Tips for writing a good "insane" character and avoiding being ableist
Two types of mental breaks/dangerous people will be covered here
Those that are dangerous to themselves and those that are dangerous to others
Mental vs Psychotic Break
If the character is dangerous to themselves they might be more withdrawn and untrusting
Stress that a mental break can be extremely scary for the person experiencing it and that they dont mean to hurt anyone
They're more likely to be avoided and isolated than anything
If they are institutionalized you should make sure they arent forgotten about/tossed to the side
Study causes and signs of minor breakdowns
Now read memos from people who actually had a mental breaks
Avoid offensive language and slurs
DO NOT use them as some oooOo scary edgy character
Mental breaks are more tragic than entertaining
Something should trigger it/it shouldnt come out of nowhere
Now if the character actively hurts others
They are more likely to be charismatic and blend in at first
Stress that they are CHOOSING to hurt people
Avoid labels and hard diagnosing them
Just let it be "this person experienced fucked up things and decided to become an asshole"
Don't ascribe some big meaning or message to it
If they are a murderer then study murderers and their MO's if you have the stomach for it and want to do some research
remember "the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that the motives of serial killers can include anger, thrill-seeking, financial gain, and attention seeking." (wikipedia)
AVOID GLORIFYING THEM/THEIR ACTIONS
Make them an asshole, make them snobby and unlikable because that's what people/characters who actively harm others are
i know this sounds mean but do you think hailey and jay are the only ones who develop their characters unlike the others?
I feel like all the characters have developed in some way in the past 10 years. Some characters have had much more character development than others, but there is still change. I haven't watched much of S1-S4, so I can't attest to character growth then, but in S5-S9, all the main characters have grown in some way.
That being said, I do think Jay and Hailey have developed as characters more in S9 compared to Kim, Adam, and Kevin. S9 showed Hailey growing as a cop, and by the finale, we saw a clear picture of what kind of cop she wanted to be. We noticed some changes in Jay's character, him crossing some lines and following Voight blindly. I'm still curious how that will play out next season.
For Kim and Adam, it's hard to see character development when the majority of their storylines are related to Burzek and their personal life. And even then, we haven't seen much change in that situation. The last time Kim and Adam had storylines that weren't about Burzek was S6, and in my opinion, that was the last time we saw significant character development for either of them, especially Adam. I guess Kim had some character development in S7 and S8 as she became a mother during those seasons, but in S9, even though both characters had tons of screen time, their development was very stagnant.
For Kevin, it's hard to see character development because he barely gets any screen time. S8 was definitely his most prominent season as it focused on his views on the blue wall, and he had several episodes focused on that. But in S9, we only got three episodes about him. And all three episodes were focused on his failed relationship with Celeste. That isn't enough time to show a character grow.
I think it's important to show a character change and develop, or else the character gets boring. That's what happened with Voight. For the past 9 seasons, we see Voight go rogue and do something illegal. Then the writers try to give him a redemption arc, but he returns to his dirty ways again. It's this same cycle over and over, and as a viewer, I'm getting tired of it.
Hopefully, S10 brings a new dynamic for each character! 🤞🏼
Which character of the 100 do you think has undergone the most/biggest changes?
I think Bellamy became who he could always be. He’s the hero I think he was raised to be, but he gets to step out and expand.
Clarke started out this golden girl who fell to deep depths but is rising back, with new strength and understanding.
Octavia started out a feral panther let loose upon the world and really turned dangerous for a while, but I can’t tell yet, but she seems to have taken Bellamy’s (and Clarke’s) lessons and become a whole person.
Raven was the brash genius mechanic who struggled with her disabilities and is learning to have empathy for others.
Murphy was the biggest little prick in the world who was selfish and needy and cruel and didn’t care for anyone and now he’s a cockroach prince who puts himself on the line to save everyone with a sass mouth.
Murphy is the winner. He has changed the most. Raven has changed the least. Bellamy and Clarke are living into their potential. Octavia is becoming something different but I think we have to wait to see the end to know.
Ways To Advance Your Roleplaying Experience Pt. 3: Character Design - Finding a Visual
((It’s been ages since I did one of these - so here’s a link to the first two in this “series” - pt. 1: Backstory and pt.2: Character Look))
One of the most exciting parts of playing d&d is the fact that I get to play a character completely unique to me. Someone I designed from the ground up, determined ever aspect of their personality and being, and I get to experience a wondrous world as that character.
But it’s hard to really imagine yourself as this character in these situations when you aren’t entirely sure what you look like. Sure, you spent plenty of time developing your appearance and designing the look of your character, but it’s hard to remember those details. And do you really want to take the time to explain to your fellow players in excruciating detail the exact shade of brown your character’s eyes are?
Knowing what your appearance is and your fellow players knowing adds a surprising amount of depth to the roleplaying experience.
Some people can expertly picture their character in full, glorious detail. But plenty of people struggle to imagine their characters, and because of this they either just imagine themselves or they imagine a basic stereotype. There’s nothing innately wrong with this - In fact it can sometimes be fun to just play a fantastical version of yourself or to play a standard rogue/thief elf with daggers that trusts no one. But if you have spent time making a new and unique character, you don’t want that work to go to waste simply because you struggle to picture them.
So we need a visual.
Sadly, not all of us have the skills to draw these characters ourselves. If you’re lucky and you do have those skills (or know someone else who does) then you can get a sketch of your character done. but for the rest of us... well, we need a little help.
Below are the best aides I have ever used to really try to show off my character visually. Peruse them, check them out, and see if maybe they help you!
Hero Machine
Hero Machine allows you to create your own personalized character from the ground up, from gender, body type, race, armor and clothing, facial features, you name it. I’ve made many of my characters through this program, and it’s 100% free. You can save your characters on their site or export them to save on your computer. You can keep them as blank line art to print them and add specific color yourself or color them through the program. It’s a little limited on stances and layering, but it can be a great start in giving you a visual representation of your character
Additionally, you can just make a sort of “blank template” by just creating a body outline and draw on top of it if you want more control and just need some handy guides/
FUSE
FUSE is a program that (last I checked at least) is completely free and available through Steam. it allows you to create well rendered 3D character models. It’s pretty user friendly, letting you create an almost professional looking character with very little work on your part. Some expansions and other pieces may cost, so depending on how advanced you want your character models to be depends on how much you’re willing to pay, but if you make a large number of characters this can be very worth the cost.
HeroForge
HeroForge is a company that allows you to make a specialized, custom miniature of your character. Specialize everything from the basic body types and general clothes to the details of your facial features and expressions and body sizes. It is deeply customizable, and the best part is that not only does it give you a visual for your character, but you can even order the actual miniature, giving you a physical mini to bring to games (which is an excellent aid if your group uses maps and minis in the game)
Fantasy Art
If the above options are just way too much work for you, you can also always look for general fantasy art to represent your characters on a number of websites
Deviantart
Wizards of the Coast art catalogue (D&D Collection or Magic the Gathering)
Your favorite artist’s portfolio
Even just googling your character!
Whenever you use art from somewhere else, BE SURE that you make it clear WHERE you got it from and that people know it isn’t your own. It’s important to credit artists, even if it’s something casual with your friends. (and even then, respect artist intent - don’t use things without permission, don’t use anything they’ve explicitly stated is not for use, etc...)
The reason a physical representation of your character is so incredibly important is because it helps turn your character into a “real person” for both you and your fellow players. Having a face to connect with helps you to visualize who you are in these adventures. That can help improve your roleplaying by leaps and bounds!
As with any other advice - this may not be for you. Maybe you don’t have the time to find or make a good representation of your character. Maybe knowing what your character looks like has never been an issue for you, or just doesn’t really help you roleplay any better. Stick around for the next part and maybe you’ll find something that does help you!
You've probably seen a million bajillion character questionnaires. Most of the time they ask you about basic physical facts: birthdays, height, favorite colors. But these aren't the details that create an interesting, authentic, believable character that will stick with readers. These details won't
List 5 facts about your most favorite Sim of yours and send this to 10 Simblrs whose Sims you adore ♥♥♥
For this ask, let’s talk about Her Majesty, Sally Fiesta.
Sally’s decision to transition to a constitutional monarchy came as one of a devotion to her subjects, and of self-preservation. With her as the sole ruler and a limited extended family, it was in her best interest to let her kingdom evolve to introduce a form of self-governance by the people. (Although as we know this did not come to be.)
Even before the coup d’etat, Sally absolutely detested the Blue Empire. Rumor has it that her mother was killed by a mercenary for hire from the Emperor who was ruling at the time.
Sally once met the princess of Harmonia and was absolutely smitten with her. Unfortunately due to the distance and going ons of the kingdom, she never did get the chance to ask for her hand in marriage.
Just before the coup, Sally decided to decrease the budget and size of the military after pressure from the nobility not wanting to pay taxes for it. That decision worked out well, huh?
Of all the subjects Sally has studied, astronomy by far has been her favorite. After all, you can just look up into the sky at night and see the most beautiful of sights.
Having driven for days calling both Carina and Ethne when his cellphone had reception after going for almost four days and nights driving to the first place listed in his ancestors journals . After finding a place to stay for the time as he waited for the sun to set tired as the night finally descended before stepping out and surveying the area around him , A rather mountainous area with a large lake stretching over the horizon “Where in the hell is this lab supposed to even be?” Servas asks aloud as he scans the area around him before noticing a small cavern entrance
