Post by Kero on Feb 2, 2009 4:48:59 GMT -5
{{this was a DA meme a long time ago I wrote... it killed several people's brains and it was fun XD it's also mentally exhausting and LIKE TORTURE to do :3 I should know! I made it XD If you're feeling masochistic, feel free to take it and post :P }}
A COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTER TEST
As all us role-players out there know well… there is no Role-play (RP) out there without characters. Characters are the fundamental portions of RP life that keeps worlds in motion, keeps plots coming, and most of all… keeps us happy. For many of us, the moods of our characters affect us in deep and nearly unsettling ways… Ways that the ‘normal, real-life (RL)’ person cannot *or will not* understand.
However, simply having a character is by far not enough to qualify one as a good RPer. Or even an RPer at all. No… without depth and thought, and a deep connection to the player even for the most mundane of tasks, a character is nothing but a cardboard cutout in this world you’ve created. They do basic things. They talk, they laugh, they have jobs (maybe) and get to know other players….. but are they there? Do they even feel real to others?
This test is a way to not only spend your time, as I’m sure most who write anything in this will merely be bored and with little else to do…. but it is a way to get to know your characters, expand your mind on them, and most of all, get to know yourself.
DO NOT put one-line answers. There must be thought put into this. If you have an idea, explain it. This is getting to know your character, and if you’re tempted to put one line… it’s sad to say that that’s merely an indication of the lack of depth that has gone into that aspect of the character’s life.
Either that or you’re lazy.
…don’t be lazy.
THE BASICS-
1. What was the situation that created this character, and why do you choose to Role-play him or her in the setting(s) that you do?
2. I understand that most characters have talents, but where did he/she learn them? How hard was the road that they went on to get where they are today?
3. If applicable, your character must have parents or figures that they admire, past or future. Who are they and how did they gain your character’s respect? How has their influence affected your character along the way?
4. Your character had to have been young once. What were they like at the beginning of their existence?
5. If there was one aspect you could change about how others normally perceive your character, what would it be and why?
THE HOME-
1. Your character, if they have a home or if they do not, has to live somewhere. Describe to me this area that they live, and why they’ve chosen this place.
2. Sleep is important for anyone, living or head-character. How often does your character rest, what do they dream about, and when they wake up, what is often the first thought running through their head?
3. The home is where the heart is, and is also the easiest way to identify the personality of a character or even real person. What is the aura of the living space, and how much time does your character spend there? If more than a very little time; what do they do while there? There’s more to home life than sleeping, cooking, and cleaning, you know.
4. Pets (and family) often reside at home while the character is away. If your character has any, describe them, what they look like, their personalities, and how they relate to the character. How do they greet them home when the character returns? If they have none, put why.
5. Traditions are something that are important to a household, be it hanging up the keys and coat in a certain order every day or holiday decorating. Does your character possess any of these kinds of traditions. Tell me about them.
THE MUNDANE-
1. Your character has to have a morning routine; describe it. Are they a morning person or no?
2. When your character gets sick with a cold, how do they act? What kinds of sickness affect them the most and why? How susceptible are they to disease? Have they ever once been sick in RP or writing?
3. Everyone has a different style of eating. What’s that of your character’s? Do they scarf down food rapidly like it won’t be there in an instant or do they nibble delicately? Do they even like food? Why do they choose to eat how they do and does it affect their lifestyle?
4. Your character goes to an amusement park (regardless of whether this would actually be in-character (IC) of your character or no). What ride, if any, do they choose to ride on, and how would they act? Is there any reason for this type of behavior?
5. If your character were bored, what is one thing that they could do to relieve the boredom that does not involve traveling, fighting, a lot of action, or anything out of the ordinary? Why would they choose this over other options, and what are the other options they would have?
THE EXTRAORDINARY-
1. Every character has quirks. What are they, why are they there, how bad are they… and most of all, how do they make your character feel to have them, and why is this feeling sensible, if it is at all?
2. Fighting is a large part of role-playing. How does your character fight? If they have any special techniques, describe them briefly, and if not, the general style. Can your character fight with words?
3. When something unexpected pops up, what is the usual reaction of your character? When dangerous? When neutral? When pleasant?
4. Many characters have special powers or talents. Describe these in as much detail as you wish, even if it’s a small talent like cooking, cleaning, or cracking their toes in musical ensembles. Does this talent seem to you like it fits the character?
5. How does your character react to the idea of a microwave… and what would they do with it? Do they understand the concept of microwaves? Yes, this is a serious question.
I ROLE-PLAY-
1. Lets say that there’s a young child in danger. Your character could help… but it’s more than likely that both would die anyway. What is running through your character’s mind? No, I don’t want what they would do; I want thoughts.
2. It’s storytelling time! Would your character be the one telling the story, living the story, hating the story, or listening raptly to the story? What does this say about your character’s general mindset?
3. There’s a money problem, and your character won’t be able to pay off anything unless they give something important to them up. What is it they would give up, how is it important to the character, and why is it that they chose this over all the other choices, if any?
4. Your character likely has a love of something… What is it, and if this thing was threatening, how would they feel, and what would be their reaction if it were taken away? Missing? Destroyed/killed? If it came back to them eventually? If it was lost forever?
5. You and your character must know of each other, be it in the mind or on paper. How does your character react to some of the ideas you have them play out? If you were to meet in real life, they would likely do or say something. Please write out this scene.
ENDGAME-
1. How do you feel now about your character, and has this test helped in any way?
-Thus concludes a Comprehensive Character Test. You do not have to tag anyone at all, but encourage others to steal it if it indeed helped you. I hope you had fun and learned some things, or were able to expand ideas.
A COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTER TEST
As all us role-players out there know well… there is no Role-play (RP) out there without characters. Characters are the fundamental portions of RP life that keeps worlds in motion, keeps plots coming, and most of all… keeps us happy. For many of us, the moods of our characters affect us in deep and nearly unsettling ways… Ways that the ‘normal, real-life (RL)’ person cannot *or will not* understand.
However, simply having a character is by far not enough to qualify one as a good RPer. Or even an RPer at all. No… without depth and thought, and a deep connection to the player even for the most mundane of tasks, a character is nothing but a cardboard cutout in this world you’ve created. They do basic things. They talk, they laugh, they have jobs (maybe) and get to know other players….. but are they there? Do they even feel real to others?
This test is a way to not only spend your time, as I’m sure most who write anything in this will merely be bored and with little else to do…. but it is a way to get to know your characters, expand your mind on them, and most of all, get to know yourself.
DO NOT put one-line answers. There must be thought put into this. If you have an idea, explain it. This is getting to know your character, and if you’re tempted to put one line… it’s sad to say that that’s merely an indication of the lack of depth that has gone into that aspect of the character’s life.
Either that or you’re lazy.
…don’t be lazy.
THE BASICS-
1. What was the situation that created this character, and why do you choose to Role-play him or her in the setting(s) that you do?
2. I understand that most characters have talents, but where did he/she learn them? How hard was the road that they went on to get where they are today?
3. If applicable, your character must have parents or figures that they admire, past or future. Who are they and how did they gain your character’s respect? How has their influence affected your character along the way?
4. Your character had to have been young once. What were they like at the beginning of their existence?
5. If there was one aspect you could change about how others normally perceive your character, what would it be and why?
THE HOME-
1. Your character, if they have a home or if they do not, has to live somewhere. Describe to me this area that they live, and why they’ve chosen this place.
2. Sleep is important for anyone, living or head-character. How often does your character rest, what do they dream about, and when they wake up, what is often the first thought running through their head?
3. The home is where the heart is, and is also the easiest way to identify the personality of a character or even real person. What is the aura of the living space, and how much time does your character spend there? If more than a very little time; what do they do while there? There’s more to home life than sleeping, cooking, and cleaning, you know.
4. Pets (and family) often reside at home while the character is away. If your character has any, describe them, what they look like, their personalities, and how they relate to the character. How do they greet them home when the character returns? If they have none, put why.
5. Traditions are something that are important to a household, be it hanging up the keys and coat in a certain order every day or holiday decorating. Does your character possess any of these kinds of traditions. Tell me about them.
THE MUNDANE-
1. Your character has to have a morning routine; describe it. Are they a morning person or no?
2. When your character gets sick with a cold, how do they act? What kinds of sickness affect them the most and why? How susceptible are they to disease? Have they ever once been sick in RP or writing?
3. Everyone has a different style of eating. What’s that of your character’s? Do they scarf down food rapidly like it won’t be there in an instant or do they nibble delicately? Do they even like food? Why do they choose to eat how they do and does it affect their lifestyle?
4. Your character goes to an amusement park (regardless of whether this would actually be in-character (IC) of your character or no). What ride, if any, do they choose to ride on, and how would they act? Is there any reason for this type of behavior?
5. If your character were bored, what is one thing that they could do to relieve the boredom that does not involve traveling, fighting, a lot of action, or anything out of the ordinary? Why would they choose this over other options, and what are the other options they would have?
THE EXTRAORDINARY-
1. Every character has quirks. What are they, why are they there, how bad are they… and most of all, how do they make your character feel to have them, and why is this feeling sensible, if it is at all?
2. Fighting is a large part of role-playing. How does your character fight? If they have any special techniques, describe them briefly, and if not, the general style. Can your character fight with words?
3. When something unexpected pops up, what is the usual reaction of your character? When dangerous? When neutral? When pleasant?
4. Many characters have special powers or talents. Describe these in as much detail as you wish, even if it’s a small talent like cooking, cleaning, or cracking their toes in musical ensembles. Does this talent seem to you like it fits the character?
5. How does your character react to the idea of a microwave… and what would they do with it? Do they understand the concept of microwaves? Yes, this is a serious question.
I ROLE-PLAY-
1. Lets say that there’s a young child in danger. Your character could help… but it’s more than likely that both would die anyway. What is running through your character’s mind? No, I don’t want what they would do; I want thoughts.
2. It’s storytelling time! Would your character be the one telling the story, living the story, hating the story, or listening raptly to the story? What does this say about your character’s general mindset?
3. There’s a money problem, and your character won’t be able to pay off anything unless they give something important to them up. What is it they would give up, how is it important to the character, and why is it that they chose this over all the other choices, if any?
4. Your character likely has a love of something… What is it, and if this thing was threatening, how would they feel, and what would be their reaction if it were taken away? Missing? Destroyed/killed? If it came back to them eventually? If it was lost forever?
5. You and your character must know of each other, be it in the mind or on paper. How does your character react to some of the ideas you have them play out? If you were to meet in real life, they would likely do or say something. Please write out this scene.
ENDGAME-
1. How do you feel now about your character, and has this test helped in any way?
-Thus concludes a Comprehensive Character Test. You do not have to tag anyone at all, but encourage others to steal it if it indeed helped you. I hope you had fun and learned some things, or were able to expand ideas.
