Creating your Character (start here)

[Dan]

IMPORTANT NOTE: This thread is taken from the NEW setup. Some of the formatting may not be correct (such as custom formatting, which has been customised on the new setup) but the structure is exactly the same. If you do not understand any part of the template, CONTACT ME!

You are permitted to post as you wish in this forum - you may use it as a sandbox to create and initialise your characters!



[tt]

Untold Secrets
Character Creation: Character Sheet and Profile

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[thicku]Introduction[/thicku]

Character sheets are designed to aid the realistic development of characters by giving them characteristics and specialities. It also helps to discourage power playing and creating a God like character (which is forbidden). Along with a character profile you are building the foundations of your character.

This thread is designed to act as a guide for creating your own character profile in our environment. If at any point you do not understand, do not hesitate to contact a manager or administrator.


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Important Information/Conditions

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• Upon joining the forum you are permitted to have one character. After one week of full activity you are then entitled to your maximum of four characters. (i.e. your initial character along with three additional characters)
• If you wish to create your character profile thread and you have not yet completed it, you must make it clear at the top of your thread that it is not complete. You then have 48 hours to complete it before it will be reviewed. If it is not complete 48 hours after posting it will be made void.
• Note that once your topic has been posted it cannot be edited without moderation from a manager/administrator. If you are wishing to make changes you should see the topic entitled Amending your Character Profile.
• Ensure that you have read all of the rules for both the character sheet and character profile before you post it!
  

Stage 1 - Character Sheet: Character Traits
Stage 2 - Character Sheet: Character Abilities
Stage 3 - Character Profile
Stage 4 - Template and Summary of Rules

[Dan]

[thicku]Character Sheet: Stage 1 - Character Traits[/thicku]

Your character sheet takes up around a quarter of your overall character profile.
It forms the base layer of your character's personality and attributes.

Stage 1 consists of assigning the base traits points. The more points you give to a trait, the better your character is at it.

• You have a total of 9 points to assign between the traits.
• Each trait must have at least 1 point.
• Each trait may have a maximum of 5 points.
  

The Traits:

1. Physical - includes traits such as strength, dexterity, stamina, fitness.
2. Social - includes traits such as charisma, influence, manipulation along with other people skills.
3. Mental - includes traits such as intelligence, aptitude, emotion, ambition.
   

Points 'Key'

1. Poor (the 'base' level).
2. Average
3. Good
4. Superb
5. Superior (the highest level).
   

[yellowbox]So, for example, your character could have:
x3 Physical
x3 Social
x3 Mental
This would make them an 'all rounder' - Good physical traits, good social traits and good mental traits.

Equally your character could have the following:
x5 Physical
x2 Social
x2 Mental
This would make them superior at physical aspects but average at mental and social aspects.[/yellowbox]


It is these 'basic' traits that create the base of your character.

[Dan]

[thicku]Character Sheet: Stage 2 - Character Abilities[/thicku]

• Stage 2 consists of assigning a maximum of 3 abilities to your character.
• This does not mean that your character is bad at every ability they are lacking.
• Your character is superior over others at the abilities you select. Those which are not selected your character may be good at, but it is encouraged to have a healthy balance between strengths and weaknesses to keep it realistic.
• Generally characters may only have 3 abilities, however, the management and administration may allow more experienced members to have additional abilities added to their character. This right is given on an individual basis and cannot be requested.
• If you feel that an ability is missing or another one could be added, you should contact me or another manager and it may be added.
  

The Abilities to choose from:

Academics - highly educated and thus well informed.
Alertness - good senses, always keeping an ear open to see what is going on and has eagle eyes for spotting people hiding or acting 'out of character'.
(Good with) Animals - natural talent for interacting with animals, both magical and non-magical.
Charms - natural ability for casting/performing charms.
Dueling - ability to duel in a wide variety of situations against a wide variety of people.
Empathy - ability to see through lies and read people by their body language.
Finance - ability to effectively manage the finance of self or others.
Fitness - ability to run, jump, lift objects with ease and generally do physically demanding tasks.
Flying - ability to use brooms and animals who can fly.
Herbology - ability to understand and use magical and non-magical plants to create antidotes or other magical items.
Intimidation - ability to bully others into giving in to ones demands.
Investigation - ability to be the 'detective' and problem solve.
In-the-know - natural talent for keeping in with the news/gossip that may be going around.
Leadership - natural talent for being a leader, leading people, and motivating them along the way.
Manipulation - ability to persuade, blackmail or twist someone to do something for you. Includes seduction.
Medicine/Potions - natural talent or ability for the use of medicines or potions.
Performance - having a natural talent for any of the performing arts including music, sports, etc. Could also be considered as 'consistency'.
Stealth - Good at sneaking and hiding without being caught.
Strong Willpower - ability to stay on focus and battle through the worst times.
Theft - skills involved for stealing items of various calibre.
Transfiguration - ability to use transfiguration to modify an item or person's shape or appearance.

[yellowbox]For example, your character took the following basic traits:
x5 Physical
x2 Social
x2 Mental

Your character may therefore pick the following abilities, based on their superior physical traits:
1. Fitness
2. Dueling
3. Intimidating
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[Dan]

[thicku]Character Creation: Stage 3 - The Profile[/thicku]

The character profile is the section of character creation that requires the most amount of attention and is where you input your ideas and creativity into the character you are to role play as.

• Be specific without limiting the possibilities. For example your character may have a dislike for carrots and people who gossip, but that doesn't mean their opinion won't change at some point and it doesn't stop them from eating carrots or gossiping about other people. Being a hypocrite might be part of your character's personality.
• Remember that the idea of role play is not to win or lose, it is to develop the character around a plot and other characters. They do not necessary reflect upon yourself and are completely fictional people. Experiment! You will have more fun playing a sick, sadistic hypocrite than a superhero who always does good and puts themselves last. Make your character a 'level character' - one with strengths AND weaknesses!
• Make sure you fill out all of the base template. Feel free to add any additional information or add extra fields if you deem it to be necessary. Ensure that you keep the formatting intact.
  

The Template:

• Don't copy and paste this one, there's one in a coded box in the next stage.
• Anything in bold should be left intact.
  

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[tt]Character Name
Aliases or a brief one-liner about them.[/tt]

[mt]Basic Information[/mt]

Full Name:
Exactly what it says on the tin.

Alias:
Any nicknames or aliases that your character may go by.

Gender:
Male or Female.

Date of Birth:
We are set in the year 2121, therefore adjust your date of birth accordingly.

Blood Type:
Pure blood, half blood, muggle born, or other...

Form:
Human or otherwise.

Awareness of Wizards:
If your character is a muggle then they will be unaware, else they are aware of their existence.

House (if attended Hogwarts):
Gryffindor/Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw/Slytherin

Stance:
Neutral/Good/Evil - relative to the overall plot.

Role:
Their role within society - teacher/student, etc.

Relations:
Any family relatives who are and who are not NPCs can be linked to this profile or listed as appropriate.


[mt]Appearance and Physical Characteristics[/mt]

Include any photos of your character in this space if you are basing their appearance off a celebrity or off any images of people/animals you wish to use. Ensure that you are not violating someone else's face claim and ensure to make your own for the images you use!

Below the images of your character, or alternatively if you are choosing not to post any images, you should explain what your character looks like and the typical clothing and dress sense that they have.
Ensure that you are using the traits and attributes that you have assigned to your character earlier in the process, and ensure that you are keeping your character balanced with strengths and weaknesses.
Leave the gap between this and the mental characteristics below.



[mt]Mental Characteristics[/mt]

Build upon the mental attributes you have given your character in this section - talk about your character's intelligence and their mental stability. Are they a big thinker? Do they think very little and result in acting too quickly?
Ensure that you are keeping your character balanced with strengths and weaknesses.
Leave the space between this section and the social characteristics below intact.



[mt]Social Characteristics and Personality[/mt]

Build upon the social attributes you have assigned your character with. Are they good around people? If so do they get on with everyone or only certain individuals? Are they likely to back-stab others? Do they give out their trust easily?
Ensure that you are keeping your character balanced with strengths and weaknesses.
Leave the space between this section and the profile details below intact.



[mt]Additional Information[/mt]

Likes/Turn ons:
Think of at least 5 things that your character likes. Make them relevant things that may crop up in a role play situation!

Dislikes/Turn offs:
Think of at least 5 things that your character dislikes. Make them relevant, again.

History/Upbringing:
This is particularly essential for older characters who have had a large proportion of their life 'skipped out' in our storyline (and their past has not necessarily been role played). Include childhood references along with any other memories that may be of importance.


The area below the additional information above is for you to include any information which you deem to be of interest to your character. You may include items such as patronus, what a boggart would turn into if your character was to face one, what the mirror of erised would show if your character was to face it, et-cetera.

[Dan]

[thicku]Character Creation: Stage 4 - Final Summary and Template[/thicku]

This post is designed to summarise the conditions of the character profile that are listed above and give you the final template to reproduce in your thread.

• You are permitted 1 character upon registering. This is extended to a maximum of 4 characters after a full week of activity.
• You may post a part-completed character profile on the condition that you complete it within 48 hours of posting.
• You cannot edit your profile after it has been accepted. You should see the appropriate pinned topics regarding amendments to profiles.
• Character Traits must be made up of a maximum of 9 points between the 3 traits.
• Traits must not exceed 5 points, and each trait must have at least 1 point assigned to it.
• You should choose 3 character abilities from the list provided for your character.
• Your character should consist of both strengths and weaknesses.
• You should include a high level of detail in your verbal descriptions of your character's traits and abilities.
• Remember that anything in bold should be left intact.
  
  Code:
  

  [b]It will be surrounded in 'b' tags, like this[/b]
• Your character's thread should be posted in the format Surname, Forename.
  

[thicku]Template[/thicku]

Copy and paste the template and post it as a new thread.

Code:

[tt][b][size=xx-large]Character Name (edit this!)[/size]
Aliases or a brief one-liner about them.[/b][/tt]

[mt]Basic Information[/mt]

[b]Full Name:[/b]
(content)

[b]Alias:[/b]
(content)

[b]Gender: [/b]
(content)

[b]Date of Birth: [/b]
(content)

[b]Blood Type: [/b]
(content)

[b]Form: [/b]
(content)

[b]Awareness of Wizards: [/b]
(Aware/Unaware)

[b]House (if attended Hogwarts): [/b]
(Gryffindor/Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw/Slytherin)

[b]Stance: [/b]
(Neutral/Good/Evil)

[b]Role: [/b]
(content)

[b]Relations: [/b]
(content)



[mt]Character Sheet[/mt]

[list]
[*][b]Physical[/b] - X points.
[*][b]Social[/b] - X points.
[*][b]Mental[/b] - X points.
[/list]

[list]
[*]Ability 1
[*]Ability 2
[*]Ability 3
[/list]



[mt]Appearance and Physical Characteristics[/mt]

(photos)

(description)



[mt]Mental Characteristics[/mt]

(description)



[mt]Social Characteristics and Personality[/mt]

(description)



[mt]Additional Information[/mt]

[b]Likes/Turn ons: [/b]
(content)

[b]Dislikes/Turn offs: [/b]
(content)

[b]History/Upbringing: [/b]
(content)


(additional content under your own headings)

Although some of the formatting may display as normal text (such as [mt], [thicku], etc) ensure that you keep it intact as it WILL serve a purpose when you post the profile on the new setup.


© Untold Secrets