This is my quick reference section of an Rpers CS - simple things like name, nicknames, age, birth place, and so forth. Depending on the RP it could have anything here from their education level to their class status, languages they speak fluently. This is for me to be able to see a few things right off. Such as does their job and pay make sense? Does the language they speak fit, or are they suddenly having their character speak French without a single thought but just because someone else in the Rp speaks French and they wanted to talk to the cutie to impress them.
This section is broken down into a simple format for those using images. Most I Rp with do use images and while the images are in the cs coded space, they aren't required - so they can easily go into more detail here if there is no image provided. Things like general height and eye color or more broad if they need to describe shape if no image is provided to give others an idea of what the character looks like. Things like tattoos, scars, piercings is also there, as well as mode of dress. This for me is the first glimpse to how a character is shaping up. Scars and tats usually have stories behind them, it gives something to delve into for the history or later in game play.
I have this broken down a lot more than the previous sections. It starts out with a listing of 6 personality traits - 3 positive, 3 negative. Reason being no character is really all bad or all good. Every character has a bit of both. Some slant more from one side or another but I have yet to see anyone ever pull off a perfectly good or perfectly bad character, this gives a spectrum to build from. Then it breaks down into a paragraph layout for their personality in general. How their moods are. Then fears, hobbies, habits, likes, dislikes - these are things I use as a GM tool. Their fears can be used in Rp in situations, driving a character this way or that. Hobbies gives characters something to do in downtime, habits can show when a character is nervous or getting angry. Most of my RP's are either about surviving a situation or solving a case (usually both) - so these are factors I need so I can better work a character into a starting rp scenario - a quick list if you will if I need to drive a character to the next point in the RP.
This is usually their skills and their possessions. Why is it there? Because I got sick and tired of godmodding metagaming asswipes. You know the type. Suddenly their character can speak any language, is a martial artist never having stepped into a class or ever have being trained, can suddenly hack the FBI data base even though they put in their history further down they hate computers and never touch them, and so forth. Or suddenly having keys to this house, or a lock picking set out of no where.
This sections gives me an outline to what a character can do and what they have. Quick reference. It also gives me a place to reward rpers as the Rp goes along. Such as DTB, everytime a case is solved, characters pick up new skills they can used based on what they were exposed to. Like a level up at the end of an RP adventure and cashing in on your exp points.
This shows me the thought that went into the character. It doesn't cover everything but I require that skills a character has match their history. If they can use a gun, where did they learn? They are from Korea but speak Swahili? Why? Also, their fears get worked into this - why did they get these fears, perhaps why they got a scar listed above, or why that particular tattoo. Their history is also something I work into the story. It helps me give each Rper a more personal experience. Maybe their character went to see a certain movie a dozen times because they loved it so much or to get away from trouble at home. Well, if I need them to find a clue in a case, a poster for that movie or a song from its sound track pops up in Rp making the character want to see that movie again - it's playing for a dollar at the discount theater or why is that music coming from that window right then?
This is more for the fun of it section but it has a reason. Quotes - what would your character scream out, or say a lot. It gives an Rper a chance to start a hook - "Jumping Jahosafat!" a quick catch that differs them from everyone else screaming "WTF!" when they get startled. Songs, well those are mostly just for fun but it can give me a sense of that characters over all mood on average. The Anything else - that is there for a couple of reasons - one to check if they read the rules and two to add anything else - maybe a character they are related to in another RP, which hand their write with, a goal for the character, or anything else an Rper can think of.
At the bottom of all my CS's there is a little red blurb stating that by submitting the CS they saying they have read all the rules and are agreeing to all the terms and conditions I have in the RP. This is more for me than anything. My - well you submitted the CS, so you are saying you read the rules, so no excuse not to know you had 7 days to post and on the 8th I would kick you out.
