Character Sheets: Details

Le suilon.

Past readers will notice that, in my first character sheet reviews, I ask a lot of little details about character sheets. Do I honestly expect every single thing about a character to be answered? No.

Asking questions in a critique is designed not only to point out things that should probably be added, but also to make the creator thing about the character sheet - and if those questions should be answered in a sheet or not.

Sometimes, not explaining a lot about a character could be perfectly acceptable - and preferable. If the character is an average person with a relatively uneventful life, then we don't need pages of details (note: this does not mean other characters with eventful lives need all of it spelled out, either - save that stuff for writing books).

Likewise, if a character is young - a novice, a knave, a squire, that sort of thing - then not a lot of information could be available.

Also consider in-character motivation: if your character has amnesia, you could put less down for his or her character by virtue of that character not knowing - and, therefore, the information is unavailable.

Or, perhaps the character is a spy and is destined to betray the group. Why put that in the character sheet? It should only be alluded to, at best, and not very obviously at all, either.

Maybe the character is secretive and doesn't want to be personally known by other characters. It defeats the purpose of being secretive if all the other players know that, even if their characters don't.

Not many people can have knowledge of a character before playing, yet have their characters act as though they know nothing. This is why it is important to consider what to leave in and what to take out. If it says in the character sheet that your character is a wolf in sheep's clothing, can the other players guarantee that they won't be affected by it?

Probably not, for the majority. The majority would probably act as though they don't know, but would find reasons to distrust the character where they might not have, before.

This is why it is important to consider what to share and what not to share.

Sometimes details are trivial, as well. It is necessary for the player to know the trivial details, the little things - favorite colors, childhood pets, parents' names, that sort of thing. However, it is unnecessary for all of that information to be on a character sheet meant to familiarize other people with the character. The finer details are matters that naturally come up - or don't - in small ways in a role play.

Another issue about details is the problem of adding too much. When you write a paragraph just detailing how your character's hair looks, at least a noticeable percentage are going to be inclined to scroll right past most of it.

Sometimes less is more. Readers can draw conclusions and use their imaginations for many finer physical details, after all.

If a history is necessary to help us understand the character, consider that it shouldn't be bogged down with paragraphs of canon material the readers should already know. It should involve significant events - briefly, of course, because significant events in detail can often warrant stories instead of summations and motives.

The character should also not disturb suspension of disbelief. Many times, when I ask questions, it's to point out that it's grown so unbelievable that I have to ask "Why? How does this make sense?"

Remember: not all of my questions need to be answered in the character sheet. They're only a way of illustrating how I think the character is faulty in logical composition and suggesting questions that might help (or might hinder) if they were answered.

Namárië.