How to Create a Fitting RPG Character, Pt. 1

Introduction

Role-playing is a fun art, but it is even more fun if you can pick your character well. This tutorial is meant to help people, especially beginner role-players, in the process of creating a character that fit for them. A fitting character is easy to play and involve into role-playing scenes, and thus it makes learning tricks of roleplaying faster. A fitting character may also mean an interesting character (that allows you to have more fun when roleplaying) and an active character (that allows you to enter into RP scenes more easily).

And for finding an easy, interesting and active character -- a fitting character -- I give you this tutorial!

Notes:

1. This tutorial will concentrate on giving notes about tailoring a character that fits for yourself and is easy and interesting to play rather than on actual character creation. There is already several tutorials about character creation and role-playing. : )
2. The material of this tutorial is based on my experience as a role-player (a few years, a few communities (both fandom and original), mainly forum role-playing), plus as story teller (where creating characters is needed). I'm not a pro, but a hobbyist.
3. My mother tongue isn't English (but Finnish), BUT it doesn't mean that I beg for mercy with my grammar! Actually, vice versa! I REALLY ASK YOU to point out my mistakes when you find them, so I can learn better English!
4. And finally... THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF THE TUTORIAL. There are two other parts, too!

To the Bat Cave tutorial!

HOW TO TAILOR A FITTING ROLE-PLAYING CHARACTER FOR YOURSELF

Part One: Choosing and getting familiarized with the RPG (role-playing game) community

This is a very important step that gives a base for everything.

As start, you can either A) first choose the community and then create the character, or B) vice versa, first create the character (loosely) and then choose the community.

Mostly, people do the first thing, since first picking up a community allows them to get known about the rules before they continue. It's safer option and saves more energy, as you don't have to spend your time for fixing your character afterwards.

Sometimes, however, people do the second option, which is some risky: if you create a character before knowing the rules of the community, it's pretty sure that you'll have to edit your character. It's not a banned option though, far from it, and it fits well if you are looking for a RPG community which bases on the fandom of a certain series. Mostly, fandom-based RPG communities have many similar rules that can be determined by your common sense ("Don't give your character a special ability that is unique to the protagonist of the series, don't give an item that is too modern for the series, and don't break the laws of local magic/physics/logic...")

Things to pay attention to

When choosing a community, I suggest you to pay attention to at least these factors:

• What kind of role-playing platform you want to use?
  There are several options, and I'll introduce some of them:
  
  
  • Forum role-playing. There, you join a RPG forum and play there by posting messages where you describe your character's actions, slightly like you were writing a story of him/her side-to-side with the other players. One of most common platforms nowadays and very versatile: you can post your replies when you have time, and you can use your imagination as much as you please (and the rules allow), as there is no limitations in graphics, physics or other things. Since you don't have to be present when the other people are, it fits well for players all around the world without having to think about time zones. As drawbacks, well, it lacks fancy graphics, and requires writing skills, and sometimes it may take time when people reply. Great option for people who like to write stories.
  • Chat role-playing. Very similar to forum role-playing, but hangs around in chat. Requires people being present in the same time, good interaction.
  • Pen and paper role-playing. One of most traditional platforms: you have a character who is adventuring on the board and fight against monsters by throwing dice. In many cases, these kinds of games are more or less combat-orientated: you character has a mission and a given amount health points that he/she loses when taking damage from monsters and can be restored with health potions. It depends a lot on the game master what kind of game you have, and sessions usually take several hours. (I have tested pen and paper RPG without a board and with dices. It took +10 hours, and it wasn't a long game!)
  • Massively multi-player online role-playing games aka MMORPGs (like World of Warcraft in its role-playing servers). There, you play an online game, but alongside killing monsters, you use your character for role-playing by having nice chat with other characters. Requires the game (which can be expensive) and enough (i.e. a lot) time from all the people to gather into the very same place (in game sense) and start the action. Also, it's best if you can find a group of other role-players from the server. Plus, at least in WoW, you have to be warned about non-role-playing players that can interfere your role-playing experience.
  • Live action role-play aka LARP. There, you literally dress up into character and travel physically around in the given game area acting your role. I have never tested this, so I can't tell well my opinions about this thing. However, at least it requires enough time to not only to play, but also to make your costume and learn your role. Also, mostly and at least in beginners' games, you can't decide your role independently, but the game master gives you an already-written character.
  
  A note: These definitions of different platforms are rather vague. Please read more accurate information in other sources, like in Wikipedia.
• In what kind of storyversum you want to play?
  Do you want to play in a fandom (like in worlds of Naruto or Harry Potter), or an original plotline designed for only the game? In fandom roleplays, most likely you have less things to learn, but original games tend to be more flexible.
• Do you want to create your character by yourself or do you want to use already existing character?
  This depends highly on the platform type you choose. In many (but not all) fandom RPG communities, there are also chances to play canon characters. However, mostly these characters are given to experienced role-players, as people want that they are played believably. In some games (like in LARP games), you are given a ready character to play, but you can often express wishes for the character.
• Do you want to concentrate on interaction or combat?
  Roughly, many role-playing communities can be shared in two classes that I name Interaction RPGs and Combat RPGs (they are not official names, just something I made up!). Though some communities share traits from both classes. Anyway:
  
  
  • Interaction RPG, as the name suggests, refers to game type that concentrates on interaction between the characters. There are no health point systems, or any other point systems. Just plotting, character development, story-like action. In fights (that are usually rare), the damage caused by the other character is estimated roughly and players aim to realism (like, slitting your shoulder doesn't harm much, but slitting your throat is really dangerous). Fighting scenes require skill to co-operate with the other player, to avoid furious fights about who won.
    
    Mostly, Interaction Style is typical for RPG communities where combat isn't in big role or it is rare: people play in story-like manner. If you dislike your character getting hurt and you want to concentrate on drama and character relationships rather than evolving the skill points of your character, I warmly recommend this type.
    
    As an interesting fact I have noticed is that in Interaction RPGs, most of the players are often females. Depends on fandom, of course.
  • Combat RPG has different score systems (health points, skill points, magic points, etc.), and as the name suggests, it mostly concentrates on combat. Typically, in these communities the beginners start from a character lacking skill points, and you have to play certain amount of games to evolve your character and purchase new skills. In fights, often each attack is defined to cause certain amount of damage that is taken away from the opponent's health bar. Sometimes, if having a suitable platform, calculating scores is automatic.
    
    If you aren't that interested in having fancy discussions over tea and cookies but you want to play you character like it was a computer game, I recommend for you this type.
    
    I have noticed that in Combat RPGs, there is often many male players.
  • Some RPG communities share traits with both styles. Typically, these RPG storyversums have moderate amount of combat, but also notable amount of interaction. Often, the score systems are applied on the combat, but otherwise the game concentrates on interaction. Or, each player is given certain amount of points for picking up skills and they can share the points for different areas. That method makes sure that no character is overpowered.
  
  Mostly, different types can be recognized by the amount of scoring rules. If there are several scoring rules about character creation and combat, the community is probably the Combat Type, and vice versa.
• What do you WANT to play?
  Actually the MOST IMPORTANT question that sums up the other questions. Do you want to play in Victorian era with furries, or play ninja in Konoha? Are you probably interested in what happened after the adventures of Elric Brothers, or do you want to play general fantasy? Do you want to play comedy, drama, action, romance, something else? It's up to you (and the diversity of the existing communities unless you want to create your own)!

And when you have found a nice place where to play...

As you have found the community where to play, familiarize yourself well with rules and especially the background story of the game. Don't get scared if you feel you don't get everything at once, I'm sure you'll get used to the customs and rules of the RPG world as you start playing. Don't fear to ask other players or moderators if something is confusing for you, they won't bite!

Why is familiarizing important?

It's important because it gives your vision about the limitations and possibilities of the game platform you are using, and the earlier you know about them, the better you can use your information. For example, it gives totally different possibilities for the character creation if the role-playing world is either sci-fi one or fantasy one – it's impossible to create a character that fits ANY world. If you want to create a character first and then look for the community, be warned that most likely you will have to edit your character when you find the community.

Next, to creating the character him-/herself. That goes to the other part of the tutorial. Stay tuned!