New to RP
In reply to ButterMoth (msg # 1):
It depends HOW you want to get started. Or where. To make it simple though, what i do is look through my options and formulate a couple character ideas. For example, i could look at a D&D campaign starting and think; "What would be most fun? Perhaps a Wendigo who thinks he's a king? Maybe a Gargoyle Bard that doesn't stop making rock jokes? Perhaps something a little risky?"
While i myself like to take "exotic" options when it comes to a race and class combination (You will never see me playing an elf, human, or any of those "standard" races when i can help it; with one exclusion), it might be best to start simple. There's a difference between cliche/generic and simple, though. For example, a Drow thief or Elf ranger are far too common in my opinion; However, what you do in the end is up to you.
Once you have an idea of what you want your character to be and function as, you need to give them personality and "life" in a sense. Make them unique, and your own thing. If you're using another character as inspiration or reference, do NOT make it obvious. If friends of mine that i play D&D with knew where i got my ideas from, i might as well be the most unorigional scrub at the table; but i'm good at making the character unique enough to be his own thing.
Next, figure out what you want your flaws and skills to be. A character who is a "master at everything" is never fun to play with; and it can hurt the party both in-game and personally. I was in a game once where this one guy had a character who pretty much walked all over everything. I found myself trying to force myself to their standard because i thought i'd be treated as irrelevant and expendable by the party. Turns out, everyone was sick of his doody and they'd been victim to it too. The point i'm trying to make, is that while strong characters are fun to play, everyone has flaws. Perfection is to be pursued but never achieved. Balance your strengths and flaws.
By then, the rest will come to you naturally, at least i'd hope.
Oh! One more thing; experiment. Don't be afraid to take risks. the only way one can learn RP is through experience; trial and error. thats the way i learned. Not everything will work in the first go; thats why "Retconning" exists