Character Questionnaire
I'm leaving plenty of room in this campaign for defining your character in
the opening sequences. There's some info I'd like to really have and the
rest is elective. I've stolen the concepts and a number of specific
requests from Kirk's, which in turn he accredited as "(Many of these questions
were taken from the Excalibur Star Trek PBEM - that GM attributed most of his list of
questions to Amber Diceless Roleplaying). "
The Bottom Line - minimal necessary stuff
- What motivates your character to go out and adventure? Do they
routinely risk their life in adventuring? If not, what would/does
motivate them to do so?
- To date, how active has your character been? If at all active,
what's a typical outing like? What time of day, what parts of town,
how does he act, etc.
- What's your character's important likes and dislikes? Think of
this as the Playboy centerfold thing and it can be serious or flighty, just
so long as it's among their top 10 interests and gripes.
- What's the character's typical ho-hum day like?
- Any close friends or important business/neighbor/whatever acquaintances
that should be noted?
-
Characterize this PC in one sentence.
Your character and the Modern World (X-Champions Style) - good to know,
either fill some/all of it out and/or we can develop it
- How does your character feel in general about mutants (note this world
lumps mutants in with those chemically enhanced, etc.)? Do they
consider themselves one?
- How does your character feel in general about "normal
humans"? Do they consider themselves one?
- Do they consider either humans or mutants/supers to be superior or
equal? Does your character break mutants out into some sort of class
system where some are better than others? Why (to all of these
questions)?
- What does your character think of mutant/extranormal registration?
- Does your character routinely break registration and other anti-mutant
laws? What do they think about that?
- What demographic does your character associate with typically? Who
are their friends - old or young hippies, yuppies, punks, gen x-ers,
what? What segments do they dislike and/or not understand in society?
- What's your character's political stance? Who would they vote for
president in 2000 (same candidates as our world)? How about other
presidential elections? Note that 1992 was Bush Sr.-Clinton.
1984 was Carter-Reagan-Perot with Reagan's victory. 1980 was
Carter-Bush Sr., Reagan sat out that year and was "drafted" in
1984. Third party candidates are typically the same.
Personality and Behavior - good to know, either fill some/all of it out
and/or we can develop it:
- When in groups, how does the character typically react? Does he take
charge and lead, follow quietly, quietly conspire with the leader, be a
wallflower, or...?
- Who are the character's close friends, family, lovers? How close
does the character let people get? Does this character treat friends
very different based on where they know each other (work, neighbor,
hobbyist, etc.)?
- What fears does this PC have (they can be actual phobias, or just worries) and where
did they come from? How do they act on those fears? (include any
ethnocentric fears/phobias/hatreds here)
- What are this PC's most notable habits, or quirks? What are the ones
the character indulges in but hides?
- What does your character think about death, what's their emotional
reaction?
- Which self-improvement course does the PC feel they need more: "Assertiveness Training",
"Ten Steps to a New Love Life", "How to Win Friends and Influence
People" or "Organizing Your Life"? Why? Which courses do they
feel
qualified to *teach*?
- Which of the above courses does your character *really* need?
Which is one he or she is *actually* qualified to teach? [Answer as the player, not the
character.]
- To your character, does revenge mean (1) "an eye for an eye", (2) "repayment with
interest", (3) "the only good enemy is a dead enemy", or (4) something
else? In exacting their revenge, would they serve it hot, as soon as possible after the
offense, or cold, awaiting a perfect place and time?
- What emotions can the PC express in public? Sorrow? Anger? Sadness? Humor?
Disappointment? Joy?
-
Which emotions can the character *never* express in public?
- Describe the character's voice. Would you say that they speak with formality? Casually? Do
they have any favorite expressions/curses?
- Is the PC merciful in combat? Chivalrous, even?
- Does this PC typically grant protection to passers-by who request it, and
under what circumstances?
- Does this PC share his/her wealth/possessions with friends in need?
- What goals, if any, does the PC have for their life? How are they working
to achieve them?
- How does this PC handle stress? Dangerous situations?
- Under what circumstances would this/has this PC desert/deserted their comrades?
- Under what circumstances would this PC put his/her own welfare in ahead of that of the
group?
- Would the PC risk the lives of his/her companions without their knowledge and consent?
Questions from the PCs Perspective, I may not even get to absorb it:
- You are plagued by a recurring dream/nightmare. Describe it.
- From your point of view, in relations with subordinates, is it better to be loved than
feared or better to be feared than loved? Would the answer be different with others?
- What is your favorite food? What food do you hate?
- What was your first or most memorable love affair? [This can be anything from a
pre-teen crush to a long-term romance.] Be sure to describe the object of your affection,
along with the changes that you went through in terms of feelings and thoughts about that
person. Did it start out in terms of maddening hatred? Instant love? Who fell for who
first? Were the feelings a surprise? How did it end? How does everyone involved feel about
it now?
- What were you like at the age of ten [fifth grade]? Were you a wimp, a bully, a nerd, a
snitch or a klutz? Or none of those? Were you popular or not? Write up a description, and,
if you like, a little day-in-the-life-of story of you at that age?
- Did you ever have a pet? What kind of pet? Where is it now or what happened to it?
- How would your father describe you? Your mother?
- How do you think your character's father would describe your
character? Your character's mother? [Answer this from the player's standpoint, not
the character's.]
- Describe your perfect "date". What events would it involve? Would it be with
a group, or just one-on-one?
- Describe your perfect evening? Would it involve others or be alone? If it involves
others, who would it involve?
- How would you describe your perfect mate/spouse?
- As the player, do you agree with the answer above? How is
the character mistaken? Is he or she overly idealistic? Or are they looking for all the
wrong things?
- Everybody has some little item that they regard as somehow sacred. A piece of
clothing, a memento of some event, whatever. What is yours? How did you find it and why is
it special?
- You are the butt of a practical joke. Can you see the humor in it? Will you get even?
Does getting even involve another practical joke, or is it more serious than that?
- Do you sleep well? If you dream, what kind of dreams are they? Do you remember them
when you awaken? [You are allowed to step a bit outside of the character for this
one.]
- Give a brief description of this PC's childhood, including emotional and economic
status, and any unique or odd events.
- How does this character deal with his/her past? (any scars, emotional or not?)
- Describe this PC's past relationships (open love/lust, secret love for a
friend/acquaintance) and sexuality.
- Does this PC have any charities/causes to which he/she donates? (in any form -- could
be volunteering)
- Does this PC like to have strong roots, or do they drift from person to person, hobby
to hobby? (To what extent, and which areas?)
- Would this PC kill, harm, or torture? (Under what circumstances?)
- Would this PC enjoy killing people, harming them, or torturing them? (Why/why not?)
- Would this PC lie? (Under what circumstances, and to who?)
- Does this PC consider the use of force or the use of cleverness and guile to accomplish
things to be "more" moral?
- Does this PC feel that the ends justify the means, no matter what those
"means" may be?
- Does this PC get his/her way by bullying others into what he/she wants?
- Does this PC feel that the strong are entitled to exploit or manipulate the weak?
(Does he/she indulge in it, too?)
- What kind of music does your character like?
- What well-known person is your character most attracted to? Second
most attracted?
- What sort of literature does your character read?