What do I like about my current avatar? Dang, now you made me go and think about it...
Well, let's see. Probably the thing I like most about it is it's recognizable. I've made a point of using different sprites of Black Mage from Final Fantasy I for all my avatars. So every once in a while I change avatars, but it's always the same character, just a different pose.
I originally chose the avatar as reference to 8-bit theatre (
which can be found here). I chose it since it was a good avatar size, showed up well on screen, and the Black Mage character in 8-Bit theatre is awesome.
If you can get around to taking a shot at it, I'd like to see the same character, with whatever visual looks you can imagine. I really like your art (especially when I have to work it into a Ceramic DM story), and I think I'd like anything you do to the avatar. Really, just go wild, try anything you want with the same basic character somehow in it. You're much more artistic then I, and I would be happy to see anything you can do with it. Take that little picture and go completely crazy with it. Whatever you want. Anything you can throw into it, I bet I'd like.
I can't think of too many other ways to inspire you. The main ideas I have for possible inspiration are my current D&D character (a psychic samurai who uses a nagamaki with a crystal in the pommel. A nagamaki is kind of like a cross between a polearm and a sword) and my Cermaic DM stories. I'm pretty sure neither of those would be any good for adding to my avatar, so don't feel you have to do anything relating to those. Just go crazy, and we'll see how it turns out.
I have some more sprites of the same character I've used as avatars, I'll post them when I get a chance to post from my home computer. Thanks for even considering taking a shot at it, I'd love to see anything you could do to it.