OCs in Disguise

Striving to shed the light of development on OCs everywhere.

[ocsindisguise]

I just stumbled by here, and was about to ask for a critique when I saw someone else's post and realized how little I have about my character written down. So before I submit something that is poorly informed and make a fool of myself and waste people's (including my own) time, is there a general guideline on what should be included? For one thing, I haven't got the slightest idea on how to handle things like tech specs and I am no artist..

While we do recommend tech specs and an image reference to make a thorough profile, they really aren't necessary. What we really need to give you a good critique is your OC's history, personality; their flaws, strengths, and etc. Tech specs and artwork are icing on the cake, but the foundation of a good OC comes from the writing and planning that makes them...well, them.We have a sort of profile 'skeleton' somewhere around here...let me see if I can dig it up for you, okay?- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

Do you have any tips for a human OC in TFP? Like things to avoid or concepts you'd like to see tried out.

If you want to meet the Bots/Cons, don’t be super-extraordinary right off the bat. We’ve seen a lot of MECH personnel or US government members/soldiers with ridiculous special clearance at really young ages, as well as characters who were designed specifically to do something Cybertronian related before they were even aware of the existence of Cybertronians.

Being a normal human with a normal life (or being older than your late twenties) who gets pulled into the show’s story by being in the wrong place at the wrong time is surprisingly uncommon, and thus, can make your character stand out by proxy. That’s not to say you can’t have a teenager/young adult/soldier/scientist, but those are already pretty common.

- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

(1/2)To the anon asking about name sharing, I used to have an OC named Riptide long before Riptide showed up in the IDW comics. I'm not sure if he was a minor character before that or what, but my two cents is if you want to change the name, then do it, but if you can't find anything that fits, then it's probably no biggie. Chances are, no one else will realize the name is already taken either unless they suddenly become a big thing in Canon. -

(2/2) And if the character does become a big deal, you can just say you had the name before they were big, or just fall back on the 'all the good names are taken' line. So don't feel too stressed about your OC sharing a name with a minor character.I put the two of your comments together. This exactly. Name sharing isn’t as big of a deal unless you share it with a huge cast member. ~mod Bex

[ocsindisguise]

When I name with was looking to see if my OC shared a name with any other OCs I found out they actually shared a name with a minor canon character. I've been dabbling on my OC for a really long time but I haven't put them out there. The character is very very minor and IDK if I'm getting upset over something small so I wonder if you have any advice.

Take a deep breath and relax, Anon. There's nothing wrong with your OC sharing the name of a minor canon character. The likelihood of anyone actually getting upset at you over this is slim, and if they DO get upset, then they're nitpicky losers.So long as your character and this minor canon don't cross paths, you'll be fine. And even if they do, you can play it off as a humorously confusing, small world-same-name trope.- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

Have you seen any 2015 RiD OCs as of yet?

We're still blowing the dust off this blog, but I haven't seen any 2015 RiD OCs yet.- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

So, now that Transformers: Robots In Disguise 2015 has been out for quite awhile, what do you think of the new series?

GRIMLOCK IS ADORABLE AND I WANT TWENTY- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

We may not be able to get to her right away, but yes. You are free to submit her. :)

- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

Hy! How cliché is it to have two mechs getting sparkbonded, by Mech A merging his spark with Mech B to save his life? (They were already in sort of a relationship before, but didn't think about bonding yet.)

To my understanding, a cliche is something that happens so much in the media that it becomes predictable and boring. I think there’s going to be a significant moral conflict to deal with depending on your headcanons about sparkbonding and the significance the characters place behind it….

But I don’t think it’s cliche. That actually sounds like a pretty interesting scenario, to me!

Also, deepest apologies for taking so ridiculously long to reply. :c

- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

Hello mods of OCs in Disguise. I have had a falling out with some of you a long time ago and I know one of you wants nothing to do with me but to the others, will you accept my apology for my past behavior?

I can't speak for the other mods, but I do appreciate your willingness to come forward. Apology accepted.- Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

Would it seem too "out there" to have a Cybertronian OC who can use magic? I have this OC who's like magician who does actual magic instead of just illusions and tricks. She has a set list of things she can't do with her magic, she has weaknesses to prevent her from being overpowered and I have her set in the RiD2015 continuity for context. Suggestions on how to properly handle her having magic would also be appreciated.

In all honesty, if it isn't demonstrated in Canon you're always going to have some detractors. BUT in my opinion, so long as you keep the strengths and weaknesses balanced to the world she's set in, I see no reason why the character can't use magic. After all, magic is just science we haven't figured out yet, right? ;3 It's a big universe out there...what if the OC's 'magic' was some incredibly advanced technology from a distant galaxy/lost civilization (or was explained that way to others)?- Mod TCA (*is not dead*)

[ocsindisguise]

I have an oc for TFP who is a chemist and stumbled on some energon. When he was working with it, MECH showed up and stole his research because one of his superiors was an informant for them. The energon was spilled and severely burned him. Does this seem like an okay start for a story or should I change it?

That sounds fairly plausible to me. We’ve seen the effects of Dark Energon on a human (see Raf in “One Shall Fall”, I believe), and know that it can be countered with normal energon, but those were extenuating circumstances. What we haven’t seen isthe outright effects of normal energon on a human without the interference of Dark Energon.

-Mod TCA

[ocsindisguise]

I read that you didn't know if arachnicons were cannon, and i just want to say that they are. Only a handful appear to exist in the canon transformers brand though. They were branded as a species in "The Covenant of Primus". I want to give you a link to the TFWiki page but the ask box refuses to accept it....

Thanks for the update! That statement was made quite a while back, before the book came out and confirmed it, so we didn't know much. We've since updated our bank of information (we look around TFWiki very frequently) but we appreciate your message.

-Mod Scotty

[ocsindisguise]

Well autobotadriana and moralchaos are OC RP blogs.

Then send in their profiles for review. Duh.

-Mod Stormy

[ocsindisguise]

What do you think of these two blogs, autobotadriana and moralchaos?

This is an OC review blog, we do not "review" people or blogs.

-Mod Stormy

[ocsindisguise]

I've just stumbled across your site for the first time today and I'm curious as to whether most of the characters put up here are specifically for fanfiction as opposed for role-playing, such as in a MUSH.

It really depends on what the creator's intentions for their OCs are, to be honest. Us mods don't do a lot of context research for such things as that is not our job here; our job is to take a look at an OC bio we're presented  with and give advice on how it can be improved. The only way we know such intentions is if it's been told to us.

So really...

-Mod Scotty

[ocsindisguise]

Is Shiloh from Rules to Keep You Alive on FFN considered a 'popular character'?

I personally wouldn’t since I’ve never heard of the OC. A popular character tends to be an OC that the fandom either knows about or has at least heard of before.

Mods, what would you say?

-Mod Scotty

Lawd, never heard of the, but then again I don't read fanfictions anyways. But I've never heard of them out of the site either, so meh.

-Mod Stormy

[ocsindisguise]

Hi; I've submitted Big Rig for review, and am just wondering if i missed the post, as I'm stuck on phone Internet for a few weeks.

It hasn't been posted yet. You didn't miss it. Because it's the end of the year most of the mods are busy with family and getting other things done. I may take another month before we post Big Rig.~Mod Bex