Cailes 'How to' Workshop for RPers

[Voice Caile]

How to create a believable character

In roleplay, as in story writing and life, a good character is a believable character, something people can relate with.

One mistake a lot of new roleplayers tend to make is creating a god-like character, or an invincible character. While not having to worry about the character dying at an inopportune moment is nice, other players aren't likely to think the same way, since if your character is all powerful, there's are more likely to die, and no one likes having their favorite killed off just because someone else doesn't know how to play fair.

Characters in roleplays should be much the same as a real life person, with both strengths and weaknesses. All reactions have an equal and opposite reaction, and all strengths should have an opposite weakness. No one is good at everything, no matter how long you've lived.

Making a character 'real' in the sense of having weaknesses as well, can also make them much more challenging to play, conversely making them more interesting to play, and to watch be played. People will be more interested in reading your posts if you have to be inventive to get your character out of a mess.

To make such a character is a fairly simple process, though a little more difficult than making a character that's good at everything.

First decide what your character is. As an example I'll create a thief.

The next step is to pick the characters major strength, or the thing they're best at. As a thief she'll be best at stealth.

Next you want to pick a few things that go along with that. With stealth usually comes speed and nimbleness.

Then comes picking a major weakness, or the thing the character is least good at. Given that the character has spent most of her time learning stealth and how to be quick and quiet, she's likely not spent the time to buff up or work on martial skills. Her major weakness is that she's not very good at fighting at all, she prefers to run than stand and face someone twice her size.

A major personality quirk. The character is mouthy and tends to get herself in plenty of trouble. Given she's not a fighter this means she would have to be clever enough to avoid fights or she'd be dead by now.

Something else that's usually a good idea to add to a character to, not only make them more realistic, but also more fun to play, is a flaw or a phobia. In a thief, an amusing and challenging flaw to give them would be clumsiness or thoughts of invincibility. This particular character, I think, is going to have a penchant for spoons. She can't pass by a spoon without stealing it.

We now have the basis for a fairly realistic, if slightly off the wall, character. She has flaws, strengths and weaknesses. She's not invincible and there's a fair chance that she'll get killed if she can't outthink the person who's trying to tear her to bits.

Now that we actually have a character the next step is learning how to play the character in a way that will appeal to everyone and keep others interested in playing with you. You have to be willing to let your character take hits. You don't have to be willing to let your character die, but you have to realize it could happen. There are usually ways around it however, and if you're playing with other good roleplayers then the chances they'll kill your character off are slim.

In a fight, much the same as building a character, you have to be willing to give and take. Let your character avoid the killing blow, but have them trip and sprain an ankle or get sliced across the ribs, or even something more permanent or serious. It can be fun trying to play a character with a serious injury that's just too stubborn to lay in bed like they should.

Roleplaying is as much about thinking and originality as it is about writing. Finding new and inventive ways to get yourself out of life threatening situations is one of the best parts of playing. If we know you'll always react the same way to the same stimuli then we aren't going to want to keep reading, or keep playing. Spontaniety, surprises and tricks up your sleeves is what will keep people coming back for more.

So, an assignment. The same way I created my little thief above, I want each of you to come up with a character as well, and post it below.

What: What the character is.
Strength: Major strength
Other attributes: Other things that go hand in hand with the above.
Weakness: Major weakness
Personality quirk: Basically just that, something that makes them unique.
Flaw: Either a flaw, phobia, or something else that makes them human.

Be as original as you can, but also do your best to make them realistic and not too off the wall.

[Mordraken]

Hah! I accept this assignment with gusto!

What: Blademaster/Warrior
Strength: Fantastic battle prowess
--Strong, tough, and well-skilled with his weapons
Weakness: Cruel, heartless
Personality Glitch: Has never turned down a fight, and is quick to start one
--always goes for the deathblow or nothing; not concerned with strategy
Conflicting Personality Glitch: Even though in the most part he turns off women, he can never bring himself to hurt or offend a female directly, even in self defense

In total, this guy asserts his superiority through physical intimidation-a bully-that has a soft spot for the ladies.

Or, if magick is your bag...

What: Mage
Strength: Wields powerful, yet uncontrolled magicks
--With the right amount of concentration, can make anything happen
Weakness: Doesn't know when to shut up
--Also is a bit of a wine-sot (can't resist drinking); the above weakness is especially true when he is drunk
Personality Glitch: Horrible punster

I probably could scrounge up more later...

[*Kain*]

Thank a bunch for this thread Caile, now I can direct some people here, you got it all laid out nice and neat for 'em.
I'll produce a theif from my D&D campaign, he basically became the worst theif ever when he was reincarnated. Thankfully he got the right role and is the exact same race(Sylvan Elf), but is still fun to RP. I'll convert him into a playable character here.

What: Theif

Strength(s): Good stealth ability, and is a very good shot with his hand-crossbow, faster than most anyone, and exetremely dextrous.

Weakness(es): Couldn't weild a weapon larger than a hand-crossbow or dagger for the life of him, he can't even stand the weight of leather armour. thinks his ring is a ring of invisibility and silence, when it is just a ring of delusions

Personality: This is where he went from the best theif I've ever seen in D&D to the worst(Aside from losing 13 points of strength). He is Greedy, miserly, loves to collect gems and weapons, although he can barely hold almost any weapon. Truthful, he will always tell the truth(damn re-incarnation spell) Fidgety, and cunning. When he sees a good weapon he has to have it.

Example of his character, he stole a longsword from one of the other characters, the other guy found out about it walks up and asks "Are you the one who took my blade?" Blair looks up to the warrior standing over him, "n...yes" he replies trying to remain calm. "May I have it back?" The warrior asks, Blair keeps his eyes distracted while he reaches for his crossbow, "no" he replies. The warrior asks a few more questions and finally "will I have to kill you for it?" Blair smile and points his crossbow to the man's crotch. "Yes you will" he replied with a grin on his face as he motioned to his weapon.

Now the character is arrested by my other character a Marshall for the government of the human nation. The twisted personality of this character makes for exciting roleplay, despite the fact that he is utterly useless.
~~~~~~~~
My Marshal, Lieutenant in the service of the government of Merlot. Noted for his prowess with the sword, and cold attitude.

What: Swordmaster.

Strength(s): Few in all the land know the sword better than he. This has grabbed him some...unfavorable attention. Quick, light of foot.

Weakness(es): Strength, he lacks the strength of other warriors, however he makes up for this with his skill with the sword. He hasn't advanced further in the ranks of the Marshal unit due to his lack of the ability to lead others. Without his swords he is nothing.

Personality: Cold, Uncaring. Holds grudges, and doesn't like serving in the military. He only serves because he is forced to, and the only reason he even made it so far was his capability with the sword. He doesn't even enforce the law for the majority of the time unless he is strictly ordered to do so, or the crime was serious. Doesn't like the government.

Quirk(s): Talks to his pet Xaver(A living Longsword that eats metal) The others around him view him as slightly out of his mind. Keeps swords in perfect condition.



~~~~~
These characters however have been RPed for about two years and aren't fresh so heres one for everyone.(PS any characters I post below the ~~~~ I don't mind others using as long as they ask, and I will be adding characters every now and then)

Destin

What: Apprentice Mage

Strength(s): High learning capabilty, Great ability to lead others, and to draw people to him.

Weakness(es): Low Constitution, gaunt, more succeptable to sickness than others.

Personaliy: He's a very kind kid, being 16 years old he is a little rebelious, but doesn't show it openly as most teens would. Eager to learn, and grow in knowledge and Wisdom. He is also gulible being unburdoned by the troubles of life on the road, and unhardened as many adventurers are. Very obediant.




Caile you should make one of these for creating RPs as well, and make them both stickies)

[Voice Caile]

I plan on as soon as I get the time to sit and write it out well.

Thanks for the encouragement ;) As for making them stickies I can certainly do that for this one soon as I finish posting this.

If anyone has any other suggestions for things to add, or anything they'd like to add themselves please feel free.

[DemonArchangel]

thanks

[DemonArchangel]

as a newb, i have to try at a character. Here's my main character for D.C reiterated as followed to your format.

What: Scientist/Assassin
Strengths:Cunning, intelligent, scares the living daylights out of most sane people.
Other things: Is strong and fast, utterly fearless as well, does not feel pain as much as other people.
Weakness: Cannot relate with other people, isolationist, loner, obviously mentally ill, and has trouble hiding it. Cannot look at other people as equals, incapable of love.
Quirk(s): Cannibalism, and lots of it, will fight with his teeth in a hand-to-hand situation. Also, has abnormally powerful shoulders.
Flaws: Not Aryan/White (heck, have you ever seen an asian guy as a senator? In a modern Rp, race and other things mean something.) Also

[Voice Caile]

Not bad Demon. A suggestion however, note how I made one of my thiefs weaknesses a way to actually kill her, or some way for people to get around her defenses in battle etc. Try adding one of those.

[DemonArchangel]

add this to my character's flaws section.

Also, tends to alienate people and make enemies with others. (Yes that is a way to kill him considering how many people hate him.)

note: since my character is in a modern rp, combat weaknesses aren't that important, a gun is a gun and a bullet is a bullet.

[*Kain*]

Combat Weaknesses are very important. Your character is also more than abnormally strong, he's got super srength anyhow a good weakness for that peticular character might be that he cannot use firearms. He just can't aim right, to filled with all that craziness and rage.

[DemonArchangel]

actually, my character can use guns, but only under certain circumstances

(Edits)
strength: moves with abnormal silence
flaw: cannot shoot straight without chomping down on valiums (literally cannot hit the side of a barn at 5 paces with a shotgun). Cannot steady his hands under pressure (trembling). Hates the taste of valiums and tries to avoid them.

[Voice Caile]

Now -that- is an excellent challenge to create in a character Demon. And it makes him appear much more human and realistic.

The thing most people forget when they create a character is that humans are naturally flawed, and only because of those flaws are they human.

A character like the one you just created seems like a very interesting one to play across from, and it would be interesting to see how he would react to some situations.

[DemonArchangel]

oh well, anyway, i'm restarting D.C up again, if anyone's intrested pm me. Well anyway....

[Daron]

Maybe I can put in some suggestions for new RPers.

After you've created the basic idea (excellently described above by our dear voice and others) of your character, think of some situations you character is likely to get into. For example, most of us will visit taverns, fight duels, fight in major battles, talk to the king or queen of country etc etc.

These standard events you will encounter during RPing prove a testing ground for your character depth. For example, do you have a battlecry, a prayer, a talisman you use everytime in battle? Do you have a favourite drink, maybe several. An odd taste for exotic fruit. Do you have a standard phrase to greet people?

I'll give you a few examples. Many a soccer player has some talisman necklace he touches before entering the field. Some even tie their shoes in a special way.
In the Wheel of Time series by R. Jordan, people from different cultures have different greets. "walk in the light", "peace favour your sword", "may you always find shade" are just a few examples.

These questions give your character overall consistency and again a unique flavour every unique (human) being has.

Also worth reading is this guide on RPing written by Cool_One, a former member of this community. Hope I could help.

[Aeryn]

Couldn't resist popping my head in with a helpful hint or two.

I've often found that the characters I enjoy rp'ing with the most are not only believable in the sense that they can be killed and have interesting quirks, but also have very human moments. Even if you have a weakness like not being able to relate well to others and being cruel, that can get old to a reader because he seems so two dimensional and unlikely to change. I suppose in some ways this is merely an advanced form of strengths and weaknesses since readers like to see a character stumble and then rise to greater glory. However, it also about growth. If your character remains static throughout its history, people will more than likely grow bored of him/her.

For example, if you play a cruel and heartless warrior, perhaps have him learn somewhere along the way how it feels to lose loved ones at the hands of another cruel and heartless warrior. Or if you play a power hungry sorceress, let her see the costs of the power she has stolen. This break through could help your character grow into a well loved (and well read) part of the rp community. Granted, such changes should take more than just a few posts, but they are almost always worth it.

Hope that helps some!