I found three things helped me in my quest to create interesting characters.
1. Characters Are Difficult
- You are attempting to create an entire, interesting, individual out of your mind. Doing it well is not an easy thing. Thats why talented writers / movie producers make large amounts of money.
2. Start Simple
- With the above, playing a base class well is difficult and an art form. Look at it as a challenge and put some time into it. Think of it this way, you have two approaches. Keep your goals simple and unending.
- Human / Fighter: I need full plate, I like to hit things and get items.
- Gregor: A swordsman born, I have dedicated myself to mastering the sword. A simple thing in concept, difficult in practice. A never-ending goal.
3. How Do You Accomplish Your Goals
So we have a base class from above and a unending goal, now how is your character going to go about doing that? Lets go back to our two examples.
- Human / Fighter: I sit in the market and wait for someone to make a sending.
- Gregor: I seek a purpose to lend my blade to. What point is it to master the sword if there is no use for it? True I answer the challenge when some even beckons. However, what I truly seek is a cause worthy of dedicating myself to. As such I have considered the local guard force. Comrades in arms willing to lay down their lives in the defense of this small settlement.
Thats the basic way I approach character building and it manages to keep it fun for me. Pick a basic class and work on playing it very well. Then come it up with a profession or philosophy my character will use to accomplish their basic goal.
1. Characters Are Difficult
- You are attempting to create an entire, interesting, individual out of your mind. Doing it well is not an easy thing. Thats why talented writers / movie producers make large amounts of money.
2. Start Simple
- With the above, playing a base class well is difficult and an art form. Look at it as a challenge and put some time into it. Think of it this way, you have two approaches. Keep your goals simple and unending.
- Human / Fighter: I need full plate, I like to hit things and get items.
- Gregor: A swordsman born, I have dedicated myself to mastering the sword. A simple thing in concept, difficult in practice. A never-ending goal.
3. How Do You Accomplish Your Goals
So we have a base class from above and a unending goal, now how is your character going to go about doing that? Lets go back to our two examples.
- Human / Fighter: I sit in the market and wait for someone to make a sending.
- Gregor: I seek a purpose to lend my blade to. What point is it to master the sword if there is no use for it? True I answer the challenge when some even beckons. However, what I truly seek is a cause worthy of dedicating myself to. As such I have considered the local guard force. Comrades in arms willing to lay down their lives in the defense of this small settlement.
Thats the basic way I approach character building and it manages to keep it fun for me. Pick a basic class and work on playing it very well. Then come it up with a profession or philosophy my character will use to accomplish their basic goal.