Post by Monty on Nov 17, 2010 17:19:41 GMT -5
Character Creation Guide: Making a Decent Application
Yes, canon characters are fun. But what happens when you get sick of those canons or when all are claimed yet you still want to be part of the experience gained from this great board? Well I don’t blame you for turning towards an original character. Now, when it comes to originals, the pressure seems to be more intense as you’ve got to be descriptive and it’s got to be rational. These steps will help you in succeeding in creating a character and it’s recommended that you read these steps thoroughly.
Step One
When creating your character you should first fill in all the blanks. Each blank could have only a few lines or even one. Just have the general overview written down so at least you’ve got a good idea as to who your character is going to be. It’s recommended that you just list the characters basics and not jump to the details, this way you’ve got a solid foundation to build your OC.
Step Two
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time you do some basic question answering to yourself. These questions are for you to see if your character is another one of those annoying Mary Sue’s/ Gary Stu’s, or if your character is one filled with both strengths and weaknesses and if they are flawed. Keep in mind that these questions don’t necessarily mean that your character is a Mary Sue, but they are the general ‘indications’ that they may be one.
~ Does your character share the same name as you?
~ Does your character have a name that you wish you had?
~ Is your character based off of another which you are obsessed with?
~ Is your character based off of some mythological divine spirit?
~ Does your character have some special power that is unstoppable?
~ Is your character able to withstand something that the strongest canon can’t?
~ Does your character have similar personality traits as you?
~ Does your character resemble you?
~ Is there something that your character can do that you wish you could?
~ Does your character have the typical dark and depressing demonic background?
~ Is your character extremely beautiful or handsome and is able to get whoever they want with their charm?
~ Is your character a princess, prince, offspring of a demon or a god?
If you said yes to any of these questions, then please revise your character biography and make those changes. You may feel a bit aggravated at first, but think of it this way, your character becomes something that even you haven’t expected and it might make things a bit more fun to play out. If you still feel a bit depressed about making the change, then it means you can go for it… but try to make things a bit rational.
Step Three
Now, time to get things a bit more in depth. First you’ve got your personality to work on. A lot of people get stuck, but once again by answering a few questions, things will clear up and you will find that a few lines has become paragraphs.
~ How is your character emotionally?
~ What are the strengths your character has?
~ What are the flaws your character has?
~ What is your characters ‘mentality’?
~ What goals did your character set for themselves?
~ How does your character react to certain things?
~ What sort of impact does the current situation have on your character?
~ Is there something that is the driving force to your characters goals?
~ Is there some sort of driving force that keeps them persisting to their goal?
~ Something that is holding your character back from reaching that goal?
If you can answer those questions, you can really get a decent amount in for you character personality.
Step Four
Moving on to your history, there is a simple template you can follow that can really make your history descriptive and clear this is how you should lay it out:
[Paragraph 1]: Where you were born, who your parents are and anything significant about your birth and its time.
[P2] : Childhood, any siblings or important people that may have played a significant role in your characters childhood.
[P3] Adolescence and early adulthood: This is usually a time where emotions run high, so express with fine detail the very important thing that may have happened. If not much has happened at this stage then it is alright if you keep it short.
[P4] Adulthood up to what your character is doing at the moment. Talk about their allegiance and what they are really trying to achieve in life. This point in time is usually when the character is at the pinnacle of their career, so it would be best if you explained what they have achieved and where they are aiming towards.
Step Five
He RP sample is simple, if you have read the previous RolePlay guide then this should be easy. If not, then go ahead and it could help with an RP sample. But to make things easier, this is just a preview of what you can do, not the full potential. We know that the RP Sample isn’t all you’ve got, so take it easy, don’t over exert yourself with trying to make it too descriptive, but not too long. Three paragraphs should be the maximum you need to go for. If you write more, then it’s good, it shows that you are very experienced, if you hit the minimum of one paragraph then don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it eventually.
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Now… that’s it. It’s as simple as that. All it takes is a bit of energy and work and you can have a great character biography. If you still feel a bit lost then don’t be afraid to check out some of the accepted biographies or PM an admin (or anyone who has been accepted) for a few tips and I’m sure they would be willing to help (just don’t annoy them with a barrage of PM’s and questions). Hope that helped!
Cheers.
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