How to develop a character ?!

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

Yes that is a rather broad question but I am posing it anyways. There have been many questions as of late as to what each person feels this is. I don't want to get into it too much, I want to focus on a specific aspect of it. A lot of people I (Hrothgar) travel with are very good RPers. What I mean by this is that they play as their characters would, reacting to the world as only their individuals do. However, sometimes I find the conversation grows a little stagnat, between the "You wanna go kill some things?" and "How have you been faring?". So when I find this happening, I try to find out more about the character, their past, their hopes and dreams, their plans for the future. Though for me, sometimes I find it hard to explore these facets between trying to keep in character and finding a good segue in the conversation. I am a little disappointed that no one has ever tried to find out what makes Hrothgar tick. I mean, I know his history is on the website, but even those closest to him have never asked "Why be a merc?". Most of the time, just trying to find out what a persons alignment is through conversation is always fun, but still difficult as most people wish to discuss the next adventure or other events that are going on in the realms. I am not trying to slam anybody (in fact there are many people out there that probably do this sort of thing), I just think that a good idea for RPing would be trying to develop more outside of character's current state of mind and the events that surround him or her.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

I understand what you are saying but I've seen it go to far the other way on servers before too.

*John walks up to the campfire* "Hi, I'm John. I come from Waterdeep. I come from a rich family. My sisters’ name is...

All the while I wonder why this guy is telling total strangers everything about himself. He must be telling us lies to cover his tracks. Yeah that's it!

If I were playing with Hrothgar I'd be trying to figure out what motivates him and watching how he reacts to things.

I had a friend that our characters traveled together for about a year before mine opened up and told his about part of mines past. Of course in return his told me a lie about his past. You just can't trust assassins now days!

[Gaurdian]

eh I never asked hrothgar because Lili didn't trust hrothgar for a long time.

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

Guardian/Lili, this post was not targeted at anyone specifically, it was just meant to say that there is more to RP than most people think. Sure starting plots and adventuring are great, but I just want characters to understand and be understood. To me, it would add another element to the RP.

[Gaurdian]

hehe dude I see yoru point and agree with it I was just adding a bit of lightheartedness. sorry if it seemed offensive.

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

Whoosh *makes hand going over head motion*. Sorry for being so serious, I completely missed your intention. I thought I had offended you .

[soulfien]

That's the risk you take, Quadhund. I know what you're talking about. The druid I made on my last server was the most complex character I've ever made- even in PnP. He started out as NG, went NE, left the Marches to return home to the elves to try and find himself (I basically considered him dead- he posted a note saying goodbye and left without a word and was gone for months) and came back TN after having finally found balance within himself.

All this was done without the help of DM's. I think only 2 players even knew what was going on with him. No one else wanted to get to know him that well. When he "returned" he was a sage. Very wise and very kind hearted yet deadly if he needed to be. (Where before, he was a complete pacifist who hated conflict and never had one PVP fight- he always ran, and when he went evil, he was agressive and violent and had a new found love to all the death magic that he used to abhore.)

Tons of RP that went almost totally unnoticed. My point is that you can't make people want to like your character and you should never try to make a character that people will love. Accept the risk and take it in stride. That one person that actually does get to know your PC will make it all worth it!

My way of creating my PC's personality is simple. I let my PC tell me how he/she will behave. I let them develop on their own. I have my favorites, of course, and I may have a way in mind that I'd like for them to act, but if it doesn't work out that way (which it rarely does), then oh well. That druid with all of his personality conflicts was simply off the top of my head as it were. The druid was simply like that.