In-depth characters

[Tech]

I've created in-depth characters ever since I started playing Champions (okay, it took about 1-2 years after but it still counts towards development). Some of you call it 'plumbing your character' or something similar. It didn't occur to me how in-depth characters had become until one gaming evening many years ago...

My friends, brothers and myself were having a game. Someone was doing a college paper on how roleplaying games mimic the storytelling of centuries past and thus, sitting in on the game recording the audio aspect. Someone's character had a susceptibility to processed foods, which was an odd disadvantage but had it his character did. A point came up early in the game when the GM asked what each person's character was doing in their secret id's. Around the table everyone started talking until one player said his character was having lunch with another character. At that point, a minor discussion occurred about what they were eating and cheeseburgers got mentioned. The player character with the susceptibility said he wouldn't eat cheeseburgers because of the cheese to which someone replied, 'Depends on the kind of cheese'. This caused all sorts of laughter and the watching recorder paused the recording in amazement. She was amazed in the details of even what our characters eat, who aren't real. She said that it was like ordinary people talking. By the way, she got an A on the paper.

Having characters with detailed, in-depth lives are simply so much fun! I know many players have been in campaigns where it didn't last long and couldn't develop their characters. However, I'm sure some of you if now alot of you have. I've read many character origins of established characters with 100's of experience and seen the details.

So, I was wondering: how often do you develop detailed, in-depth characters?

[Cassandra]

I use real life people as examples for some of my characters, and put the real identity into a situation that would cause them to become a crimefighter, superhero, villian, etc.. For example, my Lady Liberty character is based somewhat on Amelia Earhart. What if instead of vanishing she discovered an ancient land and was granted superpowers to defend the world against the Axis? Then I create people they know, what skills they have based on the superpersona they have, and so forth.

For example, as Lady Liberty's costume is based on the Statue of Liberty, her weapons are a Book shaped Shield, a Torch that gives off three different colored light based powers, and sandals that allow her to fly. Her crown with all those spikes is a radio. Her costume and hair are red, and her two sidekicks, her sisters, wear white (with blonde hair) and blue (with black hair). Both have the same abilities as her but at a lower power level.

[Doc Shocker]

There should be an option between "Some" and "Every"

I would say MOST of my characters have been plumbed. As the default GM, it usually falls to me to create the NPCs so a lot of them are limited in scope. But when it comes to important characters I can usually give you a good bit of info on them. My personal PCs are almost always thought out, unless I just want to jump in on a combat session. Even then, I have a roster of pre-made characters to choose from.

So I chose "Cheese" because "Some" didn't sound like enough and "Every" sounded like too many. Also, I enjoy most cheeses.

[Hermit]

I have to go with those who say a 'Most' option fits best for me

[NestorDRod]

I chose the first option, since I generally spend as much time (if not more) developing my characters' backgrounds and personalities than their powers and stats.

There have been exceptions. I recently played in a low-powered fantasy game where the survivability of the characters was low (the GM was one of those "the dice decide" types) so I made a point of not wasting time defining a character that might not even survive the first encounter.

Hey, it's all about the roleplaying for me.

Edit: So I guess I'm in the nonexistent "most" category, too.

[Checkmate]

Well it really depends on how "in depth" you mean. For the most part if I create a character from scratch, I create a really in depth personallity. Once I have that down, I can pretty much decide anything else that comes up on the fly:
GM: Okay what is your character eating
Me: Well let's see my character is a health nut, so he'd be eating the grilled chicken.

There are two things I really need to get into a character:
1. Personality, as I just said I have to know how the character will act to get into him/her

2. Something to look forward to. If I'm able to get everything I want on the character, at the level I feel it should be, right out of the starting box, and I don't feel I have anything to spend XP on, I'm pretty disappointed and it makes it tough to play that character. Luckily this doesn't happen very often.

[teh bunneh]

I try to give all my characters some depth and personality. More develops as we play.

[ghost-angel]

I try to give all my characters some depth and personality. More develops as we play.

I choose this response.

[Certified]

When making characters for personal play, not intended as NPCs I normally start with a concept and work out from there.

[Pariah]

I like to have a lot of depth with my characters. One of my biggest frustrations as a player is when I reach a point with my characters when I'm just thinking "Okay, I know what he can do in combat, but who is he, really?" I've got a character like that now; she's a combat monster, but beyond anger and bringing Genocide to justice, I don't feel like she's got a lot of personality and/or motivation. Going to have to work on that....

[steamteck]

I try to give all my characters some depth and personality. More develops as we play.

Same here. They develop tons more meat as they interact with th players.

[GloryFox]

Some seemed too little and All seemed too much. About 90% of my characters have an in depth story of some kind.

I like fresh Mozzarella the kind that is still in water & chilled when you get it. It is just so "OH THANK YOU GOD FOR CHEESE" good.

[assault]

I generally don't start with much depth to my characters, but add it as required, or as I am inspired.

I'm currently eating cheese. The nasty bland type my parents prefer, because I'm at their house.

[Lord Fyre]

I had to go with the "cheese" option.

The problem is that the depth I have increased the depth that I give my characters over time. So, my eariest characters had very little actual depth (but have aquired some over time).

But characters I have created more recently have much more depth.

[nexus]

I try to put in depth and personality into all my characters, particularly ways they differ from me. And more usually develops in play when different situations call for it.