This post includes information on character creation, guidelines for submitting a character history, tips for writing a character history, and examples of character histories.
The second post within this thread includes information and guidelines regarding downtime actions.
Character Creation
Are you ready to make a character? Your character's class (such as Fighter or Scholar) and race (such as Elf or Dryad) are the mechanical side of character creation. Your character's history and personality have roots in the national and local source materials on their race/culture, but you have many choices for your character's past, goals, and guiding ideas. Generous or selfish, impulsive or calculating, with a family at home or going it alone -- these are only a few of the many aspects of your character you can develop.
The full rules for Alliance LARP are available as a free PDF. http://alliancelarp.com/rule-book/
Race packets for Alliance Videa are available on this message board. These documents describe the homeland and culture of each race within the world of the Alliance Videa campaign.
Your character's stat card is handled by Logistics. Whether you are starting a completely new character in the database or making a character from a “blank” that has accumulated build (through NPCing, event or monthly blankets, and/or retiring an old character), Logistics will work with you to register your character's name, race, class, and build expenditures. VideaLogistics@gmail.com
Character History Submission Guidelines
Character backgrounds are encouraged! The plot team can help you develop a history for your character originating in any of Alliance Videa’s “Shattered Realms” and cultures. If you have any questions about a culture packet or want feedback on your ideas for your character, the team is available at VideaCharPlot@gmail.com
When submitting your character history to our Plot team, please write "Character History: [Character Name]" as the subject of your email. Please include the following sections. If you get stuck, don't be afraid to work out of order.
Vital Statistics: Character Name, Race, Class, Age, Starting level, Player name
Keywords: 3-6 words or two-word phrases that highlight important aspects of your character. These could be things like Enemy: __, Shy, Drunk, Protective: Children, Survivalist, Pacifist, Mercenary, Fear: Snakes, Tinker, Hates: Slavery, Ally: ___.
Main Body: This is where you tell us the details of where your character has been and where they want to go. Who are they, who are important people in their life, what important events influence them to this day, and what motivates them? The most direct way to tell us about your character is through a bullet point list.
Some things you might include are: family, friends, enemies, interests, fears, goals, personality, defining moments. Some things not to include are: How you defeated a dragon, how you’re really your tribe’s most accomplished warrior but you’re pretending to be Level 2, that your father is secretly the King of Videa, that you are half Fae. To clarify: It would be okay to say that your family was killed by Lord Voldemort and you have a startling scar. It's not okay to say that everyone says you're the chosen one and that there's a prophecy linking you and Voldemort. That second part is up to plot, and you will probably have more fun if you leave room for development in game.
Additional Information:
This can be presented as a story, a series of journal entries or letters, or another way that helps you develop your character. Please keep in mind that the main body is what the team will note as most important for us to keep in mind, and the additional information will not be a focus.
Don't hesitate to ask questions of Plot to help determine the details of your character history. We're here to help!
The character plot team will email you if they have any questions, clarifications, or suggestions, and will work with you to integrate your character into the world. Once we have reviewed and accepted your history, we will let you know.
History Writing Tips
The Purpose of Character Histories
Character backgrounds have two main purposes. One is for you the player to develop the character for yourself and get the feel for what they are like. Writing down traits and history is a good way to prepare to portray a persona. Making a history helps you to find your character’s motivations, personality, and voice. Having a sense of interests, goals, and purpose for your character will make it easier for you to get engaged with roleplay and plot at game.
The other is so the plot team can get an idea of what sort of plot would catch your character’s interest. If you write about topics and themes you’d like to play with, there is potential for us to write something targeted for your character or hook them into an overarching plot that is particularly relevant to their interests.
Character histories are NOT intended to limit you! Sometimes a player has an idea about how they think their character will behave and react, and what will be their main interest. Then the player finds that personality isn't as fun as they hoped. It's okay to change the parts of a character that don't work for you!
Components
Here are some examples of elements often included in a character history.
Childhood/family: Where did your character grow up? What family did they have when they were young and what does their family look like now?
Profession/hobby: How does your character make a living or pass their time?
Friends/Associates: Did your character have a mentor? Were they strongly influenced by a teacher or a friend?
Desires/goals: What does your character want? Are they seeking scholarly knowledge, revenge, riches, fame, redemption, or a lost friend? Do they want to fight monsters, explore new places, or bring peace to others?
Influential moments: What major events influence your character? Is your character still trying to resolve something that happened? This is an opportunity to give plot an idea of something personal your character would like to do, which could potentially be worked into game
Traits: Defining personality traits that influence how your character interacts with the world around them. Are they altruistic, selfish, restless, reckless?
Your character might have goals they share openly, or they might have secrets. Open goals can more easily lead to engagement with other characters. Secrets may be more for your private character development, or an opportunity for dramatic in-character revelation. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that LARP is a social activity, and it's very difficult to play the brooding stranger who watches everyone else from the corner.
Examples
The following character has motivations that are likely to be obvious to other characters. They might keep some things personal, but are overall not mysterious. This history supports an outgoing and eager character, easily motivated to join in on action.
Vital Statistics: Ava Shen, Selunari, Rogue, Level 8, 22 years old, played by Jane Jones
Keywords: Bold, Social butterfly, Opposes: Necromancy, Competitive
Main Body:
-Raised by parents Annabelle and Janine, along with older sister Isabelle
-Ava and Isabelle are both skilled in archery
-Her caravan spent the last 5 years in Wylderkin territory, often trading with several groups
-Her caravan took in a Sarr exile called Van, who suddenly used a lot of Necromancy, and soon afterward turned violent against the rest of the caravan
-Ava would like to find out where Van Resurrected after they were executed for their actions, and if they changed their ways or not
-Ava panicked during an attack by monsters from the Mists two years ago and was very embarrassed
-Eager to outshine her “golden child” older sister, who she sees as more praised and better trained in combat
Additional Information:
Ava loves to sing and is excited about learning the music of Videa. She enjoyed singing with her sister playing lute. This was her opportunity to bond with her sister rather than compete. Ava enjoyed hearing stories and songs from Wylderkin. This was more fun than living in Stone Elven territory. She enjoys many types of competition, ranging from board games to bobbing for apples, but has always been frustrated by her sister's greater accuracy with a bow. She wants to prove herself, to herself and maybe her parents.
A betrayal by an eshdir is different to her than by a Selunari. Eshdir do not feel sela, so the Code of Honor does not mean the same to them. Van was wrong to use Necromancy and would never be allowed near the caravan again. Execution was a just punishment. Still, she liked Van, and she wants to know what happened to them. It seemed strange that they resorted to Chaos Blade, Chaos Storm, and Drain in a conflict with Gnolls that was not even a desperate battle. Though she is sure Necromancy is wrong, she wonders if repentance and reform is possible.
The following character has motivations that may be less obvious to other characters. This character might be private or even secretive. Some players might enjoy having private goals or the roleplay of sharing secrets with a close friend.
Vital Statistics: Jasper Fend, Hobling, Celestial Scholar, Level 3, 30 years old, Played by John Jones
Keywords: Academic, Calm, Curious
Main Body:
-Only child of Ambra (Apothecaries' Guild) and Lan (Geometers' Guild) Fend
-Apprenticed with the Geometers’ Guild initially but ended up with the Company of Scribes. Left the Geometers’ Guild on bad terms.
-Jasper is jaded by the rampant greed and cutthroat opportunism of the Guilds; instead, he is looking for a stable, comfortable life away from the Guildhall
-Jasper is also interested in the nature of the schools of Magic, and how it can be applied to better people’s lives
-Sometimes, Jasper feels disappointed that he did not study Alchemy instead
Additional Information:
Jasper receives praise for his meticulous record keeping. He would prefer to learn more Celestial Magic, but options are limited within the Company of Scribes. Interest in learning more Magic is his primary motivation for traveling outside of the Guildhall, but he does not want to be seen as disloyal and hasn't admitted the truth. He has volunteered to go out and learn about other Realms for the benefit of his Guild.
The second post within this thread includes information and guidelines regarding downtime actions.
Character Creation
Are you ready to make a character? Your character's class (such as Fighter or Scholar) and race (such as Elf or Dryad) are the mechanical side of character creation. Your character's history and personality have roots in the national and local source materials on their race/culture, but you have many choices for your character's past, goals, and guiding ideas. Generous or selfish, impulsive or calculating, with a family at home or going it alone -- these are only a few of the many aspects of your character you can develop.
The full rules for Alliance LARP are available as a free PDF. http://alliancelarp.com/rule-book/
Race packets for Alliance Videa are available on this message board. These documents describe the homeland and culture of each race within the world of the Alliance Videa campaign.
Your character's stat card is handled by Logistics. Whether you are starting a completely new character in the database or making a character from a “blank” that has accumulated build (through NPCing, event or monthly blankets, and/or retiring an old character), Logistics will work with you to register your character's name, race, class, and build expenditures. VideaLogistics@gmail.com
Character History Submission Guidelines
Character backgrounds are encouraged! The plot team can help you develop a history for your character originating in any of Alliance Videa’s “Shattered Realms” and cultures. If you have any questions about a culture packet or want feedback on your ideas for your character, the team is available at VideaCharPlot@gmail.com
When submitting your character history to our Plot team, please write "Character History: [Character Name]" as the subject of your email. Please include the following sections. If you get stuck, don't be afraid to work out of order.
Vital Statistics: Character Name, Race, Class, Age, Starting level, Player name
Keywords: 3-6 words or two-word phrases that highlight important aspects of your character. These could be things like Enemy: __, Shy, Drunk, Protective: Children, Survivalist, Pacifist, Mercenary, Fear: Snakes, Tinker, Hates: Slavery, Ally: ___.
Main Body: This is where you tell us the details of where your character has been and where they want to go. Who are they, who are important people in their life, what important events influence them to this day, and what motivates them? The most direct way to tell us about your character is through a bullet point list.
Some things you might include are: family, friends, enemies, interests, fears, goals, personality, defining moments. Some things not to include are: How you defeated a dragon, how you’re really your tribe’s most accomplished warrior but you’re pretending to be Level 2, that your father is secretly the King of Videa, that you are half Fae. To clarify: It would be okay to say that your family was killed by Lord Voldemort and you have a startling scar. It's not okay to say that everyone says you're the chosen one and that there's a prophecy linking you and Voldemort. That second part is up to plot, and you will probably have more fun if you leave room for development in game.
Additional Information:
This can be presented as a story, a series of journal entries or letters, or another way that helps you develop your character. Please keep in mind that the main body is what the team will note as most important for us to keep in mind, and the additional information will not be a focus.
Don't hesitate to ask questions of Plot to help determine the details of your character history. We're here to help!
The character plot team will email you if they have any questions, clarifications, or suggestions, and will work with you to integrate your character into the world. Once we have reviewed and accepted your history, we will let you know.
History Writing Tips
The Purpose of Character Histories
Character backgrounds have two main purposes. One is for you the player to develop the character for yourself and get the feel for what they are like. Writing down traits and history is a good way to prepare to portray a persona. Making a history helps you to find your character’s motivations, personality, and voice. Having a sense of interests, goals, and purpose for your character will make it easier for you to get engaged with roleplay and plot at game.
The other is so the plot team can get an idea of what sort of plot would catch your character’s interest. If you write about topics and themes you’d like to play with, there is potential for us to write something targeted for your character or hook them into an overarching plot that is particularly relevant to their interests.
Character histories are NOT intended to limit you! Sometimes a player has an idea about how they think their character will behave and react, and what will be their main interest. Then the player finds that personality isn't as fun as they hoped. It's okay to change the parts of a character that don't work for you!
Components
Here are some examples of elements often included in a character history.
Childhood/family: Where did your character grow up? What family did they have when they were young and what does their family look like now?
Profession/hobby: How does your character make a living or pass their time?
Friends/Associates: Did your character have a mentor? Were they strongly influenced by a teacher or a friend?
Desires/goals: What does your character want? Are they seeking scholarly knowledge, revenge, riches, fame, redemption, or a lost friend? Do they want to fight monsters, explore new places, or bring peace to others?
Influential moments: What major events influence your character? Is your character still trying to resolve something that happened? This is an opportunity to give plot an idea of something personal your character would like to do, which could potentially be worked into game
Traits: Defining personality traits that influence how your character interacts with the world around them. Are they altruistic, selfish, restless, reckless?
Your character might have goals they share openly, or they might have secrets. Open goals can more easily lead to engagement with other characters. Secrets may be more for your private character development, or an opportunity for dramatic in-character revelation. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that LARP is a social activity, and it's very difficult to play the brooding stranger who watches everyone else from the corner.
Examples
The following character has motivations that are likely to be obvious to other characters. They might keep some things personal, but are overall not mysterious. This history supports an outgoing and eager character, easily motivated to join in on action.
Vital Statistics: Ava Shen, Selunari, Rogue, Level 8, 22 years old, played by Jane Jones
Keywords: Bold, Social butterfly, Opposes: Necromancy, Competitive
Main Body:
-Raised by parents Annabelle and Janine, along with older sister Isabelle
-Ava and Isabelle are both skilled in archery
-Her caravan spent the last 5 years in Wylderkin territory, often trading with several groups
-Her caravan took in a Sarr exile called Van, who suddenly used a lot of Necromancy, and soon afterward turned violent against the rest of the caravan
-Ava would like to find out where Van Resurrected after they were executed for their actions, and if they changed their ways or not
-Ava panicked during an attack by monsters from the Mists two years ago and was very embarrassed
-Eager to outshine her “golden child” older sister, who she sees as more praised and better trained in combat
Additional Information:
Ava loves to sing and is excited about learning the music of Videa. She enjoyed singing with her sister playing lute. This was her opportunity to bond with her sister rather than compete. Ava enjoyed hearing stories and songs from Wylderkin. This was more fun than living in Stone Elven territory. She enjoys many types of competition, ranging from board games to bobbing for apples, but has always been frustrated by her sister's greater accuracy with a bow. She wants to prove herself, to herself and maybe her parents.
A betrayal by an eshdir is different to her than by a Selunari. Eshdir do not feel sela, so the Code of Honor does not mean the same to them. Van was wrong to use Necromancy and would never be allowed near the caravan again. Execution was a just punishment. Still, she liked Van, and she wants to know what happened to them. It seemed strange that they resorted to Chaos Blade, Chaos Storm, and Drain in a conflict with Gnolls that was not even a desperate battle. Though she is sure Necromancy is wrong, she wonders if repentance and reform is possible.
The following character has motivations that may be less obvious to other characters. This character might be private or even secretive. Some players might enjoy having private goals or the roleplay of sharing secrets with a close friend.
Vital Statistics: Jasper Fend, Hobling, Celestial Scholar, Level 3, 30 years old, Played by John Jones
Keywords: Academic, Calm, Curious
Main Body:
-Only child of Ambra (Apothecaries' Guild) and Lan (Geometers' Guild) Fend
-Apprenticed with the Geometers’ Guild initially but ended up with the Company of Scribes. Left the Geometers’ Guild on bad terms.
-Jasper is jaded by the rampant greed and cutthroat opportunism of the Guilds; instead, he is looking for a stable, comfortable life away from the Guildhall
-Jasper is also interested in the nature of the schools of Magic, and how it can be applied to better people’s lives
-Sometimes, Jasper feels disappointed that he did not study Alchemy instead
Additional Information:
Jasper receives praise for his meticulous record keeping. He would prefer to learn more Celestial Magic, but options are limited within the Company of Scribes. Interest in learning more Magic is his primary motivation for traveling outside of the Guildhall, but he does not want to be seen as disloyal and hasn't admitted the truth. He has volunteered to go out and learn about other Realms for the benefit of his Guild.