#RPGaDay 25: What makes for a good character?

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 25, what makes for a good character?
Aser – I think the best characters are specialized enough to be distinctive, but flexible enough in their attributes and skills not to be powerless when not in their optimal operating environment.
John D. – A strong basic concept, a good backstory, reason for doing what they do and a good skill build. It helps to have a visual appeal, signature gear or a personality quirk, like a bad attitude, disliking arguments, or slang particularly if at odds with the way NPCs perceive them.
I prefer ‘jack of all trades’ to ‘min / max’.
Jonn P.  – A good character has motivations and a quirk or two. A good PC makes interesting decisions and driving the story forward through their success and failure. That they actively take part in the story. There is nothing worse than characters that avoid action in a game.
Megan – A certain amount of flexibility. You can have important story elements in your background, but a rigid one makes it impossible for the GM to easily incorporate that background in the story and provide opportunities for a character arc. They also have to be willing to let other people shine.
Mike G. – A flaw and a good background that doesn’t interfere with group cohesion.
Patrick – Depth. Or at least a modicum of being fleshed out. I can’t take any more “Mysterious man/woman with an equally mysterious past.” I don’t care how crappy your character is if they have any spark of life. I find a stoned pizza delivery driver mage who ensorcells the pizza boxes for bigger tips to be more interesting than the stranger in the corner that makes monsters crap their pants with a knife edged glare. GIVE YOUR CREATIONS LIFE PEOPLE!
Phil – A good player.

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