which they would use this power? [If they can imagine themselves killing someone indirectly, could they still see doing it if they had to look into the person's eyes and stab the person to death? Have they ever genuinely wanted to kill someone or wished them dead?]
D. What would constitute a "perfect" evening for your character?
E. Would your character rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life, or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable and uninspiring professional life? [Since so many people place great emphasis on a happy private life, why do people often wind up putting more energy into their professional lives? If you feel that their private life is more important to your character, do their priorities support this? Are they simply unwilling to admit that work is more important? Do they use work as a substitute? Do they hope professional success will somehow magically lead to personal happiness?]
F. If your character could wake up tomorrow having gained any one ability or quality, what would it be?
G. Your character has the chance to meet someone with whom they can have the most satisfying love imaginable - the stuff of dreams. Sadly, they know that in six months the person will die. Knowing that pain that would follow, would they still want to meet that person and fall in love? What if they knew their lover would not die, but instead would betray them? [In love, is intensity or permanence more important to them? How much do they expect from someone who loves them? What would make them feel betrayed by their mate - indifference? Dishonesty? Infidelity?
H. Does your character prefer being around men or women? Do their closest friends tend to be men or women?
I. Would your character be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger in the world? [Would it torment them more to have the blood of an innocent person on their hands or to know they let millions of people die? What do they think of people who achieve great things by compromising their principles? Many are will to give their own lives but not to take the life of another; is anything so important they would sacrifice their very soul for it?]
J. What is their most treasured memory?
K. If your character knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would they do?
L. What is the greatest accomplishment of your character's life? Is there anything they hope to do that is even better?
M. One would be the one material item your character would save during a fire?
N. Your character is offered $1,000,000 for the following act: before them are ten pistols - only one of which is loaded.
They must pick up one of the pistols, point it at their forehead, and pull the trigger. If they can walk away they do so a millionaire. Would they accept the risk?
O. If your character could choose the manner of their death, what would it be? [Would they die a hero's death, die a martyr to some great cause, die in a natural catastrophe, or die peacefully? Why is it so tempting to have death catch us in our sleep?]
P. For what in your character's life do they feel most grateful?
Q. How forgiving is your character?
R. When your character tells a story, do they often exaggerate or embellish it? If so, why?
S. How much does your character feel in control of the course of their life?
T. Is it easy for your character to ask for help when they need it? Will they ask for help?
U. Would your character like to be famous? In what way?
V. What are your character's most compulsive habits? Do they regularly struggle to break those habits?
W. What does your character strive for most in their life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?
X. How easily embarrassed is your character?
Y. Does the fact that your character has never done something before increase or decrease its appeal to them?
Z. How many different relationships has your character had in their life? Would they prefer to have had more or fewer?
Name:
Nicknames:
Appearance:
Gender
Age
Height
Weight
Hair Color
Eye Color
Makeup
Distinguishing Features - examples are scars, tattoos, and birthmarks.
Clothing style
Ethnicity (when applicable)
Physical Abilities:
Physical Limitations:
Background Details - Socioeconomic
Personal Religion:
Place of Birth:
Family Structure:
Parental Details:
Race or Ethnicity
Class of Living
Personal Religion
Personal Habits
Living or Deceased?
Relationship with Character
Relationship with Character’s Siblings
Sibling Details: Profiling each separately is helpful.
Race or Ethnicity - Mostly if different, like in the case of half-breeds having one side more dominant than the other.
Class of Living
Personal Religion
Personal Habits
Living or Deceased?
Relationship with Character
Relationship with Character’s Other Siblings
Significant Other/Spouse Details: Bet you saw this one coming..
Race or Ethnicity
Class of Living: If different from the character. Especially if “holding the fort”.
Personal Religion
Personal Habits
Living or Deceased?
Relationship with Character
Relationship with Character’s Family
Relationship with their own Family
Life Story Aspects
This is where the true meat of history and character starts to come from, and as such, this portion of the guide poses questions rather than listing aspects to address outright. The more questions you can answer with detail, the more detail you have for your character, and the deeper you can portray them with your writing. Richer histories can help guide your character’s actions and add to the evolution of any story they take part within.
How did your character arrive here?
What was their life like before the story began?
How did they grow up?
Was their childhood pleasant? Difficult? Traumatic or uneventful?
Have they gone through struggles or hardships, and were they overcome? Or are their effects lingering even now?
Has their life progressed according to their plans and motives?
Is their current path in life something they chose, or were they forced onto it?
Does your character have any regrets?
Has there been any particularly special circumstances that have shaped your character into who they are today?
Psychological Factors
This is where the idea of digging down deep into the rabbit hole of a character’s being really starts becoming apparent. Possibly uncomfortable, too, but such is the nature of the writer.
Outer Goal: Usually a physical desire - get stronger, get faster, etc.
Inner Goal: Usually based on emotional or psychological desires.
Overriding Objective in Life:
Goals outside the scope of the story:
Defining Characteristics:
Hopes and Desires:
Fears and Phobias:
Dirty little secrets:
Does the character have introverted or extroverted tendencies?
Are they more of a thinker or a feeler?
What do you see as the biggest contradiction, or set of contradictions, your character’s life out?
Are they selfish or selfless? Or totally self-centered?
What are their favorite foods, drinks, activities? Hated ones?
Level of education OR important learning experiences?
Deepest secret:
Wildest Fantasy:
Who do they admire, or used to admire? Why?
Philosophy
This section is mostly concerned with a character’s attitudes towards various aspects and people, and merely has a short list of example aspects to consider attitudes towards. Also politics, when they may be relevant.
Self
Others
Friendship
Physical relationships
Love
Family
Acquaintances
Marriage
Home country
Location of the story
The world at large
Religion as a whole
Their own religion
Do they have any superstitions?
Are they actively political, aware of politics, or entirely apathetic to the concept?
What is their political philosophy?
Do they support or protest any public causes?
Do they have a life motto?
Life & Lifestyle
Who are their closest friends?
What is their job, career, or occupation?
How do they feel about their job?
Do they have any noted accomplishments?
Are they famous? Or, perhaps, infamous?
Do they belong to any particular organizations or clubs?
Do they have any favorite forms of entertainment? A bard, or the setting appropriate equivalent, like a specific TV show or band.
What are their hobbies?
From the Book of Questions
Afina originally brought up using this particular outside resource as a wonderful utility for delving even deeper into your character. It may well be worth checking your local library for it, and it isn’t all that expensive to add it to your personal reference library. This guide includes a very small selection of useful questions derived from the book. As for explaining what it is...I shall quote Afina carte blanche because her introduction for it is also rather wonderful.
“A further source of great questions to ask your characters is the brilliant work ‘The Book of Questions’. This is filled with juicy and thought-provoking questions that explore personal philosophy, morality, politics, knee-jerk reactions, secret fantasies, wishes, and much more. It’s also a great party activity to sit around with your friends and pass the book around as you each take turns selecting questions for all to answer.”
A. If your character were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would they most regret not having told someone? Why haven't they told them yet?
B. Would your character accept $1,000,000 to leave the country and never set foot in it again?
C. Your character is given the power to kill people simply by thinking of their deaths and twice repeating the word "good-bye." People would die a natural death and no one would suspect them. Are there any situations in which they would use this power? [If they can imagine themselves killing someone indirectly, could they still see doing it if they had to look into the person's eyes and stab the person to death? Have they ever genuinely wanted to kill someone or wished them dead?]
D. What would constitute a "perfect" evening for your character?
E. Would your character rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life, or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable and uninspiring professional life? [Since so many people place great emphasis on a happy private life, why do people often wind up putting more energy into their professional lives? If you feel that their private life is more important to your character, do their priorities support this? Are they simply unwilling to admit that work is more important? Do they use work as a substitute? Do they hope professional success will somehow magically lead to personal happiness?]
F. If your character could wake up tomorrow having gained any one ability or quality, what would it be?
G. Your character has the chance to meet someone with whom they can have the most satisfying love imaginable - the stuff of dreams. Sadly, they know that in six months the person will die. Knowing that pain that would follow, would they still want to meet that person and fall in love? What if they knew their lover would not die, but instead would betray them? [In love, is intensity or permanence more important to them? How much do they expect from someone who loves them? What would make them feel betrayed by their mate - indifference? Dishonesty? Infidelity?
H. Does your character prefer being around men or women? Do their closest friends tend to be men or women?
I. Would your character be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger in the world? [Would it torment them more to have the blood of an innocent person on their hands or to know they let millions of people die? What do they think of people who achieve great things by compromising their principles? Many are will to give their own lives but not to take the life of another; is anything so important they would sacrifice their very soul for it?]
J. What is their most treasured memory?
K. If your character knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would they do?
L. What is the greatest accomplishment of your character's life? Is there anything they hope to do that is even better?
M. One would be the one material item your character would save during a fire?
N. Your character is offered $1,000,000 for the following act: before them are ten pistols - only one of which is loaded.
They must pick up one of the pistols, point it at their forehead, and pull the trigger. If they can walk away they do so a millionaire. Would they accept the risk?
O. If your character could choose the manner of their death, what would it be? [Would they die a hero's death, die a martyr to some great cause, die in a natural catastrophe, or die peacefully? Why is it so tempting to have death catch us in our sleep?]
P. For what in your character's life do they feel most grateful?
Q. How forgiving is your character?
R. When your character tells a story, do they often exaggerate or embellish it? If so, why?
S. How much does your character feel in control of the course of their life?
T. Is it easy for your character to ask for help when they need it? Will they ask for help?
U. Would your character like to be famous? In what way?
V. What are your character's most compulsive habits? Do they regularly struggle to break those habits?
W. What does your character strive for most in their life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?
X. How easily embarrassed is your character?
Y. Does the fact that your character has never done something before increase or decrease its appeal to them?
Z. How many different relationships has your character had in their life? Would they prefer to have had more or fewer?
@ArenaSnow God yes, always pm the Gm if you want to keep somethings behind the scenes. I have a laundry list of Rpers that have sent me notes on their characters with the majority of their character history so I know what is up but so it is kept from the group at large for a later reveal. Not to mention if they have specific goals for a character or a want of a story arc - that way I can work it in and still let everyone experience the surprise when it is finally revealed. Collaborative works don't have to be limited to just a collab post, work with the Gm's - most are more than willing to stash away those monkey wrenchs for you and toss them into the RP at the right time.
