What do you do when you're in that "New Character Void", when thinking up a new character after losing your last one to something impossibly stupid?
Kill myself. Luckily I'm incredibly inept at killing myself, so I survive. But it does kill a few hours and get my mind off things until I think up a new character concept.
If killing myself seems like too much trouble I may go read a book, practice talking like a pirate, watch TV (ANTM is on tonight!!!!) or play a computer game like Dwarf Fortress. (http://dwarf.lendemaindeveille.com/index.php/Main_Page)
Or sometimes, when I'm really in the mood to play, I'll quickly roll up a fairly generic character (of a type I enjoy playing) and hope it gets approved in record time. Then I can continue refine the character once I'm actually in play.
I avoid the void! (Heh, I like the sound of that...)
Anyway, I usually keep some spare character concepts on a text file. Not anything incredibly detailed (usually), but I write a very basic description, guild/subguild, race, sketch background, etc.
Of course, on my past couple characters I just kind of made them up on the spot... At least I'm not left feeling like I need to make up a character right away after my current character bites the dust.
I use a baby name generator and look for a name that I like for about 2 hours. That is how long it takes me to find a name I like, usually. Then I design the character from what I think that name would be.
I pick a personality trait. Then I decide a rough concept of what basic skeleton of a background could produce this. I then flesh out my ideas on the personality a bit. I pick guild/subguild based on all of the proceeding. Then I flesh out the personality. Flesh out the background. Think of how my character should look, first picking a two or three good words to describe the most noticeable features of the character with all of personality/background/guild/subguild in mind. Then I start writing a full description.
I do this all mentally at first, just kinda thinking, and then I start using the character creation interface like an editor.
Oh, and I do this all, usually, within an hour of character death. Sometimes, depending on the recently deceased character and circumstances of death, I'll go a few days.
I have a million ideas that I want to do...
But I usually just write up some random char and send it off, hoping for the best. Works out well, most of the time.
-WP
I think I might actually go out with some friends tonight..... Oh! Wait, nevermind, new character got accepted. :D