Tips and Tricks for Character Creation/starting out

The Archon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:46 am **Posts:** 295

-Read through some of the approved characters to see what we're going for here.

-When making a character, take it into chat and RP a bit with other players. It always helps develop/tweak a character, and it often makes you realize big flaws or holes in your character profile.

-Also, you can write with unfinished characters in Alternate Realities. It's basically a big, no-rules RP sandbox.

-Discuss ideas with other players! If you see a character you want to write with, maybe they'll help you with ideas for your own.

-Read the History and Geography. It's got lots of character inspiration, and you should kind of know it anyway. If during your entire stay as a writer here, you only read 3 things, they should be History, Geography, and Glossary.

-Remember that what's written here isn't comprehensive, nor is it set in stone. The EF world is supposed to grow, that's why there's so much room for additions. There are entire continents that are just blank slates! And the whole of the Northwestern quarter of Volias doesn't have anything in it yet! Plus, hundreds of Guildspires that need Guilds! Get writing, people!

-I know there's a fair bit to figure out when one first gets here, and we're trying to help you in every way we can. You can start by introducing yourself. Then, you can look for some one on one help, let people know you have a ready character, or test out ideas, hassle-free. And, of course, you can PM me, or Zuraeah with questions or thoughts.

-IMPORTANT: For your first character here, if you're having trouble, try to steer clear of landing him/her smack dab in the middle of Guild-Gang relations, because that particular can of worms is complex and huge, unless you're really ambitious about getting AAAAALLLL of the lore under your belt. Try for something solely related to a Gang, or solely within the Guilds. Those few agents that can move at will between Underworld and Guild, or wheel and deal with both sides, are powerful indeed, and their necks are always on the line. It can be a harrowing and stressful choice for a first-timer to the EF universe.

(Please, PM me and help me add to this list!)

The Archon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:46 am **Posts:** 295

This is an excerpt from "How to Write a Damn Good Novel", by James N. Frey. I post this here because I know that it's very easy to get caught up in "concept" or "power-based" characters when you're in a setting that allows as much creative freedom as we do. This makes it easy to forgo an element crucial to any truly good character: The personality. You can't love your character until you learn who they truly are under all the flash, panache, tits'n'ass. So! Enjoy...

Quote:

The Interview

What you do, in this method, is think of the character. No, wait- first, think of a couch. If you have a couch in your home, pull a chair up to it. If you don't, just think of one. A nice one, preferably one of those big, shiny red ones you see in all the outdated psychology scenes in movies. Now invision your character lying on that couch in front of you. Take your time. Figure out how they lie down, how comfortable they are with what you're about to do. Most likely they won't just answer your questions. Most people don't. You have to be patient. Get a good picture of them in your mind. Lying on the couch.

You probably know their profession; you know their parents, hopefully. You know their basic personality type. You know their flaws, their regrets.

Ask them what they regret most.

Then- this is the tricky part- let them answer on their own. If it helps, write it all down, with you as a shrink and them on the couch, from their 3rd-person point of view. But let them answer. Most of my characters refuse to, or go on a tangent, or generally avoid the question.

Most of the time, though, they'll tell you something. Chase that. Ask them more questions, following a natrual train of thought from their responses. If they go on a tangent, follow them. If they refuse to answer, ask a different question. Keep asking questions. Eventually you'll find some answers to some of your questions. They probably won't be what you thought.

Even if they do answer, keep asking questions- figure out the answer, why they were so willing to answer, what they really meant. If you're satisfied with that answer, then ask a different question. There are always new quirks, new no-go areas, new problems to figure out.

Tips and Tricks for Character Creation/starting out

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