So in Guild Wars 2 I really want to get into my characters. I want to have one of each race and I want to really... what's the word.. commit? to them. What do you guys do when you're developing characters? I'm trying to find some sort of.. form or something to help me along. I have some scattered ideas but I need a way to make them make sense, if you know what I mean.

Thanks in advance!

I generally do it as I play my characters. I like to sit down and think about where my characters are in their lives and what brought them to the point that I began to follow (started playing them). It's a pretty fun process for me and generally by the time it's all said and done I have pretty strong attachment to my characters. I also like to randomly speak in character throughout the world as I adventure, but I rarely stand around and RP.

I've done a word document for the first few characters i'm rolling with a couple quick notes, why I'm choosing charm/ferocity/dignity for that character. Maybe what drew them to the profession.  That's all I ever do when rolling alts and it really helps me get into character with them.

Edit: Also I usually come up with 1 character flaw- just to shake things up or make them fun.

I know you are asking for more than that...just wanted to share what I do hah! You aren't alone!

*coughs* Yea . . I have a problem with doing a bit of character development.

I could point you to any of the roleplaying forums on the Guardian site, but I'm sure you've seen some of it already.

I'd be glad to help any way I can if you feel you need more help. However, you can get some great ideas of your character by just playing the game.

Guild Wars has some rich lore already in place. You can use the game story lines to give you a starting point from which to jump off. What you pick for the choices when creating your character, and why/how you think they apply to your character, is a good start. Participating in some of the story quests as well as random encounters, thinking of them in terms of the character you are playing may give you some other ideas.

Other things that are useful to ponder:

- Motivations: What drives your character ? Is it lust for power, money, fame ? Is it to right some wrong done in the past, or to prove yourself to a parent ? Are you lashing out at others for some wrong in the past, or simply just trying to find yourself in the world ?

- Goals: Is there something your character might strive towards ? Investigating a murder ? Exploring the world as a sheltered child ? Finding a lost sibling/parent/whatever ? Revenge for some foul crime upon your family ? Goals can be a good way to give yourself something to work towards and actively seek.

- Pasts: Often times characters can be more easily created when coming up with event from their past. Pick a situation, awkward or not and think about how they might react to it. Could be something from your own past, a struggle or success that defined yourself (or your character) in some way. Carry that throughout their exploration of the world.

- Virtue/Vice: Is there something your character can be considered as virtuous ? Takes care of orphans, helps the poor, takes care of injured animals, etc. Anything that may be looked upon in a favorable or sacrificing way ? Likewise, does your character have a vice ? A need for finery, money, to hurt people, cause pain, manipulate others, etc. Something that may be viewed as undesirable ?

Just some thoughts, by no means exhaustive. If you are having a real hard time coming up with some ideas, I'm sure there are folks here (myself included) that could certainly help. The real trick though, to start the ball rolling, might be to look within. Possible start with something from your own life or past, and build on it in a different or similar direction. It might help identifying with how the character might feel a bit easier.

For myself, when I think of my characters I tend to put them into particular situations in my head. I begin my stories with these situations. As they unfold, I learn more about them and how they react to other people and to the world around them. Ariana is not fond of men, Iobhar is curious about the world and forgets himself, Kilani is a healer because of some need to make up for the past in which she was the 'cause' of her village being wiped out by imperials. Dearbhail was a character that came out of Iobhar's needing a mentor in the world. The 'Widow' was Ariana's mother who taught her the ways of being a thief. For me . . these other characters add life to the stories I write, but they also define those characters that draw on them for inspiration or thoughts or learning. Iobhar feels jealousy for the first time when he thinks of his mentor Dearbhail and a random human he's never met before. The idea is to explore  the characters failures as well as their development. It makes them more life like and thus more interesting to play or want to play in a story telling way.

Some of the best stories are ones that are just a collaboration of characters that come together and talk, explore, dream, or just be.

Anyways, I've rambled enough, good luck. I think the element of story or character development can really add to any game, but that's just me

Emotional grip and mystery are key factors for me. That thing that really draws you to your character that makes them tick. What sets them off? What makes them cry? What makes them laugh?

And by mystery, I mean something to the effect of almost being seductive. Do you really have a fear of pink, fluffy bunnies, or is that a ploy to make me think he's weak? That scar on his chin: did he get that fighting some grand battle or did he fall down the stairs? Is she generally pissed at the world or is this PissMS?

Not telling everything there is to know about your character in one sitting, in my opinion, is one of the key elements of roleplaying. The whole point of roleplaying is to develop your character through the interactions with others. If you allow yourself to fall into that character by withholding information and making others dig for it, I think you'll find you have a better time with roleplaying than normal, because that in and of itself is a game. You decide which questions garner a response to opening the deeper past of your toon. It also allows you to have the flexibility of not having your toons entire life, past and present, fleshed out.

One of my favorite RP toons I've ever created was a bartender droid named M-1XC or Emone. This droid was a souped up protocol droid that tended the bar at Dren's Diner and had heavy modifications to his movement and added battle algorythms. No one knew where he came from or how he came to be the battle droid hidden in a protocol droid and guess what... neither did I. I just stated that he came with the piece of junk ship that I bought in a pinch and he stuck with me ever since. But one thing that always was a hook for him, was the droids past and his penchant for listening despite his sharp tongue to his "master" and a few other patrons. The droid had more of an aire of mystery about him than anything else, and it made him more interesting.

The mystery part can be overplayed if you're not careful though and make your character completely unbelievable and boring. We've all seen the "hooded mysterious person sitting back in the back booth in the corner facing the door". That's not mystery; there's obviously something that person is hiding. The mystery you create for your character and for others to want to figure out will be subtle clues you drop in conversation and reactions to other peoples actions, comments or experiences.

My RP begins at character creation. As I mold the way my character looks I begin to create his personality as well. Then as I start out into the world the personality becomes created more so and sort of as Beenie said, I beging to know what my character would do or not do. For instance in SWTOR I did not go straight light side or straight dark side with my character because there were some situqation where Duck L'ling would  choose to blast your head off rather than let you plague the universe. Then through the in game story and other experiences you will find your growing your character without even trying. It becomes very natural for you the more you roleplay.

I have never did any heavy RP in video games, I typically keep it light. I do get very hooked on my characters though and each of them are unique in their personalities and likes.  I have found myself wanting to create a character from the beginning, and do some heavy roleplaying with one life. If your character dies and no one is around with the ability to magically bring you back to life, then you are dead and that is the end of that character. I think that would be a blast...well until you went kaput.

And Beenie, here you go. I had a couple to spare.

 

Thank you everyone for you input! I have some time before launch to get things sorted out.

Lots of posts to re-read over as well. Thanks!! <3

Wow a lot of great tip and ideas... My head hurts a little bit from all that knowledge  . I my self have trouble staying in character. I do like to RP while in game. I find it helpful when gaming with RP'ers and a lot of fun.