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originally posted in:The Black Garden
Edited by Flamerets: 4/25/2013 8:16:05 AM
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How to Design a (Balanced) Character

Do you imagine yourself as a Guardian? Do you want to let people read [i]your[/i] story? Join us at [url=http://www.bungie.net/7_The-Black-Garden/en-us/Groups/Detail?groupId=39972]The Black Garden[/url]! A place where people brave enough to write their own stories come together and forge a Destiny. So this is a handy little guide to designing a balanced character and will be summed up at the bottom if you don't want to read walls of text. As an intro, I'd like to say I am not an expert and these are simply my own opinions on the topic at hand. I decided to write this piece because far too many times have I seen "God Characters" who are basically indestructible and outclasses the enemy in every single way. You may not like the way some things are written, you may like how other things are written; either way, I hope you enjoy the read and learn a little something. 1. Make up a background story. Since this is talking about the near extinction of mankind, I made my character have a grim past. However, it should spark something within the character to become a Guardian or fight for mankind. It could be something honourable like protecting the people, or something a little less honourable like the allure of artifacts and money. Either way, make their past significant to their future; show that it [i]actually[/i] effects them in some way. [b]Avoid:[/b] Making their past excessively grim or blessed. 2. Choose a name and traits. Naturally, you want your character to stand out from the crowd and be "original". While I applaud you for the effort, it is nearly guaranteed that someone, somewhere has come up with nearly the exact same character. So don't beat yourself up over it. Start from something simple: What are their facial features? Any particularly noticeable features? What do they enjoy doing? What are their fears? Those sort of things. The name, I find, is usually the most difficult part of a character; so do that last! [b]Avoid:[/b] Making your character the "perfect Human/Awoken/Exo". 3. This is probably the most important part. A generally good concept for balanced character design is like a scale. You [b]should[/b] have an equal amount of strength and weaknesses. It's fine, in my opinion, if you have more weaknesses than strength, but is [u]never[/u] acceptable to have more strengths than weaknesses. Let's take a look at my character, Zwei: [quote]Revelde "Zwei" no last name. Unranked. Human/Awoken cross breed/mutation. Not a Guardian. He had a mentor in his past that was a Guardian, Warlock Dax. Zwei has had a grim past, and it reflects in him. He's [b]uncaring[/b] about most things, [b]borderline psychotic[/b], dangerously [b]sadistic[/b], and has [b]Dissociative Identity Disorder[/b]. Since his mind and heart have been broken an innumerable amount of times, he has adopted a [b]hard shell and also tries to distance himself from others[/b]. However, earn his trust and you will never have a more reliable companion. He seeks his own path and looks towards the future, but is [b]haunted by the ghosts of his past[/b]; nearly literally. He has somewhat of a [b]fear of rain[/b] because it reminds him that everything that's happened is real; and that's when the ghosts of his past confront him. He himself is in an [b]extreme depression[/b] and [b]actively seeks out dangerous situations[/b] in the hope that he'll be able to soon rest in peace.[/quote] Did you count all the flaws he has? That was [i]nine[/i] fatal flaws. While some can be considered strengths, the weaknesses outweigh the strengths it gives him. So, what exactly is he good in? He has: Quick reflexes, Good at CQC (Close Quarters Combat), Reconnaissance, and First-Aid. Basically, he has more than [i]double[/i] the amount weaknesses than he does strengths. These aren't minor "I'm feeling depressed" flaws. These are more along the lines of, "If it's raining while I'm on a battlefield, I will cause [i]my entire team[/i] to die." Naturally, not all flaws have to be mental, it's simply how I chose my own character to be. You can also add a physical restraint in there like asthma, myoclonus, myalgia; just to name a few. [b]Avoid:[/b] Restraints which are just rewordings of previous ones. 4. This is where it becomes personal. Understand your character, and allow other people to understand them. You wrote this character, you know all their defining traits now; so what do they do when they're in a tight spot and why? You have to have them do things related to their character. If they're scared of people, don't have your character talk their way out of a situation, that's OOC (Out of Character). Build up to it, show them stuttering or have nervous shuffling. Something to show that they aren't naturally extroverted. [b]Avoid:[/b] Going Out of Character. 5. Do NOT sympathize with your character. We all love our characters, we've probably all poured over them in customization screens and spent hours just making them perfect. They're the embodiment of our hard work, but do NOT feel sorry for them. If they're in a tight situation, don't ease up the situation and have them take the easy way out; they should face the challenge. This is the same thing as miracles removing obstacles in their path (literally and figuratively). If you DO sympathize with your character, they'll never grow. [b]Avoid:[/b] "Babying" your character, they can handle themselves. 6. Lastly, write from your own experiences. This gives that extra layer of reality and credit to your characters. You should be able to see some of yourself in your character, since everyone is unique; so too will your character. This step is what turns them from just words on paper to something that's tangible, living, and [i]real[/i]. [b]Avoid:[/b] nothing. Summary of Points: 1. Background Story. What [i]drives[/i] your character? 2. Choose Traits and Name. What [i]defines[/i] your character? 3. [i]Balance[/i] Strength and Weaknesses like a scale. 4. [i]Understand[/i] your character and why they do things. 5. Let your character face their [i]challenges[/i]. 6. Make them [i]alive[/i]. Have fun, and write well!
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  • Edited by drumandstep: 10/10/2013 1:56:32 AM
    I apologize before-hand, to anyone who is planning on calling their guardian NightStalker. This is a character I've thought about for around 2 months. I have a bit of trouble converting my ideas to text so it might not be the best. Sorry 'bout that. Name: She goes by the name NightStalker, given to her by those who have seen her in action. No one really knows her name. Race: Awoken Gender: Female Class: Hunter Weapons: Hand Cannon; Duke Mk. 44 or Thorn, or Pulse Rifle; PSI Umbra II, Sniper Rifle; Trespasser Overview: NightStalker, if you may, is a silent and feared character. Many know her, but yet not. You can have an entire encounter with her and not recognize this figure shrouded in mystery. Physical Description: Not much is known, but it is guessed she is around 5’7” or 5’8” looks like to be 19 or in her early twenties. According to witnesses, Those who have survived at least, this awoken has more white than gray skin, and pure white hair, long and spiked, swept to the left. They say she’s quite the looker. The most interesting description by a single man, who may or may not be missing a leg, are her eyes, a shift from white/gray to black. Strange for an Awoken. Aesthetics: Favoring either black or white, her armor is mostly made up of cloth. You can notice small changes depending on what outfit she is wearing (which comparatively is basically the same outfit with different colors). Secondary colors consists of gray mostly, a deep crimson (It is considered that this is to be the blood of fallen enemies, alien or not), green, orange, or white it's self. Other than the cloth, She wears a few plates, One located on her right shoulder, A thin, half breastplate held closely to the chest, on the same side as the shoulder plate, complementing it. Wearing a sleek helmet similar to a similar figure in a pre-war movie named Rinzler, she also wears thin steel vambraces. She’s too quick to get shot, she adds some armor, some necessary precautions, but not enough to slow her down. Lifestyle: A quiet existential thinker, spending most of her time in the Black Garden, this hunter cares about people and will never hurt them, she only has one exception, if someone uses her or someone else’s image in arrogant or greedy gain. NightStalker will diligently save an unlucky guardian's life but walk away swiftly in fear that they might hurt her. Personality: She’s not much of a talker, in fact If you see her, you’re lucky. If you talk to her, you’re about as likely to win the lottery. You might think she’s being anti-social, but she’s afraid. And I’ll get to that later. Never showing her face and sticking to the shadows, She earned her name NightStalker. Many hear of her violent tendencies. Too much in fact. She’s seen too many people who seem too greedy, frequent tavern goers, cheating people of their money and perverting people’s public images. Many of them tarnishing guardian’s names, calling them murderers and assassins. Many would call her a sociopath, but she’s quite the opposite. Pain. Immeasurable amounts of pain have shaped this Awoken’s early life. She’s slowly changing, but hatred had built itself a stronghold. In battle her ferocity will reflect the suffering she had endured. She will forget if you used to be a good friend. If you hurt her or the people she’s known, you better pray for survival. Talents: Like any hunter, she can wield a sniper rifle. Living alone has given her extreme cunningness. Sticky situations have lead to her using her mind more than her body. She can wield blades of any sort, and quickly learn how to use a foreign gun. Speed is her ally, you better have a good eye if you want to catch her. Weaknesses: Her shifting eye color, are not only a rare beauty, but also a genetic defect, impairing her vision. She has gotten used to having random scenes where she can’t see through one eye, or looking through a sniper’s scope and the lens being extremely blurry. But still, she can only make 6/10 shots. That’s why she uses a pulse rifle or hand cannon primarily. She has trouble navigating in complex areas like a maze or forest during the day time. Although she knows backstreets and shortcuts in the Last City and Old Russia like the back of her hand. Rain, if in a specific circumstance, can cause her entire team to die. Large social interactions are a big no-no. Likes: The Northern Lights, The Black Garden, Pre-War era artifacts, silence, philosophy. Dislikes: Arrogance, Greed, Lies, Innocents being harmed. Notable Relationships: An admirer of Aloki, Dragon and Raven squad, She’s always dreamed of one day meeting one of the members of the 117th regiment or helping them out in some way. Motivations and Goals: Short Term: Survive Long Term: Gain the favor of the 117 regiment Ancient History: Our Awoken friend had a terrible early life as mentioned before. Her father was murdered a few weeks after she was born in the slums outside of the reach of the Last City’s police force. Something about her mother being too pretty. Her mother ended up getting in a relationship with one of her father’s attackers, she didn't realize it until he started abusing her and her daughter. Growing up, NightStalker’s mother was all that she had as a role model. During her child years she suffered many wounds, cuts and bruises. Constant, but not enough to leave major scars. As a teenager, she started rebelling, tampering with the occasional patrol bots that stumbled along near the borders, and partying. She suffered major depression, and gave in to drinking at one of the nearby pubs. Her mother was killed in a freak gang bombing. After that life was a blur. She saw recruitment advertisements for the 117th regiment where she came to read stories about Dragon and Raven squad. Inspired by the stories of guardians fighting for the survival of the earth, she picked up one of her father’s old sniper rifles, snuck out and took a pulse rifle from a bot she was working on, and left for adventure. Her life was never the same. Recent Developments: She just recently found herself observing a large firefight, strangely enough, containing a group of the 117th. they were in the midst of a large scale battle of fallen. hundreds pouring out of buildings and ships flying in from the horizon. You could tell, they were waiting for some poor souls to fall into their traps. They were extremely thin. Of course they were in a sticky situation. They could handle it, but with casualties. In our friendly Awoken’s mind, that couldn't be allowed to happen. How does NightStalker react when… She finds a powerful weapon: If it’s not more powerful than her current weapon, pocket it and sell it. If it is better, use it. She finds money: Takes it, and uses it for a good purpose, whatever that may be. She finds something to eat: If in any of the cities, no. In any place that isn't or hasn't been inhabited, maybe, if she knows what it is. She finds a trap: Sits and waits for something to trigger it. She finds something suspicious: Investigate She finds a corpse: Leaves it be Thanks Zest Subject for the outline, and constructive criticism is extremely appreciated

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