Character Creation Hints

The following questionnaire is being provided to help players develop and organize background information for their characters. You are not required to put this information in writing, except for your physical appearance. You do not need to answer all of these questions, but the more of them that you can, the more clear the character will be in your mind and the easier it will be to roleplay. For these questions, "you" means "your character":

Appearance

1. Describe yourself as someone meeting you for the first time would see you. Race? Gender? Age? Size? Coloration? Attractiveness? Dress? Do you try to emphasize or hide any of these features?

2. What other details would someone notice on a closer look? Do you have any distinguishing marks (birthmarks, scars, etc.)?

3. Do you have a distinctive way of speaking? Any mannerisms or other memorable behavior?

Education & Work

1. What kind of a life has your character had? How was he/she raised and trained?

2. Did you serve an apprenticeship in order to learn your current profession? For how long?

3. If you were not an apprentice, how did you learn your trade, skills, etc.? Formal schooling? Informal teachers? Self-taught?

4. Who was your master or teacher? Is he/she still alive? How were you treated? Are/were you on good terms with your master?

5. How important are letters, books, etc. to you? Do you carry any writings and/or writing materials with you on your adventures?

Attitudes & Beliefs

1. What is your moral code? Under what conditions will you kill? Steal? Lie? Do you have a personal code of behavior about violence? Magic? Sex? Dealing with evil/good beings?

2. How committed are you to seeing through something (a task, quest, bargain, etc.) that you have started?

3. How important are the following to you?: Power? Wealth? Fame? Honor? Family? Friends? Love? Knowledge? Religion? To what lengths would you go to acquire or preserve these things?

Edges & Flaws

1. What are you especially good at? What sets you apart from the rest of the world? A skill? An unusual knack? A certain flair of style or wit?

2. What flaws do you have? Bad habits? Obsessions? Terrible (or embarrassing) secrets?

3. Do you have any enemies? How much trouble do those conflicts cause you?

4. What is your temperament? How do you react to stressful situations?

Likes & Dislikes

1. What do you love? (People? Places? Creatures? Kinds of food? Activities? Subjects?)

2. What do you hate? How do you typically react to these negative stimuli?

3. What do you fear? What is your worst nightmare?

Miscellaneous

1. Describe your first encounter with a nonhuman monster. (Not counting player races, animals, etc., that you grew up with--but feel free to mention them, too.)

2. If you are a spellcaster, describe your first experience with using magic. What were the circumstances? Were you expecting it?

3. What one incident or accomplishment is your character most proud of?

4. If you have any unusual personal possessions, describe how you acquired them. Is their value practical, monetary, sentimental or some combination of these?

5. If you wish to add any pre-game history that is not already covered by the questions above, please do so.

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Questions thanks to Tim Emrick