Character Concept Mad Libs
From the same blog that I got this "what kind of game are we playing" campaign tool comes this nifty little tool for creating characters:
A (personality trait) (profession/role) trying to (goal) despite her (flaw).
She wants to become (profession/positive trait), achieve (social status), overcome/move beyond (past trouble, mistake, tragedy). She believes in (ideal or personal credo) and can’t stand people who (believe other credo/behave in a certain way). People know her as (reputation) and expect that she will (achieve/fail/become something).
She is a part of (social group), is expected to obey (authority figure), assisted by (friend/group of friends), is opposed by (rival group).
She wants to earn respect/love of (NPC), see (NPC2/rival group) get their just desserts for (dirty deed), help (NPC3) deal with (problem/flaw), fulfill (promise made) for (NPC4), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
It isn't necessary to fill them all in at the start. The first sentence and maybe at least a little more, but some of it can arise in play. And some of the NPCs in the last paragraph could instead be other PCs.
I'm going to see how it works by filling in the blanks with answers from some favorite characters. Like Cat Dancing, my iconic Shadowrun character going back to high school:
A (cocky, overconfident) (street shaman) trying to (become a real shadowrunner) despite her (inexperience).
She wants to become (a powerful shaman), achieve (recognition as a major player in Seattle's shadow community), overcome/move beyond (N/A). She believes in (equal rights for metahumans) and can’t stand (elves) who (appropriate Celtic culture from the Irish and Welsh). People know her as (a go-ganger) and expect that she will (never amount to anything).
She is a part of (the Plastic Jungles squatter community in Redmond), is expected to obey (N/A), assisted by (her old gang, the 405 Hellhounds), is opposed by (the Leather Devils).
She wants to earn respect of (Six Pack, the local fixer), see (the Humanis Policlub) get their just desserts for (metahuman racism), help (Raven) deal with (her bitterness and disillusionment, and also Mitsuhama), fulfill (promise made) for (NPC4), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
That was fun! Let's do another!
Shaygin, my Blue Rose character:
A (bold) (fire-shaper) trying to (protect Aldis) despite her (impetuousness).
She wants to become (successful as an envoy of the Queen's Finest), achieve (social status), overcome/move beyond (her immigrant origins as the daughter of Jarzoni refugees). She believes in (the ideals of the Kingdom of Aldis) and can’t stand people who (threaten the kingdom or its people). People know her as (well-meaning and diligent envoy, if a bit hotheaded) and expect that she will (probably do well if she just learns to think before leaping into the fray).
She is a part of (the Queen's Finest), is expected to obey (Sharit Ranith and Queen Jaellin), assisted by (other envoys), is opposed by (rival group).
She wants to earn respect/love of (NPC), see (NPC2/rival group) get their just desserts for (dirty deed), help (NPC3) deal with (problem/flaw), fulfill (promise made) for (NPC4), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
Who else could I do? Howabout Fiona from Gleeville?
A (socially awkward) (glee club member) trying to (survive high school) despite her (flaw).
She wants to become (a professional dancer), achieve (fame), overcome/move beyond (past trouble, mistake, tragedy). She believes that (ignorance is bliss and sometimes it's better to not tell a hurtful truth) and can’t stand people who (are mean or cruel). People know her as (a klutz) and expect that she will (accidentally destroy the school).
She is a part of (the Valkyries), is expected to obey (Mr. DelMasto, the teacher), assisted by (her BFF Ashley), is opposed by (Sammie Taylor and her clique).
She wants to earn respect/love of (Adam), see (Sammie's group) get their just desserts for (generally being a bunch of libbies), help (Ashley) deal with (her crush on Warren), fulfill (staying a friend) for (Nellie), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
A (personality trait) (profession/role) trying to (goal) despite her (flaw).
She wants to become (profession/positive trait), achieve (social status), overcome/move beyond (past trouble, mistake, tragedy). She believes in (ideal or personal credo) and can’t stand people who (believe other credo/behave in a certain way). People know her as (reputation) and expect that she will (achieve/fail/become something).
She is a part of (social group), is expected to obey (authority figure), assisted by (friend/group of friends), is opposed by (rival group).
She wants to earn respect/love of (NPC), see (NPC2/rival group) get their just desserts for (dirty deed), help (NPC3) deal with (problem/flaw), fulfill (promise made) for (NPC4), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
It isn't necessary to fill them all in at the start. The first sentence and maybe at least a little more, but some of it can arise in play. And some of the NPCs in the last paragraph could instead be other PCs.
I'm going to see how it works by filling in the blanks with answers from some favorite characters. Like Cat Dancing, my iconic Shadowrun character going back to high school:
A (cocky, overconfident) (street shaman) trying to (become a real shadowrunner) despite her (inexperience).
She wants to become (a powerful shaman), achieve (recognition as a major player in Seattle's shadow community), overcome/move beyond (N/A). She believes in (equal rights for metahumans) and can’t stand (elves) who (appropriate Celtic culture from the Irish and Welsh). People know her as (a go-ganger) and expect that she will (never amount to anything).
She is a part of (the Plastic Jungles squatter community in Redmond), is expected to obey (N/A), assisted by (her old gang, the 405 Hellhounds), is opposed by (the Leather Devils).
She wants to earn respect of (Six Pack, the local fixer), see (the Humanis Policlub) get their just desserts for (metahuman racism), help (Raven) deal with (her bitterness and disillusionment, and also Mitsuhama), fulfill (promise made) for (NPC4), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
That was fun! Let's do another!
Shaygin, my Blue Rose character:
A (bold) (fire-shaper) trying to (protect Aldis) despite her (impetuousness).
She wants to become (successful as an envoy of the Queen's Finest), achieve (social status), overcome/move beyond (her immigrant origins as the daughter of Jarzoni refugees). She believes in (the ideals of the Kingdom of Aldis) and can’t stand people who (threaten the kingdom or its people). People know her as (well-meaning and diligent envoy, if a bit hotheaded) and expect that she will (probably do well if she just learns to think before leaping into the fray).
She is a part of (the Queen's Finest), is expected to obey (Sharit Ranith and Queen Jaellin), assisted by (other envoys), is opposed by (rival group).
She wants to earn respect/love of (NPC), see (NPC2/rival group) get their just desserts for (dirty deed), help (NPC3) deal with (problem/flaw), fulfill (promise made) for (NPC4), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).
Who else could I do? Howabout Fiona from Gleeville?
A (socially awkward) (glee club member) trying to (survive high school) despite her (flaw).
She wants to become (a professional dancer), achieve (fame), overcome/move beyond (past trouble, mistake, tragedy). She believes that (ignorance is bliss and sometimes it's better to not tell a hurtful truth) and can’t stand people who (are mean or cruel). People know her as (a klutz) and expect that she will (accidentally destroy the school).
She is a part of (the Valkyries), is expected to obey (Mr. DelMasto, the teacher), assisted by (her BFF Ashley), is opposed by (Sammie Taylor and her clique).
She wants to earn respect/love of (Adam), see (Sammie's group) get their just desserts for (generally being a bunch of libbies), help (Ashley) deal with (her crush on Warren), fulfill (staying a friend) for (Nellie), and protect (NPC5) from (personal flaw, danger, other NPC or group).