Character Creation 101: Better Characters are a Click Away!

[Rhodevus]

Well, what you need to develop depends on the scenario you hope your character will be in. Does the roleplay take place during a war? a meeting? Is he just some passerby on the street? A leader of a revolution?

It is all depends on the setting. Most of what you want to develop should be done during the actual roleplay itself, but all the basics and maybe some basic inner stuff can be decided beforehand

He will be a beneficiary of a false-flag operation, and is a nasty back-stabbing type. The RP takes place in peace-time.

So a good question to as is: why is he the back stabbing type? what happened in his past to make him like he is?

[Grand Nationalist Texas]

seem like an intresting thread.

[United Civil Defense Force]

Are you sure this is the right forum for this? Shouldn't it be in P2TM or something?

[Kolintha]

Are you sure this is the right forum for this? Shouldn't it be in P2TM or something?

Characters are used in NS RPs too? Besides, this thread has been stickied. By the people who y'know decide what is in the right forum and what isn't.

[Allancia]

Are you sure this is the right forum for this? Shouldn't it be in P2TM or something?

Characters are used in NS RPs too? Besides, this thread has been stickied. By the people who y'know decide what is in the right forum and what isn't.

We're talking about Richard Nixon, right?

[Treneria]

Thanks for the links man.

[Padnak]

At some point in the near future I'm planning on doing a fairly complete write up on Padnak's regime, with a sizable portion dedicated to individual descriptions of the regimes key figures, and I need some help with a few of characters. So far I've got these fine fellows (and lovely lady) kind of hashed out. I'm pretty pants at writing descriptions and in the case of most the characters I need help on I haven't fleshed them out enough to write up detailed bios or anything.

Age: 69
Gender: Male
Occupation: Army general, Governor of Lugon Province
General Points:
-Elderly and physically weak
-Extremely intelligent and well educated in maters related to the military
-Long history in the military
-Excellent at organizing people and things
-Served in Senior General Dieu Duc Viet's staff during the civil war
-Very conservative in his political and social views
-Highly decorated
-Domineering
-Brutal in his governing of Lugon Province, ex: holding public executions for criminals
-Holds an "Eye for an eye" philosophy in regards to enforcing law and order in Lugon Province
-Paranoid
-Loyal to Senior General Dieu Duc Viet's National Peace and Prosperity Committee of the Padnaki Armed Forces (Padnak's behind the scenes junta)

Age: 64
Gender: Male

Occupation: Supreme Commander of the Padnaki Armed Forces, Chief of the National Peace and Prosperity Committee of the Padnaki Armed Forces, indirect ruler of the Republic of Padnak
General Points:
-Long history in the military
-Exceptionally intelligent and highly educated in a vast range of subjects
-Loves the arts, particularly opera and architecture
-Highly regimented, ex has a strict schedule and generally keeps to it.
-Highly disciplined
-Physically unimposing but a master of Tong-Col (Padnaki martial art) and very strong for his age
-Highly manipulative
-Deeply respected by most of his subordinates
-Kind and compassionate to those close to him
-Always friendly, if only as a facade
-Extremely experienced military officer
-Educated in the soviet union during the 1970s
-Taught himself to read and write
-Highly prideful of his country
-Rarely engaged by the day to day, is only really engaged by the complexities of military and government operation, loves realpolitik
-Has a large family but no mistresses
-Highly flexible in his political views
-Created the modern state of Padnak by staging a military coup during the Padnaki Civil War during the 1990s, has ruled the country indirectly through a group of puppet civilian political parties ever since.

Age: 53
Gender: Female
Occupation: Minister of the Interior, Head of the Ministry of State Security, Member of the National Peace and Prosperity Committee of the Padnaki Armed Forces, Governor of Lian Buai Province
General Points:
-Senior General Dieu Duc Viet's former secretary during the Padnaki Civil War
-Holds the most powerful office ever held by a woman in Padnaki History
-Extremely intelligent
-Lacks a moral compass
-Extremely loyal to Dieu Duc Viet
-Fervent authoritarian
-Vicious in her removal of enemies of the state
-Educated in the former East Germany
-Highly sadistic
-Masterful manipulator
-Despised by most of the Junta
-Efficient in her running of the MSS
-Possible alcoholic

[Holy Altmoran Empire]

[Deleted]

[Fashiontopia]

To be honest the best possible way to create characters in my opinion would be to use Astrology. Just find an Astrological traits website and use the characteristics you want for your character, compare them to what signs there are, and find a fit that way.

For example: Abraham Lincoln was an Aquarius, characteristics he had were that he was an innovator and stubborn, he freed the slaves where other Presidents would not, he refused to take no for an answer both in passing the 13th Amendment and on his decisions concerning the South during the Civil War. He was also vastly intelligent, with a superb understanding of the law, and the office of the President. (Other Aquarius examples include: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, General Stonewall Jackson, etc.)

Another example: Mao Zedong (Tse-tung) was a Capricorn, he was very stubborn and very true to his beliefs, he was narrow-minded and believed he knew the solution for most problems. He refused to allow intellectuals to help him create steel to stimulate his economy, so he had everyone take on steel furnaces in their backyards. He was also a very hard worker, and prior to the take over of Communism in China he worked extremely hard to advance his goals. He even fearlessly stood in opposition to the Soviet Union over his take vs. their take on Communism, where other Communist leaders bent over backwards for the Soviet Union. (Other Capricorn examples include: Martin Luther King Jr., Woodrow Wilson, etc.)

Interestingly enough Generals George S. Patton and Erwin Rommel (famous and respecting adversaries from America and Germany in WWII) were both Scorpios, both were extremely strong willed, both took on their own ways of commanding, and at times received both immense credit and immense dissent from their superiors and subordinates. They were both highly known, and visible characters, Patton more of an eccentric, Rommel more of a prototypical General Officer face.

Adolf Hitler was an Aries/Taurus cusp (possessing characteristics of both), he would not take no for an answer, he believed incredibly strongly in what he stood for, he believed that he had been somehow wronged by Jews, he had always been an underdog. Aries and Taurus are both signs known for masculine aggression in the form of stubbornness, and audacity to face danger with little regard for much else. As evidenced by how he could just have his own Generals executed, regardless of how valuable they were.

Mahatma Ghandi was a Libra, he was an intellectual giant, possessing such levels of intelligence that he has become known for it generations and generations after his death. He had an immense charm that inspired a loyal following, and a fair hand that wronged no one.

Anyway, my point is, if you want a specific type of character, I recommend looking into Zodiac Signs, that way you can get the characters you want, while being as realistic as possible.

Say I want to create a General who is more of a man with bland character, but a hard worker, and a high achiever, meanwhile also having some degree of scandal, I might make him a Virgo and combine the long high level career of John J. Pershing - born September 13th - (one of two General of the Armies - Six Star general - ever), with a criminal like Hawley Harvey Crippen - born September 11th - who murdered his wife and made her "disappear". With a personality like this, he could be a great General and fly under the radar to a top command in your Army, meanwhile have skeletons in the closet that no one ever knows of, because he's a completely unlikely suspect.

Say I want to create a Religious figure (like an exalted Priest or an actual Spiritual being), this being has prideful tendencies and must be worshiped/abided-by in order for his followers to enter the afterlife of peace. A great sign for this character would be a Leo, because Leos are both benevolent, and must have a level of appreciate to feel good about themselves. So a religious figure as a Leo would be very powerful through being worshiped.

(Will write more later, on my way to work now)

[Rhodevus]

I had never taken the astrology angle before. I quite like how it sounds, and it may be a very unique way to implement certain important traits into your characters. Do you happen to have a particular astrology website that you use when basing your characters on various signs?
I would love to put it in the OP

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Interesting. Will use this.

[Fashiontopia]

I had never taken the astrology angle before. I quite like how it sounds, and it may be a very unique way to implement certain important traits into your characters. Do you happen to have a particular astrology website that you use when basing your characters on various signs?
I would love to put it in the OP

Here's a link to a website you all can use to find traits for the most random of random characters. Right here: http://alabe.com/freechart/ type in a random name, a random birth date and time of birth and whatever random place you want (the place doesn't really matter as if it's for a different galaxy or Nationstates reality it won't matter, so just type in Beijing or something). Then click submit, and you will see a list of traits below the birth chart (the circle with all the marks on it). It will have exact characteristics describing how they think, how others perceive them, how they react emotionally, even how they talk. (I recommend doing one for yourself as well lol.)

[Rhodevus]

I had never taken the astrology angle before. I quite like how it sounds, and it may be a very unique way to implement certain important traits into your characters. Do you happen to have a particular astrology website that you use when basing your characters on various signs?
I would love to put it in the OP

Here's a link to a website you all can use to find traits for the most random of random characters. Right here: http://alabe.com/freechart/ type in a random name, a random birth date and time of birth and whatever random place you want (the place doesn't really matter as if it's for a different galaxy or Nationstates reality it won't matter, so just type in Beijing or something). Then click submit, and you will see a list of traits below the birth chart (the circle with all the marks on it). It will have exact characteristics describing how they think, how others perceive them, how they react emotionally, even how they talk. (I recommend doing one for yourself as well lol.)

damn, I just did this on myself. (using my birthdate, and place, I don't know exact time of birth) The website was almost completely right.
Some mistakes:
It called me neat. (not really...)
It says I have a short attention span (just the opposite)
It says I can be vane at times (quite the opposite)

coming from multiple paragraphs, having 3 mistakes is very good! If anything, it is a lot of fun to do

[Fashiontopia]

Here's a new random character. Let's read about him and find a name and a position for him in Fashiontopian history:

Name: Random Character (to be renamed)
March 2 1969
6:08 PM Time Zone is PST
Farmington, CA (random location that I typed in just to a result, as Fashiontopia obviously won't work lol)

Rising Sign is in 15 Degrees Virgo
You tend to be very shy and not very self-assertive. You are supercritical about how you appear to others. Even though you may think you are uninteresting and dull, you are actually quite soft- spoken, orderly, neat and very likable. You are a perfectionist with high standards, and at times you can be quite tactless in pointing out the faults of others. Very practical, efficient and purposeful, your appearance and bearing reflect your need to appear graceful, sensible and reserved. You have a crisp, no-nonsense approach to dealing with others. Never lazy or self-indulgent, you tend to be dedicated to the work ethic.

Sun is in 12 Degrees Pisces.
Extremely sensitive and emotional, you absorb the emotions of others (whether positive or negative) like a sponge. Emotionally vulnerable, you are easily upset and tend to cry readily. You are at your best when you can structure your environment in such a way that you are surrounded by positive, upbeat people. You are very helpful and understanding of the needs of others. Indeed, at times this can be a disadvantage, because you can be a sucker for anyone who needs help. Shy, dreamy, romantic in nature, you delight in retreating into your private fantasy world. Just be careful that you do not get lost in it! Trust your intuitions -- you may be quite psychic.

Moon is in 28 Degrees Leo.
You always want to be proud of yourself and will never do anything that will make yourself look bad. You need the respect and admiration of others and enjoy attracting attention to yourself. Everything you do tends to be self-emphasized and self-exaggerated. Very stubborn, willful and independent yourself, be sure to allow others who are close to you the similar right to "be themselves." Your need for love, affection and reassurance, and your tendency toward vanity, allow you to have your head easily turned by flattery. The more insecure you are, the more you tend to be a showoff. You love games and sports as a matter of fact, you would usually rather play than work. Be careful of a tendency to be snobbish and uppity -- it does not become you.

Mercury is in 16 Degrees Aquarius.
You tend to be very opinionated -- you have strongly felt notions about things and are quite vocal about expressing and defending them. Yet you are also an original thinker -- you enjoy shocking others with your offbeat, original thoughts. You appreciate and need mental and intellectual stimulation. Your judgment is usually fair and impartial -- you can be a good critic because you can remain objective and unemotional about most things.

Venus is in 22 Degrees Aries.
(omitted for irrelevance, Venus is about romance and love life, feminine energy, etc.)

Mars is in 02 Degrees Sagittarius.
Your every action is motivated by high moral standards and ideals. You will work very hard to improve the lot of the world at large, but you demand action about it -- you do not like to just sit around and talk about doing it in an abstract manner. You like to be where the real action is. You resist mightily any attempts to limit your freedom and you will assist anyone who feels put down and restricted. You are extremely restless by nature -- physical exercise is very important to you if you would maintain your health.

Jupiter is in 03 Degrees Libra.
You are generally good at balancing opinions and judging issues, but you tend to be indecisive when it comes to making up your own mind. You are objective and quite concerned with fair play and justice. But, when it comes to yourself, you are so aware that whatever you do might upset the apple cart that you often choose to compromise rather than do anything that might make you lonely or vulnerable. Relationships are very important to you -- you learn about yourself and grow through observing yourself interacting with others. Your aesthetic tastes are refined, but expansive and expensive.

Saturn is in 22 Degrees Aries.
You are aloof, independent and standoffish. This is mainly due to your fear that others might inhibit or restrict you and, quite frankly, you feel that you can govern your life by your own standards. Be careful not to associate with those who are overly critical of you or you will withdraw so deeply into your shell that you will become very lonely. You have the ability to stand on your own two feet and to make up your own mind -- albeit very carefully and cautiously. But you are known for your circumspection and therefore are respected and admired.

Uranus is in 02 Degrees Libra.
(omitted for irrelevance)

Neptune is in 28 Degrees Scorpio.
(omitted for irrelevance)

Pluto is in 24 Degrees Virgo.
(omitted for irrelevance)

N. Node is in 00 Degrees Aries.
You're at your most comfortable when involved in group activities outside of your immediate family circle. You delight in getting involved with others in neighborhood civic or political activities, especially if you can be a part of the leadership of the group. Your zeal and overabundant energy bring out your real creativity when you can work toward tangible results -- things that will immediately benefit those around you. You have a real gift for getting the most out of charity drives and community benefits. Take time out between projects though, because you tire out easily and your effectiveness becomes greatly diminished when your energy is depleted. Also, don't even think of trying to get involved at a peripheral level -- you need a total commitment to feel personally fulfilled. Let others bake the cookies and set up the chairs -- you should be the one to tell everyone what to do and when to do it!

With this information I made the analysis in the below spoiler for him being either a soldier or officer.

So from the Rising Sign I imagine him being the type of person that is extremely uniform in appearance, he probably would be the guy in a military who wears his uniform to exact standards and get's constant 100s on his uniform inspections.

Though he may not be as emotionally stable in combat, trust and believe that if you put him under fire and he sees a wounded soldier from his troop next to him, he will carry him to safety with a fierce "no man get's left behind" mentality. He'd be the guy to stay with a wounded Sergeant and fight off twenty enemies to keep the Sergeant safe despite being out-manned and outgunned. He'd also probably be the guy to give his rations to village children in need, and help a kid ride a bike despite being in a war zone.

Now I have my Moon in Leo, so I understand where he's coming from in his need for pride in self. So he'd probably take a selfie of himself giving candy to a kid, or he'd probably want full recognition for staying under fire with the Sergeant and getting him to safety. So he'd feel right at home receiving a "Medal of Honor" type award for his courage under fire, and would believe he deserved it fully. If his actions went unnoticed, he'd probably retire from the military and be slightly disgruntled.

He will be an original thinker, and will think of creative ways to express how he feels, and would probably be a relatively decent commander, with his Mercury in Aquarius he would probably do well in communicating his tactics and strategies to his subordinates. With his Sun in Pisces, he will most likely be the type of commander to want to save every one of his soldiers, he'll probably be more conservative in his approach and will try and keep his men safe using lots of cover, and move more slowly and thoroughly to make sure he loses as few men as possible. With his Moon in Leo he may be prone to stick his neck out too much at times, leading from the front. If he is based in the 1800s or any age of Generals leading from atop a horse or running out in front, he will be the one waving his sword frantically, if based in Modern times, he'd be like the Colonel from Apocalypse Now, standing right in the middle of a combat zone in full ranks and directing troops from the ground. He may be prone to be killed by sniper fire because you'll pretty much be able to stop him, his pride won't let him cower behind cover while giving orders.

His Rising Sign and Mars seem to have some things in common, like taking the moral high ground, so probably no executing of enemy soldiers against the equivalent of "Geneva Code" standards. He will be more of a by the book type of soldier/officer, reminding me more of an Elias Barnes from the movie Platoon going against any mistreatment of innocent people in the war zone.

In his Jupiter sign we see a little bit of indecisiveness, so he may need to have a trusty second-in-command or First Sergeant to help him make informed decisions, going back to his Moon sign and forward to his Saturn sign, he will make sure he has the final say, and will try and make the decisions seem to be more of his own, but his First Sergeant will play a pivotal role in the direction of the force they preside over.

Overall, I'd say he'd be a very courageous and conservative military leader, or if you put him in your police force, or as a President, or as a character in a game of some sort, he'd be a good fit for a variety of things. He wouldn't have the capacity to be ruthless however, as he cares about people too much. There's no way he could be any sort of dictator, nor a serial killer, or an organized crime boss. He reminds me a lot of Captain John Miller from Saving Private Ryan, I'd say he'd be a lot like him as an officer, but he'd be a lot more formal in appearance, his uniform would be much cleaner despite being in a war zone, and he probably wouldn't have the drinking problem UNLESS he's been losing a lot of men and there is nothing he can do about it.

This is just one example of a character, there are infinite examples to be had, think about how many real people have existed lol.

[White Sun]

Different cultures have different expectations in literature and how stories are written, characters are developed etc. Do Your Homework if you're writing a place you know little or nothing about or the extent of your 'knowledge' is popular culture.

/my two bits.

[Rhodevus]

Different cultures have different expectations in literature and how stories are written, characters are developed etc. Do Your Homework if you're writing a place you know little or nothing about or the extent of your 'knowledge' is popular culture.

/my two bits.

exactly. History is very important. Research as much as possible before you decide to write someone foreign, or you may give in to stereotypes. And no one likes those.

[Fashiontopia]

If anyone needs a set of Officers and the Units they command made for an RP they are trying to construct, I am your guy. I will use astrology both to create you officers, AND to establish the dynamics of the units, AND how the units respond to their commanders.

In the spoiler below is an example of the work I can do for you. This is an example of a particular Fashiontopian Infantry Company dynamic.

B Company, 501st Inf. Btln., 3rd Inf. Div. - 178 total men - is known as the "Exceptionally-Above-Exceptions" Company. It was created April 29th, 1979 with new military structuring, and expansion. Characteristics of it's style of engagement are that it is oriented more towards an almost run-flat ability. When down nearly 49% wounded or killed at times of intense battle, it has been able to maintain it's fighting ability and combat effectiveness, filling in the ranks and moving on nearly unscathed. Though it's firepower diminished through paying the ultimate price pervasively, it continues to fight on in the face of great lose. The unit, though relatively young compared to some of the older Companies founded much earlier, has been highly decorated and has achieved recognition for several great feats during it's tenure as an active Infantry Company. It's men maintain a level of alertness that is highly indicative of highly disciplined men. The Company has an overtly forwardly active fighting spirit, which causes it to prefer to be first to the fight or at least the most important part of the fight, whether it be moving in as the primary attack after a skirmish, or going head on as the lead spearhead.

With Captain Lattimore at the helm the Company has achieved and has the potential to achieve even more than it already has. He is an ideal leader for the dynamics of the Company. With Cpt. Lattimore being more of an intellectual and the Company having more of an overall personality of general stubbornness, he is able to get the Company to do things they normally wouldn't be as good at doing with other officers. The Company maintains a level of respect for his goals and drives. Over time however the relationship between the Company and him does become slightly strained, however there is a degree of fierce loyalty in an all-or-nothing way to his leadership. The Company will either follow him fully, or not follow him at all, there is no middle ground. The combination of he and the Company makes a stable pairing, he dominates the Company, and maintains an authority over the company through his intellect and talent, they follow him based on what he knows and what he has been known capable of. There can be hidden things and deceptions between the Company and Lattimore at times, as well as some intellectual misunderstandings, as well as the Company and Lattimore some times having different goals. However, the Company heeds to the will of Lattimore, and allows him to take the wheel.

It is composed of four Infantry Platoons of 40 men:

• 1st Platoon: Assault Specialists, blunt in demeanor, front line, first-in type attitude. Wealth of energy, excellent PT and Weapons inspection scores, can withstand long stints in combat without relief. Excellent NCOs. Will need redirection at times however. Gain respect and awards for various accomplishments easily.
• 2nd Platoon: Better suited as Reserve Force, used to counterattack and redirect an enemy. Well kept weapons and well cleaned and polished uniforms. Good work ethic, never lazy. Highly determined, hard to ambush as they respond quickly. Also hard to booby trap or mine, very careful and systematic in approach. Will however need concrete solutions before acting, hard to direct with vague commands.
• 3rd Platoon: Hard workers and achievers, rarely too relaxed or playful, maintain military bearing very easily. Have boundless energy, but are still strictly disciplined. They have a bold enthusiasm, have a strong camaraderie. The second most intellectual Platoon of the Company with highly knowledgeable troops. They are however in the feeling of autonomy, and have a slight resistance to taking orders, are willing to be insubordinate in unison if it means accomplishing goals their way. NCOs are fierce dictators.
• 4th Platoon: The innovative unit, this unit does things which are new and improved, such as attacking from a place few or none have before. The most intellectual Platoon of the Company, tend to be calm, cool and collected, even under fire. Easily influenced by their commander, extremely optimistic, highest morale of the Company, and high moral standards. Will first want to justify ideas amongst themselves before fully committing, can make fast adjustments and compromises under fire. They are however inconsistent in performance.

Officers of the Company:

• Captain Doran Lattimore, Commander, B Company
  Born: February 7th, 1989
  Height: 5'11"
  
  Biography & Traits: Leads more based on intellect and talent as a strategist and tactician, than his raw leadership and ability to inspire men. As a very original thinker he can paint pictures of the battle and make accurate decisions more based in hunches gained from the options given and the vast knowledge of military history and procedure that he understands. He has the ability to interpret and grasp both vague and extremely difficult concepts, therefore, a complex battle area with lots of unknowns can be read accurately by him, where others fail, or abandon the operation all together. He maintains a level of excellent conversation skills, being able to express himself fully and accurately to both his superiors and his subordinates, he can also liven up many social gatherings. He has a magnetic charm which makes people mostly respond positively to him. His superiors may at times feel threatened by his level of knowledge and expertise, because he at times may know more than them.
  
• Lieutenant Derek Brooks, Commander, 1st Platoon
  Born: March 14th, 1993
  Height: 6'1"
  
  Biography & Traits: He is unwilling to settle for less than the best and will try anything possible to achieve goals. He does however have many ideas which are hard to grasp by those around him, as his ideas tend to be vague, hypothetical and/or intangible. He takes on a role of an impractical visionary, as he thinks in broad general terms, rather than in specifics or pinpoint direction. He maintains a level of extremely blunt honesty, he is even known for his frank speaking, sometimes saying too much and sometimes putting things in ways that are hard to chew. He rejects ideas which are solely based in logic, and believes that some level of higher understanding must be in ideas. His wants and needs in life are at a conflict, as he may want to do one thing, but then needs to do something else. He makes decisions based in emotions, and had a rough childhood growing up.
  
  Platoon Chemistry: Potentially the most ideal Lieutenant/Platoon pairing of the Company, with Lt. Brooks, the Platoon is highly energetic, the he and the Platoon have immense respect for each others' goals and drives. When faced with tasks, he and the Platoon put their heads together to create solutions. There is a great intellectual understanding both in fundamentals and in practice. The Platoon under his command will be prosperous and will maintain confidence in each others' abilities. Problems may arise when the Platoon becomes critical of Lt. Brooks' ideas, which he will find very difficult to tolerate. However, they will still make and execute the plans together.
  
• Lieutenant Tavontae Jefferson, Commander, 2nd Platoon
  Born: August 21st, 1993
  Height: 6'6"
  
  Biography & Traits: At times known as a "gentle giant". He is highly independent, he is very idealistic and optimistic as such. He is also highly honorable, and maintains a high degree of integrity. However, at times he is elusive, and can be more of an observer than a part of the crowd, he is not deeply involved with the crowd emotionally or in dependence. More shy, and non-self-assertive, he maintains a cool appearance, and is prone to maintain high scores in uniforms and weapons maintenance. He is not affected by conflicts with others in will power, he maintains his level of mental focus throughout. He is however, a quiet competitor, and is as such fiercely competitive with other officers without showing it, he strives to be first and other officers have no clue. He essentially is an under-the-radar personality, despite his large physical stature. Leads more by example than in words.
  
  Platoon Chemistry: When there is a problem there tends to be a lot of interruption, both sides can be extremely critical and blunt towards each other, with frequent arguments. However, most times the Lt. Jefferson and the rest of the Platoon enjoy each others' presence, and can be agreeable at times. There can be frequent impatience and frequent tension. There is a positive aspect in that Lt. Jefferson and the Platoon share good spiritual understanding, so he can at least unite based in spiritual practices. There is also a high level of linkage between inventive innovation and common sense application with the Lt. and the Platoon together. Loyalty is however unknown.
  
• Lieutenant Anthony Gray, Commander, 3rd Platoon
  Born: June 11th, 1992
  Height: 6'1"
  
  Biography & Traits: Maintaining a level of mental quickness, he is also extremely forceful, and maintains a level of immense emotional depth. He is however easily influenced, and may allow his NCOs to have more autonomy in decisions than they should; even at times allowing them to influence his decisions and lead him astray from what he is touted as being able to do by his superiors. He is inconsistent - particularly emotionally - resorting to making excuses at times for his lack of performance. At times he may trip over his own ego, and fall a victim to putting his own foot in his mouth. He is however a charming speaker, and can regain confidence from his superiors and subordinates with charismatic speech, and siding with them emotionally, placing himself in their shoes and making them truly believe what he is saying.
  
  Platoon Chemistry: There is inevitable division on some things, however there is good intellectual understanding. There is a high degree of communication and the entire Platoon and Lt. Gray can sit down and talk about plans and discuss ideas, the result of these discussions are accomplish-able, yet unique solutions. The Platoon is enriched and discovers new possibilities under his leadership. There is a good spiritual understanding between he and the Platoon which is always a plus. He will however grow frustrated with the Platoon at times due to their not always lining up with his expectations. There are inherent issues of trust, and the Platoon has a subtle psychic effect on Lt. Gray, but may create much confusion and misunderstanding.
  
• Lieutenant Joshua Vincent, Commander, 4th Platoon
  Born: May 26th, 1992
  Height: 6'1"
  
  Biography & Traits: Blunt and indiscreet, Lt. Vincent maintains a strong demeanor. Being such an agile minded person, with a naturally alert and aggressive sense. He is a very fun companion for the battalion, and is a very dangerous opponent. He is also vastly knowledgeable, and has a natural popularity with a very loyal following. He does however, rely too heavily on wit, rather than real application of time and hard work. He tends to base his decisions based on whim, rather than in logic, yet is not emotionally deep. A major flaw is having grave doubts about his self-worth, and being unsure of himself. He is also easily distracted, and can zone out of a conversation, or worse. He is a huge reader and writer, keeping a journal on him with various thoughts and opinions.
  
  Platoon Chemistry: Can be an ideal combination at times, neither stand in the way of accomplishing goals. There is a level of favorable communication that helps to bond the Platoon and Lt. Vincent. However, there is a tendency for each other to become impatient with each other, along with a tendency for some degree of aggression and conflict with each other. He is however, too harsh and rigid for the Platoon at times. There is a level of manipulation from both sides, and there is a hard time accomplishing goals and tasks. There is a degree of dishonesty displayed between both sides. However, there is an understanding of each other, whether good or bad.

[Razonica]

Hello,


I used to be really creative with characters but now that I created this new nation I'm finding it hard to make characters.

My Empress Faenia Lussengarde needs more personality. https://www.nationstates.net/nation=raz ... /id=452978
That's her right now. I want her to be a fair Empress and not some dictator. Then I'll need some more characters.

[Fashiontopia]

Hello,


I used to be really creative with characters but now that I created this new nation I'm finding it hard to make characters.

My Empress Faenia Lussengarde needs more personality. https://www.nationstates.net/nation=raz ... /id=452978
That's her right now. I want her to be a fair Empress and not some dictator. Then I'll need some more characters.

Alright here we go. So I looked at your criteria for her: "fair Empress and not some dictator", "as a young girl Faenia learned to sing and play violin. She preformed at all national meetings and at the 40th wedding aniversity of her grandparents Reio and Anna Lussengarde."

So I figured she'd be pretty intelligent, and benevolent, so I looked at Sun-Moon combinations to make sure I got a good combination, then I went and found a way to get those combinations in 1993 making her 22 years old. Here are my results, first the generated results, then my analysis.

Name: Empress Faenia Lussengarde
June 7 1993
10:15 AM

Rising Sign is in 27 Degrees Leo
You love to be the center of attention and you want to appear strong, confident and dominant. You are very proud of yourself, sometimes quite vain even. When all around you are bedraggled and falling apart, you look like a million bucks! Very dignified and honorable, you enjoy the power and privilege, but not the responsibilities, that come with leadership. You are very idealistic but can also be quite stubborn. Others impress you only if they have integrity (but wealth, power and influence can also turn your head). You prefer rich, elegant surroundings and possessions, and will try to acquire them as your budget allows. Physically, you are very impressive - - at your best you have a regal, charismatic demeanor and bearing. Try not to be such a showoff!

Sun is in 16 Degrees Gemini.
You have a quick, bright and agile mind, but an extremely short attention span. You love the external, kaleidoscopic aspects of life, but you tend to avoid (and even fear) deep, close emotional involvements. As such, you seem to enjoy travel and sightseeing and generally being "on-the-go." You get quite listless when things around you become static and dull, but your excitement returns whenever you are stimulated by a new idea. Chatty, inquisitive and quite playful, you enjoy practical jokes and games in general. Your moods change quickly and often -- you are very restless and constantly in motion. You are known for your versatility and adaptability. Your vivaciousness enlivens any social gathering.

Moon is in 21 Degrees Capricorn.
You are serious and shy and very uncomfortable in those situations where spontaneous and exuberant emotional reactions seem called for. An achiever, you prefer doing practical, worthwhile things that produce tangible results. You need role models to respect, love and emulate. You tend to feel that you're a failure unless you get an important and highly respected position in life. Don't be so hard on yourself! For you, practical needs always win out over emotional considerations. Remember that you too have the right to comfort, security and love. Dutiful and patient, when you make an emotional commitment, you sign on for the long haul -- your love is long- enduring.

Mercury is in 08 Degrees Cancer.
Your emotions tend to rule your thought processes. You have difficulty seeing life objectively. You have an excellent memory, especially about things to which you have formed an emotional bond. You prefer ideas and thoughts that are known and familiar, and therefore tend to dislike fads or radical ideas. The beliefs and traditions of your family and culture are very important to you. Your thinking becomes quite unclear when you are emotionally shaken -- try not to make major decisions when you are upset. Let things calm down first.

Venus is in 00 Degrees Taurus.
You are known to be a warm and affectionate person, and you tend to form long- lasting attachments. The reverse of this is that you can also be quite possessive once you have made a commitment. The beauty, luxury and comfort of your surroundings are important to you and you will devote much time and energy to making your home just right. Beware of your tendency toward self-indulgence, especially with respect to eating incorrectly. You also need outside stimuli to get you in gear When things come too easily for you, you can be lazy and indolent.

Mars is in 20 Degrees Leo.
You are a very proud person. Strong, bold, courageous and self-possessed, you love to be the one to initiate significant actions. When people expect a lot of you, you respond positively and will work hard in order to maintain their respect. But when your dignity or pride is threatened, you tend to become sarcastic, arrogant and domineering. Try not to take any challenge or resistance that you meet as a personal affront. You are very stubborn about your right to live your life according to your own principles.

Jupiter is in 04 Degrees Libra.
You are generally good at balancing opinions and judging issues, but you tend to be indecisive when it comes to making up your own mind. You are objective and quite concerned with fair play and justice. But, when it comes to yourself, you are so aware that whatever you do might upset the apple cart that you often choose to compromise rather than do anything that might make you lonely or vulnerable. Relationships are very important to you -- you learn about yourself and grow through observing yourself interacting with others. Your aesthetic tastes are refined, but expansive and expensive.

Saturn is in 00 Degrees Pisces.
Your tendency to think that your life is out of control is based on an unreasonable fear, probably connected with an unfortunate experience with the person who filled the father figure role in your early life. Learn to take responsibility here and now for your own life. Try to stop having unrealistic expectations about guide figures. Remember that they are merely human, with all the same faults and self-doubts that you have. When you get confused or uncertain, try to simplify your lifestyle -- things will then become easier to bear.

N. Node is in 12 Degrees Sagittarius.
You will probably have many different contacts and acquaintances throughout your life. You're quite gregarious by nature and your natural curiosity about others lets you take the lead in forming new relationships. You'll form close ties with those who have similarly idealistic ideas -- especially those who can stimulate you intellectually in your chosen field of interest. Your enthusiasm for learning new things may also cause you to do quite a bit of traveling. Because you probably will have many wide-ranging interests and concerns, you most likely will have contacts and connections in various parts of the country (or world).

Her Appearance (based on her Rising Sign) to me shows that she is a great image to represent your nation, probably very beautiful, and like you said 5'8" 130lbs, so she'll have an above average height with a thin build, but she'll wear her crown well, with dignity and recognition. She'll hold her head high and will be very fond of photos being taken of her with other world leaders, and things like that.

As far as her Wants(Sun) and Needs(Moon) "under the genial front of smiles and good humor lies a core of steel, strength of purpose, and ambition. [She operates] with a healthy respect for tradition, law, and authority, able to become a law unto [herself], and to others. [She] can meet any challenge, especially one requiring a cool head and objective reasoning ability. [She is] affable, social and generous, but no one can impose on [her]; [her] business judgment is amazingly sharp. [Her] keen wit allows [her] to talk people into agreement with [her] position before they know what has happened. [Her] manner is poised, charming and disarming, enabling [her] to succeed in the business world where [she] can sell [herself] or close a deal with casual ease. People relax and let down their guard around [her]." I would say that as an Empress she will definitely try to be involved in the Political side of her Nation as much as possible, she won't be a dictator, but she won't settle for being a figurehead. She's going to want the last say, but she's not going to use it for evil, or dictatorship causes. So she'll be of genuine heart, and she'll love people very much, and they will love her too. Although, the people may not always respect her decisions and her politicians may not always respect her decisions.

Now as far as her thought process and her communication skills (Mercury): she will prefer to think emotionally about things, if she feels herself or her nation wronged, she may look for war, or more of an emotionally based response to her adversaries. And like it says she's more into traditional thought and doing things, so she will probably look to past precedent from her predecessors in order to make decisions, while adding her own modern twist. I recommend her having a close childhood friend and logically sound as a top adviser, that way that person can calm her down prior to her making some decisions. Someone who she can trust, and who has been there for her for a long time, most likely a female her age that she went to school with, or a male butler who basically raised her. I do not recommend a male her age, as that will most likely turn in to a romance story.

And see with her Venus in Taurus, going back to what I just said about her having a close friend or butler that is really close, she can have someone who she is highly committed to without it being a boyfriend/husband figure. She is such a passionate person that she will need to release that energy through them, and I would say she'll need a Palace Dog(s) or maybe a Royal Horse to give care to . Now if/when she does find love in a male you'll need to decide whether you want him to be a powerful man to be her Emperor or if you want him to be more of a First Man/Bill Clinton role where he mostly relaxes and backs her up with more emotional strength. He could be some sort of intellectual man that she can argue with and still love at the end of the day, or maybe more of an alpha male who says a lot by saying a little, and dominates her sexually. In fact, I would suggest a maybe a young Military Officer who she can fall in love with, and give favoritism to advance him quickly in Military Ranks so she can keep him from seeing Combat. Or maybe a young Politician who is just now gaining his first election and is a young charismatic with a plan - she'll probably end up showing him favoritism and making sure he keeps getting elected, he may end up her Prime Minister one day.

• Sun in Gemini/Moon in Capricorn: http://astrology-numerology.com/sun-moon.html#3_10
• Moon Opposition Mercury: http://astromatrix.org/Horoscopes/Plane ... on-Mercury
• Sun Inconjunct Moon: http://astromatrix.org/Horoscopes/Plane ... junct-Moon
• Sun Trine Jupiter: http://astromatrix.org/Horoscopes/Plane ... ne-Jupiter
• Moon Inconjunct Mars: http://astromatrix.org/Horoscopes/Plane ... junct-Mars
• Sun Inconjunct Pluto: http://astromatrix.org/Horoscopes/Plane ... unct-Pluto
• Venus Opposition Pluto: http://astromatrix.org/Horoscopes/Plane ... tion-Pluto (this is a juicy one)

[Razonica]

Fashiontopia.

Holy crap man. *hugs* That's perfect. It's beautiful ;-;

I took that and added in my own ideas.

[Beyond Realm]

Already have my character.......My Character

[Kavamkao]

Totally using this. Some awesome resources here.

[Fashiontopia]

Totally using this. Some awesome resources here.

If you need a specific character personality, let me know, I'll make you one.

[Rhodevus]

Totally using this. Some awesome resources here.

If you need anything at all, even if that is just names and other stuff, feel free to ask here

[Padnak]

welllll now

I need to write up the right hand man of one of the generals in Padnak's junta and I'd like to make him a little more interesting then just a bad guy enforcer

My idea for Colonel Tadthep Sudham (the character in question) is to have him be something along the lines of the dragon for the general but to also be a devoted family man when hes not burning villages and being an asshole

any ideas for flushing him out?