Dear PMS

Dear PMS,

I'm just going to go right out and say it. @#$% YOU PMS. STOP IT.

As if I didn't have enough problems taking things too literally, you have to go and make me feel like EVERY SINGLE ONE IS AIMED AT ME PERSONALLY! WHAT THE FRIG, MAN?! Why? *sniffle* Why do you have to do this to me, EVERY MONTH!?

And I'm pretty sure my family isn't too happy with you either. Can't you give me a break? Just one month where I don't notice you? C'mon. New Years' is coming! ....please? Please?

Love, Jo.

Dear Fellow Roleplayers

Dear Roleplaying Community,

(First December post, YAAAY)

I admit it. I am a roleplayer. I make up worlds and people and stories and play them with other people. On the internets. I've been roleplaying on the internet since I was about 12 years old, and been writing stories since I was able to actually write in English. I used to RP in a game based on the books of Tamora Pierce, but nowadays I stick to World of Warcraft or random roleplay with friends.

That being said... I have admittedly high standards when it comes to the people I roleplay with. I try to be open to newbies who want to learn, but I admit I can be harsh when it comes to that. I try not to be. I try to be nice.

I'm sure I'm not alone, either. There are many roleplayers out there who are considered elitist because they have standards as to who they associate with and the various skill levels they allow to play with them. While this can be a useful practice and keep the quality of your roleplaying experience in the high range, this can sometimes ostracize newbies and leave them alone and cold in the dark recesses of the internets that spawn Mary Sues and Marty Stus. 

BUT FEAR NOT, FAIR NEWBIES! There are many ways to impress veteran RPers who have issues being nice with you, largely because they have tried to teach many like you but found they were not Newbies, but Noobies. And as the old adage says, Once Bitten, Twice Shy. You will see this in many Veteran Rpers when you ask questions they find to be 'stupid' or 'obvious'. Do not be afraid to ask anyway! A good roleplayer never has ALL the answers about their chosen RP universe and they never stop asking questions of those more knowledgeable.

One of the best ways to make a good impression with your peers is to write the thing that will forever be a record and guide to your character: The Profile.

While not every RPG will require this, it is still a good thing to have on hand for quick reference. The Profile is more than a description of what your character looks like, it can contain information about their personality, their personal history and so many other nuances that make a character something enjoyable to experience.  I have filled notebooks over the years with Character Profiles.

Keep in mind, a Profile will not earn you love and admiration from Veteran roleplayers automatically, but a well written one is a step in the right direction.

Below is a template I've used for years and years that has worked for quite some time.





My hope is that if you go to use this template, it will help you flesh out your character by thinking 'hmmm. What about them should I put HERE?' If it is too confusing, feel free to go back to using the more basic bio template, or make your own custom one.

(Disclaimer: Jo is OCD and has very high standards, and is incredibly strange. And this is the template she uses to write character profiles in her paper notebooks. Feel free to make alterations as needed. And remember. The Slappin' Trout eats Mary Sues, Marty Stus and Badly Written Emos.)

[Basic Info] (This is pretty much things you would include in conversation when introducing yourself in some situations.)

Name: (Your character's full name here. Please try to pay attention to the universe in which you are playing! Don't steal names from Star Wars if you're playing in Battlestar Galactica and don't gank names from Middle Earth if you're in Azeroth!!!)

Nicknames:  (Pretty self explanatory.)

Class: (This can be an interesting field as some peoples' characters have multiple classes or are combinations of classes. Whatever universe you are playing in will usually have a set of classes premade.)

Level: (An optional field, I sometimes include this into the Age of the character.)

Titles: (Please. PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE note that NOT EVERYONE -HAS- titles. Typically they are honorifically given by way of merits or by station, depending on your race or affiliation.)

Age: (This can be posted as say.. 'Kaldorei equivalent of 20' kind of thing, as many of us are not familiar with the various races' aging standards. This can vary from RPG to RPG.)

[Appearance] (This is what people see immediately upon seeing you for the first time. Remember that first impressions are the most important, and what you put into this category IS important.)

Hair: (Please keep in mind there are some colors that are NOT NATURALLY available to certain races.)

Eyes: (Please keep in mind there are some colors that are NOT NATURALLY available to certain races. Read up on your character's race before you go picking some colors.)

Skin: (Skin can include skin tone, complexion and any significant scars and tattoos.)

Build: (This is your character's physique, their body type. A word to the wise: A priest is NOT going to NORMALLY be as buff as a warrior and a paladin is not going to be sneaky as a rogue. A rogue or a hunter are not going to be buff as a warrior or a paladin, they would be leaner and sinewy, built for endurance, not strength. There ARE circumstances this can be altered, but remember that if it isn't normal, have a believable explanation.

This may also be where you can add in if they have a limp or other visible handicap.)

Extras: (This is typically where -I- put scars, piercings, tattoos and other defining physical markings, including missing limbs and the like.

Race: (If you are a roleplaying beginner, PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD stay away from HYBRIDS! Beginners who play hybrids are usually easily spotted... and are not treated well. If you MUST play a hybrid, PLEASE ask a veteran rper's input on your character before saying 'LAWL THEY'RE HALF DEMON OR SOME STUPID SHIT')


[Persona] (This category contains things that will not be immediately obvious upon people looking at you. While it isn't what people will see or know when first meeting you, this is an equally as important category as Appearance was. While the details put into this category are just as likely to change as you develop your character, please keep in mind that unless you are completely revamping your character OR they go through a VERY traumatic event, they are not likely to change completely at the drop of a hat unless they have some sort of psychosis.)

Personality: (This can contain a brief summary of your character's personality type. Are they a hero? Are they naive? Are they a dreamer? Are they a coward? This is where you will describe that, and be sure to include what MIGHT be evident by their body language upon meeting them. If someone is a timid or shy individual, they will be quiet and tend to keep to themselves. If they are an extroverted and confident person, they'd be out talking to people. Etc.)

Strengths: (This category and the next one do not need to be exceedingly detailed if you don't want them to be, but they are usually a very nice addition to your profile as it may give your character more approachability. Just keep in mind to keep them within normal limits, unless they are a more extreme personality type. And as a rule, do not INCLUDE the Strengths category if you OMIT the Weaknesses. That would just be douche-y.)

Weaknesses: (See Strengths, though Weaknesses is able to be included by itself, as it is not prone to godmodding.)

Extras: (This is where you should put things like odd quirks, tics and phobias. Little tidbits that make your character a little more 3 Dimensional. These are some of the things that make your character memorable. Just.. try not to go overboard with things like Phobias. Or, if you do, give a good reason for it in their History. Some phobias have no logical cause, but that needs to be explained. Make it believable. You can also include professions here.)


[History] (This is a biggie for an rp character, especially an active one. There are many styles to use, and many ways to write it. I advise, make it like a short story. Start with the early years, or whatever events preceding your character that are significant to their existence now. I don't mean copypaste WoWwiki or scenes from a movie or book the RPG is based on.

Try to make this easy to read, or no one WILL read it. Be careful with format, and with grammar. Keep your timeline consistent as you can, and be sure to refer back to this when writing subsequent threads and plotlines. This category, like the others, can be subject to change as you learn more about your character and the world they live in. Do try not to write any of these in the present tense, as that tends to make it very confusing.)

I: (This is where I'd put early years, childhood, etc, if you want to put them in.)

II: (Adolescence, or any significant happenings in those sort of time periods.)

III: (Adulthood and leading up to the present. This is where you lead out into the more recent threads and plotlines that are happening NOW.)

Current Threads and Plotlines: (This is where you can hyperlink to the threads, posts, short stories and plot lines that your character has been or is involved in. This is a field I usually include if I'm posting a profile on a forum or into a little website.This is where you can use present tense.)


And that is my Character Profile Template! Sometime soon I may include a few other little rants and guides as to help guide the RP Newbies of the world without ACTUALLY TALKING TO THEM.

3 AM, AWAAAAAAY

Love, Jo.