I made up a form to fill out a while back that I thought would be a really good way to distinguish my characters from one another as individuals and really get to know their inner machinations. It has also been very helpful in further developing characters where I thought they were lacking or I was otherwise feeling stuck with them. I shared it in thread and a lot of folks seemed to like it and find it useful, so I wanted to put it in a place that was easily accessible for everyone! It is best used as a method to examine a character from new angles and process them in a digestible way that hits their most important individual traits and motivations without relying on random trivia like favorite colors or foods. As much as I enjoy random trivia, it doesn’t really help understand the deeper nuances of a character so much as add extra flavor and you can put a ton of seasoning on a meal but if it’s still under cooked then you’re in trouble.
Just copy the form below and remove all of the parenthetical notations and URLs as you fill it out. Let me know if there's any confusion in how you're supposed to interpret any of the categories or if any of the links are broken. I'm also looking to add more categories all the time, so if you have ideas please let me know!
These can get pretty big, so please do one character per post and place them under a spoiler tag! Aside from that, you can format it however you want. You can do these for your raevans, guardians, or any other Lab 305 relevant characters you feel up to working on. If they're side characters, please just include a rough note of how they relate to your raevan or guardian! Thank you and I'm very eager to read them!
Updates: 6/8/17 - added Birthstone, Celtic Tree, Celtic Animal, and Blood Type categories
[b]Name:[/b] (FULL - first, middle(+), last & aliases) [b]Gender:[/b] (identity/pronouns/whatever they consider important) [b]Alignment:[/b] (Dungeons and Dragons) http://espionagis.tumblr.com/post/125113028873/a-brief-summary-of-dd-alignments-for-the (a quick reference guide!) [b]Orientation:[/b] ?sexual ?romantic (extra; polyamorous, sex repulsed, etc etc) [b]Handedness:[/b] (dominant hand; left, right, or ambidextrous) [b]MBTI Persona:[/b] https://www.16personalities.com/personality-types (-A/-T = https://www.16personalities.com/articles/identity-assertive-vs-turbulent ) (take he test and then cross reference it with the personality types and go with what you feel best matches) [b]Birthstone:[/b] https://www.curejoy.com/content/know-birthstone-means-reveals-stunning-secret-personality/ [b]Western Zodiac:[/b] (sun sign, moon sign, ascendant) http://www.alwaysastrology.com/sun-signs.html http://www.alwaysastrology.com/moon-signs.html (do not worry about calculating, just read the descriptions and find what matches) http://www.alwaysastrology.com/rising-signs.html (same for rising signs) [b]Eastern Zodiac:[/b] (year of birth + personality element) http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/ [b]Celtic Tree:[/b] http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-tree-astrology.html (scroll down to the list of signs) [b]Celtic Animal:[/b] http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-animal-signs.html (scroll down to the list of signs) [b]Blood Type:[/b] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type_personality_theory (the chart on the right) (see if at least one Best Trait and one Worst Trait matches, not Every trait) [b]Cardinal Virtue:[/b] (chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humility) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_virtues (look at these because the definitions are not as straight forward as the sins) [b]Cardinal Sin:[/b] (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride) (think of the Sins and Virtues on a scale from Least to Greatest relation to their personality if it helps to narrow them down) [b]Upright Arcana:[/b] https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/ (scroll down to the card listing and hover over them; think of how each one relates to their life, NOT what they would pick) [b]Reversed Arcana:[/b] ^ same (think along the lines of negative life consequences and general themes) [b]Strongest Chakra:[/b] http://www.loveenergyworker.com/content/chakra-and-personality [b]Weakest Chakra:[/b] ^ same [b]Internal Temperament:[/b] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_temperaments [b]External Temperament:[/b] ^same (it’s okay if internal/external are the same) [b]Desired Archetype:[/b] (the archetype they wish to be) http://www.soulcraft.co/essays/the_12_common_archetypes.html [b]Presented Archetype:[/b] (the role that they generally fulfill) [b]Love Style:[/b] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel_theory_of_love (use the Tertiary Types for a more dynamic understanding) [b]Love Language:[/b] http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/communication-and-conflict/learn-to-speak-your-spouses-love-language/understanding-the-five-love-languages (words of affirmation, quality time, giving gifts, acts of service, physical touch; these can extend to shows of affection in friendships or family, too, not just spouses!)
[b]Personal Merits:[/b] (3 one-word positive traits) http://ideonomy.mit.edu/essays/traits.html (link included for inspiration/assistance if stumped) [b]Personal Flaws:[/b] (3 one-word negative traits)
[b]Projected Self:[/b] (who they want others to see them as; answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Subjective Self:[/b] (who people actually see them as; answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Objective Self:[/b] (who they really are inside; answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits (refer to this for the following section) [b]Openness to Experience:[/b] (answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Conscientiousness:[/b] (answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Extraversion:[/b] (answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Agreeableness:[/b] (answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Neuroticism:[/b] (answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Objectivity:[/b] (do they experience the world factually? do they rely on their own experience and biases? how do they personally see the world? answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
[b]Resourcefulness:[/b] (how independent they are and how well they respond to ‘hard times’. do they struggle to accept help or are they eager to receive outside opinions? answer in complete sentences, try for 4 minimum)
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 11:58 am
Cruz - Forceful Mistletoe & Crocodile Raevan
Name: Cruz Noel Marlene (or Bishop) Gender: Cis Male; he/him/his Alignment: Chaotic Good Orientation: Asexual Aromantic Handedness: Righty MBTI Persona: ENFP-T “The Campaigner” Birthstone: Sapphire Western Zodiac: Virgo ♍ ☉ / Libra ♎ ☽ / Pisces ♓ ASC Eastern Zodiac: Rabbit (Water) Celtic Tree: Vine - The Equalizer Celtic Animal: Swan Blood Type: B Cardinal Virtue: Kindness Cardinal Sin: Sloth Upright Arcana: Lovers Reversed Arcana: High Priestess Strongest Chakra: Heart Weakest Chakra: Throat Internal Temperament: Sanguine External Temperament: Phlegmatic Desired Archetype: The Magician Presented Archetype: The Innocent Love Style: Agapic Storge (Philia) Love Language: Physical Touch
Personal Merits: Altruistic, forgiving, impartial Personal Flaws: Meddlesome, naive, heedless
Projected Self: Cruz does not make any calculated overtures in attempt to be seen any certain way, but he does have idealized hopes. He would like people to see him as someone who is very friendly, approachable, and who can brighten their day when they’re feeling blue. Someone people can go to in a time of emotional need and one that will always be available to mediate issues and fix problems. He wishes to be known as the type of person who can make good on his promises and will work tirelessly to assist his friends. Overall, Cruz just wishes to be a good, trustworthy friend to everyone he meets and worthwhile of their time.
Subjective Self: These peaceful and well meaning intentions have a bad habit of being muddled or unseen because Cruz will rarely explain his thought process without duress. Inevitably, this can make him seem bumbling and careless at best or underhanded and manipulative at worst. It is obvious to many that Cruz has difficulty connecting dots to form a full picture, which to them can either mean he’s too distracted to concentrate on the finer minutiae of a situation or that he is too dimwitted to understand. Cruz may also be seen as disrespectful, particularly of boundaries, as he only seems to comes clean when facing consequences for his actions. As the saying goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Objective Self: The fact of the matter is, Cruz isn’t stupid but neither is he a mastermind. He has difficulty seeing things from other people’s perspectives and rarely speculates on other people’s intentions. Cruz reads actions simply as they are and does not go digging for hidden meanings behind them because he trusts that what took place was as honest as it could be. He would never once believe someone is lying or misleading him without irrefutable evidence just as he would never intentionally take advantage of someone’s trust for his own personal gain. Cruz often encounters misunderstandings because he invests the same honesty in his own actions that he expects to be in others; that is to say, he does not think he needs to explain himself because he believes actions taken directly reflect why they were performed.
Openness to Experience: Rarely will he ever turn down an invitation to go somewhere, whether it’s to be a grand adventure or a mundane trip to the store. He meets most events in his life with a peaceful enthusiasm that can be infectious. Cruz is unendingly curious and loves learning new things, but he especially appreciates hearing new facts of life about the people he cares about. He is sometimes prone to over-sharing not just his own business but even his loved ones and, while there is no malicious intent behind it, he could absolutely be considered a gossip. Cruz can be impulsive and unpredictable, made worse by his lacking communication skills. He is a hobbyist who enjoys the novelty of trying new things but prefers they not be complicated or overly challenging, lest he become discouraged.
Conscientiousness:Unfortunately, Cruz does not predict consequences very well. He does not speculate about pros and cons, he puts forth no effort to ensure a plan is foolproof before its execution, and rarely will he consider failure a possibility. Cruz is content to improvise and ride whatever waves wash over him. He isn’t a big fan of restrictions and may bend rules or find loopholes to better suit his comforts without realizing how this may negatively impact things. It took a good long while for Cruz to understand that everyone’s personal rules, boundaries, and comfort levels were different from each other but more importantly that they were all different from his own. While he is more mindful of others than he used to be, it is still easy for Cruz to forget and repeat transgressions because they are not things that specifically bother him.
Extraversion: Above all else, Cruz thrives with company. He feels more at ease among the many, though even a single other person will suffice. Being without social interaction is a dreary experience for Cruz because of how reliant on it he is every single day from his entertainment, expressions of affection, and down to the most basic tasks. If the opportunity arises, Cruz will want to make anything a social event and he firmly believes in the more the merrier. Being alone is upsetting for Cruz; it makes him tired, it makes him uncertain, and it makes him insecure. Worst of all, because of his genetic composition, it is impossible for Cruz to be entirely self sufficient as complete isolation would actually kill him. This drives a need for company as a survival instinct, which can make him very clingy if left unchecked.
Agreeableness: There is very little Cruz will disagree to, often to his own detriment or even that of others. He does not wish to make ripples so much as bask in those that already exist, so when presented with a problem that would obviously cause trouble or harm Cruz will be one of the first to suggest something more gentle. That of course requires Cruz to see negative consequences before they occur, which is an enormous rarity. One thing can be certain about him, and it is that while Cruz may be a funnel for mistakes he is not mean spirited and would never disparage others. He is a pacifist, he desires peace and harmony for everyone and wishes the world to be a simple place where you don’t have to guess about anyone’s motives; to that end, he will always choose the path he perceives as least resistant - not just for his own interests but to the betterment of everyone, even if that means bending the truth to achieve balance.
Neuroticism: When given the opportunity to speculate and analyze, Cruz will become overwhelmed. He understands that actions have consequences, that life runs on a system of cause and effect, but there are often so many unplanned side effects he did not expect that attempting to perceive all of them will send Cruz into a tizzy. He is not naturally inclined to ponder all angles of a problem, so when he tries to account for every possibility, they never stop. While normally his thought process is linear and simplistic, the presentation of branching paths will often make Cruz spiral into a panic and see the worst possible outcomes more strongly than anything in between. At these times, Cruz can be extremely difficult to console and that can make rationalizing with him a challenge.
Objectivity: Well beyond Cruz’s desires for positive impact on others, is the simple fact that Cruz sees everything with Cruz tinted glasses. He cannot predict how others will react to the things he says or does, even those closest to him, because he only sees the blueprint of his own thought process. He sees the world as much more straightforward than it really is, and this reflects clearly in all of his conversations, all of his decisions, and everything he does day to day. People are complicated, the whole world is complicated, but Cruz only processes a handful of traits at any given time and never sees the entire picture. He’s too busy looking at one side of the coin to realize the importance of its other half.
Resourcefulness: In terms of action, Cruz will often prefer to take matters into his own hands. He can exhibit quite independent behavior but at his core Cruz relies deeply on others’ support and reassurance. He has no problem asking for help, nor with accepting it, and will often just take it as another way to bond than any kind of reflection on his character. Cruz is capable of thinking outside of the box but needs help from others to tone his outrageous solutions into practical applications. If left entirely to his own devices, Cruz would recklessly spin out of control; he needs boundaries and rules to function, as much as he desires complete freedom.
Snoofington
Merry Krampus
Offline
Snoofington
Merry Krampus
Offline
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:08 pm
Anita - Cruz's Guardian
Name: Anita Harley Bishop Gender: Cis Female; she/her/hers Alignment: Neutral Good Orientation: Demisexual Heteromantic (monogamous) Handedness: Righty MBTI Persona: ISFJ-T “The Defender” Birthstone: Amethyst Western Zodiac: Pisces ♓ ☉ / Virgo ♍ ☽ / Cancer ♋ ASC Eastern Zodiac: Horse (Water) Celtic Tree: Ash - The Enchanter Celtic Animal: Snake Blood Type: B Cardinal Virtue: Patience Cardinal Sin: Sloth Upright Arcana: Temperance Reversed Arcana: World Strongest Chakra: Heart Weakest Chakra: Crown Internal Temperament: Sanguine External Temperament: Phlegmatic Desired Archetype: The Caregiver Presented Archetype: The Lover Love Style: Agapic Storge Love Language: Words of Affirmation
Personal Merits: Humorous, nurturing, loyal Personal Flaws: Cautious, stubborn, clumsy
Projected Self: For the most part, Anita wants others to see her for who she is. She isn’t trying to impress anyone but she hopes not to disappoint people either. Anita would like to be known as a fun friend people can hangout with to forget about their problems long enough to regroup and confront them but also someone they can be honest with should interpersonal issues arise. She would like to be seen as responsible, maybe even a little intuitive, but generally she just wants people to respect her as an equal and not think of her in any sort of extreme. Perhaps one hope is that she can live up to the image she has of her own mother, someone selfless and caring who can be both a pillar of strength and a source of comfort.
Subjective Self: Throughout her life, there have seemed to be two very common interpretations of her character: that either Anita is an extremely laid back person with no problems on her plate or that she is a prude with nothing interesting to bring to the table. The latter opinion was far more common during her teen years, but it may still crop up now and then when people come to know her as straightedge. When people see Anita as someone without problems, they are more inclined to not account for her emotional well being when they want something. Either of these ideas are stressful when pressed upon her but the one she detests the most is that she is immature, whether that reflects on her world experience or that she is still too young to be fully self sufficient. Unfortunately, that is common from both sides of her family.
Objective Self: Though Anita is not always sure of herself or the way she handles things, she does often meet the expectations she sets out for herself. She is an honest and patient person who refuses to give up on people she cares about but who has enough self worth to not be a complete doormat. She’s not afraid to speak out for what she thinks is right, to stand up against what she thinks is wrong, but would admittedly rather just be a couch potato when push comes to shove. Anita can be a little lazy with her personal goals but when called to arms for a just cause she will rarely stand down. She is down to earth and practical but loves immersing herself in fun things that many would consider a waste of time.
Openness to Experience: Day to day, Anita’s willingness to break away from the familiar is entirely dependent on her mood. If she is feeling drained or stressed then she will cringe away from anything new that might lead to further displeasure and cling to her creature comforts. On the other hand, as she usually rides a placid emotional spectrum it isn’t very hard to sway her if it’s something that would make a friend happy to do. Moreover, Anita can sometimes reach enthusiastic highs that are short lived but lead to unpredictable spontaneity but they are never actions that would deeply impact her life or the safety of those around her. There are things Anita is adamant she will never be willing to try and most of them involve high risk factors like drugs or skydiving, while others are just too much effort for her like sports.
Conscientiousness: When it comes to other people, Anita is very aware of how her actions and words will affect things. She tries to choose her words carefully, plan according to everyone’s best interests, and work in ways that are mutually beneficial to all involved. As it pertains to herself, though, Anita can be a bit scatterbrained. She is prone to misplacing things but will usually be able to retrace her steps and find them, though it may take time as she is not the most organized individual. When times call for it, particularly in a professional atmosphere, Anita is able to shape up and work categorically but when efficiency is not on the line she is more than happy to just let things fall where they may.
Extraversion: Anita performs a balancing act of sociability wherein she presents herself as a very open and enthusiastic person but, if given the option, would be more than content to stay home alone and lounge all day. She does not begrudge groups or parties but needs them to be well spaced out so she doesn’t become overwhelmed. Anita is the type of person who knows and gets along with very many people, of many different types, but only keeps a small handful as her closest friends and confidants. She is a fairly private person and it takes time for her to really open up to others but to many she is outgoing enough to suggest that she is easy to know. While Anita is more than comfortable spending time alone, she does become restless from prolonged solitude and will seek out company rather than just accepting offers for it.
Agreeableness: While Anita can be stubborn and defiant, it takes a great deal of effort to pull these responses out of her. By and large, Anita is a peacekeeper and will vouch for the most cooperative route that makes all parties involved happy. She is more than willing to help people out with whatever they need, whether it’s information, hands on assistance, or directing to someone else who can assist them better. Anita will always try to look for ways to diffuse conflict as best she can but will never do so to the point of avoidance, for if there is something (or more likely, someone) she feels is worth fighting for then she will step up. Anita can sometimes have trouble picking which of those battles are best fought and which are best dropped which may make her abandon battles she cannot win, but she will always concede an honest loss.
Neuroticism: Over the years, she has gotten a great deal better at managing her emotional weaknesses and social anxiety but there is no getting rid of them. Anita will still have the habit of not reaching out to others for fear of annoying them or feeling that they were done interacting with her anyway if no effort was made on their part. Unfortunately, this has lead to the dissolving of many friendships over the years that could have stayed if she merely stoked the fire. This is far less true of those she keeps closest and Anita is more inclined to fight for clarification if behavior toward her seems to suddenly change, rather than with those people she is fond of but were already at arm’s length. For the most part, Anita does not fret unnecessarily and is fairly laid back but stress affects her deeply, even to the point of growing premature gray hair.
Objectivity: To her, reality is based largely on personal experience but Anita is very often willing to listen to opposing views. She does not take her own subjectivity as gospel and is more than willing to change the way she looks at things because opinions are never set in stone. Perhaps a bad habit of hers is relying heavily on the subjective outlooks of her loved ones, which she is more inclined to believe unless there is cold hard evidence to the contrary. She is very trusting when she puts her faith in someone and will always have a bias toward them until concretely proven otherwise. Anita is emotionally driven and this can affect the first impressions she has of people, which can endear her to someone quickly or turn her off to them completely if the circumstances were flubbed enough. To Anita, trust and respect are things that must be earned and when her trust is broken it will take much longer to build back than the first time.
Resourcefulness: Anita can be very self sufficient when she puts her nose to the grindstone but will always prefer to have someone along for the ride to at least make sure she’s headed in the right direction. She will never begrudge assistance and will only ever turn it down if she thinks it would be inconvenient to the person offering. She does not like to make a big deal of her problems, so will often understate issues that she has without hiding them entirely. This limits most of her requested assistance to simple questions and answers, rather than asking people to be hands on with helping her. Under great stress, she may need to step away from a situation before she can formulate a practical solution.
