Another Humanity

Improvisation for Storyteller – Playing Multiple Characters

  • Characters are the foundation of your story.
  • Creating them will be the most engaging task.
  • So much so that an author may get trapped into the character creation’s process.

Summary – How to play Multiple Characters?

  1. Create 6 Characters
  2. Give them Roles & Functions
  3. Give them converging Goals & Alignments
  4. Give them a Place to Interact
  5. Let them Interact
  • The Purpose of this article is to purvey a simple 5-Steps Process to help you play multiple Characters easily.

Diversity

  • At least 6 Characters
  • Start by Creating 6 Characters.
  • Here are the 5 words you need for each of them.
  • 1 Early Strength.
    • A strength which will be displayed early
  • 1 Early Weakness.
    • A weakness which will be displayed early
  • 1 Strength to Hone.
    • A strength which will be developed through the Story.
  • 1 Hidden Weakness
    • A weakness which will be unfold through the Story.
  • 1 Goal which is related to the Character’s Identity
    • Through her Name.
    • Through her Origins.
    • Through her Quirks.
  • Differences
  • Characters need to be Different.
  • These differences should be displayed clearly.
  • The Easiest way to go is to create polar Opposites.
  • And then gradually display the nuances.
    • Where would the Characters agree.
    • Why they would Cooperate
    • How they would Cooperate.
  • This is a Collective Story.
  • The Characters can, & probably will, oppose each other.
  • However, They are part of the Same Story.
  • Goals & Alignments
  • Characters will display Affinities.
  • They will likely Oppose each other.
  • As they interact, they will also develop an Interest for each other.
  • The Characters Goals should be Converging.
  • This doesn’t mean that all Character should have the Same Goal.
  • Often, Characters will not have the Same Goal.
  • But their Goals will be Converging as they Compete for the same Resources.
  • There are 3 main types of Competition:
    • For Territory & Influence
    • For Information
    • For Food & other essential resources

If you want to know more about displaying Diversity.

Main, Secondary & Tertiary Characters

  • Main & Secondary characters Behaviors
  • Main & Secondary characters Behaviors’ do not differ much.
  • The main difference between a Main & a Secondary character is the time you allocate to each of them.
  • Most of the time Main Character will have twice the number of Scenes than 2ndary Characters.
  • 6 Types of Main & Secondary Characters.
  • You can start any Story with these 6 Characters.
  • And Reuse them by giving them different Quirks, Goals & Appearances.
  • Depending on your Story’s lengths you can develop 6, 12, 18, 24 Characters if necessary.
  • While at the same time preserving Diversity & Consistency.
  • Here are the 6 types.
  • The Enticer
    • Eloquent One
    • Amusing
    • Confident
    • Entertaining
    • Offers Gifts & Services
  • The Manager
    • Manage the Team
    • Understanding the needs
    • Anticipates Reactions
    • Manages Interaction
    • Most Attentive member
    • Help other develop their Individuality
    • Deliver Personalized Solution
  • The Strategist
    • Focus on Optimization
    • Plan Strategies
    • Loves Solves Problems
    • Favor Multi-Dimensional Issues
    • Is Curious
    • Loves to Share Knowledge
    • Update own Education
    • Enjoy learning
  • The Reliable
    • Resilient & Dependable
    • High sense of Integrity
    • Assertive
    • Relentless
    • Focused Aggressiveness to solve issues
    • Willing to Understand own’s Anger
    • Ensures the Party’s Protection
  • The Advisor
    • Try to be Dispassionate
    • Temper own’s desires
    • Look for Relevance
    • Find the common interest/balance
    • Develops Self-awareness in self & others
  • The Exemplar
    • High Dedication
    • Support Initiatives
    • Give Example
    • Ask for Input
    • Tap into everyone’s Strengths
    • Ensure everyone Participates
RoleTrait 1Trait 2 Trait 3 NameGoal PassionQuirkIndividual Strength Individual Weakness
EnticerEntertainingConfidentGenerous
ManagerEmpatheticIndividualistProviding
StrategistCompetitiveCuriousLearning/Sharing
ReliableAssertiveRelentlessProtective
AdvisorPonderingTemperateSelf-Aware
ExemplarDedicatedParticipativeLeading
Main & 2ndary Characters Board – Template
  • Tertiary characters Behaviors
  • Tertiary Characters will often have Support Functions.
  • They will either Support the Antagonistic Party or the Protagonistic Party.
  • Most Tertiary Characters follow this Pattern:
    • Role
      • Name, optional
      • Goal
      • Alignment
      • Quirk
      • Strength/Weakness
      • Interests
  • And will occupy the Following Roles:
    • Administrator
    • Merchant
    • Driver
    • Guard
    • Citizen
    • Healer
    • Builder
    • Hunter/Fisher/Farmer
RoleNameGoal AlignmentQuirkStrengthsWeaknessesInterests
Administrator
Merchant/Trader
Driver/Commuter
Guard/Police/Military
Citizen
Healer
Builder/Crafter
Hunter/Fisher/Farmer
3rtiary Characters Board – Template

If you want to know more about Character’s Roles.

Small Locations where they can interact

  • Creating a Microcosm
  • Create a Small Place.
  • Small Places allow the Interaction to happen more easily.
  • Use the Peculiarities of this Location to create Events.
  • Create Dramatic Events.
  • Call for Strong Reactions.
  • Let the Characters react.
  • Let them display their Individuality.
  • Intimate Locations
  • Small Locations are more Appropriate to Develop existing Relationships.
  • They allows the Character to discover their Affinities.
  • They may have the Same Objective & different Motivations.
  • Intimate Locations include:
    • Café/Restaurants/Snack-bars
    • Inn/Hotels/Houses
    • Park/Fractions of a Park
    • Boutiques & Shops
    • Other small Accommodations
  • Larger Locations
  • Large Locations are more Appropriate to Present new Characters & Create New Relationships.
  • Cities & Countries are considered Large Locations.
  • They allow the Characters to discover they have:
    • Similar Occupations.
    • Same Resources needed.
    • Similar Issues.
    • They may need to go through Different Resolution means.
  • Often the main difference between playing a Scene in a Large or a Small Location is the Depth you want to create in a Relationship.

If you want to know more about immersive Locations.

Reactions & Interactions

  • Cooperation & Collaboration
  • Do the Characters need to Cooperate?
  • If Characters need to Cooperate more conflicts may occur.
  • How will they manage these Conflicts?
  • Characters will do as they please.
  • Which involves getting angry, nasty & arbitrarily so.
  • They may disagree on the Objective.
  • They may disagree on the Approach.
  • They may realign latter if an Alternative is presented to them.
  • If there should be Teamwork, the Characters will need to act together.
  • If you are playing these Characters, let the Conflict be solved.
  • It doesn’t mean that the Conflict has never happened.
  • 1 of them may have to concede in this situation.
  • And this concession may lead her to frustration.
  • Display the Consequences later.
  • Quirks
  • Characters want to display their Individuality.
  • Also, all the Characters you paly should act differently.
  • Even if it is discrete.
  • Let them display their Independence.
  • Through peculiar habits.
  • Unique Accessories.
  • Through Interpersonal/communication skills.
    • Give then an Accent.
    • Give them a set of Specific Words & Phrases.
  • Situations
  • There are 3 main Types of Situations: Comfort, Conflict & Crisis.
  • For each Character in each Situation ask:
  • Comfortable Situations.
    • Where are we?
    • What makes this Location Comfortable?
    • What makes it Pleasant?
    • How do Characters behave?
  • Conflictual Situations.
    • Where are we?
    • What makes this Location Uncomfortable?
    • What makes it Unpleasant?
    • How do Characters behave?
  • And Crisis.
    • Where are we?
    • What is the Issue?
    • Which Trials are the Characters facing?
    • How do Characters React?
  • Creating Simple Scenes
  • The Easiest way to display Reaction is to Create Simple Scenes.
  • You can Create most Scenes with 7 Simple Questions:
  1. Where are We?
  2. Why are we Here?
  3. What are the Stakes?
  4. Who is looking for What?
  5. Why can’t they Acquire it?
  6. What should they do to Acquire it?
  7. What’s the Outcome?
    1. What is Won?
    2. What is Lost?
  • A Maze of Relationships
  • Once you have all your Characters.
  • Once you Know how you will Play them.
  • And Once you have your Main Scenes.
  • You can Create your Maze of Relationships.
  • There are 3 Main Axis with Interlace:
    • Relationships Main & Secondary
      • Friends
      • Allies
      • Adversaries
      • Foes
    • Relationships Main & Tertiary
      • Friends
      • Allies
      • Adversaries
      • Foes
    • Relationships Secondary & Tertiary
      • Friends
      • Allies
      • Adversaries
      • Foes

If you want to know more about how to display Reactions.

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