@Dread A dear as always.

Question: What is your opinion on character sheets?

A: I absolutely love to look at a well-thought out character sheet. They're essentially the bread-and-butter of the RP, in the essence that they provide a hole in which the players can view into a certain part of the RP's universe. The more work you put in to your character, such as giving him/her a rich personality (and not a cardboard box), expanding upon the lore of the world (if possible), and just making it look cool af dude, the better and more attractive he/she becomes.

Question: Faceclaims? Real life? Anime? Digital? Hand drawn? None?

A: Depends on the RP really. Personally, I can go either way. While I'm more geared towards anime and other fantasy profile pics, I can do realistic art portraits of characters as well. Would also love to draw out my characters once I feel comfortable about it (and also practice/get a pad suitable for digital art).

Question: Color codes?

A: Depends on the character. If your character often wears a certain color or speaks in a way that represents a color (Warm colors being fiery, active, comforting; Cold colors being reserved, sad, calm, etc). Just look at the character you're playing, along with it's personality, and see which color code you think fits it most.

Question: What's the 'right amount' of images?

A: One will certainly be plenty. That is unless the character you've based off has multiple images that demonstrates something else about him/her (Ex: Action Poses, alternate forms, etc). For example, if your character has both a human and beast form, then just put the two in, with the alternate form hidden a hider below the original image. Same goes for perhaps the armor and weapons if possible. Also if you're going to give more images regarding your player, keep them generally in one area in the CS and under Hiders to improve/preserve organization and quality. But otherwise, one is perfectly enough.

Question: Freeform or GM provided code?

A: If the GM provides a code, I'll stick to it. Rarely do I add anything else to said profile, unless it's based off a previous character I scrapped, which I'd most likely keep/add just because.

Question: Things that should be be included/excluded?

A: Anything that the GM wants you to add is enough. However, for your character you should probably add at least basic measurements just to flesh out the physical form of your character and have the players have an idea on how to describe it in their own words.


Question: What is your character creation process? Is character creation just all together overrated?

A: I try to be as rich and expressive as possible when making characters. First thing I always do is check the RP's environment and evaluate the possible options. I try to go for something more unique rather than generic. For example, when everyone is doing swords and lances in a medieval RP, I often would try to look into perhaps axes, bows, magic, etc. I also take a look at the races available and also come off from that. Personality wise, it becomes a little more linear regarding the tropes and sterotypes, but I also tend to revise it after I create the history for it. When creating histories, they can come in a very mixed bag. Sometimes they're long, sometimes shorter, all depending on the ideas and world info provided to me. Sometimes I get inspired by other stories or mythology to make original histories. Even with established characters from outside media being incorporated into original universes (EX: Godzilla ---> Godzilla Girl - Ik its a cringy-looking example, but trust me it works often), I try to make their history both original enough, yet similar to their original origins if possible, if not adding a twist or two to spice things up with the original RP it's in.

But again, character creation is definitely important when making a rich RP. A good looking CS will definitely make people be interested and may become a favorite depending on how it's used.

So yeah, this is my whole thing regarding Character Creation.

Keep it simple, stupid.

Name, age or whatever necessary "middle thing", backstory.

This may be a byproduct of Nation Roleplaying though, but even often times brief dabbing in more single-character based RPs I've found a lot of details asked for to be unnecessary. Why should I explicitly describe sexual orientation? Body weight? Clothes? At a certain point specifics should be abandoned in favor of details being picked up and developed as a character moves along. And other details are just best left to be slowly worked out through the narrative of the RP itself. Though I can understand that for some cases there's cause to worry when someone sweeps in with something left intentionally vague so as to build up over time a character they can claim to be exponentially stronger and out of scale or proportion with everyone else.

Per face-claim shit: drop it in the garbage. Actually write the physical description and not go on a prowl for Anime Headshot #30,501,678.

Yes, I'm asking your opinions again. Yes, I'm probably going to regret it. Again.

As always, keep it civil and don't make me stab you.

---

---

In this topic, I want us to discus character creation.

What is your opinion onn character sheets?

Faceclaims? Real life? Anime? Digital? Hand drawn? None?
Color codes?
What's the 'right amout' of images?
Freeform or GM provided code?
Things that should be be included/excluded?
Etc.

What is your character creation process? Is character creation just all together overrated?

1. Awesome and the lifeblood of this hobby

2. I prefer real life, but that's because of how I perceive the world.

3. Color Codes suck but are needed online. Since it's so easy to get lost, especially when GMs don't tell you where everybody is

4. 1-4

5. Either one.

On CSes-uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I've never been in an RP without a CS????? It's just an easy way to get ur shit together, I'll 100% use them for independent projects as well

On FCs-I tend to use real people because I like to make fun aesthetic things (moodboards, dolls on Polyvore but now urstyle, collages, et cetera), but if I'm GM'ing a RP, I don't care if it's art so long as it's not anime. Anime FCs are so triggering omg, for reasons that I'm too lazy to go into atm

Personally, when I find FC's I try to avoid Instagram celebrities, singers, etc. I like using professional actors/actresses/models (NOT Insta-models) because, like, in the case of models their job is to model. IDK that's just how I justify it; plus high fashion models are so diverse in terms of look/vibe/aesthetic and there are increasing amounts of models of color. So there's my 2 cents

On color codes-if it's required, I don't mind, but I don't usually use them/force people to use them. I will admit that they make things fun and colorful, which is always nice

On images-uh, 1-5? I personally like to put an image for appearance, then make an extra section and put any aesthetic-y artsy things I've made in there under the hider just so it's not annoying as actual hell to find info in the CS

On coding-I prefer GM providing. It ensures that everything is unified, _{plus I'm a lazy piece of shit}. I don't mind freeform, though, just don't expect me to make it ~aesthetically pleasing~ _{because I'm a lazy piece of shit}

On things to be included/excluded-eh, I dunno. I've had CSes that were just like, name/age/appearance/bio, but also ones that go super in depth (ESPECIALLY the ones on Polyvore/Urstyle). I don't mind, either way; I like fleshing out characters, and for the ones that don't have much in terms of required fields, I just stick other things I want to include in an "other" section

On character creation process-TBH i just rip off my own characters nowadays. Like, there are ~5 character "types" that I find myself playing a lot, even if there's a reasonable amount of variation in vibe/personality/bio/aesthetic that they're considered distinct chars (Haley, since this is you asking the question, I have, like, WAY TOO MANY versions of Mai. Also a lot of Mai spin-offs or Mai-inspired characters. Love u girl <3333)

Sometimes, ngl, I'll have a model I want to use as an FC and end up creating a character around the FC _{(Yes, I know I'm shallow, fite me)}. On rare occasions I'll want to play/write a character who's completely different from anything I've written before, and then they end up becoming one of the "character types" I start writing a ton, lol.

(Also I get pretty inspired by stuff I read in my Spanish lit classes, for some weird reason. I actually just made a character who's backstory is kinda sorta a ripoff of a short story I read last semester, whoops)

Character creation is a fickle beast. My rule of thumb as a GM, is don't make characters that are very clear rips from popular media unless you're playing in a fandom-related setting. Other than that, I literally do no care what character sheets look like as long as they communicate the necessary information.

I actually take character sheets that have a lot of effort put into them as a bad sign, personally. This is just my personal experience, but it usually indicates that a player is more interested in showcasing their character than they are in playing as a group, writing, or even role playing, to a certain extent. Of course, this doesn't always apply. But by law of averages, it seems to be the case more often than not, in my experiences. Players that tend to stick around and offer the most enjoyable experiences often submit sub-par or mostly empty sheets.

Best course of action is to just not use character sheets as a point of reference for a role player. Lurk their previous posts instead.

boiiiiiiii let me write a wall of text bio in peace :'''(

(also, "Lurk their previous posts instead"-this is like an employer stalking ur IG or FB, omg)

A) Faceclaims? Real life? Anime? Digital? Hand drawn? None?


B) Color codes?


C) What's the 'right amount' of images?


D) Freeform or GM provided code?


E) Things that should be be included/excluded?


Edit: Seems like I missed a few questions.

1a) What is your opinion on character sheets?


2a) What is your character creation process? Is character creation just all together overrated?

Vetting people on their past history is not a bad idea, but it's probably still a good idea to have a conversation with them about it beforehand just the same.

Hi Haley, I just found this thread. I know it is a month old but I rarely visit the lower forums. YEa, I got stuck in the "tell something about you" thread and haven't left. go figure.

What is your opinion on character sheets?

I believe character sheets should remain dynamic. They are written by the individual author and are in no way property of the thread moderator. Any moderator who asks you to PM the CS to them and then posts them as is, is doing a great injustice to the author. They must be posted by the author so they can update and make changes to the text as the character they are writing about develops. Hopefully, authors are writing character development to make this quality possible.

Faceclaims?

IMHO, I believe a written description of the character is more important than the image. I usually leave the posting of images as an option. If an author chooses to post an image, I prefer face claims with credit given to the real person over all other images. If an author cannot locate a real life image to use, then hand drawn images are acceptable if drawn by an artist that appear lifelike. Animations with exaggerated features are unacceptable (i.e.: Anime/Manga).

Color codes?

Each section of a CS should be clearly divided in some manner. Using a single color to denote the title of each section is a necessity. An author can delineate the sections by increasing the size of the title with an h3 tag or not. Or possibly by using an underscore.

What's the 'right amout' of images?

If more images are used in addition to the face claim, they should be placed inside hider tags so they do not clutter up the CS.

Freeform or GM provided code?

Honestly, I prefer Freeform, but given the responses above, I would be inclined to provide some guidance to the structure of the Character Sheet.

Things that should be be included/excluded?

The items to be included or excluded would be situationally dependent upon the nature, theme and universe of the RP. Some folks believe the CS can do without the Personality section. For me, that is a key component of the CS. There are so many different personality traits and some people have different personalities around specific characters while others are the same consistent personality regardless of present company.

I generally post the character's name and optional image at the top. They give the reader an identity to cling onto. The description comes next and should state the character's race, skin color, age, height, weight and body style. If the character is of a race other than human, a detailed description of differences in body style should be illustrated here. If the character is a rock hard mass of muscle of a heaping pile of flab or maybe just a typical soft Joe like most real people in the world. This information should be contained in the first paragraph.

The second paragraph should include a description of how the person dresses. If they wear a uniform or prefer specific individualistic tastes in dress. Maybe they wear something all the time; an article of jewelry or a ball cap.

The biography should be detailed to include location of birth, family life as a child and how specific events in their history created the person we see today. If they have scars, tattoos or other identifying features should all be explained in the biography/history. Any social status or special abilities should be explained in the biography/history. If this is done properly, it would contain more than five paragraphs; more if the character is older.

Once I've written all this, then I write the character's personality description. I've actually been thinking of their personality as I write the bio. Experiences in their biography will have an impact on the personality. They may be quite significant.

One of the last things I like to include are individual perceptions my character has of the other characters in the RP. When I read other author's Character sheets, I read them as though I am the character I just wrote. I try to imagine how they would perceive these other characters. Do they like them? Why? or Why not? What does the character like or dislike about the other characters? I describe these perceptions in this final section. I refer back to when in conversation with said character. It helps me determine what tones I use when addressing these characters in the Role Play.

I hope this helps. I know I get a bit detail oriented. It comes with age and experience.

It really grinds my gears when people insist on playing one type of character and porting it into everything they join. Nevermind whether it fits into the GM's setting or not - and when they inevitably get told 'Sorry, that won't fly in this world,' they huff and leave.

Sorry you can't be a level 25 dragonkin warrior-mage with a demon sword or whatever all the time, bro.

At least work with GMs and reach a compromise to create an interesting character with motivations, background and personality that can exist in their setting. They're hosting the RP, at least give them that courtesy.

It really grinds my gears when people insist on playing one type of character and porting it into everything they join. Nevermind whether it fits into the GM's setting or not - and when they inevitably get told 'Sorry, that won't fly in this world,' they huff and leave.

Sorry you can't be a level 25 dragonkin warrior-mage with a demon sword or whatever all the time, bro.

At least work with GMs and reach a compromise to create an interesting character with motivations, background and personality that can exist in their setting. They're hosting the RP, at least give them that courtesy.

I miss the bitch thread too, but this ain't the place.

one type of character ≠ literally the same character

This seemed like the best place for me to say this, and I'm really sorry for the ridiculous and/or obvious thing and also if someone already pointed this out. Needless to say, I feel like a total dunce. But since I came to the site, being the stooge that I am, I always found it irksome when making character sheets whenever I'd use an image and it'd be ridiculously huge, impractically so. I'd resort to some really annoying lengths to find a way to shrink them down to size, at least when I compare them to what I just found out.

Turns out you could just pile on the indent commands until an image shrinks to the size you want. It all scales down. I'm really happy all things considered. Sorry for the stupid post out of nowhere. I think I'll excuse myself and ride this high for a little while.

@Mangrale That's because the forum automatically take huge pictures and scales them to fit on the page. When you indent, you're reducing the allowed space for an image, shrinking it in turn.

the best way to shrink an image is to just boot up your favorite paint software and scale it down. It saves you from having to do a bunch of messy indents every time you want to use an image. Some image hosting sites offer simple resize options if you don't feel like doing it yourself. Everyone hates tumbler, but I uploaded this image to it.



If you open the image in it's own tab, you'll notice the last 4 digits in the address are "1280." That's actually a resolution code. By simply changing that to 640 in the URL...



...we get a smaller image, and we can go smaller.



And we can even go even smaller than that.

If people need to resize an image, just upload the image to imgur like most people do on RPG and resize it through their site. There should be a thing somewhere that says like "edit image" or something.

@BrokenPromise I just saw this now and had no idea that the URL thing was even a feature. You just saved me a lot of frustration for the future!