Character Profile: How to Fill In The Form

[Alice Locke]

Here is a help thread for those who would like to know what the different parts of the character profile template is for, and how to use it properly. This is to keep it nice and tidy. It's important that you read the entire thread so you know how to fill it in correctly. We are strict with that the character should fit into the setting and be well thought out. Thus, a short explanation of what should be filled in where is to follow here.

The most important thing when writing a character presentation is that you motivate your character. Explain why s/he is like or looks a certain way, why s/he has the employment s/he has, as well as really motivate the character's views, thoughts and personality. Take into account such things as childhood and experiences when you create the psyche.

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"SURNAME LASTNAME"
is self explanatory. Write your character's full name in capital letters.

”quote” and

shall be changed to a quote or other citation of text that you feel suits or somehow explains your character. The text can be anything from a poem, a mantra or piece of a song lyric to a phrase that he/she often uses. Do not fret to use your imagination, there is really no right and wrong in this step! The quote below the picture is optional while the other is mandatory. However, if you have yet to find a suiting portion of text or quote you can type “Quote not yet found”. Just keep in mind that this has to be corrected over time – it’s not a “get out of jail for free” card.

[Place picture here]
This is truly self explanatory. The proper code to be used for this can be found below.
Code:
[img]http://bild.url[/img]

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"Full Name" and "Nickname"
Both of these posts are quite simple. In the Full Name row you put all of your character's given names, including middle name(s) and, once again, surname. Under Nickname you put all of the … less official names that your character might be fortunate (or maybe unfortunate?) enough to carry with them. Keep in mind that different nicknames tend to accumulate over the years, so put down as many as you deem needed!

"Date Of Birth", "Sex" and "Nationality"
This portion of the profile is also quite basic. Our template for writing birth-dates is: X date, Month and Year, i.e. 23rd of March, 2010. Under Sex you put either Male or Female, and the Nationality column contain exactly what it sounds like.

"Civil Stat"
Single, Engaged, Married, Widow or Widower. Simple as that.

"Employment/Work" and "Residence"
These two have to correspond. If your character is a farmer in the Wastelands, it is a great deal more likely that he lives on a cramped farm together with family, grandparents and animals rather than in a gigantic, sparkly and spotless mansion, and vice versa. Also make sure to specify in which area the character is living (Elysia, Avalon etc.).

"Playby"
This is the place to give credit to the person you use as a playby for your character. Make sure you've post a claim in the Playby Claim Thread, and that your playby is not previously taken.

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"Height", "Weight" and "Body Shape"
These portions of the profile have to correspond as well. Also, all of them must be written out. (Yes, we do know it is impolite to inquire of a lady’s age and weight but unfortunately, it has to be done)! All measurements are to be written in kilograms and in metric scale, although you are free to include pound and feet as well, so that all visitors from around the world can understand! The measurements don’t need to be a hundred percent accurate but make sure that they are at least plausible. A human being can’t physically be thin as a wire but strong as a horse and completely healthy. Also make sure to double check so everything works out with the character over all. A farmer is probably more muscular than a notary and an innkeeper probably weighs more than a beggar.

"Skin Tone", "Hair Colour” and "Eye Colour"
Just make these three headlines plausible. If your character has dyed their hair, state that and write their real hair colour too.

"Basic Tone of Voice"
Give us a short description of what your character generally sounds like when he or she is speaking. Envision it and hear it yourself. Do they have a sing-song alt tone, or maybe they pull more towards a smoky base tone? Be sure to include unique voice characteristics’ here as well; are they raspy, hoarse, openly cold or perhaps the character stutters? Also, as with all of the above, make sure it connects with the overall picture – a big bulky bodyguard with the soft wispy voice of a young girl naturally? …Maybe not.

"Looks”, “Style of Clothing"
Be as detailed as you can here. Describe your character to us and paint us a mental image of him or her (remember though, that “detailed” doesn’t necessarily need to be synonym with “long winded”). Now is the time to develop what you have written earlier. How the character's face is shaped, their body? Do they choose clothing to hide or accentuate something? Why do they dress the way they do; is it a thought-out and precisely calculated fashion-maneuver or merely practical? Which matters the most to them? And as always… Cross check with the rest of the character! One seldom fights ogres in a ball gown if one has a choice!

"Body Mods and other Distinct Features– Piercings, Tattoos and Scars"
Here, it’s equally important as the sequences above to motivate and elaborate on your character's different features. What body modifications or odd features do they have, where on the body are they and why did they end up there specifically? What do they look like? Once again always double check with the rest of your profile and remember: no scars and no modifications does also say something about your character.

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"Sexual Preference"
This one is also fairly self explanatory.

"Religion"
What religion (if any) does your character align with and practice, and how much of an avid practitioner are they? If you chose a religion that is in minority, how did your character stumble upon this expression of faith? (Keep it brief here and elaborate further under the “Background” headline). Remember – being an atheist is a choice too, explain, elaborate and show why!

"Traits" and "Personality"
These two seem quite alike at first glance. The difference is however that under traits you list short descriptive sentences or words about your character, such as: carefree, irritable when waken up too early, mean, cold, calculated rational, funny or greedy. View traits as keywords, snippets of your character's whole personality, to give us a quick overview of him or her. Then elaborate and motivate on these traits under the personality section, as well as include other things. What is their attitude like, how do they act towards others, how do they view the world and why? To mention a few... Under this headline it is specifically important to take psychological aspects into consideration. Make sure to balance the character – no one is entirely “good” or “evil” . We all have patience with some things and get irritated by others! Here, it is also important to explain why their personality is constructed this way, especially if the character has conflicting traits (Such as “greedy” and “charitable”) or they carry a certain belief about someone. For example: “All men are pigs” or “Women are supposed to stay by the stove”. How did they come to think this way?

"Interests", "Likes", "Dislikes” and "Fears"
Another self explanatory one. Make sure that it corresponds with the character, as always! Please write in the form of lists.

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"Skills"
What can your character do? What sort of things have they picked up and learned over the course of their life? Write these things in this section. If your character knows how to sew you put that down here. As we have learned by now: Remember to explain and motivate why they know these things, and also remember to check it with the rest of the character to make sure it fits in. If he or she is very young and rich, it is very unlikely that they know how to fire a gun. On the other hand, it is more likely that they know how to dance! Cross checking and motivating are your best friends! Also, be sure to relate any non-self explanatory skills (a hunter can hunt and a dancer can dance, but a serious businessman who plays the banjo?) to the “History” section!

"Mastered Languages"
What languages has your character mastered? The languages in question do not need to be fully mastered, though. For example: if your character speaks a smidge of German because an old lover taught them a few chosen words, you put that under this title as well. Make sure the languages makes sense with the character, and explain why he or she can use the languages s/he uses. Being bi-lingual or more always need an elaborated explanation: be sure to elaborate upon it under the ”Background” section!

"Old Places Of Employment or Expertise"
These only needs to be filled if your character has had other employments or other expertise’s than his or her current one. If s/he is a jack of all trades, so to speak. Far from all have had more employers or work-opportunities than one, so it is in no ways a must! If this post is not relevant to your character, simply delete it! If, however, your character has had multiple jobs, remember to motivate, explain and check that it fits with the overall character, as always! Then write it down. If relevant, make sure to elaborate on the different occupations in the ”Background” section.

"Talents"
If your character has been born with a certain talent or flair for something, such as musicality, writing or dancing, you write that here.

"Hobbies"
What does your character like to do with their spare time when not wrapped up in preparations or planning for work? Hobbies can range between everything from knitting to candle making!

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"Favourite Thing"
Here, you tell us what your character would never, ever, under any circumstances, throw away! A thing or trinket that is very important to him or her, or simply something that they find themselves unable to separate from!

"Accessories"
Jewelry, trinkets, belts and other personal adornments. Specify what you wrote in the “Clothing” section here!

"Weapons"
This is only relevant if your character is in a position (work or otherwise) to carry weapons with them. If you are not under any (obvious, armed) threat, why would you carry weapons? Use your logic! If this is not relevant to you, simply delete this portion of the profile.

"Important Belongings"
Belongings that mean something in particular to your character, or has an important monetary value.

"Animals and Pets"
Animals are rare, but they are still around, so list all of your character's pets here.

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"Family" and " Old Friends, Lovers and Other Relationships"
Another self-explanatory one. Tell us about your character's old relations and family here. Maybe they recall some of these with pleasure and cringe away from others in the memory. All of us have a family, even if we are not in contact with them, so that header is mandatory. Not all of us, however, have relationships to remember or care about, so if that is not relevant for your character, delete that portion! Explain and elaborate on family ties and important relationships under ”Background”.

"Background"
BE DETAILED! All the different portions of your character is to be tied together, motivated and explained here! All of the above is supposed to be elaborated upon and featured, in some way, in this section! Elaborate on everything you have previously written, tell us what has happened previously, and how than influenced your character! Write about their childhood, upbringing, early relationships, family ties, career choices and plans for the future! Nothing is to be left to chance here, all is explained and laid bare…
Be sure to not only tie this in to everything physical around the character, but into his or hers personality and way of thinking as well. What influenced them to become what they are today? Are they happy or sad about their background and past? One can go on forever in this section, and thus it shall not be rushed over. Take your time, think it through, and tie it all together!
Explain, show, elaborate and cross check to the maximum!!