Beating Writer's Block in Character Design

[Umbran]

At any rate, what do YOU do to break out of a rut to find new sources of inspiration for your PCs?

For me, ruts tend to be due to lack of focus, wandering around in a space with too many possibilities to choose from, and not having a strong preference for any one of them. So, the best way I've found to break out of a rut is an arbitrary restriction. If I give myself a restriction I need to work around to make a character I'll enjoy, the mind can finally focus on specifc needs, rather than wander around aimlessly.

 

[Umbran]

The Auld Grump - not boasting, just confused.

As an analogy that you probably have experience with - have you ever not known what you wanted for dinner? Or what book you wanted to read next? Or what shirt you wanted to wear on a given day? It's like any one of those - having to make a decision, but not knowing which way to go.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Nicely put.

 

[dcollins]

At any rate, what do YOU do to break out of a rut to find new sources of inspiration for your PCs?

Roll dice for abilities, in order. Consider what that says about the character.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I did that last one in a fit of annoyance at another player a few years ago...he thought my 2Ed Players Option Cleric was "Superman" compared to his 2Ed Players Option Cleric and kept whining about it- so I tore it up in his face, rolled dice, and let them speak to me.

Thus was born Johnny Bones, a Ftr/Thief, with high physical stats, decent Int, average Wis, and a Cha of 6.

If nothing else, he was quite refreshing.

 

[Gnome]

Along the lines if what Elder-Basilisk and Dingleberry were saying, sometimes limiting the scope of your ideas can help. If you restrict yourself to a narrow set of parameters, then ironically it can sometimes spur your creativity. I'll use Eberron as an example, too. Take an interesting region from there, say the Demon Wastes. Read about the region, and see if you can come-up with a character that fits the region. Hmm, humans and orcish tribes live there, some corrupted by the evil that resides there, and some dedicated to containing it. Maybe a paladin would be appropriate?

Or, maybe pick a character from that region who you wouldn't expect to find there: maybe a changeling or a halfling? Coming-up with an explanation as to why they would be in such an unlikely place may help you come-up with an interesting background for your character.

 

[gamecat]

I draw inspiration for characters everywhere.

Names. Right now I can't stop listening to the track "Call on me" by Eric Prydz. The name "Prydz" whispers of a proud warrior of some sort.

People. I'll go out raving and end up leaving with a head full of NPC's who may or may never be used, but they're up there - Natasha Kashef, a swashbuckler type who isn't averse to dual wielding glowing lashknives; Penguin, a rogue-sorcerer who takes his name from his black and white familiar.

Video Game Characters. One of my best characters started off as a clone of Rimururu from Samurai Shodown.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Of course you look around and try to be open to good suggestions...its just that I, and probably most people, draw on a few select areas for inspiration- those they find to be dependable.

After all, I have a 1/2 Orc Ranger named Klor-Kon. Source of inspiration: Klor-con, a Potassium dietary supplement.

That aforementioned "Super" cleric? Inspired by game mechanics: a big, big axe or maul combined with the Player's Option rules that let the PC get a huge number of spells...as long as they weren't offensive (Major access to something like 8 Spheres + Wizards Abjuration School...and only 3 offensive spells). Further refined in the crucible of Finnish Mythology.

Video games? I still want to do one based on Raiden & Yoshimitsu...

 

[Immak Antunel]

With regards to the "too many options" kind of block, I've had good luck with just going along with whatever idea came first, evemn if the later ones may sounds a bit cooler. I've had at least a dozen character ideas in mind for an upcoming ravenloft game, but I've stuck with my first idea, an aristocrat based on a Dostoevsky character, and he's grown on me already.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

As an analogy that you probably have experience with - have you ever not known what you wanted for dinner? Or what book you wanted to read next? Or what shirt you wanted to wear on a given day? It's like any one of those - having to make a decision, but not knowing which way to go.

Ah, yes that does help. Thanks.

My problem is that I tend to be very quick to make decisions, and very slow to change them. So If I am not sure which one to pick I just pick one, since I am having a hard time deciding then each is likely as good as the others. Then I build from there.

It is also likely why I have a hard time running off the cuff games, I need to actually make the decision before hand, then sort out where that decision is likely to lead...

The exceptions to this rule tend to involve spending money - those I tend to agonize over.

The Auld Grump