Character Concept
A quick formula for creating characters for fiction or tabletop RPGs.
Since I’ve introduced a lot of people to roleplaying games, I’ve helped a lot of first-time gamers think up ideas for characters. One easy hack is just copying a character from your favorite book, movie, comic, or show and just plop them into the game world, translating any anachronistic or genre-breaking details into something that fits in the game world. Another approach, since the Tox game I created, has cards for character abilities, is that a player selects several ability cards and just plays whatever archetype comes to mind for those abilities.
However, as far as original character creation, I have boiled down the essence of a character into:
Attribute + Calling + Powers
It’s a concise elevator pitch for a character that breaks down their most essential characteristics. It makes for a good elevator pitch, or experiment to start with. Plus, it leaves enough room to explore and flesh out the character in the process of improvising (whether game improvising or writing improvisation).
Let me explain.
Attribute
What is the dominating aspect of a character’s personality? It could be either people’s first impressions or the character’s own default view of the world. Characters can have many personality quirks and motivations, but if you don’t have a central or defining character trait your character can become muddled, no matter how many attributes you give them.
Jane Austen did a great job of boiling her characters down in the novel title “Pride and Prejudice.” Of course, Elizabeth is smart and cares a lot about her family, and those attributes do get spotlighted occasionally. Darcy and Elizabeth both have pride and prejudice. However, the main conflict of the story kicks off when Darcy’s pride triggers Elizabeth’s prejudices. Remembering those critical character attributes keeps the novel moving. Devoting a chapter to proving just how smart Lizzy is with no progress on the prejudice front would cause the novel to drag and the character to appear fuzzier. The audience wouldn’t know what to focus on.
The role of the character attribute is to provide a driving motivation, but also to set the stage for conflicts. This is the attribute other desires, motivations, and traits will conflict with. This is the characteristic that other people with different personality types will first and foremost appreciate, admire, hate, or simply be confused about.
Calling
This is what calls a character to adventure. Or specifically, the thing the character does that invites adventure into their lives. Very often, as in police procedurals and tales of professional adventurers, that calling is a profession that requires someone to engage with the mysterious, dangerous, or difficult. However, a character’s calling does not have to be their profession.
In many fantasy stories, the calling is wrapped up in someone’s personal history: whether a birthright, a prophecy, or a brush with dark forces. Harry Potter is a prime example.
A calling could be an object in the character’s possession that draws unwanted attention, but that can’t be easily or lightly thrown away. Such was the case for Frodo and the one ring.
Lastly, the calling could be a relationship that draws someone into trouble. Initially, Luke Skywalker seems to get into trouble because he has possession of dangerous information, but we learn later that his problems all really began with his father. And of course, Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice was far too sensible to get into trouble. Her sister, however…
Powers
Powers are what make a character noteworthy. In a game like Tox, that’s often literally supernatural or sci-fi abilities beyond the pale for normal creatures… but they don’t have to be. And critically, powers are often a liability in the wrong circumstance.
Elizabeth is a spirited, independent woman. It causes friction at times but ultimately endears her all the more to Darcy. Frodo can use use the one ring to turn invisible, though using it corrupts and draws unwanted attention. Luke is a Jedi in a time when Jedi are hunted.
Harry Potter’s unique power is not wizardry… because almost everyone in the books is a wizard. Harry’s powers are his supernatural connection to Voldemort, which includes protection from some of Voldemort’s powers, the ability to see through his eyes or his familiar’s eyes, and the ability to talk to snakes. All of those are unique in the wizarding world and are sometimes liabilities.
And in the case of James Bond, well, his spy calling comes with cool gadgets.
Putting it all together
When you put the three together, you don’t have everything about a character, but you do have a list of the most important aspects of a character: what drives their behavior, why they get into trouble, and why they’re worth reading about, watching, or playing in a game.