Character Development

[Nechomacus]

I stumbled upon this today and I wanted to share.  It, of course, does not apply to everything we do here in Zalanthas but I thought it interesting enough to post. This is for developing a character when writing a novel, but I thought many of the questions apply to making a character here on ArmageddonMud.  I'll post the link and the questions.

http://www.squidoo.com/character-development-questions
How do you Develop Your Characters?

Fictional character development is one of the most important parts of fiction. It's also one of the hardest parts, because creating a whole new person is kind of hard (as any mother will tell you). Having a set of answers to common questions about your character can help you to make them into a more rounded person that the audience is more likely to connect with.

The following is a list of questions to answer about your character to aid in their development - they're basic things, but I'm willing to bet there's a few in there that you haven't thought of yet. Most of them won't actually come up in the narrative (some of them will be so irrelevant to the actual story that you'll be tempted not to answer, but you still should), but they're things that would be relevant to a real person, and that's the important part - if you treat your characters like real people, you'll find that getting them to behave like real people comes much more easily.
How to Use These Questions
My suggestion is that instead of working your way through all the questions at once, use the heading breaks as an actual break. Do a set, then do something else for a while, then come back and do another set (you can even do them out of order!). You can always bookmark this page and come back to it if you need to. If you try to do it all at once, you're unlikely to give every question the consideration it needs for the best results. Don't worry, I won't come back and take them away on you!
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Note:
These questions are intended for young adult and older characters. Child characters generally need a whole different process.
Character Development Questions #1 - The Basics
These are the first questions you need to answer about your character - the stuff you probably need to know to get started.
Name?
Age?
Approximate height?
Approximate weight? (Hint: if you're going to reference one or the other, having an appropriate height:weight ratio is important for a realistic character. A man of 6'4" weighing 120 lbs/65 kg would be dangerously thin if they're a normal human).
Hair colour?
Eye colour?
Skin tone? (Especially important if it's blue or something else unnatural).
Do they speak with an accent? (Bonus: does that accent mean something about them?)
Where are they from?
Where are they now? (No need to get philosophical - a physical location will be fine for this one)
Character Development Questions #2 - Backstory
Developing a solid backstory for your characters is essential - even if you don't put much or any of it in the narrative. The more you treat your character as though they are a real person, the more real they'll become.
Who are their parents? Biologically and socially. (Bonus: how was their relationship with them?)
What is their earliest memory?
What did they want to be when they grew up?
What did/do their parents want them to be?
Do they have siblings? Older or younger? Brothers or sisters?
Do they have or have they ever had children? How many?
Do they or have ever had a significant other? Are they still with them? Why? Why not?
What were they doing right before the story starts?
Up until now, what's the most noteworthy thing they've done? To them? To the people around them? (Are they different things for different people?)
What was their education like?
Character Development Questions #3 - Tastes
Your characters likes and dislikes - their tastes - is possibly the most overt part of 'who they are'. People get to know other people's tastes quickly and easily, and even an acquaintance can know that they always drink Pepsi over Coke when available, or other things like that.
What's your character's favourite colour?
Do they/would they choose to wear a scent? What would it be?
Do they care about what things look like? All things, or only some?
What's their favourite ice cream flavour?
Are they a tea, or coffee drinker? Or soft drinks, or do they drink a lot of alcohol? What kind? (Hint: be specific, and be wary of characters who don't have preferences about basic things like this)
What kind of books do they read? What TV shows and movies do they watch?
What kind of music do they like? Do they like music at all?
If they were about to die, what would they have as their last meal?
Are they hedonistic? In all cases? Or does practicality sometimes/always/often win out?
Do they have any philias or phobias? (Even if you don't know what the technical term might be?)
Character Development Questions #4 - Morals, Beliefs, and Faith
A character's moral code and beliefs can offer a lot of insights on their motives, and the likelihood of their taking a given course of action.

Note: In this case, 'moral' should not be taken to be objectively good, but as a neutral term for a belief that affects codes of behaviour.
Do they have an internal or an external moral code? (Internal would be a something that they've come up with for themselves, external would be something they've had handed to them. Many religious people will have an external moral code, for example. Samurai warriors, too.)
To what extent are their actions dictated by this code?
Do they believe in a God or Gods/Goddesses/Higher being of some description?
Are they superstitious?
Do they value faith/instinct more highly than reason?
Do they believe in an afterlife? If so, what's it like?
Do they have any specific beliefs that manifest obviously? (Moral vegetarianism is a good example of this sort of thing).
Are the respectful of the beliefs of others? To what extent?
Have they ever had to stand up to criticism for being religious? Or not being religious?
Would they be more likely to act for the good of the one, or the good of the many?
Character Development Questions #5 - Relationships
It would be difficult (not impossible, but difficult) to write a character who never interacted with anyone else. Modern thinking about writing style suggests that we should learn more about a character from the way other people react to them than by their actions alone. So, these questions about relationships will help to define the ways other people behave around your character.
Do they make friends easily?
Do they have a best friend?
Can they get people to do what they want them to? If so, how?
Do they have a lot of romantic relationships? Serious, or short term?
Do they fall in and out of love easily?
Do strangers and acquaintances actually like them when they meet?
Do they have a network? (That is, a range of people they're connected to without necessarily knowing)
What is their relationship like with their family?
Are they still in touch with non-family people they were in touch with a year ago? Five years? Ten? More?
Do they like children? Do they want children of their own?
If You Haven't Already - Go Take a Break
Try some of these techniques:
How to Procrastinate
Do you ever wonder how other people spend so much time not doing things? Have you ever wanted to take up the subtle art of procrastination, but weren't sure...
Character Development Questions #6 - Physical Appearance
Time to play dress up! I don't know about you, but this is always one of my favourite parts.
How does this character dress? How would they choose to dress, if all options were open to them?
Do they have any tattoos? What do they mean?
Do they have piercings? How many? Is this culturally appropriate for them?
Do they have scars? Where did they come from?
Do they alter their appearance in some way on a regular basis? (Make up, hair dye, that kind of thing)
Is there something they'd choose to change about their appearance if they had the opportunity to?
Is there something about their appearance they're particularly proud of/happy with?
Objectively, are they physically attractive? Fairly plain? Unattractive?
Do they have an accurate mental picture and opinion of their physical appearance?
How much time do they spend thinking about their physical appearance?
Character Development Questions #7 - General Knowledge
How well acquainted is your character with the world around them?
Can they navigate their own local area without getting lost? To what degree? (For example, if they live in Paris, could they take you anywhere there without asking for directions?)
Do they know who the top politician or monarch is where they live? What about elsewhere?
Do they know if/where there are any major conflicts going on right now?
Do they know the composition of water?
Do they know how to eat a pomegranate? (Substitute any other tricky item of food on alien planets or other settings that would make this specialist knowledge)
Are they good with the technology available to them? Average? Completely hopeless?
Could they paint a house? Without making a mess of it?
Could they bake a cake? Would you eat it if they did?
Do they know how to perform basic maintenance on the common mode of transportation? (In a modern Earth context, can they change the oil and water in a car?)
Do they know the price of a loaf of bread?
Character Development Questions #8 - Specific Knowledge
What about special skills? Stuff your character knows that other people are unlikely to?
Do they have a specific qualification in a narrow area? (Think physics and plumbing)
Is there something they do or know exceptionally well that most other people don't?
Do people often comment on a particular skill or area of knowledge to this character? Behind their back?
Is there an area this character could be considered top of their field or a genius in?
Have they deliberately sought to gain knowledge in a specific area? If so, why?
Do they speak more than one language? More than two? Why?
Does their cultural background effect what they would be expected to know?
Have they ever been publicly acknowledged for being well-versed in something? (Think Nobel Prizes)
Have they ever been bullied for knowing a lot about something?
Do they actively seek new knowledge, or let it come to them naturally?
Character Development Questions #9 - 'What if...' Questions
These questions are designed to give you a different perspective on why certain things are important about your character - or why they're not.
What if they'd been born with a different biological sex?
What if they'd have more or less siblings?
What if a key formative event in their past had gone differently?
What if they lost a limb? (Would which limb be important?)
What if someone close to them died unexpectedly?
What if they'd been born 50 years earlier? 100 years? 1000?
What if they'd done something completely different on the morning when the story starts? (This is a good plot question, as well.)
What if they found enough money to make them wealthy for the rest of their life in a bag?
What if they were stranded and deserted?
What if they were betrayed by someone they trusted?
Character Development Questions #10 - Miscellaney
These are just questions that any real person would likely be able to answer, but a ficitonal character often can't.
What did they have for breakfast this morning?
What ridiculous belief/s did they have as a child? (Did they think the moon really was made of cheese?)
Do they like marshmallows?
Do they sleep on their side, front, or back?
Do they work better with sound or silence?
Do they have a strange obsession with something minor?
Do they like art?
How fast can they run?
Do they prefer to sit on the floor or on a chair?
What do they want, right now?
Question 101 - Why Should The Audience Care About Your Character?
This is the big one, isn't it? What do you think makes your character interesting? Are we supposed to like them, or dislike them? Why? Do you think the answers you have now will produce a character that an audience will care about? Tell us!

Why do These Questions Matter?
You might be asking yourself by now why you should bother asking all these character development questions. I'll tell you that in two words: character development.

To be clearer, a well-developed character has more weight than a well-developed plot. More than one well-developed character can excuse a lot of plot holes and handwaving. You might just have noticed this in such great works as, oh, say, Lord of the Rings. You want to be as big as Tolkien? Then good character development is what you want to work on. It won't hurt, promise.

[Eurynomos]

I can appreciate this as a writer, player, and Staff member. Awesome stuff here.

[path]

Rock out. I've seen any number of these, but this one was the best. I just used it to good effect. Thanks guy.

[boog]

I used to use one from roleplayingtips.com, but then I always felt so cheap, like I made them up completely and then didn't allow them to grow organically because I had predetermined everything.

But when I use these, i stick to the character far better. It's such a double edged sword.

It's helpful to at least sketch out a character with some of the more peculiar questions.

[Nechomacus]

Agreed.
I'm a big fan of letting a character develop organically.  I also find if I don't write something down and use something like this, I'll end up reacting in a manner that correlates to my RL mood at that exact time.  A definite hybrid of the two keeps me grounded to the original concept.

[kayza]

I've been trying to use a starting personality idea on creation.  So while that can change, it at least sets the ground rules.  I agree that being too rigid is bad but -I- find it very easy for me to have my character stray just to fit with other people better.  But while I try not to do this because it feels OOC to me.. changing your personality slightly to fit in is something people do in Real life.  Think helps fix this when I see myself doing it.  

Consistency and conflict has always been my weak point so I go out of the way to try to stay with my written script.  That and I am no actor, writer or -insert anything creative in here- so I fail I think at times to make a truly believable character.

To sum up my rambling.. sometimes I feel my characters are just too cookie cutter.  I don't think I am terrible to the point that I am ruining anyone's immersion though(at least I hope )

[Maso]

I've been trying to use a starting personality idea on creation.  So while that can change, it at least sets the ground rules.  I agree that being too rigid is bad but -I- find it very easy for me to have my character stray just to fit with other people better.  But while I try not to do this because it feels OOC to me.. changing your personality slightly to fit in is something people do in Real life.  Think helps fix this when I see myself doing it.  

Consistency and conflict has always been my weak point so I go out of the way to try to stay with my written script.  That and I am no actor, writer or -insert anything creative in here- so I fail I think at times to make a truly believable character.

To sum up my rambling.. sometimes I feel my characters are just too cookie cutter.  I don't think I am terrible to the point that I am ruining anyone's immersion though(at least I hope )

From the little have I experienced, you're all good. And fun to play with.

[evilcabbage]

I slam my face on my keyboard and watch for words to come out, then I write around those.

In other words, facedesk until an idea hits me that I MUST PLAY.

[boog]

Agreed.
I'm a big fan of letting a character develop organically.  I also find if I don't write something down and use something like this, I'll end up reacting in a manner that correlates to my RL mood at that exact time.  A definite hybrid of the two keeps me grounded to the original concept.

We're like kindred spirits here, dude!

If I map my characters out beforehand, I stick to them SO, so well. And I'm always impressed with my RP, but then I feel that other people might not experience/appreciate them as much and that others enjoy my spontaneous characters more. It's just a really odd thing. I know I should be playing for my enjoyment, but I also play for others, to interact with them, and to hopefully make their experience enjoyable, too.

I'd say, "Let's get married," but y'know. I have children baggage. Hah. <3

My next character is getting this questionnaire treatment though, for realz.

[AmandaGreathouse]

I really don't like planning all of mine out ahead of time, but I always have things in mind that inspire certain reactions depending on the person in question's relationship dynamic, or what memories my character may have gained in places/with items since becoming a pc to modify them and so forth.

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

I know I have a strong core for a character when I wind up crying when they get heartbroken, because it means I'm really and truly invested.

[boog]

I really don't like planning all of mine out ahead of time, but I always have things in mind that inspire certain reactions depending on the person in question's relationship dynamic, or what memories my character may have gained in places/with items since becoming a pc to modify them and so forth.

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

I know I have a strong core for a character when I wind up crying when they get heartbroken, because it means I'm really and truly invested.

I don't know that I have that capacity anymore. I am always so drained by the time I get to play that my characters don't ever move me like that. Maybe I should try planning most things out this next time and see if it helps. Since having the baby, I really have had trouble getting deep into my character.

[TheBadSeed]

I always prefer substantial backgrounds combined with light future goals, unless I'm making a Dwarf.

The background helps you determine how your play will be, but leaving the future open lets you join in on whatever comes your way. The more rigid your goals, the fewer people want to help out with them.

[path]

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

Weirdly jealous. I don't think I've ever been so moved. Sweaty palms a few times, though.

[musashi]

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

... mostly sad  

Maybe I got something sadder though ... I was making out with a girl last weekend, but felt frustrated and annoyed that spending time with her was cutting into my weekend morning -- the only time I can really do peak time Armageddon.

[Bast]

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

... mostly sad  

Maybe I got something sadder though ... I was making out with a girl last weekend, but felt frustrated and annoyed that spending time with her was cutting into my weekend morning -- the only time I can really do peak time Armageddon.

After a certain PC died that mine was head over heels for I cried like a freaking baby. My boyfriend walked in and was all "Are you -crying-?" I nod...he says "Over your mud??!?" I nod again and say 'it's just so sad'. He retorts with "Why do YOU play that GAME?!?"
I did not answer but ironically it is for moments just like that.

[Bast]

Also I have seen this list before and used...or at least a list very much like it a long time ago. Its what got into the habit of running private 45-60 min sessions with any new players in my table top. Just to really help flesh them out.

Its a really good tool when your struggling with a char concept. Even more so once you've played a char and have a better idea of their personality.

[AmandaGreathouse]

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

... mostly sad  

Maybe I got something sadder though ... I was making out with a girl last weekend, but felt frustrated and annoyed that spending time with her was cutting into my weekend morning -- the only time I can really do peak time Armageddon.

After a certain PC died that mine was head over heels for I cried like a freaking baby. My boyfriend walked in and was all "Are you -crying-?" I nod...he says "Over your mud??!?" I nod again and say 'it's just so sad'. He retorts with "Why do YOU play that GAME?!?"
I did not answer but ironically it is for moments just like that.

Precisely. This is the only game I've ever seen where someone else dying hurts so much more than one of my own pcs. Where I can get so caught up in the overwhelming joy or grief of a character I'm playing that it elevates my mood or makes me sob like a child. It's awesomely awesome. People who don't get it, just won't get it.

.... more so once you've played a char and have a better idea of their personality.

That part, definitely.
I hate tying down too much of who a character is, because I feel like it gives them too little room to grow organically, but looking over the list after a couple days played is awesome.

[Bast]

Last night, I cried in real life during solo rp. It was both sad and awesome.

... mostly sad  

Maybe I got something sadder though ... I was making out with a girl last weekend, but felt frustrated and annoyed that spending time with her was cutting into my weekend morning -- the only time I can really do peak time Armageddon.

After a certain PC died that mine was head over heels for I cried like a freaking baby. My boyfriend walked in and was all "Are you -crying-?" I nod...he says "Over your mud??!?" I nod again and say 'it's just so sad'. He retorts with "Why do YOU play that GAME?!?"
I did not answer but ironically it is for moments just like that.

Precisely. This is the only game I've ever seen where someone else dying hurts so much more than one of my own pcs. Where I can get so caught up in the overwhelming joy or grief of a character I'm playing that it elevates my mood or makes me sob like a child. It's awesomely awesome. People who don't get it, just won't get it.

.... more so once you've played a char and have a better idea of their personality.

That part, definitely.
I hate tying down too much of who a character is, because I feel like it gives them too little room to grow organically, but looking over the list after a couple days played is awesome.

Agreed! I used to write much longer backgrounds for my characters (on Arm and in other games) . Even if it was just for my own use...put a ton of work into figuring out how they think, dress, what they like/dislike (though on arm I don't use thinks and feels nearly enough) ....The problem with this is...PC's die...and generally if they die in any game it tends to be early on. Its just too much work for a completely new PC.  It also doesn't leave me room to let the pc develop organically. Stuff that happens in your few weeks of playing a char can really shape their behavior.
     Best example of this I can offer is a table top char in a game we have been playing for years. The setting is very rough on new pcs and storyteller has no problems killing players. I wrote up a CG fey blooded wizard, because the party had no casters (this was like my 5th pc in this game so far) I was gonna make her a robin hood type as far as her views on the government and the poor. This was not to last sadly.
  Our party fighter was a Dwarf with Charisma of 6 and right off the bat we butted heads. He would call her 'the whore' and 'witch' all the time (I can not remember one time when he used her actual name) , he would run into combat and leave her open to get flanked, as well as starting fights on purpose with people she was trying to negotiate with to avoid combat, and generally being a ass as much as possible to her. Now this player was awesome he is a good friend of mine his PC was just a total dick to my poor caster. It got to the point where she really started hating him and anyone in the party that would go along with him. She started just casting defensive spells on herself during combat and saying to hell with the rest of them save the other caster in the group who was also given a hard time by the dwarf. Her and the other caster started sneaking around behind the other characters in the games back to work out plot lines (there is normally about 8 players in this game). In the end she was able to get the dwarf killed (without it looking like it was her fault) and her and other caster took over the party as the leaders of group. But they are both what I would consider a Neutral Evil pcs now. My pc has no problems what so ever fleeing to leave the others to die if things look bad, manipulating others to get what she wants, and  she is very very selfish. It was a slow process and I have been playing her in a weekly game for four years now. Because of high death rate in the game and low chances at resurrection she feels like she really had to fight tooth and nail to get where she is. Anyway, point being I had ever intention of making up a GOOD PC and have ended up with one of the most underhanded, and manipulative  PC's I have ever played. All of this due to circumstances and events outside her power to change.

[Bast]

Bit of a rant there sorry

[Morrolan]

But they are both what I would consider a Neutral Evil pcs now. My pc has no problems what so ever fleeing to leave the others to die if things look bad, manipulating others to get what she wants, and  she is very very selfish. It was a slow process and I have been playing her in a weekly game for four years now.

Good story. I had a weak PC is a game of Witchcraft (modern horror) who was the only civilian in the party. He was designed to be weak, and the other PCs were a criminal and an FBI agent. My character was meant to be the nice guy who reminds everyone that we should not kill all of our problems away.

By the end of the game, my character had outstanding magickal debts to, um...everyone. He was organizing an army drawing on the Fae, the Demons, the Angels, and half a dozen magical orders who all hated each other. He had founded a council of all of the major power players in the city on nothing but chutzpah and the knowledge that otherwise there was a power vacuum. He thought nothing of manipulating these organizations against each other as he defended a massively powerful artifact to make sure that no one group got a hold of it. He knew that he was screwed, and was just trying to make sure that he didn't destroy Chicago when he went down.

He found himself playing Xanatos speed chess for the fate of the world...and he just wanted to be a novelist in the Big Tits Big Guns genre.