Building an RP Character
by: Serenesta

Building a RolePlay Character

Originally Written By: Jessica/Serenestaâ„¢



....Building a character is both as hard and as easy as it may seem. It really depends on what kind of character you want to play, because around here, some types of characters are more accepted than others.
Why?
Well, some characters are considered too "far-fetched". Some are looked down upon if they aren't very original, and some are just boring.

The best way to create a character to play, is to choose something that is both familiar with other role players, as well as one that is moreso original.

How can you be both?
Easy, put together a character that has some or many traits, as something others already understand, and then add some things of your own, that maybe no other character, or few may have.

The first and most important step in creating any character, is to "create a type of character that you will enjoy playing". If you create one that you
may not be able to play very well, or one that doesn't suit your creative
interests, not only will you get bored playing it, but others around you
will get bored with it as well.

We will start with the basics...

*Choosing a character name & picture*

In my experiences, a name and picture were the hardest things to decide on.
A name says alot about a character. Some names sound "strong",
some "petite", some "wild", and so on. This opinion varies with
different people of course, but let's see an example:
The female name "Layla" sounds "soft", and even "innocent" to me, but I
want to create a female warrior character. So using the name
"Layla" wouldn't really go well with my character. Something like
"Sepheria", to me would be more what I'm looking for. Although
the name "Sepheria" also sounds like a sorceress' name to me. The point
is that some names just aren't fit for certain character personalities.

I have created a page with links to many good role play names, that you
may choose from. If you see something you like, feel free to use it.


Choosing a picture is easier, but the one thing that may be hard to get around,
is finding one that you like, that isn't already used by a hundred other people.
There are thousands upon thousands of fantasy art character pictures out
there, and there is one place in particular, that has over 5,000 in one
community, "The Fantasy Art Realm".
When choosing a character picture, try your best to choose one that you have
not seen very often used by others. If you haven't been around long enough
to know how often other pictures are already used, that's understandable,
and really there is nothing anyone can do about it.

*Creating your characters race*

...Here is where your creativity really starts to come in. There are so many
types of character races out there already to choose from, and it is fine to
choose one of those...most people do. Here are some...

*Fairies
*Demons/Demonesses
*Vampires
*Wraiths
*Dragons
*Shiftchangers
*Mage
*Warlock
*Sorceress
*Phantom
*Elf
*Dwarf
*Troll
*Wolf/Werewolf
*Human
*Angel/Fallen Angel

These are only some of the many races of character out there. Some, such
as Vampires & Demons, are played by so many different people, that they
are wearing them out altogether. So if decide on one such as that, try your
best to add things to your character, that will make it more interesting &
original. Such as I have with my character "Serenesta". I created her entire
demon race, so she isn't "just a demoness", not by far.

One thing you need to be VERY careful doing, is if you decide to play
a vampire race from the "Vampire the Masquerade" game, you must not
add too many things; or any at all, to the character, that aren't the traits or
abilities, that your chosen VTM vampire race was created with. When playing
any character from VTM, or other games like that, you should stick to how that
kind of character was created to be played. For instance, playing an "Assamite"
vampire with "Tremere" abilities, is not acceptable by most role players, and
you will be looked at as someone who is "butchering" a true character.

You may also choose to mix 2 or 3 different races of character. For example...
"Phantom/Demon", or even "Human/Vampire", but when doing this, try to
know what each race is in its' entirety, before mixing them. Because face it,
a "Fairy/Wolf", even in a fantasy world would be, well to put it bluntly..
"stupid".


*Creating your characters abilities/powers/etc*

...After you have put your character together, giving your character certain
abilities should come next.
There are even more abilities and powers out there to choose from, than
there are character races. Here are some...

*Sorcery
*Mindreading
*Firebreathing
*Shiftchanging
*Flight
*Mind control
*Camaflodge
*Mimicing
*Invisibility
*Super-Strength
*Elemental Control/Influence


These are not even half of half, of all the options out there.
Now, we want to make your character have cool abilities, but we don't want to
make it too far-fetched, nor do we want to make it too boring.
The main things you want to refrain from, are giving your character "God-like"
abilities, or too many abilities that do not make sense with the kind of
character you have chosen to play.
For instance, if you are playing a human/elf, you must take into consideration,
the abilities that both a human and an elf are more likely to have. Giving a
half human-half elf character a "fire breathing" ability, is a little too
far-fetched, because neither full-blooded elves nor humans, have that
capability. Also, no one likes to role play with someone who has given their
character so many powerful abilities, that their character is hard, or nearly
impossible to defeat, or even effect. These types of things are considered
"Moding". A "moder" and a "god-mode" character, is the last name you want to
be called, and have a reputation for being.
Now there is always the great option of creating your own abilities, that
maybe have never been heard of before. Many role players do this, and that is
where we show even more how creative we can be.
So let's say you have chosen a human/elf, and you created an ability of your
own, that gives your character the ability to turn any non-living thing into
sand, just by touching it. This is acceptable, but when making up abilities of
your own like this, you should make sure you have an explination as to
"how" your character gained such an ability. That is where your characters
past history comes in.

*Creating the background history of your character*

...This final part can take the longest, but depending on how much of an
imagination you have, it can be the part you become most proud of, because
most, if not all of it, will be like an original story coming from your mind, and
no one elses.
Believe it or not, a characters history is what makes every character so
different an unique, even moreso than your characters abilities can.
You can choose any history that you want really, but the one thing you
should be careful doing, is using a history for your character that is a history
already well-known by others people.
For instance, giving your character the history of being one of "the first"
childer of Caine, will surely bring you real life conflict with other role players.
There are so many other role players that claim that kind of history as it is,
that to me, that history isn't even interesting to me anymore.
Another example: Your character is the first daughter of Vlad Tepes. Sorry
to say, but with that character history, you are likely to get conflict as well.
So to be on the safe side, choose a history that maybe no one has ever heard of
before, or one that you think surely isn't already being used.
Creating a history can be fun and interesting, when you go as far as making
up the name of a land that your character came from, or even making up that
your character was cared for by some kind of beast, that you create on your
own, when he/she was a child. The possibilities are endless, and the
"original" possibilities are even more endless than histories that already exist.
Because playing a fantasy character, you have the ability to be whatever you
want to be...not just what is already out there.

Now believe it or not, playing a simple "human" is NOT boring. That is a
MAJOR misconception that many role players seem to have. Why? Because
humans are honestly what the role play world needs more of, in my opinion.
There are so many different "non-human" characters out there, that it's
almost as if humans do not even exist. One reason is because with all the
different powers that non-human characters have, most are afraid to play a
simple human character, in fear of never being able to stand against other
beings that are so powerful.
I think it takes someone brave and intelligent, to play a simple human character.
Not only is it harder to play, because so many other beings have all these
powerful abilities, but being able to keep your character alive in this vast
fantasy world of powerful creatures, is an accompolishment of its own. And take
it from me, it's not as hard to keep a human character alive as most would
think