When did you know you had a "great one"? Memorable character thread.

[hopeandsorrow]

I know the game's history has had many memorable and legendary characters.
When did you know that you had made a "Great one".
Was it entirely accidental?
Was it entirely calculated?

Was it a mix?  Do amazing characters just happen randomly? Is there a specific formula? Share your personal stories on creation! 

[MeTekillot]

Characters I've made that have had a gamewide impact, or characters that I personally have thought were great?

[hopeandsorrow]

Honestly, character YOU the player thought were great.
The most fun you had, the best Role play you think you ever pulled off, etc.

[valeria]

I can tell whether I have a character that I'm going to really enjoy within 2 to 6 weeks of playing.  Some characters just "click" into my head and become their own people.  I no longer have to pose myself hypotheticals to determine what they would do in any given situation.  I no longer have to spend a minute behind the keyboard thinking how to respond.  They simply live and breathe and are.  When that hasn't happened after 8 weeks, I might as well just store the character because they are going to be dissatisfying for me to play.

Just because a character clicks for me doesn't mean that they will be great though.  Usually it's some combination of interesting personality + interesting flaws + interesting goals + interesting people to RP with + conflict.  If any one of those things is missing, the character may be good, I may continue to play them, but they won't hit great.

In good news, every time I think to myself "oh man I could never top that character," I tend up topping the character eventually.

[Jihelu]

I can tell whether I have a character that I'm going to really enjoy within 2 to 6 weeks of playing.  Some characters just "click" into my head and become their own people.  I no longer have to pose myself hypotheticals to determine what they would do in any given situation.  I no longer have to spend a minute behind the keyboard thinking how to respond.  They simply live and breathe and are.  When that hasn't happened after 8 weeks, I might as well just store the character because they are going to be dissatisfying for me to play.

Just because a character clicks for me doesn't mean that they will be great though.  Usually it's some combination of interesting personality + interesting flaws + interesting goals + interesting people to RP with + conflict.  If any one of those things is missing, the character may be good, I may continue to play them, but they won't hit great.

In good news, every time I think to myself "oh man I could never top that character," I tend up topping the character eventually.

Did you know you secretly wrote a motivational speech in your answer?

[Marauder Moe]

I came up with a character design formula a while back that's served me pretty well.

Sometimes I click with a character immediately and things are wonderful (until they die).

Sometimes I just have to plod along a while until interesting opportunities/challenges/people present themselves and things really pick up.


Sadly, looking back, I think most of my greatest moments/accomplishments were done in secret.

[Lizzie]

I've had a few characters die spectacular deaths. I consider those to be my best characters.

[Pale Horse]

My views of what constituted a "great one" have shifted over the course of my time as a Player and really tend to be the characters with whom I have accomplished or seen something I have never before accomplished or seen.

I've had some characters who lasted a couple weeks who I feel were "greater" than some which I have had last a few months.

If I had to pick a general stat against which I truly measured "greatness" outside of "things seen/accomplished," I would have to go with longevity.  Those of my characters who last RL years I tend to think of as successes.  There must have been something that kept my playing them for all that time.

[hopeandsorrow]

I came up with a character design formula a while back that's served me pretty well.

Sometimes I click with a character immediately and things are wonderful (until they die).

Sometimes I just have to plod along a while until interesting opportunities/challenges/people present themselves and things really pick up.


Sadly, looking back, I think most of my greatest moments/accomplishments were done in secret.

That thread was a good read. Thank you.

[RogueGunslinger]

After they're dead and I get Kudos.  


Really though my "greatest" characters are the ones I had the most fun with. That usually involved making people laugh or really get into the moment of roleplay with others. Also, character who come back from the precipice of death. I generally get a new-found love for them.

[Aruven]

I've never had a 'great one', i'd like to think my assessment of 'great ones' is justified though;

The people I consider great ones were big wigs sometimes, some of them were just grebbers who did their own thing.

Unique reactions to common situations is a good tell. A good RP'er can make a scene with themselves, one person, or five, and stick to their character.

Templars in the south. I love the north but I will say i've seen the greatest RP I think I may have ever seen in southern templars over the years. Southern templars always brought this insane range of playability, humor, terror, and lovable RP that i've seen blended REAL well over the years in DEMANDING situations.

This is hard now that I think about it. Some of it is luck too. Sometimes players would tell me things (that obviously involved staff animation) and I would be like 'wtf'? If you happen to get involved with staff animations you could be involved in something potentially huge. Just a matter of circumstance and place.

[Tetra]

'Great one' or 'legendary' might be a stretch.  But I knew the PC had serious mojo when every other day or so kudos were in my e-mail.

[hopeandsorrow]

'Great one' or 'legendary' might be a stretch.  But I knew the PC had serious mojo when every other day or so kudos were in my e-mail.

To me thats a "Great one".

Coded impact, or political impact isn't I think make a character great nor a PK count. (some of those characters can be rather flat when it boils right down to it)

If a PC makes the most mundane day in Zalanthas come alive and you're seeing kudo's or having a ton fun because the RP just flows through you.

To me that's "Great".

[LauraMars]

When I become a passenger in the vehicle my character is driving towards their own twisted fucked up goals.

That's when I know.

[Delirium]

Valeria's post is spot-on. Thanks for writing my post for me.

And yes, I've had a few. One of them very few people knew about, but they'll always be near and dear to my heart.

[Harmless]

My answer is definitely all of valeria's post plus this:

If I feel like I have the luxury to have my character back away from plot opportunities that "don't fit" then I know they're a keeper. That means they have enough going on consistently not to need to switch gears and say, accept a job or move to a new city. When I look forward to their storyline evolving in its current direction for another few weeks to months I also know it is a keeper. Finally if my character had at least two solid relationships with other PCs likely to live as long as mine then I usually call them at least good, as those kinds of relationships are usually hard for me to form given that I typically play shy loners.

[Inks]

I remember any character that gets into some of interesting conflict and is either victorious or defeated.

My least favorite and most forgettable characters are the ones who tried to avoid all conflict and be nice to everyone. They were probably the least fun for me.

[Nyr]

I've moderated out some great examples of things that should be submitted for original submissions.

If what your character did was noteworthy, please provide some original material for it.  Submit a log, write a story, have someone write a story for you if you aren't a good writer, do some artwork, commission some artwork, write a song or poem, etc.  It is exactly why we have that subforum:  for you to be able to brag about your PC's accomplishments.

[spicemustflow]

Right after I stored.