Sorry for such a n00b question, but I'm a little confused. So, what do most roleplayers do? I already have a bunch of fandom OC characters that I've made, but... do I also need non-fandom OC characters? Do you guys just think of new characters for your roleplays on the fly? Do you change your fandom OC characters so they will work with certain RP's? What about animal OC characters? Sorry for such a strange question, but I'm kinda lost here. ._.

Depends on the setting of the RP but the majoirty of the time we make our own charace=ters, via a character sheet which is given in the thread under the 'OOC' tab. It's not often that a roleplay is run using existing characters but it is a possibility. You can adapt your existing characters to an RP for sure, just as long as it suits whatever rules/guidelines they set but I often create a new character for every roleplay.

As Kangaroo said.

And I haven't seen anyone play a canon character from any world in any RP ever, apart from people trying to be witty on YouTube in the comments. Then it's hit and miss when the twenty people named Gaben descend on the comments of a video.

I personally don't have any fan characters (FCs). I only have OCs. However, not all my OCs can fit in every RP, so yes, I do change my characters as needed to fit a RP. So, you could do the same with your FCs. Like if you have a Pokemon trainer, you could take away his Pokemon and put him in a modern day setting. Ask yourself, "What would he be like in a different universe?"

As for animals, I rarely see role plays about animals, but they do exist. So you could probably find / make something for animal RP. Although rare, when I do see animal RP it's usually wolves or horses. Sometimes lions.

I have a collection of premade characters that I change and adapt for the setting.

Kidd said
I personally don't have any fan characters (FCs). I only have OCs. However, not all my OCs can fit in every RP, so yes, I do change my characters as needed to fit a RP. So, you could do the same with your FCs. Like if you have a Pokemon trainer, you could take away his Pokemon and put him in a modern day setting. Ask yourself, "What would he be like in a different universe?"

Basically like that. Putting them in different situations is a great way to develop characters. It doesn't mean I can't make a new character when I want to...

Oh, yeah, of course. If you rather make a new character, then go for it. :D

Every game I've ever played in I have made a character up specifically for that game. Some have found their ways out of the rp and into a couple of my novels, but they always started unique.

OC = Original Character. It applies whether or not in a fandom RP when you create your own character that has their own name, ideals, and abilities, separate and distinct of those of their compatriots, or, in the case of fandom, the characters whom canonically exist.

Everything else is moot. It doesn't matter if your character is a talking tea pot or a master of the universe, if (s)he is their own distinct entity and not "Alladin as a tea pot" or otherwise, you've probably got an OC. If the character is literally Naruto, then you're not playing an OC.

Clear 'nuff?

Very clear indeed...

I only play characters of my own creation, never those made by others, since... well, they're not mine to play. But some people like to play "Cannons," while others prefer "Original Characters" (OC's). Whether they play those OC's in Fandom or in Original RPs, it really doesn't matter. Personally, I've use my original characters in Fandom RP and in original story universes, interchangeably. Sometimes, but not always, altering things about the character to fit the specific story.

Heh. I've had characters inspired by RP's I've read, but most often, a character simply pops into my head and I just go from there. As for animal characters, I only play non-humans/non-humanoids, mainly aliens and fantasy critters and the like. So, really, when it comes to creativity, the limits are only based on your imagination. And preferences. Which is what makes RPing fun.