Background is of course important, but I think one of the main defining concepts for a character will always be the archetype/trope you will create for them (not speaking about overdone or over the top clichés, just generic tropes), and a few keywords that can define said character.Â
Now that you have a better idea for your background, I think one of the main things you want to tackle is precisely that. A background is only secondary when it comes to what defines a character. It will sure be what shaped the character in the past and brought them here, but it doesn't really say how that character behaves, what personality they have, etc. Most sucessful characters in stories or roleplay often leave an impression and people can remember them because of specific traits or tropes that make them stand out. The trap is of course not to fall into the usual edgy clichés.Â
While a background can offer a few RP hooks for others to catch, those are inevitably centered around yourself. What a personality and character concept/trope can offer however, is the other way around: roleplay support for other players. One common mistake when starting RP is in my opinion to focus too much on convoluted backgrounds and not enough on what makes a character stand out. You will not bring your background at every opportunity in most roleplay sessions (don't do that though!). What you will bring is your character and how they feel and act and what are their manners and how they react to things. This is what always needs most of the work. Roleplaying without a background is not unfeasible. Roleplaying without a personality is. A bland/blank character will never work.
Bringing on the table a well fleshed out character with its strong trope - you will never play a politician like you play a scoundrel, or a knight, or whatever you fancy - will always go a great way to interact with others and create the RP shenanigans you are after.
Now that you have a better idea for your background, I think one of the main things you want to tackle is precisely that. A background is only secondary when it comes to what defines a character. It will sure be what shaped the character in the past and brought them here, but it doesn't really say how that character behaves, what personality they have, etc. Most sucessful characters in stories or roleplay often leave an impression and people can remember them because of specific traits or tropes that make them stand out. The trap is of course not to fall into the usual edgy clichés.Â
While a background can offer a few RP hooks for others to catch, those are inevitably centered around yourself. What a personality and character concept/trope can offer however, is the other way around: roleplay support for other players. One common mistake when starting RP is in my opinion to focus too much on convoluted backgrounds and not enough on what makes a character stand out. You will not bring your background at every opportunity in most roleplay sessions (don't do that though!). What you will bring is your character and how they feel and act and what are their manners and how they react to things. This is what always needs most of the work. Roleplaying without a background is not unfeasible. Roleplaying without a personality is. A bland/blank character will never work.
Bringing on the table a well fleshed out character with its strong trope - you will never play a politician like you play a scoundrel, or a knight, or whatever you fancy - will always go a great way to interact with others and create the RP shenanigans you are after.
Balmung:Â Suen Shyu
