If I really boiled it down, there'd be two types of 'games' I've 'played' here on RPOL: Action Adventures, and Collaborative Fiction. Of course there are the anomalies that are a bit of both - or something altogether different. But for the most part, it's either dice heavy action set pieces, or deep, immersing collab fiction.
From hack'n'slash to novel writing and everywhere in between, believable characters that you can connect with are essential. For me at least. I don't get much kick out of disjointed character constructs, who might give you one impression about their motives or flaws, but then act conversely the next minute.
I know there are numerous methodologies and exercises out there, easily Googleable, to help develop characters - from protagonists to background NPCs.
However -- There is a glut of writing expertise here on RPOL - so I wanted to open the door to the community for hints, tips, advice, Do's and Don'ts, exercises, and well... anything in relation to Character Development.
-
Of particular interest to me, and perhaps just a starting point for this thread, are solo games on RPOL. 1P vs GM, so to speak.
Filling out a character template is all well and good to get started. But I think what really drives longevity in games here is deep & rich character development.
So how do you go about setting up your players to focus their writing, or their characters?
One development tool I've recently read about is 'The Knot'.
quote:
The knot is the thing that is wrong with your character. It’s her flaw, her besetting sin, the unhealthy lifestyle she’s gotten herself into. It’s the harmful thing that the story’s whole point is to expose and give her the opportunity to change. In short, the knot is the thing that is messing up your character’s life.
- Taken from
http://www.writersdigest.com/o...from-start-to-finish
By clearly defining one or two knots, as a GM I can then be sure to weave the plot and NPC interaction around exposing and confronting these knots.
Eventually, a character is forced to address their knot - and either change for the better, or take some large dose of physical or mental damage - potentially permanently debilitating.
So now, after some time of playing, I'm asking my characters to pluck out at least one knot for their characters. With the intention for us to refocus our efforts on exposing, confronting and addressing the knot over the coming chapters/acts/story arcs.
-
What tools do you employ to develop your characters or player's characters - either as a GM, or player?
This message was last edited by the user at 03:53, Wed 26 Nov 2014.