How to make an interesting character

[In Dreams]

I've only really embraced it much recently, but I've found it very fun to explore my PC's psyche. I don't think solo RP would be possible without it.

[RogueGunslinger]

Just play consistently. Your own real life personality will be interesting enough to be entertaining and fun and the more you play the more you can build onto that. No matter how bland you think you might be your attitude, quirks and responses will make for compelling character as long as youre around enough for it to show through. So dont die or store.

[Delirium]

Gotta disagree completely with that. Playing your real personality sounds like a recipe for disaster.  And lazy, to boot.

That isn't to say you can't have things in common with your character, but I'd argue the ideal is to have someone who is entirely a separate person, not just a fantasy avatar of yourself. I guess whatever floats your boat as long as you're staying true to the gameworld?

Playing yourself in an rpg kinda defeats the purpose of an rpg though.

[Reiloth]

Agreed with Delirium. Most of the fun for me is playing a PC that's the total opposite of who I am IRL.

[Patuk]

It's okay, RGS. You can still have fun.

[WarriorPoet]

I pretty much play my own personality. I just magnify parts of it and get to enjoy pursuing violent impulses, acting terribly, and treating everyone like shit.

[Miradus]

I am trying to branch out and play different types of characters but I find there are a few key elements that tend to slip through from my own personality.

Sort of like if you have a favorite author you start to see certain character traits in multiple novels, even if they don't involve the same characters and settings.

[Reiloth]

It's okay, RGS. You can still have fun.

I think this is also true, too. Do whatever floats your boat!

[BadSkeelz]

Want to be interesting? React.

Have your characters react to things in the game world: things someone says, emotes from other PCs, echoes of virtual life.

[Raptor_Dan]

You are never playing someone new, or different, and, in the same vein, you can never play yourself.

The depth of roleplay available on Armageddon allows for a more meaningful and divergent foray into our own psyche that differs from regular 'playing a role' that most experiences offer.

You cannot escape yourself. You will always have key differences that shine through in each char, but they are only your own magnified facets, and do not be afraid to admit and embrace that, because the light that shines through those facets is 100% unique and absolutely beautiful, even when it's terrible. You cannot escape yourself...

...but if you want to make a really interesting char, permit yourself to escape.

[Miradus]

What if I react to things that aren't there? How interesting would I be then?

[Raptor_Dan]

Feel and think are great for that, Miradus, but I really, really wish I could target things with think and feel.

feel ~miradus is going to kill you later this week.

[Akaramu]

Feel and think are great for that, Miradus, but I really, really wish I could target things with think and feel.

feel ~miradus is going to kill you later this week.

YES! That would be fabulous.   

[RogueGunslinger]

Gotta disagree completely with that. Playing your real personality sounds like a recipe for disaster.  And lazy, to boot.

That isn't to say you can't have things in common with your character, but I'd argue the ideal is to have someone who is entirely a separate person, not just a fantasy avatar of yourself. I guess whatever floats your boat as long as you're staying true to the gameworld?

Playing yourself in an rpg kinda defeats the purpose of an rpg though.

I think people put more of themselves into their characters than most realize, but that's kinda of beside my point. I'm not saying you have to or should play yourself, I'm saying that's all you need for an interesting character.

You don't need to try too hard to make some super interesting character with convoluted backstory and incredibly well fleshed out history and likes and dislikes, quirks or fears. You'll be interesting enough just being who you are. There's nothing you need to do that is hard or special to be an interesting character, you just have to play consistently, survive, and you will make friends and enemies.

You don't have to be an amazing creative writer to do it.

[Miradus]

My backstories (backgrounds) are often pretty plain.

I like to live all the really good parts of a character's history, not document then. I like to think there's more life ahead of the character than behind them.

[Reiloth]

I sort of waffle between having a complex background, to a tabla rosa background, and let the game change my PC, in both instances.

The complex background can offer an interesting twist to my PC's reactions -- I know how I, the Player, might respond, but it forces me to think "How would the PC respond?" Which can be challenging, and sometimes more stimulating. I find this to be especially true when i'm playing other races, especially city elves.

The tabla rosa background can offer a more 'in the moment' sort of gameplay for me. I have to pay closer attention to what's going on around my PC, and shape the PC to those events, rather than have them exclusively 'react'. As there aren't as many past incidents to compare to and think "How would the PC react?" I find myself reacting more as how I, the player, would react, and it can actually feel more immersive in a Virtual Reality sense.

As with most things, there's a middle way between the two extremes.

[nauta]

I usually have basic bitch as a background.  I too prefer to be boring virtually and exciting in the game, although I usually have a cache of stories about mother, father, brothers, cousins, etc., to fill out the boring times (most of these plagiarised from past characters and/or NPC backgrounds I've come across, I admit, with enough mutatis mutandis to make it different).

One thing to add to all of this: embrace the documentation.  There's the standard documentation about fear of magick, disgust at breeds, distrust with elves, etc.  But there's also rich documentation among the tribes and d-elves, at least; there's your relationship with the Highlord for those in Allanak; if you are playing a non-coded nomad you should have some cultural docs of your own; elves have all sorts of neat built-in quirks; there's the Sandlord in Storm; etc. etc.

All of this can add up pretty fast, and help flesh out your character's personality and past.  It's like free stories.