Do you ever feel like your characters control themselves?

[Joshuamonkey]

Last night I dreamed, not about Cantr, rather about Cantr's forum, and in that dream I saw a thread titled something like "Do you ever feel like you're just an account manager of a character who controls themself?"
In other words, does it sometimes surprise you what your own characters do? I know at least some feel frustrated by what their character does or knows.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this subject?

[Doug R.]

My contribution to my characters is in strategy and planning. When it comes to dialog and reacting to things, it's all them. I don't pre-plan responses and reactions. My characters just react. So, yes, I feel like this all the time. In fact, the personality of my favorite character is fully developed to the extent that I've found myself having conversations with her in my head.

[bnlphan]

I find myself in this position often. One thing I do when a decision has to be made by one of my characters is give some serious thought as to what the character would want to do and that is often opposed to what i want them to do. This has helped at times to keep my charries of being mirror images of myself.
You find yourself saying things like...well if you want to go off do such and such, fine but Id rather you stay home where it is safe.

[SekoETC]

Sometimes you just feel like your characters have to do things because it's according to their nature, even if you didn't like it as a player.

[Reaction]

I have a few, one especially that seems to have a life of their own that's somehow beyond my control? Absurd, but it's just they way things go.

[LittleSoul]

Does anyone have any stories of characters that they've had do something -you know- is completely the wrong decision, but you had to let it happen anyway because it's what they would do because of their personality/intelligence?

[ManyVoices]

It's funny this topic is posted today. I can't give details because of the 4 day rule, but I currently having a character reacting to things, in a way I'm very dissatisfied with, but it's how he felt he needed to react. It's really quite weird how you do feel like you're not really controlling them.

[NancyLee]

Does anyone have any stories of characters that they've had do something -you know- is completely the wrong decision, but you had to let it happen anyway because it's what they would do because of their personality/intelligence?

Definitely. And sometimes the results are awesome. Sometines not, but still... who can argue with them when they have a mind of their own?

[Chroma Key]

I am not surprised by that at all. My characters, contrary to many people's view on their own chars, aren't extensions of me. They aren't 'mini me's. Some are radically different than me, and we don't have a single thing in common. They have their own minds, feelings, personalities, etc.
One of mine has taken so much abuse from her husband, it's beyond belief. In her circumstances, I would kick his bullying arse so quickly to the kerb, he wouldn't know what hit him. She... Oh well, let's just say she's got a different way of dealing with her stuff. I am displeased with that, but I can't have her react any differently, if I am to remain true to her. Forcing her hand would cause me more grief than letting things run their course her way.

[Doug R.]

Does anyone have any stories of characters that they've had do something -you know- is completely the wrong decision, but you had to let it happen anyway because it's what they would do because of their personality/intelligence?

Since their actions are not conscious on my part, they make bad decisions all the time. 99% of the time, I find out they were bad decisions at the same time as they do.

[Genie]

Sometimes yes, sometimes not...There are times I get angry to my chars for being stupid or crazy,missing chances or just sleeping. At the other side I have few showing big similarities with me. For example one quit eating meat for also I did in my life . Anyway still I can't force them for things and I can't change their feelings

[Auryn]

This is actually the goal of my rping and character designing. I set up the perimeters for the character's personality, but oftentimes their environment is shaping their behavior more than my initial plans for them. I've been very surprised by the direction some of my characters have taken, and disappointed by at least one by bad decisions. Then again, how can you expect to have a well rounded character if they don't do anything wrong?

[notsure]

I once had a charrie who got caught up in some religion, where the "afterlife" was totally venerated and the goal of the religion (at least to my poor innocent girl's mind) was to be reunited with their friends in that "afterlife". So she chose to commit suicide because she wanted so much to travel there.

I didn't want her to do that, but what could I do?

notsure I would sacrifice another charrie like that

[catwill]

My contribution to my characters is in strategy and planning. When it comes to dialog and reacting to things, it's all them. I don't pre-plan responses and reactions. My characters just react. So, yes, I feel like this all the time. In fact, the personality of my favorite character is fully developed to the extent that I've found myself having conversations with her in my head.

I am currently having a HUGE argument with one of mine in my head.

[destinysWalrus]

So many of my characters (here and elsewhere) end up doing this sort of thing. And then I'm left to try to get them not to do stupid things but they don't listen. In all fairness their ideas are usually more entertaining than mine anyway...