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Traits of Characterisation; flaws, virtues and even a scale!
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Post by
Patty
What’s this? Oh, just that geek over-burdening himself with more tasks than he can possibly achieve. Nothing out of the ordinary, then. I know that there is a guide to backstories, which I recommend
reading
. I’ve noticed a few…strange characters popping up lately - not to name names at all - with some being the dreaded
Mary Sue/Marty Sam
(feel free to
test
the sue-ness of your characters). This is a guide, not a dictatorial thread, but following the advice would likely help everyone (myself included, I'll personally use this to gauge any characters I use.)
Now, half of the board have likely seen this poem already, thanks to abuse of MSN, but sourced from
here
, this is very typical of Mary-Sues, in a rather satirical way - although the ending usually differs.
Listen, O my children
And take careful heed
Lest you fall
Into this greatest misdeed
Of Fanfiction writers,
And Role-Players, too.
It is of Mary-Sue and Marty-Sam
Those names so horrible to hear
But that, alas, I fear we all
Have written,
Some day or other.
Mary-Sue takes many forms,
All name exotic she loves
Her hair is long
In shades of gold,
Or perhaps of bright shining red.
Whatever the color, it shimmers and sparkles
And its equal has yet to be found.
Her skin is so clear!
Her complexion so white!
Like a diamond displayed in the moonlight.
She is tall and beautiful, belovéd by all
Her eyes are an emerald green,
Her clothes always shimmer
And sway in the breeze
Even if they be made of leather!
Skilled and deadly in the arts of war,
Her bow and her sword always are near
Her aim is so true,
And her quiver never empties,
And she is never at lack
Of a quip to her enemies.
Now, my children, I turn to Marty-Sam
Lesser the known,
Much more the deadly.
Marty-Sam is ever so handsome,
But in a tasteful, dark kind of way,
"Authority? What's that?
Am I some kind of prat?"
(But then, one day he will be king.)
He is clothed all in black, so dashing and smart
His sword has a hilt of silver,
So rich, so beautiful, this weapon of war,
And it's name is, of course, unpronounceable.
Marty-Sam and Mary-Sue, both warriors, both handsome
Their foes fear them the most
Mary-Sue is the Elven Ranger,
Marty-Sam, a lonely warrior, searching for something…
It is Mary-Sue he is seeking!
Oh, wonderful day,
When he finds her and holds her a heartbeat away!
O, how they love each other!
Their joy has no bounds!
But wait! What is this!
Who can this be?
The Villain! Oh No! For it doth seem to me
That he loves Mary-Sue, but not very nicely.
Oh horror!
Oh dread!
Now it is time, his heroine kidnapped!
Marty-Sam girds up his sword,
And leaps on his steed, a stallion it seems,
A horse just as black as the night.
Mary-Sue, meanwhile, will not ever give in!
"Marty-Sam loves me," she cries.
Seeing his pervertedness
Will not win the day,
The Villain gets angry! Oh no!
Marty, hearing his heroine cry from a lonely tower
In a castle all covered in vines,
Jumps from the saddle, and begins to climb
Hoping his love will be fine.
Not to fear, Marty, 'cause Mary's quite well,
For in time she suddenly remembers:
She's a warrior! She's strong!
No one can deny
It is with great skill that she steals her foe's sword.
Holding it to his throat, Mary-Sue proclaims
That she is free, she is mighty, and no villain can win!
Oh no!
Because this is a sappy fanfic, or role-play, or…
whatever.
Just at that moment, Marty-Sam arrives!
He must rescue his heroine!
He must! He must!
Sword shining brightly, it comes down with force,
But wait! What on earth? This just isn't right!
Mary-Sue, if you'll kindly remember, has just rescued herself!
Is holding a sword
To the villain's neck!
Oh dear.
Oh dear me.
Marty-Sam's sword has found it's mark, but alas!
It also is where
Our Heroine just happens to stand
and it seems that
Her head, as well as the villain's
is cut cleanly off of her rest.
Marty-Sam stands there, transfixed with horror
This isn't how it's supposed to end!
He cries to the sky
"Oh, please, take my life!
For I have along with mine enemy destroyed my love!"
With that, and with a final kiss blown
To Mary, Marty leaps from the window and the tower so tall.
So please, oh my children, take my advise.
Never, oh never,
No, please never write
Of Mary-Sue
And her Marty-Sam.
~Fin.
---------
Coming Soon to a forum near you...
REVENGE OF THE CLICHES
--
Okay, this has been covered, but backstory. Backstory, backstory, backstory. This arguably makes or breaks a character.
Race.
Make sure you know enough about the culture of your race before you decide to try and make a character of that race. For example, this is shameless advertising, but I’m in the process of a long-winded series that will likely be abandoned soon™, called
‘A Comprehensive Guide to Races and Cultures’
. This is designed to help us gain an insight into races and their general attitudes. Weaving some things in and out from the lore of your race is what identifies your character as little-more than a human clone, in the case of an orc; or something.
Are you playing a Blood Elf? How do they deal with their magical addiction, how much did they suffer? Are you playing a Draenei? How do they feel about the orcs which massacred their kind, how attuned with the Light are they; why? These are the types of questions you need you ask yourself, whilst ensuring that they coincide with the highly volatile lore.
Class.
Why has your dwarf chosen to wear the robes of the Light; why is your troll a shaman and your orc a warrior? Did they find interest in a book, did they become what they are with talent, out of necessity; anecdotal evidence or otherwise? Now, specs and lore are quite difficult to line up. Priests, largely. Your draenei will not lore-wise be a shadow priest; categorically and fundamentally NO‼ It’s the polar opposite for an undead, you are not using the Holy Light, no matter what the game mechanics tell you.
How did your character train as the class that they are? Where, when? Who helped them? Answering the questions that are here will help you with your character; I promise on my obsession for elves!
Lore characters.
As Adamsm stated in his thread, you’re treading on eggshells with Lore characters. Firstly, let me clarify some things for you.
You are not best friends with Tyrande, Sylvanas, Thrall, Varian or any other faction leaders; of any faction.
You did not nearly, or succeed in, besting the Lich King/Illidan/Deathwing/Azshara in a one-on-one fight. If you participated in ICC or BT and want to carry that onto your characters, you were one of many, not a 25 man raid team with bloodlust and kings, and you did not loot the war glaives of Azzinoth as a reward. Closely linked, you’re not someone’s most powerful servant/ally/subordinate.
Similarly, you did not save <z> from something single-handedly. Really. There’s a reason that they are powerful in lore, and in most cases, a ? level in WoW.
Avoid big lore characters because if you think you’re being original, such as being x’s long-lost-child or y’s love interest. Not only is it a poor idea, but we’ve seen it all before. About 10 times. I would wager my life on it. I would wager a baby seal’s life on it. I like baby seals.
A lot.
Angst.
Now, angst can be good to use. But…it tends to be overused or poorly used resulting in annoying and unrealistic characters.
To understand how to use the word properly, we need a definition.
A feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression.
Okay, so let’s break this down into good angst and bad angst.
Good angst; it’s a running theme of your character, you’re miserable, anxious, and perhaps self-loathing. You’re depressed all the time and have a tendency to depress those around you as well. An example of good angst which springs to mind for me is
Bob
from A20, the negative emotion is integral to him and is a major characteristic flaw of his.
Bad angst; your character regrets something, but only periodically does it crop up with a random outburst of “waa it was my fault and this bad thing happened to me/someone I care about”. These tend to be the annoying whiney types. Depression and self loathing are not as uniformly frequent as one’s menstrual cycle, it should deeply affect your character and the way they act most of the time. Think
Twilight
; that is bad angst.
Memory-loss.
Done to death, resurrection, death again, breaking the shackles of the Lich King again and back to death. Be very, very careful about this. It’s a fairly delicate thing to use. Amnesia may seem original, but really… it’s not. Also, it may seem like a convenience, but memory loss can be more difficult to pull off than a normal backstory.
Good examples of memory loss; I’m thinking Garos, his memories piece together in some cases, and cause drama when some of the past is revealed (two trolls, one Halfling anyone?). Not overly done, or too distasteful.
Physical attractiveness.
I know it’s so easy to write “(s)he is the mostest bestest looking fing u will eva c.” but….don’t force beauty on people. I’ll give you a good & bad example, which I have read on people’s FlagRSP descriptions.
Good: <name> stands at 5’10, with violet skin and green hair, with silver eyes. She usually wears a silk gown of the Sisters of Elune.
This is brief and to the point, describing what they look like and who they are in only a few words, without forcing their appearance - or impressions of their appearance - on to the reader.
Bad: <name> gracefully towers over many, with glistening, unblemished and perfect, beautiful lilac skin. Her features could have been carved by the titans, her soft nose and her luscious lips complimented by a wave of silver-white, accentuating her natural and primal, untamed beauty. Her eyes glow silver, like the moon on a clear, cloudless night; illuminating her like the beacons and soft orbs that leave Darnassus in a hazy, yet stunning twilight, although their dim hue could penetrate the darkest soul. The shimmering white-blue robe she wears reflects light back onto her perfect skin, whilst skirting her buxom and perfectly attractive hourglass figure.Where to begin? Forcing an idea of perfection, use of ‘orbs’…it’s all sickening.
When writing physical descriptions, less is more. You want it brief and to the point, a general appearance for them to form their own judgement from, not a ‘they are really hot’ or ‘they are really ugly’. The key thing is that
beauty is in the eye of the beholder, forcing a character‘s opinion down their own throat is godmoding.
Heroic virtues and flaws.
I’ve touched on a couple, such as angst. However, there’s a very in-depth guide
here
, which I found rather insightful.
I’m going to quote a tid-bit here, because it’s very linked to my point about beauty, but using another example.
So, here’s another good/bad example:
Virtues and flaws belong in RP, not RSP.
Writing “Grand Marshal-General Marius Parutznikus Ravenus von de Marysueshire has an aura of leadership and everyone around him feels compelled to follow his lead and orders” is not RP at all. It is godmoding.
Act your virtue/flaw out
, just as you would with any other kind of trait.
“Captain Karl von Pannewitz walks in a straight, proud posture, has a firm, resounding voice and speaks in an authoritative manner -- as if he were incharge, regardless of the situation” and actually giving him quotes that make him feel sound like a solid, experienced and respectable fellow works wonders.
Bolded the most key part. It’s all well and good giving your character flaws, but you have to make sure that they show through! To quote this guide again;
No one can be a tormented lover, an unflinching stoic, a judgemental jerk or a
determinator
24/7, 365 days per year. From time to time remove your main trait from the spotlight, allow for a change of pace and climate, let your flawed hero win,
let your virtuous hero lose
.Again, bolded the key point. Never losing is passive godmoding, so remember that your characters are not
invincible
unbeatable.
Post by
Patty
Now time for a fun
pointless
game! Using both
this
and
this
, find no more than 4 heroic virtues and 4 heroic flaws relating to your character. Use the 1-10 scale to make more sense of your character! It makes things so easy, really. Because I know you're lazy, I'll post the virtues/flaws/numbers info we need to know here. Here's the catch, for each virtue you need a flaw to balance things.
Flaws
Ambitious:
You crave power. Money is good, but what you really want is power and it does not matter whether it is magical, military, social or otherwise. You are likely to be brought down by attempting a risky grab for the form of power you so desire.
At RP:
You speak of your plans and dreams - loudly! You constantly try to make friends with powerful, established and influential characters even if you utterly dislike them. A monetary reward for a successful quest is nice, but what you really want is reputation and political favours. You consider eager followers to be your greatest assets.
Arrogant:
You think you are better than others. Your clothes are the most fashionable, your sword the sharpest, your armour the shiniest, your ideas the best and you have to let everyone know how much better you are.
Boastful:
You are a showoff. You boast, you gloat, you tell everyone about your accomplishments and disparage your enemies. And when you have 'em lying down at your feet begging for mercy, you simply cannot resist the urge to monologue on and on about your superiority.
At RP:
You keep telling stories about your accomplishments. You take mementos from defeated foes and show them off in public, often in a derisive, taunting manner. Every blow comes with a personal insult to match and when your foe pulls off an impressive manoeuvre you make a big show of your disdain.
Brutal:
As opposed to what people say, you know the meaning of mercy. You just are very unwilling to show it - ever. You just prefer to hit things until they stop moving at all.
At RP:
Unlike a hot-headed character, you fight with a cold, calculating demeanour. While a hot-headed character might leap into the fray to decimate foes quickly, you focus on abilities which cause pain and trauma rather than - or in addition to - damage.
Compulsive Liar:
In fact, you value truth very much. So much that you've taken to yourself to meticulously avoid expending or giving away as much of it as you possibly can. As a result, every bit of that precious, glittering thruth is wrapped in a thick, protective layer of lies, half-truths and enigmas.
Conservatist:
You firmly believe that the old ways are the best ways. The traditional system supports everything that is noble and important and any kind of change brings only chaos and destruction.
At RP:
At best, you prefer tried and true methods over new ideas. They have worked before and you won't abandon them in favour of new ways which might or might not work better. You like order and stability, which makes you very predictable. At worst, the very thought of altering the old and traditional ways of your people fills you with irrational dread. After all, if we cannot trust our rituals which we have practised since time immemorial, what can we trust?
Cowardly:
Perhaps a better word would be “has a strong sense of self-preservation.” You don't like to risk your life and limb, even if circumstances demand it.
Daredevil:
You get a rush from dangerous stunts. You are perfectly willing to risk your wealth, reputation, health and even life just for the kicks and exhilaration.
At RP:
You open a door even if it's probably trapped, you taunt that nasty-looking guy with big, spiky spaulders, you rush into enemies even though no one is prepared (Goddamnit, Leeroy!), you drink a potion even if it's probably poison, you put on a necklace even if it's probably cursed.
Envious:
For some reason everyone has it better than you. They have shinier armour, better toys of war and more money. You tend to get envious over the smallest things.
Greedy:
Money makes your eyes light up with joy. The more the better, as long as it spends.
Hedonistic:
You like pleasure and having a good time – a bit too much. You like good food, fine wine, luxuriant clothes and there's no better way to spend your free time than enjoying the finer things in life with your friends.
Hot-headed:
You have a chip on your shoulder and a bit of fish too! Your fuse is short and you're ready to get in a scuffle at the slightest hint of insult or things not going your way.
At RP:
You speak in short, curt sentences. When battle approaches, you use your best spells and abilities right away to dish out tremendous punishment as quickly as possible and vent your anger.
Inattentive:
Your mind has the tendency to drift off at random. Your thoughts flow so fast that you have trouble focusing on the here and now.
Indecisive:
You have trouble making difficult choices or split-second decisions. If you are faced with a choice between letting a villain escape and saving your sweetheart, you're likely going to agonise over the situation until your hand is somehow forced.
Judgemental:
You form opinions quickly and change them slowly. Worse, you have the habit of judging people according to their appearance or stereotypes. An Orc, no matter how gentlemanly, is always a cruel, savage animal as far as you're concerned. A man in black leather is always a thief and scoundrel and a woman with revealing clothes is always a prostitute.
Lazy:
Whatever you have to do today, do the day after tomorrow! You'll have two days' worth of free time. Either due to a warped time perception or a natural idleness, you are incredibly slow to act.
Lecherous:
You just can't keep from chasing skirts. A fair woman (or handsome man, however your tastes run) is an almost irresistible temptation.
Loyal:
You find it very difficult to abandon a friend, even if it's only to run and get help for them. As for leaving a fallen comrade to die – forget it. You may also be completely loyal to an employer, no matter how badly you're treated, how wrong it is or how low it might bring you.
Naïve:
Mentally you're a wide-eyed child who would never believe there are individuals who would lie or deceive you. After all, people are basically good, right?
At RP:
You make social gaffes due to your insular outlook. Others work their way with tact and aplomb, you stumble around like a bull in a china shop. However, you mean well and your naivete gives you a certain charm.
Overconfident:
Nothing is beyond your capabilities. You could conquer all of Azeroth single-handedly, it's just you haven't yet found a reason to do so. And that evil spell will surely only tickle a bit.
Overzealous:
You can only have strong opinions. Everything you believe, you believe as if your life depended on it. Everything you hate, you hate with a passion.
Proud:
Don't they dare pity you! If a gift or offer has the slightest feel of charity, you grow indignant and refuse it.
Rash:
You have the urge to stick your fingers between the doors and its frame when somebody's about to shut it. If you hear a scream in the back alley, you're likely to investigate no matter how dangerous. You're not stupid, but your curiosity often gets the better of you.
Reckless:
You lack the emotion of fear. Unfortunately, that makes you do foolhardy things. You won't flinch when a demon roars in your face, but you also will never run when severely outclassed.
Righteous:
You are more than ready to commit more than questionable deeds in order to achieve a noble goal, fight fire with fire, so to say. The ends justify the means, but this kind of thinking alienates those who would support you if you weren't using such heavy-handed methods.
Star-crossed:
You are Amour's practice target, you just keep falling in love – constantly and with all the wrong people like daughters of nobles with Names To Run Away From or dashing SI:7 agents.
Stubborn:
You don't often change your mind – if you do at all. Once you've decided on a course of action, you will pull it through no matter what the consequences. Attempts to convince you will usually wash off you like water off a duck.
Unfortunate:
Your luck isn't terrible; you'd be already dead if it was. It's just that lucky breaks happen to other people. Look at it this way: if you need some blind luck to get out of some funny affairs, expect to have some fun for a while.
Vain:
You adore and admire beauty, you live to see it, savour it, perfect it - but not just any beauty. The only beauty worth tending to and worshipping is your own.
At RP:
Carry a comb and pocket mirror with you at all times, or - if you'd like to roleplay it hardcore - a whole satchel of cosmetics. Use them often. Ask others what they think of your looks. If threatened with disfigurement, your resolve will likely melt like a snowflake in a flamethrower.
Vengeful:
You have a grudge against a specific creature type, organisation, country or individual. Perhaps they have killed your family, torched your village or teased you when you were a kid. One thing is sure though, they will suffer.
Post by
Patty
Virtues
Adaptable:
Thanks to lightning-quick mental reflexes you adapt easily to sudden changes around you. If someone jumps from a height directly at you, you casually step aside. If scything blades come out of a wall, you have the presence of mind to get out of the way.
Altruistic:
You like to help people. In fact, you may even be better at helping others than pursuing your own goals!
At RP:
You always carry extra potions, ammunition, food, water and any other goods others may need to keep your friends going. If faced a choice between attacking and aiding an injured companion, you usually opt for the second choice.
Challenger:
Your quest is not that of fame, reputation, riches or even saving the world. What you strive for is constant self-improvement so that you might one day achieve the absolute pinnacle in your chosen path, whether it be combat, magic, stealth or any other ability.
Charming:
You go out of your way to observe social niceties. You might or might not have ulterior motives.
Chivalrous:
If you play a Paladin or Warrior, you are the chevalier sans peur et sans reproche, the knight without stain or blemish, a lone and unreachable summit of honour and righteousness, a paragon of virtue, comparable only with others with the same virtue and looked up to by all others. If you play any other class, your honourable behaviour could put many Knights and Paladins to shame. Remember that the concept of honour varies wildly from race to race – be creative!
Comforting:
You have a certain soothing, motherly quality about you, perhaps a soft tone of voice, the way you move or a general “feel.” One thing is certain: if you stay calm and play your cards well, you soothe emotions and drive fear away with ease.
Commanding:
You have a quality of a leader or father about you. Whether it's a firm, authoritative tone of voice, a particular stance or an aura of confidence and composure, you may experience that during larger battles people will gather around you, protecting and awaiting orders.
Courageous:
True courage is not the inability to feel fear, but rather finding enough inner strength to resist it and keep going. Many beasts and spellcasters of Azeroth and Outland can rouse fear in the hearts of mortals, whether through sheer power or malevolent spells. When something or someone is used to people fleeing in his presence, the sight of a person who stands and fights can be pretty unnerving to them.
Creative:
You are prone to sudden flashes of inspiration. You might notice the scent on a site of murder is a perfume used by a lady you have met nearby or that the number of knobs on an artefact is equal to the number of etched pillars in an earlier chamber. This could well help you deduce who the murderer might be or that the pillars might contain some hints about the nature of the artefact.
Disciplined:
You are rigorous and structured in your personal endeavours. This might manifest itself as constant combat training, regular meditation or prayer, monitoring the food you eat and the liquids you drink and any similar action.
At RP:
You go through a meditation or exercise regimen at a fixed daytime. If you miss it, you feel uneasy about the lapse in routine for the rest of the day. In your mind, your body is a tool as much as your armour, weapons and spellbooks; it needs rest and proper care. For example, you insist on getting a full night's rest whenever possible and expect others to meet your standards.
Dependable:
Your word is worth as much as solid gold. If you commit yourself to any project, your integrity, truthfulness and trustworthiness will see to it that everything you do, you do to the best of your ability.
Exemplary:
You lead by example. You are good at showing others the exact movements needed and getting them to coordinate their efforts with you.
Focused:
You can concentrate all your efforts on a single task. Your world narrows until only your work remains. This allows you to accomplish a lot using limited resources.
Fortunate:
those annoying quirks of misfortune that plague others... plague others. Your horse won't throw a shoe during a chase, now will you stumble while performing an easy combat manoeuvre. Your luck is good, but remember that even the luckiest people can have a bad day.
Friendly:
You have an open, outgoing personality. If you play your cards well, people warm up to you quickly.
Impartial:
When you judge, you always judge by objective criteria, never upholding bias, prejudice or favouritism.
Insightful:
You understand human (or orcish, or dwarven, etc.) nature. You can quickly determine the defining characteristic of another person's personality. This helps to ferret out weaknesses and gain forewarning of strengths.
Inspirational:
Being around you spurs people to greater efforts. You are always encouraging others and helping them find that little bit of potential necessary to accomplish a difficult task.
Intuitive:
You know things which you shouldn't. Bits of information mix and boil in your head and sometimes lead you to conclusions you'd never have guessed. This gut feeling doesn't give you answers, but seems to lead you in just the right direction.
Martyr:
You willingly and even eagerly put your life on the line for a greater purpose. This purpose might be a cause, an organisation, a single person, a group of people or just about anything else. You are willing to die for this purpose and, in fact, expect to do so. However, you refuse to die in vain - your death must have a greater meaning and it must inspire others to greatness.
Passionate:
You are at your best when sliding down a rope to prevent a loved one from crashing on the rocks below or tossing yourself in the way of a bullet or arrow in order to save a friend's life. At those moments you can pull off feats of amazing heroism.
Patriotic:
Your life for the country, right or wrong. Your entire being is an expression of loyalty towards your homeland.
At RP: You prefer to fight in its traditional style and your weapons aren't just simple tools - they are symbols of your allegiance.
Perceptive:
Your senses are drawn to some details. You notice a brown stain on a knight's mantle, the nervous behaviour of a liar, the relocation of a prized signet ring from the finger of one lady to another. Such observations are second nature to you and you hardly ever overlook important clues.
Perspicacious:
In order to fight evil one must understand evil. You may not like it, but you can put yourself into a villain's shoes and understand him.
Propitious:
You can't say why, but things seem to happen just at the right moment for you. You get thrown into prison on the eve of a major outbreak, the opponent is somehow hindered right before he finishes you off, a deathtrap you and your party have been thrown in has an easy, convenient escape method. This is powerful, so use very sparingly and always consult others who are with you in the scene before doing so.
Reformed:
You are a former villain. You have gone through a significant change in life and learned that kindness does pay. Perhaps you are an ex-criminal turning over a new leaf or maybe a new devotee of the Holy Light but either way, that former vile person is gone even if his or her deeds and enemies are not.
Sage:
You might be self-righteous and condescending, you might be humble and kind, but the one undeniable fact is that you know a lot and like spreading your knowledge around.
At RP:
Some sages are keen at explaining kinships, natural connections and one's purpose in life, serving as spiritual guides. Others maintain vast amounts of concrete, useful information. Many specialise, and some turn to adventuring to improve their knowledge by way of observation. Remember to learn your lore by heart if you do not wish to blunder and make yourself the laughing stock of your peers.
Self-controlled:
The verbal slings and arrows people hurl at you roll of your back. You see through seduction attempts and laugh them off. And of course, nobody ever intimidates you.
At RP:
You are the eye at the centre of the storm. You rely on reason and rationality despite the chaos and rage surrounding you. While others shout and argue, you speak in calm and measured tones. And when you lose your temper, people remember it for years.
Uncanny:
Some people think you've got a sixth sense, others that your secret are sharp eyes and a keen mind. Whatever the reason, you can sniff out when trouble is coming and coming fast.
Wilful:
Simply put, there is nothing that can stop you from your goals. Nothing. You may back off for a moment, but only to muster more strength.
Worldly:
You've been around, you have seen it all and you possess much practical how-know.
Easily define your character in basic terms, generate brand new ideas for characters or round off your character to make it more believable in RP. Guaranteed to prevent Mary-Sues and still provide interesting characters!
You have 100 points to spend in 20 categories. You don’t need to be smart to know that means you could have an even spread of 5 points in each. Each category goes up to 10 points, with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. You can spread the wealth around however you want, being sure to keep within the 100 point guideline.
The stats:
1. Attractiveness (0 – Ugly, 10 – Beautiful)
2. Wit (0 – Witless, 10 – Word Maestro)
3. Intelligence (0 – Imbecile, 10 – Genius)
4. Physical Prowess (0 – Martial Moron, 10 – Combatant Pro)
5. Muscular Strength (0 – Weedy Weed, 10 – Arnold Schwarzenegger)
6. Attention Span (0 – Easily Distracted, 10 – Single-minded)
7. Pain Resilience (0 – Cry baby, 10 – Hard nut)
8. Lustfulness (0 – Loveless twit, 10 – Sensual Seeker)
9. Greed (0 – Greedy Gus, 10 – Noble Nigel)
10. Cash Flow (0 – Lowly beggar, 10 – Richie Rich)
11. Arcane Attunement (0 – Mystified, 10 – Mastered)
12. State of Mind (0 – Crazy, 10 – Ocean of Serenity)
13. Bravery (0 – Coward, 10 – Lion)
14. Marksmanship (0 – Aimless, 10 – Hawk-eyed)
15. Temptation Resistance (0 – Bought like that, 10 – Infinite cost!)
16. Resourcefulness (0 – One-Shot man, 10 – Connected)
17. Recovery (0 – Panics at failure, 10 – Easily comes back)
18. Intimidation Factor (0 – Huggy Bear, 10 – Scary Monster)
19. Sense of Humour (0 – Not a joker, 10 – Star of the Show)
20. Threat Assessment (0 – Mindless, 10 – Mindful)
Post by
Patty
Because people like villains,
here
are some flaws and well...not-so-virtues to choose from for a villain.
Flaws
Ambitious:
You crave power. Money is good, but what you really want is power and it does not matter whether it is magical, military, social or otherwise, as long as it puts you in charge of other people. You are likely to be brought down by attempting a risky chase for power you so desire.
Arrogant:
You think you are better than everyone. Your clothes are the most fashionable, your sword the sharpest, your armour the shiniest, your ideas the best and you have to let everyone know how much better you are.
Careless:
For some reason Heroes always manage to escape your clutches. You don't understand how it's possible. After all, you throw them into easily escapable deathtraps before leaving them alone with your bumbling guards while you wander away for no apparent reason...
Cowardly:
Perhaps a better word would be “has a strong sense of self-preservation.” You often hesitate to put yourself at risk, even if there is a good reason to do so.
Cruel:
You have a sadistic streak that causes you to perform acts of cruelty for no good reason. Of course, this does not endear you to your followers. Expect a Henchman, sick of the treatment he receives to betray you. Maybe not right away, but the very moment it's feasible. And if possible, you'll likely kill the Henchman the moment you find out about his betrayal.
Envious:
For some reason everyone has it better than you. They have shinier armour, better toys of war, more money and a prettier wife. You tend to get envious over the smallest things.
Extravagant:
You enjoy living in the lap of luxury. Ale is never good when you have fine wine instead. And you aren't happy with anything less than the finest room in the inn.
Greedy:
Money makes your eyes light up with joy. Pecuniae obediunt omnia! (“All things yield to money”)
Hot-headed:
You have a chip on your shoulder and a bit of fish too! Your fuse is short and you're ready to get in a scuffle at the slightest hint of insult or things not going your way.
Lecherous:
You just can't keep from chasing skirts. A fair woman (or handsome man, however your tastes run) is an almost irresistible temptation.
Megalomaniac:
You want to rule the world. You believe you are the only person on the planet worthy of possessing power. You are quite willing to play your Henchmen along for the saps, but you would never allow them to share in your victory.
Merciful:
For a Villain, you have a terrible weakness: you don't like to hurt people. Given the choice, you'd rather exile your deposed brother than to finish him. Whether it's because you want your enemies to live knowing that you beat them or because you just have a small soft spot in your heart, the result is the same: your enemies come back again and again.
Obvious:
For some reason, everyone seems to be able to identify you as a villain immediately. You aren't sure why, after all, you do everything right: your moustache is sufficiently twirly, you practice your cackle and hand-rubbing daily, you dress in regulation black and wear the regulation top hat...
Unfortunate:
Your luck isn't terrible; you'd be already dead if it was. It's just that lucky breaks happen to other people. Look at it this way: if you need some blind luck to get out of some funny affairs, expect to have some fun for a while.
Misled:
You don't know that you're a Villain. You honestly believe that you are a Hero, that it's you who is doing the Right Thing. Sometimes, though, you have your doubts... Just at that crucial moment...
Overconfident:
Nothing is beyond your capabilities. You could conquer all of Azeroth single-handedly, it's just you haven't yet found a reason to do so. And that spell will surely only tickle a bit.
Paranoid:
Everyone is waiting for their chance to betray you. Make sure you get rid of them before the they have the chance!
Proud:
Don't they dare pity you! If a gift or offer has the slightest feel of charity, you grow indignant and refuse it.
Scheming:
You like big, convoluted plots. The more complicated, the better. In fact, your schemes are so hard to grasp that your Henchmen screw them up entirely. It's hard to get good help these days. In addition, you never do things the easy way: why stab the Hero if you can lower him into a maze full of your Goons and deadly traps?
Squeamish:
You don't want blood on your hands. Oh, it's okay to have blood on others' hands, but you don't like to do the deed yourself. If course, you don't always check up on followers to make sure the job is done – after all, the sight of blood disturbs you.
Stubborn:
You don't change your mind often – if you do at all. Once you've decided on a course of action, you will pull it through no matter what the consequences. Attempts to convince you will usually wash off you like water off a duck.
Talkative:
You have a problem you can't keep to yourself. Actually, you can't keep anything to yourself. Your ideas are simply so clever that you want to tell them to other people so that you can watch astonishment creep across their faces before they tell you how smart you are.
Wiles
Adaptable:
Thanks to lightning-quick mental reflexes you adapt easily to sudden changes around you. If someone jumps from a height directly at you, you casually step aside. If scything blades come out of a wall, you have the presence of mind to get out of the way.
Beguiling:
You sure don't look like a Villain. In fact, most folks would trust you with their grandmother's life savings. Play your cards right and the Heroes might never discover that you are a Villain... until it's too late.
Brilliant:
Do the words “criminal mastermind” ring a bell? Elaborate plots and schemes are your bread and butter. Your plots are so deep and far-reaching that not even your Henchmen can keep track of them. Whenever it seems the Heroes have figured you out, you pull some twist out of your pocket and throw them off-guard.
Careful:
Your plans are extremely well thought out and you design clever ambushes and traps. Your plans have always a back-up contingency and there are never obvious flaws in them.
Charismatic:
You are an exceptional public speaker. Your men will follow you to the death. While pretending you care for them annoys you, it helps keep the morale up.
Commanding:
You exude confidence and composure. This has a tendency to unnerve your opponents.
Deceitful:
You don't strike others as a villain. They never suspect you until it's too late. Even magical probing has trouble discerning your true nature.
Fanatical:
Your cause means everything to you. Death is acceptable if it helps finish your goals. The most dangerous man in the world is the one who is not afraid to die for his cause.
Focused:
You can concentrate all your efforts on a single task. Your world narrows until only your work remains. This allows you to accomplish much using limited resources.
Fortunate:
Those annoying quirks of misfortune that plague others... plague others. Your horse won't throw a shoe during a chase, now will you stumble while performing an easy combat manoeuvre. Your luck is good, but remember that even the luckiest people can have a bad day.
Hateful:
You know how to hold a grudge. When someone makes an enemy out of you, he doesn't know what he's gotten himself into. You are capable of devoting your life towards the goal of utterly destroying a single individual.
Honourable:
You are not the ruthless type. In fact, there is a well-defended line that you won't cross. You have subscribed to some romantic ideas that go around the courts these days. Some of them.
Prudent:
Some Villains go after Heroes with reckless abandon. Not you. You carefully consider each and every step leading towards your goal. Every move is deliberate and designed.
Recurring:
You are a slippery fish. Whenever the Heroes think they've gotten rid of you, you return to torment them another day. If they hack you to pieces, burn the remains and scatter the ashes, it wasn't you, it was a perfect double of yours. And there's no way you fail to survive falling off a waterfall where you've been battling the Heroes.
Regal:
Most Goons work for the pay-check, but yours are different. You impress them. You inspire them. They believe in you and your cause and they draw strength from their confidence.
Resourceful:
Heroes have a tendency to underestimate you. You've spent a lifetime becoming what you are, acquiring skills you know and no bunch of idealistic fools are going to stop you.
Ruthless:
You never hesitate to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals. Nothing is too evil for you, as long as it serves the purpose you desire. This often leaves your enemies reeling in shock while you finish them off.
Seductive:
With whispered words of evil, you can convince a saint to lie, cheat, steal and kill. Your slippery arguments can twist a man's head around and make him believe he's doing evil for a good cause.
Self-controlled:
The verbal slings and arrows people hurl at you roll of your back. You see through seduction attempts and laugh them off. And of course, nobody ever intimidates you.
Uncanny:
Some people think you've got a sixth sense, others that your secret are sharp eyes and a keen mind. Whatever the reason, you can sniff out when trouble is coming and coming fast.
Victorious:
If there was a god of war on Azeroth, you'd be his darling. Somehow, when it seems like you're doomed to fall in battle, you can summon up incredible reserves of strength.
Wilful:
Simply put, there is nothing that can stop you from your goals. Nothing. You may back off for a moment, but only to muster more strength.
---
Feel free to post your flaws, virtues and stats below, as well as a quick descriptive summary of the character. This could become a forum game, if you want.
Post by
313143
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
R1TeR
Okay? Why would you make a thread on how people should play thier charactor?
Post by
Patty
Okay? Why would you make a thread on how people should play thier charactor?
It's a guide, a point of reference.
Post by
R1TeR
Okay? Why would you make a thread on how people should play thier charactor?
It's a guide, a point of reference.
Really? Seems more like a rulebook
Post by
Patty
Okay? Why would you make a thread on how people should play thier charactor?
It's a guide, a point of reference.
Really? Seems more like a rulebook
Really? It's advice, strongly worded in some cases, but advice none-the-less. Plus, disclaimers in the opening paragraph, y'know...?
Post by
R1TeR
Does it really matter how a person plays "
thier
" charactor, as long as its lore right I dont really care how the person acts
Post by
313143
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Patty
Does it really matter how a person plays
thier
charactor, as long as its lore right I dont really care how the person acts
Shallow characters get boring after a while, usually get shunned in many RP communities - including ingame -, and I'm linking other points of reference about making an in-depth and believable character. By all means, someone can choose to play a stereotypical character who loses entertainment very quickly, but if they want to make a character which has identifiable qualities, then here's a guide on it. If it seems very dictatorial then I'm sorry, but that's not at all its intention or purpose.
Edit: MM, that's from the original guy's thread, and I think it's about right, strength in some areas compensated with weakness in others.
Post by
R1TeR
Am I like the only one who doesnt take RPin seriuosly? Its a hobbie not a job.
Post by
Patty
Am I like the only one who doesnt take RPin seriuosly? Its a hobbie not a job.
Which is why it's a guide. If you don't want to use the advice, you don't have to; it's there as an option for those who
do
want to use some advice.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Adamsm
Heh, well written guide Patty.
Edit: Also, put in a request for a sticky heh.
Post by
R1TeR
I will use the points guide tho, heres Avery's
1) 7
2) 6
3) 6
4) 8
5) 7
6) 5
7) 5
8) 3
9) 9
10) 3
11) 0
12) 8
13) 5
14) 1
15) 7
16) 2
17) 10
18) 2
19) 5
20) 1
Post by
Patty
Okay, time for me to make a summary of one of my characters.
Lyriel is
conservative
, believing greatly in the traditions of her people and is heavily
judgemental
, almost never changing her first impressions; no matter how wrong they are. On the other hand, she has a strong
passion
for what she believes in, and she holds great
patriotic
pride for herself and her kindred.
4
5
6
4
2
8
9
0
3
6
1
4
9
0
7
6
4
2
3
5
My total no. used was 88, before anyone asks. 100 is merely the cap. :)
Post by
R1TeR
lol, my total was 100
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