So, you want to roleplay with the pals in hermittpad? Cool!
Are you one of those people however, who feel like they can't be completely comfortable playing as an existing person or character that definitely doesn't belong to you? Same.
If the above statement applies to you, you'll most likely be using OCs, or original characters, instead. So how exactly do you start, according to me?
I'll be explaining this in several steps, and try to keep it detailed yet consise. Let's get into it!
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1. WHY THIS CHARACTER?
Personally, figuring out what makes your OC interesting and why they should matter is the most important detail. After all, if people don't find your character interesting, they might not care when something intended to be emotional happens, and they may as well be cannon fodder!
There are multiple things that may serve as reasons why your character is interesting. Here's a small list!:
- They have a unique personality
- Their abilities/skills are interesting and different
- The lore or backstory for this character is intriguing
- The relationship dynamics they can start and hold are something to behold
- They are a HPTS (Hot Person To Simp) (I personally don't really like these types by themselves)
- They're some manifestation/representation of you, but roleplay style
All of the reasons above can be valid! However, they have their flaws, and this, try to use more than 1, like maybe a pair of special things!
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2. PERSONALITY
Ah, personality! Or, how does your OC act? Cold and serious? Bubbly and oblivious? Flirtatious bit frankly an idiot? What do they do when they are uncomfortable? Happy? Angry?
Personality in simple most basic terms is a description of something like "They are usually pretty friendly, but is an introvert", but it means more than just two phrases matched together!
Feel free to use existing characters to figure out a personality, but also think about these questions:
- What do they do to relax?
- What's a telltale that they are nervous?
- Any pet peeves?
- A certain way of talking? And how much talking?
- Favorite _____? (Replace the blank with stuff like 'color', 'activity', 'food', or 'value'!)
However, also remember that whatever personality you choose, you have to portray it! Feel free to step out of your comfort zone, but try to have a good picture of how your OC acts. Can you imagine something they might say in your head?
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3. SKILLS/ABILITIES
Everyone is good at something or has things they know how to do! Even my very unlucky character, Jinx, has things she can do!
It can be something as small as 'they know how to play Poker and Go Fish' or 'They have basic Girl/Boy Scouts skills', to something bigger like 'They have decent knowledge of the axe' or 'They have the magical ability to set themselves on fire'. Something like that.
Oh yeah, you can use my examples for inspiration.
You can use stuff you know about for inspiration, or search up different things people can do and some superpowers! If you want to use supernatural abilities, try to also use the realistic stuff too! For example, the OC my account is named after, Chron, knows how to swim and make flower crowns, but also has pretty powerful magical abilities.
Be careful with the powers, though! Try to balance it, and not make it OP!
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4. LOOKS
Pretty important, especially since most people can gain information about someone from appearances, despite the lesson we were all taught of 'Don't judge a book by its cover'. What do they wear? What is their skin tone? What color is their hair? Their eyes? Do they have freckles? Are they kinda tired looking?
It's okay to keep changing what they wear, as it's be weird if everyone wore the same stuff all the time! Plus, if you've got no idea what to dress them up in, you can take a look at your favorite styles, whether that's a cute outfit from the store, or a snazzy hoodie vibing in your drawers.
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5. NAME
Also important! Of course though, not everyone knows what to name their characters. There's plenty of ways to do it.
You can Google search 'shades of {you don't actually type this in; replace this with a relevant color, like green}', or 'names that mean {put in a relevant concept or value}'. I actually do have more to say about this, so perhaps I'll make a chapter all on naming.
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6. LORE AND BACKSTORY
Unlike the other parts, this step is completely OPTIONAL, unless you enjoy making backstory, like me!
Most of the current backstories are full of edge and angst that we dump on our characters, and honestly? You could do that, too! But you can always do something different!
A simple jumpstarter question for backstory for your hermittpad roleplay OC is: What and where were they before meeting the other hermittpad characters?
Maybe they were a normal person who got lost at sea.
Perhaps they heard about the place, and we're bored of their life.
Maybe they got discovered by someone and we're pulled out of a normal day.
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7. MOOD.
Not really important, but something that is worth noting.
If you got a purely flirtatious and perverted HPTS, you probably don't want to involve them in heavy angst with characters who very clearly are not invested in their abs or whatever.
It would also be weird if your emo wears bright and loud purple, pink, and blue,.all in pastel or neon!
Honestly its kinda common sense, but match the mood.or vibe currently being made.
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EXTRA STUFF!
- Personally, I do not recommend self-inserts. They're cool to do to test out roleplay, but if you become invested, you can become biased towards your OC. I mean; if you don't tolerate being mean or insulted, you might not like it if fictional!you is, too. A good way to balance this is to start an OC on scratch, but use some of your own personality traits on this OC to make it somewhat more comfortable to use.
- It's okay if your OC isn't human! We had completely dog characters before, and dragons!
- It's also okay if your OC is completely human or normal, either physically, in actions, or both!
-Additionally, you can have more than one character! Maybe they're siblings, or close friends!
- Feel free to ask for advice from the people who have roleplayed before!
- When it comes to supernatural powers, try to use the ones that can probably be strong of used right, but not downright powerful.
- Repeat after me: "Your OC is not a punching bag." Feel free to be angsty, but try to lighten up with fun and wholesome stuff sometimes! Nonstop edge over edge over angst over edge DOES actually get boring after too long!
- You do not have to abide by my tips, these are just things that I like and remember from experience!
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Okay, that about wraps this up! Hopefully some of this helps!
Do know that I plan to continue updating this work, so put this in your library or a reading list if you would like to see more tips and ideas, even for fictional stuff that isn't Hermittpad related!
You can expect stuff like my own OC concepts, practice prompts, original oneshots, ideas for names, and more!
Aight, I'm done. Have a good day!
YOU ARE READING
Axcee's OC Workshop
General Fiction((Heya! So, I make a LOT of OCs. So, I thought; 'hey, what if I shared some of my ideas, and some tips on how to do it?' So, here you are! Hopefully, this helps and/or inspires someone!))
