Question of the Day (Day 48): Knowledge In Death

Say your character was offered the chance to know how and/or when they would perish. How would they react to this? That is, would they want to find out their fate? Would they rather be blissfully ignorant instead?

Question of the Day (Day 47): Breaking Ice

Some characters are outgoing and talkative, some are introspective and slow to strike up conversation, most are somewhere in between. No matter a character's inclination, they will occasionally find themselves in a position where they want to strike up a conversation or casually gather information from a stranger.

How a character breaks the ice can say a lot about themselves, especially since this is effectively a character's introduction to whomever they are talking to. Will your character energetically burst into another conversation shouting a greeting? or quietly wait for the topic to shift to one that they can introduce themselves as an expert on? There exist many ways to start a conversation, what's your character's go-to method?

Question of the Day (Day 46): Duty VS Family

Some characters have a strong obligation towards their duty. If not their profession, then towards some goal or mission. Regardless of their commitment, sometimes your character may find themselves in a situation where they must choose between their duty or their family. What would they choose? How does this affect them, their loved ones, and the task at hand ?

Question of the Day (Day 45): Room to Grow

Most people's values, beliefs, or even personalities change over time. A person in his mid-thirties is rarely going to find value in the same things he did when he was a teenager. When making a character one thing that can add more depth to them is to decide on something that they have changed their minds regarding. Either they no longer value something they once did, or they now value something they did not care for. Alternately, you can create a character with a value or opinion that you intend for them to 'grow out of' as the game progresses.

Has your character's opinion on something changed? Is it possible that an existing opinion or value might change? How has your character grown? How will or can they grow?

Question of the Day (Day 44): Trashy!

So you're walking along and see some people tossing litter onto the ground. It's messy. It's ugly. It's not good for the environment. Whatever. What's your character's view of trash and litter? What comes to mind? Why?

Question of the Day (Day 43): Bust A Move

How does your character fair when it comes to dancing? Do they loathe it? Do they spring to the floor at any given moment? Do they have some slick moves to show off?

Question of the Day (Day 42): Mistakes were Made

If every character reacted perfectly to every situation, they would become boring, sapping all the tension from their interactions and the greater narrative as a whole. Characters should fumble every now and then, they should stumble and fall. They should make a wrong call, come to a snap judgement, or get lost, maybe not all the time, but every now and then.

What was the most recent mistake that your character has made?

Question of the Day (Day 41): Truth VS Hope

Major plot twists can affect your character's will directly, such as the revelation that the major villain they've been conspiring to defeat all along is actually a long lost family member. These traumatic pieces of information can have the most profound effect on your character's very being. Would your character rather have this information at hand or live ignorantly in bliss?

Question of the Day (Day 40): Rituals

Characters often times will have a set of rituals they follow. While not necessarily religious in origin, these rituals could include a methodical way to clean their weapons, a special prayer over a fallen foe, pausing to remember someone or something on a specific anniversary, or simply a tradition they feel brings them luck.

Does your character have a ritual they follow? How did it start? Why does it continue?

Question of the Day (Day 39): What really grinds your gears?

So we all have our moments when something drives us to a breaking point were we just snap. I mean just full on go mental over something that pisses you off and would get angry at. What would be the one thing that would make you angry, that would just make you snap at something?

Question of the Day (Day 38:) What's in a Name?

When creating a character, one of most surprisingly time-consuming parts is often picking the character's name. A character's name s a sort of ambassador to the character, it introduces them to the world and can give a little snippet of their personality.

Sometimes the name is chosen by the character, sometimes it is assigned by a caregiver or authority figure, but it almost always has some sort of meaning to the player (even if it is chosen simply as a pun or because it sounds cool.)

To the character themselves, it my not have any particular symbolism or meaning, but what does your character's name mean for the character?

Question of the Day (Day 37): Ascension

Your character has suddenly been promoted in rank to one of, if not the highest, ranking of an organization. Perhaps they have become ruler of an empire or highest ranking official of a company. They have been entrusted with a great amount of power and responsibility. How does your character feel about accepting this newfound position?

Question of the Day (Day 36): Crypt

So what would your character do if they found themselves stuck in a crypt of some sort? You know, catacombs, tombs, etc. How would they react if there seemed to be no way out? Have they experienced such fear before? What was it like?

Question of the Day (Day 35): If you can chose to be something different

What if you chosen wrong, something that you didn't want to do or something that you wanted to change because that you didn't like. What if you could change the profession of your character to something that you would have wanted, what would it be and why?

Question of the Day (Day 34): A Step Away From Greatness

What holds your character back from reaching their true potential? Whether it be their true potential as a being, their value as a leader, etc. Is it inner conflict? A remnant of the past they refuse to let go?

Question of the Day (Day 33): Associates

When your character was growing up, the company they kept said a lot about them and your character would likely have learned a great deal from them. What sort of people did your character associate with in their formative years?

Question of the Day (Day 32): Accusations

Describe an instance in which your character was wrongly accused of something, and how they reacted to this accusation, whether it be about murder or stealing a stinkin' paperclip.

Question of the Day (Day 31): Limitations

A character's skill set or areas of expertise can provide a solid foundation for how they approach problems or interact with the world at large. But perhaps equally important are the blind spots in their skill set, abilities that the character have a hard time learning or simply refuse to learn.

What skills or situations is your character simply useless at?

Question of the Day (Day 30): Reflection

What does your character think of themself? Are they proud of who they've become, do they hate who they are?

Question of the Day (Day 29): Obsession

Every character has an interest or a hobby that they obsess over. A topic which if brought up will result in an hours long conversation. Even a normally quiet character will often butt into an overheard conversation if it happens to relate to this obsession.

What interest or hobby does your character hold that they simply must talk about anytime it's brought up?

Question of the Day (Day 28): First Kiss

Blame recent conversations for this question!

The first kiss is often described as magical, with each party's stomachs filled with pretty pink butterflies. Okay maybe they're yellow. Not like I ever opened up a tummy to find out!

Anyway, describe your character's first kiss. If they've never kissed anyone what are their thoughts on it? Why haven't they kissed anyone? Did they miss that chance? Did the first kisser have bad breath? Give us the details!

Question of the Day (Day 27): Time for Breakfast!!!

The mornings cam have many different questions that need to be answered, sometimes it "Hmm which set of armor should I wear today?" Or for others its "should I leave my hair like this or not?"

But the one thing we can all sometimes ask our self is "What to eat for breakfast?" What would your character eat for breakfast (if they do or not) and what would be their favorite thing to eat in the morning.

Question of the Day (Day 26): Motto

What's your character's motto/a common saying of theirs? For example, it could be "Fiddlesticks!" they say in times of frustration to "I will annihilate you with the force of ten thousand baby penguins!" in times of dire combat when they gain the upperhand.

Question of the Day (Day 25): Lines in the Sand

Here's a question that is a bit more fun to answer for a villain.

Every character draws a line in the sand at some point, some self imposed limit that they will not cross and vow never to cross. Would your character use poison or biological weapons? Would they overlook a group of bandits extorting the rich, but turn on those same bandits for selling the rich into slavery? Would they kill an innocent person? Even if it would save a town?

Where is your character's personal line in the sand?

Question of the Day (Day 24): Puzzles

So I've been thinking about puzzles lately. Why? Because I am terrible at them, specifically with Jumping Puzzles in Guild Wars 2. They drive me bonkers, I tell you!

That aside, what are your character's thoughts on puzzles? Do they like them? Hate them? Any particular kinds of puzzles? What about mazes? Riddles? Even puzzles of the heart!

Question of the Day (Day 23): This is... Too cute.

We all consider a lot of different things to be cute, for some its Quaggans, others its a Devourer. What thing do you consider cute and why?

Question of the Day (Day 22): Old memories

What is one strong memory that has stuck with your character from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?

Question of the Day (Day 21): Oh No You Didn't

Someone (or something) just insulted your character's parental figure(s), i.e. mother and/or father. How does your characer react/what do they do about it?

Question of the Day (Day 20): Quirks

A character's back-story can be elaborate and compelling, but it means little if the resulting character's personality is indistinguishable from another's. Often times, these experiences manifest in personality quirks colouring the character's day to day interactions with others.

Whether it is a unique way of talking, a phobia, a ritual, or a compulsion, a quirk can take many forms.

 What are some quirks that your character has?

Question of the Day (Day 19): Children

So, what are your views on children? Do you have them? Do you want them? Do you hate them? What are your experiences with children? Why?

Question of the Day (Day 18): Facing Combat

Many of our characters live in violent times. They make their way through the world with blade and magic at the ready. They have witnessed, and perhaps participated, in acts of heroism and horror.

How does your character face combat? Do they thrill at the chance to charge in or prefer the silent strike? Do they want a crowd watching and the battle to push them to the edge or would they rather kill their enemy without breaking a sweat? As you write, try to take this idea beyond the mechanics of the class your character may have. An assassin may love to slit the throat of his or her targets personally or prefer a small dose of poison that kills in complete anonymity. Some magic users may savor the heat of fire and flame. Others, finding that wholly unnecessary, just remove the air from their enemies' lungs.

When the battle is at hand, how does your character prefer to face the challenge?

Question of the Day (Day 17): Places to Relax

Tyria, its a big and beautiful place. From the snow topped caps of the Shiver peaks to the swampy Sparkfly Fen and everything in between, their is a place for everyone to get away from it all. To just relax and view the scenery. With that in mind, where is that special place you like to go, to get away from it all and relax.

Question of the Day (Day 16): Inspirational Figures

Most characters have people that have inspired them in some way, whether as childhood heroes or as beloved mentors.  Who inspires your character, and how have they affected their life?

Question of the Day (Day 15): Dear To One's Heart

I misread Wyvern's question from Day 14. I like my misinterpretation, so that will form the basis of today's question.

A character will very often have something of an impact on the people they meet. Likewise, those same folk will have an impact on your character too. Sometimes, these folk have such a profound influence that your character will devote their every waking moment to ensuring their well-being and safety. It need not even be someone, but something more rather, a place that they would be willing to die for to protect.

Who or what does your character devote their life to and why? If there is no one, why is that the case?

Question of the Day (Day 14): Nemesis

A character will very often have something of an impact on the people they meet, some folk will love them, some folk will dislike them, and occasionally a person will devote their every waking moment, the very essence of their being into destroying the character.

Who are the enemies of your character? The person or group who is either hated or hated by your character?

Question of the Day (Day 13): Alcohol

So, does your character drink? What is their experience with alcoholic beverages? Do they have a favorite wine or beer?

Free RPG Day

A quick reminder that today is Free RPG Day! Stop by & support your local game shop where goodies for a variety of pen & paper RPGs including Pathfinder, Classic BattleTech, & Shadowrun may reside. Have fun gaming!

Question of the Day (Day 12): What does you character seek?

In some sense, we all seek something. Some characters may seek to serve a greater good; others may just crave security. There are those that throw themselves into a search for deeper meaning, while others place power above all else. Then, there are those few who just want to find a moment of true peace before they die.

What does your character seek? What is that core drive that keeps them where they are or pushes them to go farther? How aware are they of this ultimate goal and how has it shaped their life?

Question of the Day (Day 11): You and your sexuality.

Their are many races in Tyria, Asurans, Humans, Charr, Sylvari and Norn. They all have a preference to what they want in a mate, spouse or loved one. But how would you react to same sex couples? Either be two males or two females.

Question of the Day (Day 10): Religion

What is your character's religious view of things? What religion, if any, do you call your own, and why?

Question of the Day (Day 9): Constant

The inspiration for this one comes from one of my favourite LOST episodes.

Say your character potentially got lost in time, trapped in another universe, experience a hallucination, etc. They're unsure whether what they are facing is reality or a facade. What, or who, is their constant, the one thing that they can reliably count on to ensure that the world they are in is in fact their reality? Is it an item that keeps them in check? Is it someone? Some kind of event?

An example is the top from Inception. This top endlessly spins in dreams, but falters in reality, so the main character can reassure himself of where he is at any time.

Question of the Day (Day 8): Tools of the Trade

King Arthur holds Excalibur, Han Solo pilots the Millennium Falcon, Thor wields Mjölnir. Does your character have a signature object that is as much a part of their identity as their skills or reputation are?

Question of the Day (Day 7): Belief

Everyone has something they believe in, whether it be a religion or a way of life. Some people have things they are adamantly against, things they resist for one reason or another. These beliefs often define who we are and how we live our lives.

What does your character believe in? Is there a way of life that he or she is an adamant follower of, or is there a belief they strongly resist? Why?

Question of the Day (Day 6): Guilty Pleasures

We all have secret vices, strange things that we admire or desire and occasionally obsess over. We are careful not to share these little pleasures because we fear ridicule, embarrassment, or worse.

For your character, such fears may be well founded or they may be nothing more than a creation of his or her own mind. The guilty pleasure may be silly and generally harmless or it could be a serious problem. What is important is that the character feels the need to hide this desire or passion.

So tell me, players. What guilty pleasure is your character hiding, and why are they hiding it?

Question of the Day (Day 5): What do you feel comfortable in?

May it be the armor that we wear into battle with or your favorite shorts, what do you like to wear on your time off?

Question of the Day (Day 4): Music

Does your character play an instrument?  If not, what sort music do they enjoy?

Question of the Day (Day 3): Dietary Requirements

What's your character's favourite meal & drink? For example, steak & wine, waffles & juice, etc.

Question of the Day (Day 2): War wounds

Where did you character get that scar? If your character is unscarred, what was their worst injury?

Question of the Day: The Start of a Series

The other authors and I have decided to start a series of questions, one each day. These are to be utilized in daily writing exercises. These are meant to help you learn more about your character(s). Here's how it works:

Step 1: Read the question.

Step 2: Choose a character.

Step 3: Write a short story about that character, involving the question. Format is up to you.

Step 4: Post it online.

Step 5: Post a link to the story in the comments.

That's all there is to it! I'll write a little summary for the sidebar soon. To start you off, we'll do a very simple question with a lot of story possibilities!

What is your favorite color?