RE: [DL] Re: That Character just ain't right

["Matthew M. DeForrest" <mmdeforrest@worldnet.att.net>]

-----Original Message-----
Here's a question for those of you who do flesh your characters out.  How do
you do it?  Do you just try to create a framework or do you base him off
someone real?  I usually try to make my characters a conglomoration of two
or three movie or TV characters.  It makes him pretty unique because I'm not
ripping off anyone solely but it gives me a good framework to go by.  For
example, my Orc from above, Mekee, is a combination of Forrest Gump, Cookie
Monster, and Grimlock from The Transformers.
--------------------------

I've used a variety of methods in the past.  My universal method is to start
out with at least one hook or characteristic for the GM and myself to work
with.  This can usually boil down to a single word (Innocent, Bitter,
Cantankerous) but must come with a motivation or a reason.  For example, the
last three examples were taken from old D&D/Warhammer characters: The
Innocent Paladin was raised in a monestary on cleaned-up stories of heroism;
the Bitter character fell in love with the daughter of a Baron who was
married off for political reasons.

Sure, I eventually fleshed the characters out more than this but it gave me
(and the GM) enough of a hook to begin.

I have also had some interesting luck with a product called "Central
Casting." It's a book filled with tables to randomly produce an entire
history for a character.  In a gaming group I once belonged to, we went
through a short spell of complete random determination.  It didn't last too
long, but it was an interesting experiment.  As I currently GM, I don't
really use it but it is a good tool for getting some ideas together.

I don't usually draw on pre-established characters until I get a handle on
the character myself (OK, he's a gunslinger -- character -- who is obsessed
with being the best -- hook.  Hey, what if I gave him Belongins and gave his
a gun made by his father a la Diego Montoya in the Princess Bride.  Well,
he'd need an enemy....).

The main motivation, however, is always my beginning -- whether it's my
character or an NPC.

Matt