You want to create a character that Everybody will enjoy.
Or you want to create a character that Not everyone will enjoy.
You want to create a character that will represent you or an Ideal version of you.
You want to create a character that will serve as a model that the Public will want to Emulate.
How do you do it?
This is how.
Quirks & Visual Design
- Accessories will define your characters before the 1st line of dialogue.
Hairstyle & Headwear
- How is her Hairstyle?
- Size – Big/Long/Short/Bald/Shaved
- Aspect – Straight/Wavy/Curly/Frizzy
- Material – Keratin/Wood/Stone/Bones/Plastic
- Shape – Square/Sphere/Oval/Pyramid/Trapezoid/Star/Heart/Mask/8
- Style – Braids/Updo/Cocoon…
- Headwear – Cap/Beanie/Cloche/Top/Helmet/Hood/Crown
- Hairstyle may be the most impactant accessory.
- It transforms the character’s silhouette.
- Imagine your character’s silhouette only, as a shadow.
- Change the Hairstyle : You’ve created a new character!
- It is immediately visible.
- It is always on the body.
- It is changeable (involuntary).
- It is malleable (voluntary).
Anatomy
- Anatomy is another way to express character without words
- The character’s Physiognomy will influence the Public
- Size – Small, Medium, Tall
- Shape – Square/Round/Triangular/Star/Heart/8
- Type – Petit/Slim/Slender/Muscular/Curvy/Busty/Thick/Big
- Alterations – Scars, Tattoos
- Appendixes – Tails, Wings, Tentacle, Claws, Horns,
- The shape, the color & the number of Limbs will create specificity.
- Head & Hands are an expressive space to use.
- These are the 2 most important parts of the anatomy for characterization.
- These 2 organs can transcribe all your character’s emotions & beliefs.
- Head Shapes – Oblong/Diamond/Square/Heart/Triangle/Oval/Round
- Face’s Features can be duplicated, distorted, displaced, substituted by another organ.
Objects
- Tools & Weapons – Spyglass, Pen & Notebooks, Swords/Lances, Axes/Maces, Torch/Lighter, Shields/Armor, Blanket & Cape.
- Jewels – Necklaces/Collars/Rings/Bracelets/Piercings/Earrings/Belts/Talismans/Appendixes/Watch.
Behaviors
- Habits & Manners.
- Habits define your character’s progression.
- Habits define the role, the archetype & the goals of the character
- Habits are long-term scaled & rigid
- Manners allow you to introduce your character easily.
- Manners define the role, the class & the beliefs of the character
- Manners are short-term scaled & flexible
- Verbals quirks are used to punctuate critical scenes.
- Make sure your characters have sayings for ‘Comfort’ scenes & others for ‘Crisis’ scenes to enhance story readability.
- Volume, Pace & Accents allow you to create multiple voices.
- One Liners & Sayings define scenes.
- Rituals prepare the Public for a critical scene.
- Abilities are class related and allow you to define the character’s role in the Story & in the Team.
- Offensive abilities are reserved to Advancing characters.
- Defensive abilities are reserved to Support/Consolidating characters.
Goal
- A Self-oriented character may be less appreciated than a Party-oriented.
- Altruistic characters, characters who attempts to better the World are easier to write & therefore to enjoy.
- However, a Self-oriented character will be more relatable.
- A character who has smaller-scale goal will be more relatable as well.
- This character may also be less dependent of the team.
Strengths
- An enjoyable character is Team-Oriented.
- Together in the Story, together out of the Story.
- She is Sociable & Fun.
- Discreet is not Secretive.
- A character may not want to expose certain parts of her identity
- Reserved is not Aloof.
- A character may need some individual space
- Everyone is the Leader.
- In an effective team everyone shares the Leader/Manager’s responsibilities.
- Inclusion is essential at all time.
- Your character should ask for team members’ input & insight.
- She should be open to suggestions.
- As well as invested in conversations.
- She should help team mates to decide and be Supportive.
- An enjoyable character is Proactive.
- She is Helpful & propose services.
- She takes initiatives.
- She shares resources.
- Food & Money
- Intelligence & Information
- Others
- Sharing may have a direct counterpart.
- She is Rigorous & Focus.
- She trains regularly in order to grow fast.
- Sadness & Courage moves her.
- She Plans & Prepares.
Weaknesses
- How does your character manage Team Issues?
- How does she express her Anger?
- Violently?
- Firmly?
- Does she hide it?
- Does she hide her Fears to the party?
- Is it Denial?
- Pain aversion?
- Grief & Loss?
- Is the character afraid of Losing &/Or Winning?
- Does she choose to be mediocre?
- Is she afraid to be rejected if she is too weak/too strong/too different?
- Is she afraid to be attributed responsibilities if she is too qualified?
- If her weaknesses are Relatable, they are Forgivable.
- Does she Complain often?
- Is she easily Bored?
- Is she Greedy with Food?
- Is she Capricious (with Food)?
- Does she lack of motivation & implication?
