Do you know when you've got that character profile of the guy who is really mysterious? Well, it's normal when you don't want to give it all away in a profile. But, if you're FAIL like me and try to keep given info to a minimum, it looks like you haven't put any work 'n it.
Tips on giving info on a mysterious character... keeping them mysterious, anyone? Feel free to use examples. And thanks.
*insert random Old Spice Guy quote here*
Tips on giving info on a mysterious character... keeping them mysterious, anyone? Feel free to use examples. And thanks.
*insert random Old Spice Guy quote here*
On many character sites, even for those characters that spend a lot of time "in the public eye" and so maybe might not qualify as actually mysterious, I like to put down only what people might know before RP. Even for the super mysterious, that's usually not nothing... In fact, the more mysterious a person is, the more half-true and possibly conflicting rumors people will come up with about that person. Or thing.
Say old man Wilson hasn't come out of his house (or mansion, or castle, or space pod) in 30 years. Even if no one has a clear idea what old man Wilson looks like, probably everyone has a wild guess on why he's holed up in there and likes to tell other people, whether it's based on anything or not. Some of them might have the tiniest grain of truth, but still be completely wrong. And if enough people are guessing about what he's doing in the neighborhood, someone else who RPs a character in that neighborhood may very well plausibly know several or all of those rumors. The more mysterious something is, the more people will want to talk about it and appear knowledgeable.
I find it is really fun to come up with rumors and gossip, think about what tiny habits may have touched off tall tales -- and if your character is socially savvy enough (and cares,) would they have done anything to put a "spin" on those rumors? Possibly even deliberately started conflicting rumors?
To me, it adds an enormous amount of flavor to a world and makes things feel like they've been around for awhile, when every single new person I meet isn't a total stranger. Sometimes, reputations precede you, even if the reputation is largely made up.
Also, since we're doing the Old Spice Guy...
Ladies! Look at your mysterious character. Now look at me. Now look at your mysterious character. Sadly, he isn't me, but with the power of rumors, people could think he's me.
Say old man Wilson hasn't come out of his house (or mansion, or castle, or space pod) in 30 years. Even if no one has a clear idea what old man Wilson looks like, probably everyone has a wild guess on why he's holed up in there and likes to tell other people, whether it's based on anything or not. Some of them might have the tiniest grain of truth, but still be completely wrong. And if enough people are guessing about what he's doing in the neighborhood, someone else who RPs a character in that neighborhood may very well plausibly know several or all of those rumors. The more mysterious something is, the more people will want to talk about it and appear knowledgeable.
I find it is really fun to come up with rumors and gossip, think about what tiny habits may have touched off tall tales -- and if your character is socially savvy enough (and cares,) would they have done anything to put a "spin" on those rumors? Possibly even deliberately started conflicting rumors?
To me, it adds an enormous amount of flavor to a world and makes things feel like they've been around for awhile, when every single new person I meet isn't a total stranger. Sometimes, reputations precede you, even if the reputation is largely made up.
Also, since we're doing the Old Spice Guy...
Ladies! Look at your mysterious character. Now look at me. Now look at your mysterious character. Sadly, he isn't me, but with the power of rumors, people could think he's me.
Kim, you pwn.
As for keeping the intrigue... this is really important for all characters, not just "mysterious" ones! But you can still have a nice, fleshed-out profile without spilling every bean.
1) What Kim said about rumors is totally true!
2) Don't write out their full backstory/history. Alluding to it is okay, but this is one of the things that I think really helps keep the mystery about your character, whether they're supposed to be "mysterious" or not! Then, when other characters learn about yours' history in RP, it's more interesting for them. For a particularly mysterious character, if their backstory is interesting, it's one of the things you can have rumors about.
3) Include all the descriptive details that someone would pick up by carefully scrutinizing your character for, say, an hour. Include things like your character's voice and scent, even, for the characters who are sensitive to those things. You can also include a very basic personality, as if the other person's character is watching yours interact with others, though for a mysterious character, you might not want to have that.
4) Notable possessions are always good to talk about. Primary mode of dress, visible weapons... even if they're shrouded in a big cloak or something, you might want to say "You might be able to catch a glimpse of a sword hilt when the cloak swishes in just the right way" or something like that.
As for keeping the intrigue... this is really important for all characters, not just "mysterious" ones! But you can still have a nice, fleshed-out profile without spilling every bean.
1) What Kim said about rumors is totally true!
2) Don't write out their full backstory/history. Alluding to it is okay, but this is one of the things that I think really helps keep the mystery about your character, whether they're supposed to be "mysterious" or not! Then, when other characters learn about yours' history in RP, it's more interesting for them. For a particularly mysterious character, if their backstory is interesting, it's one of the things you can have rumors about.
3) Include all the descriptive details that someone would pick up by carefully scrutinizing your character for, say, an hour. Include things like your character's voice and scent, even, for the characters who are sensitive to those things. You can also include a very basic personality, as if the other person's character is watching yours interact with others, though for a mysterious character, you might not want to have that.
4) Notable possessions are always good to talk about. Primary mode of dress, visible weapons... even if they're shrouded in a big cloak or something, you might want to say "You might be able to catch a glimpse of a sword hilt when the cloak swishes in just the right way" or something like that.
You two, I'd give you two caramels, but I only have mints left. And no one likes mints. I'll follow the wonderful advice.
My methods so far hadn't been very good (evil stalking creature got an apocalyptic log dedicated to himself, courtesy of some dude no one cares about; other had a whole fictional book dedicated to him) and I feel like none of the two made for good a mystery inducer.
So thanks for the tips, I'll follow.
Kim and Heimdall are now Diamonds. I HAVE SPOKEN
My methods so far hadn't been very good (evil stalking creature got an apocalyptic log dedicated to himself, courtesy of some dude no one cares about; other had a whole fictional book dedicated to him) and I feel like none of the two made for good a mystery inducer.
So thanks for the tips, I'll follow.
Kim and Heimdall are now Diamonds. I HAVE SPOKEN
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