This comes from a writing exercise I learned back in undergrad. Three details is about how many items a reader can fit into their head after a first impression, and the same holds true in the oral landscape of the tabletop. If you choose wisely, we should get a coherent picture of your PC and their personality.
Like the title says, you get the usual race/class/gender stuff for free, so feel free to get specific with the other items. All clear on the ‘three details’ thing? OK then. Go!
Human/Wizard/Male
Arrogant, Foppish, Indefatigable
Nidalese male human Monk
Has large claw marks across his face from an encounter with a Chain Devil when he was a boy,
Maintains his uniform not so much in a meticulously clean way, as a professionally altered fashion.
Always carries a small pouch of herbs around his waist. It was a gift from his Druid parents.
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human/monk/male
yodeling mountain sage
human/ranger/male
i am batman
half elf/barbarian/male
snarl, grr, argh
Not three words, guys. Three descriptive sentences. What would someone immediately notice about your character if they walked into a room?
Gnome/Bard/Demimale
Wears several layers of clothing, each in the style of a different region and bearing a different solid color.
Carries a book on their side with an incomplete summoning circle etched into the front, keen observers note it contains symbols from several different magical traditions.
Keeps long hair tied back in a ponytail or bun to keep it out of his eyes, it starts the day a faint pinkish color and slowly shifts to other colors throughout the day.
Let me describe the 1st-level party in my Ironfang Invasion campaign:
• The ernest male elf Zinfandel trains under retired ranger Aubrin to become an esteemed Chernasardo ranger.
• The reclusive female gnome druid Stormdancer commands fire and lightning for her own entertainment.
• The male halfling rogue stableboy Sam, secretly an escaped slave from Nidal, supplements his meager pay by pickpocketing.
• The female gnome rogue Binny gave up her criminal career to become a messenger who runs in the dark of night.
• The male lizardfolk champion Ishmael built his own house upriver and trades dried fish in town to escape the turmoil of war.
• The pyromanic male goblin alchemist Tak used to sell fireworks to humans but fled his goblin village when the Ironfang Legion arrived.
Not three words, guys. Three descriptive sentences. What would someone immediately notice about your character if they walked into a room?
Does it have to be physical appearance stuff? Or are we good describing a little bit about their personality or history?
Feminine non-binary half-elf fighter. Being raised in a temple of Calistra made them hate gossip and petty attitudes. So they've come to idolize dwarven culture.
LN Female Half-Elf Fighter
(1) Jensen was kidnapped as an infant and brainwashed by a Kuthite cult to eventually become a terrible harbinger of evil. (2) While still young, she was rescued by a diviner, but due to her indoctrination, had to be mind-wiped to prevent further harm to herself (by then having lost her left arm due to self-mutilation) and others. (3) Starting life anew under his guidance she grew to eventually become a fine member of the city guard, as well as a talented battle oracle, though neither know that Kuthite agents once again move to reclaim their once golden prodigy.
LN Male Elf Diviner
(1) Jaha was once a priest of Abadar, but was excommunicated for using his divinatory abilities to support his gambling addiction. (2) In retaliation for his snooping, an agent of Zon-Kuthon brutally tortured and murdered his wife before being captured and turned over to the authorities by Jaha. (3) Jaha found personal and emotional salvation in his adopted daughter, Jensen, whom he rescued, rehabilitated, and raised; and whom he fears might once again lose her mind to the dark whispers of the Prince of Pain.
LE Male Dwarf Cleric
(1) Dolgrin Tombguard was once a proud magistrate in high standing, before losing himself to vile perversions after witnessing far too many horrors in his line of work, ultimately becoming a high priest of Zon-Kuthon. (2) He worked in secret for decades, spreading his cult's influence into all corners and levels of his community, like a malignant cancer, before finally being undone by a nosy diviner. (3) He eventually escaped decades of confinement in a well-guarded oubliette to follow mad visions of recovering his master's most prized acolyte in the twisted hope that he will earn the right to live out the rest of his blessed existence as a Joyful Thing.
Those are decent Raving, but the exercise, at least the one which I’m familiar with, is ‘how does that cause said person to carry themselves? What effect would that have on their bearing and mien? What would you notice about them if they were to walk into a room that would give you a clue about their history or personality?
Those are decent Raving, but the exercise, at least the one which I’m familiar with, is ‘how does that cause said person to carry themselves? What effect would that have on their bearing and mien? What would you notice about them if they were to walk into a room that would give you a clue about their history or personality?
So observable traits only then? Alright.
Jensen
(1) Despite having only one arm, the tall, blonde half-elf before you stands confidently with a peircing raptor gaze that can only come from years of doubting the intentions of others. (2) As she moves past you in pursuit of another, her city guard uniform flits in the wind, revealing a small hint of numerous body scars--far too many to have come from even years of work pursuing dangerous criminals. (3) As she catches up to her prey, he spins about brandishing a broken bottle, swinging it at her throat; but she's already behind him, having danced around the blind spot of his spin to catch him in a tight arm lock and disarming him like she always knew how this was going to end.
Jaha
(1) After being casually tossed out of a nearby tavern, the slender wretch of an elf with the bald head and the once regal robes of a priest of Abadar attempts to regain his composure and his footing while muttering something about "not being a cheat." (2) He turns to you, presumably to apologize to you for nearly tripping you up, but then appears to be overcome with the nearly palpable weight of apathy. (3) "Home to Jensen then. Nothing here for me anyways," he says, before dragging his feet sullenly through the muddied streets.
Dolgrin
You wake up alone, cold, and naked in the dark, a stone floor beneath you and the sound of rhythmic metallic scraping nearby. The last thing you remember is enjoying a drink with a boisterous dwarf at the tavern. (1) A voice cold and hard like the bars you feel surrounding you, and as menacing as the hiss of a cobra, emanates from the darkness: "We are both very fortunate to have encountered each other; tonight shall be an experience without limits!" (2) The figure moves closer, setting fly brief sparks from his knife sharpening as he does so; in the brief instant of light, you see your drinking companion before you, once jovial and bright, now transformed into a fell creature wearing drab robes and leering with dead, emotionless eyes. (3) Another set of sparks ignites, as the gaunt, bearded maniac inches closer to your iron cage, clearly drinking in your increasing levels of terror; you come to the dreadful realization that, if he wanted to simply kill you, he would have done so already. No, the fearsome, intermittent displays caused by his rusty, crooked knife and flint betrays his depraved lust for the pain of others. His joyless smile promises that your last days on Golarion will prove to be long and full of abject misery.
If that doesn't do it you may need to provide some examples.
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Goblin Alchemist Male
Trash-diving pickle thrower
You may see dirty street water runoff but he sees quality alchemical reagents.
Funny exercise.
My Gnome Scoundrel Rogue is
- Bleaching, but not already a Bleachling. Speaks with a low voice and is easily bored.
- Confabulator and impersonator, loves to disguise herself like the enemy.
- Messy and fickle.
My Human Alchemist is
- Dresses with brown and "natural" clothes that she makes herself.
- Not much talkative and a bit conceited.
- Amoral. Uses poison and conducts experimentations on enemies' dead bodies.
Crazy raven (tengu) witch. Don't trust them.
Well, that was a PF1 character I was enjoying immensely, can't quite build them again in PF2 (need that APG). They weren't evil, but definitely did a lot of questionable things which included turning corpses into potions of infernal healing (they're fine!...probably). Had a raven familiar and I figure the two were always jabering at each other in Tengu-talk (no one else could understand it). Would never actually betray the party, but that didn't mean they couldn't be creepy.
And yes, "they/them." I've always been intentionally obtuse about their gender.
Luvek - Human Fighter
His eyes are alert and aware; his motions are poised and measured.
His appearance is road-worn and disheveled.
He is a Doer of Ugly and Dangerous Things.
Goblin/Fighter/Male
-The skin of his face looks like it's hanging slack, like someone had hung a goblin's skin on a skull whose jaw wouldn't close.
-The handle of his sword and the neck of his lute are worn to a shine in spots holding more marks from constant fidgeting than from use.
-You often hear a distracted strumming followed by a goblin curse and a muttered "sorry sorry" to nobody.
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1e Character because why not. Female tengu swordmaster rogue post alcoholism and five ap books. Since point seems to be "What others might notice on first impression" I'll put in (this what I go for)
1) They seem haunted by something. (they try hard to hide their traumas and losses)
2) They carry themselves like snide underling (they are loyal to the fault, but don't like getting attached)
3) They somehow look ragged despite the fancy clothing (when you have spent most of your life as traveling drunken swordman and robbing bandits, you probably don't start to carry yourself like government official after just a few years)
Non existent. Making a character is such a boring overcomplicated mess I haven't actually been able to successfully make it all the way through character creation.
Fortunately there's still Pathfinder Classic and Starfinder to make characters with (yes I realize Classic has somewhere close to 3 billion different options, but it's 3 billion options I can grasp).
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Non existent. Making a character is such a boring overcomplicated mess I haven't actually been able to successfully make it all the way through character creation.
? I mean, its literally just picking ancestry, background and class.(and I guess ancestry feats & heritage) Not honestly seeing how that is more complicated than "pick traits, pick race, pick alternate racial features, pick class, pick archetype, pick feats" besides you being familiar with one method.
Also, umm, isn't that pretty mean to rest of posters? ._. Like, this is "Describe your character thread" not "Let's talk about 2e's character creation" thread. Its kinda like talking starting alignment conversation in favorite class thread.
Feminine non-binary half-elf fighter. Being raised in a temple of Calistra made them hate gossip and petty attitudes. So they've come to idolize dwarven culture.
Heh. I know an shaman that you'd get on well with.
https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5lgcn?Meet-the-Iconics-Shardra-Gel tl
Female Gnome Rogue/Wizard
Magnificent Bastard
Cockney
Wait, is my character a sociopath?
Artist.
Poet.
Barbarian.
Male Human Barbarian
He's a Priest of Sarenrae, and dresses for the part.
Tries to be the voice of kindness and understanding, but loses his temper at the drop of a hat.
He is known for passionate sermons, and is a generally masterful orator.
Male Elf Alchemist
6'10" tall and weighing barely 100 pounds he appears gaunt and malnourished, even though his travelling companions know he eats more than the rest of the table.
Is never seen without his long black duster, worn and old but still in good condition. It's every motion is accompanied by minor clanks and jingling of metal and glass odds and ends stuffed into every pocket.
At his hip rests an elven longsword. Nobody has ever seen him draw it in a fight, and nobody ever will again, but it is kept clean sharp and well-polished nonetheless.