Character Creation Questions

[DEFCON Clown]

When your players are making characters for your game do you ever I have them fill out a questionnaire about their character? I'm trying to come up with one I can use from now on. I've got some of the questions already but I'd love some suggestions for other ones. As always though all questions and comments are appreciated.

[Certified]

Re: Character Creation Questions

 

I've seen and filled templates like that out before but as a general rule, no I don't use them. I do however expect the players to give some kind of background information that is thoughtful enough to give me a good understanding of who the character is.

[TheQuestionMan]

Re: Character Creation Questions

 

Character Creation Guidelines of coarse.

 

Style of Game they are looking for.

 

Favourite scene/event from last campaign.

 

Character Background/History Required

 

 

Hmmm...

 

 

QM

 

 

The Questions

Date this form was created:

Full name of Character:

Reason, meaning or purpose behind the name:

Nickname:

Reason for nickname:

Race:

Occupation/class:

Social class:

Physical Appearance:

Age:

How old they appear:

Eye Color:

Glasses or contacts?

Hair color length and style:

Weight and height:

Type of body (build):

Skin tone and type (i.e., harry, slimy, scaly, oily, fair, burns easily):

Shape of face:

Distinguishing marks (dimples, moles, scars, birthmarks, etc.):

Predominant feature:

Is s/he healthy?

If not, why not? Or why are they healthy?

Do they look healthy? Why/why not?

 

Favorites:

Char’s favorite color:

Least favorite, why?

Music?

Least favorite music, why?

Food:

Literature:

Expressions:

Expletives (curse):

Mode of transport:

Hobbies:

How do they spend a rainy day?

Personality:

Are they a daredevil or cautious?

Do they act the same alone as when with someone?

Habits:

Drinks:

How much:

Greatest Strength:

Greatest Weakness:

Soft spot:

Is their soft spot obvious, why/why not:

If not, how do they hide it:

Biggest Vulnerability:

Background:

Hometown:

Type of childhood:

First Memory:

Most important child hood event that still effects him/her:

Why?

Education:

Religion:

Finances:

Family:

Mother:

Relationship with her:

Father:

Relationship with him:

Siblings, How many, relationship with each:

Children of siblings:

Other extended family:

Close? Why or why not:

Attitude:

Most at ease when:

Most ill at ease when:

Priorities:

Philosophies:

How they feel about themselves:

Past failure they would be embarrassed to admit:

Why?

If granted one wish what would it be, why?

Traits:

Optimist or pessimist? Why?

Introvert or extrovert? Why?

Drives and motives:

Talents:

Extremely skilled at:

Extremely unskilled at:

Good characteristics:

Character flaws:

Mannerisms:

Peculiarities:

Biggest regret:

Minor regrets:

Biggest accomplishment:

Minor accomplishments:

Darkest secret:

Does anyone know?

How did they find out:

Self-perception:

One word they would use to describe themselves:

One paragraph of how they would describe themselves:

What do they consider their best physical characteristic and why:

The worst one? Why?

Are they realistic assessments?

If not, why not?

How they think others preserve them:

What four things would they most like to change about themselves:

Why?

If they were changed would they be the same person, why/why not:

Would changing of number 1 make them more happy? Why/why not:

Interaction with other people:

How do they relate to others:

How are they perceived by strangers:

Friends:

Wife/husband/lover:

The Hero/Heroin:

How do they view the Hero/Heroine:

First impression of the char:

why?

What happens to change this perception:

What do people like most about this char:

What do they dislike most about them:

Goals:

Immediate:

Long term:

How do they plan to accomplish them:

How will others be effected by this:

Problems/Crisis:

How do they react in a crisis:

How do they face problems:

Kind of problems they usually run into:

How they react to new problems:

How they react to change:

General:

Favorite clothing, why:

Least favorite, why:

Jewelry:

Other accessories:

Drives:

Where do they live:

Where do they want to live:

Spending habits, why:

What do they do too much of, why:

Most prized possession, why:

People they secretly admire, why:

Person they are most influenced by, why:

Most important person in their life before story starts, why:

How do they spend the week just before the story starts:

[Certified]

Re: Character Creation Questions

 

Character Creation Guidelines of coarse.

 

Style of Game they are looking for.

 

Favourite scene/event from last campaign.

 

Character Background/History Required

 

 

Hmmm...

 

 

QM

 

 

The Questions

Date this form was created:

Full name of Character:

Reason, meaning or purpose behind the name:

Nickname:

Reason for nickname:

Race:

Occupation/class:

Social class:

Physical Appearance:

Age:

How old they appear:

Eye Color:

Glasses or contacts?

Hair color length and style:

Weight and height:

Type of body (build):

Skin tone and type (i.e., harry, slimy, scaly, oily, fair, burns easily):

Shape of face:

Distinguishing marks (dimples, moles, scars, birthmarks, etc.):

Predominant feature:

Is s/he healthy?

If not, why not? Or why are they healthy?

Do they look healthy? Why/why not?

 

Favorites:

Char’s favorite color:

Least favorite, why?

Music?

Least favorite music, why?

Food:

Literature:

Expressions:

Expletives (curse):

Mode of transport:

Hobbies:

How do they spend a rainy day?

Personality:

Are they a daredevil or cautious?

Do they act the same alone as when with someone?

Habits:

Drinks:

How much:

Greatest Strength:

Greatest Weakness:

Soft spot:

Is their soft spot obvious, why/why not:

If not, how do they hide it:

Biggest Vulnerability:

Background:

Hometown:

Type of childhood:

First Memory:

Most important child hood event that still effects him/her:

Why?

Education:

Religion:

Finances:

Family:

Mother:

Relationship with her:

Father:

Relationship with him:

Siblings, How many, relationship with each:

Children of siblings:

Other extended family:

Close? Why or why not:

Attitude:

Most at ease when:

Most ill at ease when:

Priorities:

Philosophies:

How they feel about themselves:

Past failure they would be embarrassed to admit:

Why?

If granted one wish what would it be, why?

Traits:

Optimist or pessimist? Why?

Introvert or extrovert? Why?

Drives and motives:

Talents:

Extremely skilled at:

Extremely unskilled at:

Good characteristics:

Character flaws:

Mannerisms:

Peculiarities:

Biggest regret:

Minor regrets:

Biggest accomplishment:

Minor accomplishments:

Darkest secret:

Does anyone know?

How did they find out:

Self-perception:

One word they would use to describe themselves:

One paragraph of how they would describe themselves:

What do they consider their best physical characteristic and why:

The worst one? Why?

Are they realistic assessments?

If not, why not?

How they think others preserve them:

What four things would they most like to change about themselves:

Why?

If they were changed would they be the same person, why/why not:

Would changing of number 1 make them more happy? Why/why not:

Interaction with other people:

How do they relate to others:

How are they perceived by strangers:

Friends:

Wife/husband/lover:

The Hero/Heroin:

How do they view the Hero/Heroine:

First impression of the char:

why?

What happens to change this perception:

What do people like most about this char:

What do they dislike most about them:

Goals:

Immediate:

Long term:

How do they plan to accomplish them:

How will others be effected by this:

Problems/Crisis:

How do they react in a crisis:

How do they face problems:

Kind of problems they usually run into:

How they react to new problems:

How they react to change:

General:

Favorite clothing, why:

Least favorite, why:

Jewelry:

Other accessories:

Drives:

Where do they live:

Where do they want to live:

Spending habits, why:

What do they do too much of, why:

Most prized possession, why:

People they secretly admire, why:

Person they are most influenced by, why:

Most important person in their life before story starts, why:

How do they spend the week just before the story starts:

 

Suddenly it becomes very clear why they call you The Question Man

[TheQuestionMan]

Re: Character Creation Questions

 

 

I got the name from my friends who said I asked so many questions about computers on the internet that I should change my name to TheQuestionMan.

 

 

Thus a Legend is born

 

 

QM

[Netzilla]

Re: Character Creation Questions

 

I don't really give them a form to fill out. However, I have given them a list of questions to have in mind while writing up their background. So long as they touch most of these issues, I'm pretty happy:

 

* What is your character's name & does he have any nicknames?

* How does your character make money and how good at it is she?

* How old is your character?

* How much money does your character have and how much does he save vs spend?

* What does your character look like (height, weight, hair/eye color, style of dress)?

* Does your character have any distinguishing features (tattoos, scars, etc)?

* What is your character's greatest physical flaw?

* What is your characters best physical quality?

* What is your character's personality like (disposition, habits, quirks & motivations)?

* What are your character's short & long term goals in life?

* Who/What does your character fear?

* Who/What does your character hate?

* Who/What does your character love?

* Is your character a spiritual person and, if so, what does she believe?

* Where was your character born & raised?

* What is/was your character's family like?

* Who is your character's closest family member?

* Who is your character's closest friend?

* How well educated is your character and what did his education focus on?

* What does your character do for fun?