Aerten News

[Isidarth]

I got most of this from a page on Lancepaw's Fort, a Redwall RPing site where I learned how to roleplay. I have adapted it to Pern.

Why is it important to develop a character before you RP it?

In order to roleplay consistantly, you need to have a set character. What they like/don't like, what they look like, everything might affect how they act in different situations.

Things to Consider

Obviously, you know that there are things a character HAS to have - a name, an appearance, skills. This is just common sense. But there are many things you need to know about your character.

*Name - There are many ways to create one. You can make one up on the spot. You can take an existing word and rearrange the letters. You could use a word in another language(as long as it's appropriate!). Don't let the name stump you! Just make sure it fits who your character is.

*Coloring - Like the name, no sweat. Just choose something that suits them, like tan for Southerners or pale for someone from High Reaches.

*Age - This mostly affects how your character behaves. Some Impress quite young and aren't fully mature yet. Others wonder why they were chosen over younger Candidates. The only thing to remember is this affects maturity and experiences.

*Size - Again, no biggie. Just remember that being tall, being short, and being average all have their pros and cons.

*Origin - Come up with a background story. None of these 'my parents are dead and I want revenge' or the 'why the heck do I need a background story so I've lived here all my life.' No. These are bad, and lame, and badly lame, and they bore me to tears. Come up with a story that explains why they act they way they do, it doesn't have to be fancy.

*Differences - In a well-developed character, there should be at least ONE thing to set them apart, besides rank. It could be simple, like a scar. It could be extreme, like a missing limb. This also applies to personality.

*Likes - Does your character have a best friend? A favorite food? A crush? This could influence how they act, especially in that one person's vicinity...

*Dislikes - Same thing. Is there a person they can't stand to be around? A task that drives them up the wall? You decide.

*Personality - A lot of things factor into this, including element, size, origin, likes/dislikes, differences, and age. A small, agressive person with a touchy past that dislikes whining and criticizing might explode if you pointed out that they were too small to do a job.

*Faults - PLEASE do not do the 'My character is absolutely perfect' thing. It is unrealistic and is really annoying to RP with. The faults range anywhere from a physical disability to a personality flaw, preferably at least one major flaw. This could be a dislike that gets in the way of fair judgment. This could be a tendancy to steal small items. Just no Mary Sues or Gary Stus.

((This was written for some of my other sites, so I apologize if it seems too bossy. And I realized just now that it pretty much tells you everything the other one does. Eh.))

I have another aid that I will post as soon as I find it in my binder. It is a more comprehensive guide for your own personal reference.

[Isidarth]

((I finded it!))

As I said before, this is more of a way to keep track of the little quirks of your characters that you don't necessarily want everyone to know. I recommend making these word documents so you can update them easily. A plus sign (+) indicates you may want to expound a bit on the topic.

(General info)
Name
Title/Rank
Gender
Age
Birthday
Marital status
Any siblings? +
Parents? +
Children? +
Childhood ++++++ (the more, the better. It helps you understand their point of view and personality)
Friends
Enemies
Rivals

(Physical appearance)
Eye color
Skin color
Hair color
Marks/Scars (know how they got their scars... somebody will ask them eventually)
Height
Build
Clothing preferences +
Unusual features
Speech (how do they talk?)
Cleanliness
Posture

(Strengths/Weaknesses)
Hearing
Sight
Intellegence
Disabilities
Fears +
Talents
Skills (I make a difference between these two; a talent is a natural ability and a skill is an acquired one)
Personality weaknesses
Personality strengths
Taboos (things they absolutely will not do or cannot stand)
Prejudices? +
Are they skilled in a weapon(s)?

(Misc. Info)
Any pets? +
Self esteem +
Are they likeable? +
Trustworthy? +
Do they trust others? +
Been betrayed? +
Betrayed another? +
Feel guilt? +
What gets them in trouble?
Do they have secrets? What?
What do they lie about?
To whom? Does he/she fall for it?
Are they easily tricked?
Have a blind spot?
Goal in life +
Greatest obstacle(s)?
Qualities considered a friend
Qualities considered an enemy
What would they do if failed/betrayed?
If an enemy/rival was the only hope, would they accept help?

(Favorites)
Color
Food
Beverage
Pastime

(Check qualities that apply of the following)
( ) curious
( ) imaginitive
( ) ambitious
( ) educated
( ) alert
( ) day-dreamer
( ) good logic skills
( ) reliable
( ) exciteable
( ) content
( ) lonely
( ) nervous
( ) unhappy
( ) guilty
( ) hiding something
( ) afraid
( ) bored


Feel free to ad categories for anything else you want to address, and tell me about it so I can add them. Happy character scouring!