What makes a character not boring?

[Doug R.]

The title says it all. What makes a character not boring TO YOU, the observer. I don't mean not boring to play, but not boring to play WITH.

I ask, because almost none of my characters have ever been mentioned on the forum (past or present), so I can only assume that, although my characters are all reliable, consistent, and active, they must be boring (and one - Jacob of DHN - was just described as such in another thread).

Personally, for me, any character I can interact with regularly isn't boring, but I guess for most, interaction isn't enough to qualify as interesting.

[Mack]

For me it's all about RP. If there is a char who will joke around, RP pushes nudges and other interactions that are not in the game Mechanics, I find it fun. But everyone has their own idea on this subject.

[SekoETC]

Interesting characters seem like a person with dimensions, who have more to their lives than just projects. They can talk about feelings and dreams and past experiences. When an interesting character tells a story, they put a bit of personal perspective into it while a boring character would just copypaste the event log to preserve accuracy.

I think using emotes, even small ones (or particularly small ones) play a big role in making a character interesting. It's hard to feel attached to someone who never *smiles*. I remember mentioning that to Joshuamonkey, the couple of his characters I knew were very community oriented and busy but didn't express feelings so it was difficult to bond with them.

The reason I wrote "particularly" small ones is because often just *smiles* can seem more genuine than something that uses a full sentence or heaven forbid, a full paragraph. Full paragraphs should be reserved for interacting with someone you already know well. If you use paragraphs to express your character to everybody who's reading, it often seems more like you're putting up a show and expecting the others to be the audience unless they can bother to reply with the same level of detail. Characters like this aren't necessarily boring but they can also be difficult to approach.

I think it shows when the player cares about their character or is living through it, not like someone who's just being themselves, but someone who's being the character. Then there's clothing, if the player only cares about productivity, they won't bother with clothing at all. They might dress up their character in something that was given to them for free but they won't put much thought into it. Interesting characters are often wearing something that catches my eye, although on some regions the options are so limited that there are too many characters who look pretty much alike.

[Misato]

Aww, thanks Mack. ^_~ lmao

I have to agree though. It's more fun to play with chars that interact and play around. If they just stand around all day just doing what needs to be done, even if they talk a lot and are well liked, it's just not as much fun. Go throw someone in a lake or something. ^_~ Just make sure they're not afraid of the water first....lol

[Miri]

For me it's multidimensionality (NOT reffering to certain multi-limbed portal user )
A character who's all about just one thing bores me quickly. I like charries be like real people - complex personalities and many goals, some bigger, some lesser, but still...

and a big NO to one-trick ponies!
(it's good you don't get to see that kind of characters too often)


Edit: Seko, you ninja

[Trae]

Aww, thanks Mack. ^_~ lmao

I have to agree though. It's more fun to play with chars that interact and play around. If they just stand around all day just doing what needs to be done, even if they talk a lot and are well liked, it's just not as much fun. Go throw someone in a lake or something. ^_~ Just make sure they're not afraid of the water first....lol

I totally had that exact thing happen!! This guy threatened to drop her in the water, she she shoved him in, and he couldn't swim...Lol!

[Mack]

Also when Chars get involved in town. Speak and speak up. Don't just sit there and run a town by doing what others think you should do....Be brave and try to stand out of the Crowd

[Litchin_flip]

Depth...the secret is depth.

[Mack]

Depth...the secret is depth.

agreed but with in reason...You got in too much depth and people start to complain saying that this or that isn't possible and things like that

[Misato]

I totally had that exact thing happen!! This guy threatened to drop her in the water, she she shoved him in, and he couldn't swim...Lol!

lmao. I've had two chars go swimming recently. One was pretty much dragged into the water...and the other went willingly because there was nothing else to do. lol

[Litchin_flip]

Depth...the secret is depth.

agreed but with in reason...You got in too much depth and people start to complain saying that this or that isn't possible and things like that

Well yeah, but you just have to use a little sense as to what TOO much is.

[Snake_byte]

I like characters that are active, show emotes, that RP (even fighting), and consistency in personality (unless something happens to condition their behaviour).

I know how you feel Doug... I try to keep people interested as well but have hardly had any charries mentioned either...
I think sometimes (at least with myself) that some players don't want to know who play's certain characters until it's over...

[Trae]

I like characters that are active, show emotes, that RP (even fighting), and consistency in personality (unless something happens to condition their behaviour).

I know how you feel Doug... I try to keep people interested as well but have hardly had any charries mentioned either...
I think sometimes (at least with myself) that some players don't want to know who play's certain characters until it's over...

I've never had any of mine mentioned, unless it was a general mention of a town of people or a group of people..but never singled out by name. Lol

[Misato]

I've mostly just had one mentioned in the forums a few times. I think one of my others might have been mentioned once as well....I don't mind if people know who I am, and personally, I enjoy finding out who plays who. lol Been doing a lot of that lately, actually... ^_~

[Litchin_flip]

I like characters that are active, show emotes, that RP (even fighting), and consistency in personality (unless something happens to condition their behaviour).

I know how you feel Doug... I try to keep people interested as well but have hardly had any charries mentioned either...
I think sometimes (at least with myself) that some players don't want to know who play's certain characters until it's over...

I've never had any of mine mentioned, unless it was a general mention of a town of people or a group of people..but never singled out by name. Lol

For some reason or other the only characters of mine that get mentioned are my...less than law abiding ones.