How to think of a character

Not sure where to start with your character? Do you have an idea, but not sure how to iron it out? This is a short guide with a collection of questions to help you fill out a character sheet with relevant information.

**Note:** This tutorial assumes you have a character idea - if you don't, worry not. Your Fallout 76 ingame character or your desired playstyle (rifles, heavy guns, pistols) are both a great foundation to build upon. If you have an ingame character or a SPECIAL build to go from, you've already got one part down.

Take out a notebook and write down your answers as you go along. Once you're finished with a section, revise and check if the story so far makes sense.

# Background

A background/biography will explain who your character *was* and who they are *now*. It's a series of events that lead to certain life experiences, which will then shape your character's *personality* later on.

Don't forget to consider  the narrative when writing your backstory.

* When/where was I born? How old am I?
* (if born before the bombs) How did I survive the bombs?
* (if born after the bombs) Where was I raised?
* Where is my family now?
* How did I join [my current faction]?
* What do I do as a job in [my faction]?
* What is my goal? What do I want to accomplish?

A follow-up question after you've written down your answers:
Would a person in Appalachia in the Fallout universe realistically find themselves in this situation - is my story believable so far?

# Personality

A person's characteristics are in large determined by their upbringing and their life experience. Take a look at your character's home life, life experience and events you've created for them. Use them to figure out what kind of person would *find* themselves in these situations, and what kind of person those experiences would end up *making* them. At the end of the day there's a lot of freedom when deciding a personality, so do what you think is the best mixture between the above, and what you think you're able to roleplay best. Below are a few examples to help you:

* Would a person who likes to be alone and has a mistrust of people really be a Responder, working to help others? Unlikely. A Responder is more likely to be a kind person, who cares about other people's well-being.
* Your character grew up around raiders, but is now finally looking to build a better life. Their traits would currently reflect those of a raider - bad manners, aggressive, probably impulsive. They would take time to learn to rely on other people and become a normal member of a friendly group.
* Your character had military family and was raised in a strict household. They can grow up and become one extreme (strict, authoritative) or the other (lets people have freedom, has a carefree attitude). Or neither! Not everything in your character's life has to play a role in shaping them.

# Appearance

Appearance does not necessarily reflect personality (same goes for vice versa). Try to stick to what is realistic or appropriate for the era/setting, and feel free to put a Fallout spin on it. Include things like your typical appearance descriptions - eyes, hair, their features, and how someone carries themselves. You can follow up by describing their clothing and/or armor, and any other special things you've included.

* Does your character have any traumatic past experiences (raider abductions, beatings, accidents)? This would be the perfect opportunity to give them a well-placed scar.
* Did your character not have adequate shelter when the bombs dropped? Maybe there's a chance their face is in really poor condition because of the radiation, or they might even be turning into a ghoul.

**Note:** Don't use ingame item names to describe clothing, eg. "she wears a drifter outfit". Instead, describe the item's characteristics: "she wears a worn and torn leather trenchcoat with a belt to keep it pinched at the waist".

Still need help and/or ideas? Don't be afraid to ask for opinions and suggestions in #rp-help on Discord.