Forums » RP Discussion » How far do you build before you roll?

By my question, I mean...

Say you have an idea for a new character. Before you get ready to play them the first time, even in prototype RP, what all do you want established for them before you start typing? Their appearance? History? Ambition? A goal for them? The system for their stats and abilities, if any? Anything else? What's your style?

Personally I can't design characters too casually. I never see something and just go "Oh, that'd be a good idea!" And whip an answer together. The things I asked about all fall under what I need to have designed for them.";

I like to have a good idea of what they look like, how there personality is going to play out. How there going to fit in or try to fit in, or even be different in whatever place there going to be in. I like to have a basic history thought of in my mind, even if i don't write it down yet. Just something to play off of.

I can see something and be like Ohhhhhhh that could be fun to play! but if i do, i always put time and effort into the character i'm making and never just make it superficial.

As for my style, its a mix of things that i like, myths and legends from ancient times. Medieval times, fantasy and RPG video games. Even ideas from books sometimes.

Generally something catches my eye (say, a robe design, or historical event) then I do research into that and gradually build up a design around that. Revion, for example, was inspired by reading an article on the 100 year's war.

This is very situationally dependent for me. Some characters are complex and need a lot established for me to understand the every day stuff about them. Some games or groups won't tolerate half-baked experimental characters and will make you prove that you've put a LOT of work into them before they will let you in the door, so it must all be pondered.

Really, for long term characters, at least ones I know are going to be main characters in advance, I do my best to flesh out as far as possible. I may find out little things about them later, or make refinements, but mostly I want to have them completely formed.

Every once in a blue moon though, I'm just playing an NPC to give the adventurers a clue, or curious about testing out a small character idea and seeing where it leads, and then I do much less.

I don't build that far.

Usually I only build a new character right before I join a new setting. I'll slap something together in a few days and call it a day.
Only if the character and setting turn out to be enjoyable I start working out everything. Because it's a horrible waste of effort if the character or setting turn out to fail.

I'm largely with TBC. I jump between some characters a lot, and I very often start new ones that I grow bored of quickly. To prevent this, I usually only sketch two things: hooks and looks. Looks are pretty important, since that's how people are usually interacting with my character. Then the hooks: what did I have in mind when I made the character that makes them special? Maybe it's their class or an ability. Maybe it ties into looks, or maybe it's a personality trait.

Then I play them a few times. If I like them enough, I'll construct a list of their strengths and weaknesses, and flesh them out a little bit more.