I often find that I will create a character, write his backstory, and try to figure out his motivations/philosophy, only to find that somewhere along the line, that philosophy changes or I forget exactly what I initially wanted him to do. Here is a little trick I've been using for a while that has worked out really well for me. Write a short mission statement, usually one line, that sums up thier raison d'etre.
Here are two that I came up with for Lifeblind. I do terrible things for good reasons. Freedom or fire.
So what drives your character?

"Anything for my Boyz." -Krystal

"There is always hope that things can, and will be, better." - Hannah

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Rymaus Liena “Ellie” Dax

Eliza - "Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it's going on when you don't have strength."

For the new guy

"good does not mean nice"

always like that one

"Everything's a machine, and I'm The Mechanic" -Stark

The initial impulse: "Machines aren't capable of evil, people just make them that way."

I've picked up a few more along the way.

originally:

“My life is lacking in the shooting of people, lets fix that”

Now

"...I fixed it until it broke."

Fawkes: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. The individual serves the needs of The People."

Monte Travis: "Whatever you do, make it swing, baby."

Doc originally: 'My last home burned because those in power couldnt agree. Never again'

Then: 'I'll help those who nobody else will.'

Now: 'I wont stop till people are safe'

I've had a few at varying points...

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." (Emerson) This one has been a constant since day one.

For my part, I aim to foster the kind of world where anybody who needs a helping hand gets one, somehow, no matter my opinion of their choices.

Sometimes what's right, fair, and just for a few isn't what is best for all. Choices based solely on the former ensure the destruction of the latter.

"Play to win. But know what winning really is before you start"

The way it started: "It's not paranoia if everyone really is out to get you."

I started with "Anything for my own gain."
That kind of changed at some point without me noticing...to "Anything for my new family."

I started with: "My home burned, I lost everything, My love, My sister, My life. Those who caused it will burn by the hands of those they wronged."

It turned in to: "Freedom is never free, and if their are those not willing to die for that freedom, they dont deserve it."

NOW: "I face the inevitable... death is an almost certenty, and I open my arms to it if only to protect those I call brother and sister, for I know there will be smiling faces on the other side. I'm not afraid."

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Doctor Christopher Marcetti Valentine - "Snowman/Seven"
Retired CDF Fostrum
Assistant Chief Surgeon - M.E.

"Nothing will drive a man harder then Revenge. And there is no force on this world or mother that will stop them" ~ Unknown

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. I dont have it, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. I will find you and I will kill you." ~ Some famous actor some where.

"Family is all that matters. Not the family that you were born to, but the family that you choose."

Finding me a MaN!

Maxters was......

"What does not kill you, only makes you stronger"

I've got a bunch for Matthes that really fit the character. I'll just toss up 3 of them.

"If you're going through hell, keep going."
"You have enemies? Good. It means you have stood up for something, sometime in your life."
"I never worry about action, but only inaction."

-Winston Churchill, all three.

Tabur's was originally: "Stay bought"
although eventually it morphed into "Pack first", not entirely by choice

For Gera she had two.

" The test of good manners is to be patient with the bad ones."

" When your life is dead, and you have nothing that you lived for, you have to survive. Not for yourself, but for them. For those that you lost, because once you go...they really are just nothing. Not a friend, not a lover, not a memory. Just gone...like they never existed."

And for the new character, Mika or MiMi for short....

" “Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka!"

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Michelle *Mika* Slade >n.n<
Colony Touchstone 505 Morale Officer!
" Perks you up where you need it!"

Frost started with one and added a second one - "Never again"

For the recent past - "So that others might live"

I never thought about this until just now, reading this thread. So I guess Pulse's would have to be something like...

"If it's broken, repair it; if it's useful, hold onto it; if it's precious, protect it."

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- Pulse -
* Freeborn Brother
* Mechanologist

Black:
"Everyone can co-exist. Violence is never necessary."

Now
"You will treat others right, one way or the other. And I am strangely comfortable with other."

Claiomh:
"No gods, no masters."
"Hit first, and hit hard."

D-Trip:

"Someone's gonna be the bad guy. At least I can save some people while I do it."

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timothy xavier

I use a similar method to Hunter's. I dream up a bit of back story, which only serves to frame the character's motivation. I often enjoy playing a character with an intentionally chosen flaw, then I play to find out what the consequences of this will be and let the reactions of other characters change my character (I really enjoy character evolution and dislike unchanging characters that stonewall their own emotional growth).

Anyway, mantras or philosophies are often excellent tools! I will try to remember a few from FI1

Donnie: If I talk a good game, no one will ask me to prove it.

Winston: If you respect what I do, then I will respect what you do.

Alfred Stauer: People are tools to be used for whatever purpose I choose. Anyone that resists is merely a bug to be crushed.

Greenburg IX: Rules exist for a reason. Follow the rules and I will use them to protect and support you. Break the rules and I will use them to destroy you.

Kurtz: I find the human condition fascinating. Especially the emotional reaction to personal physical suffering.

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Brian Paul!
-Prop Boss, Plot Team, Rules Comm, Other Stuff

Newman (Glitch)
I am on the side of those that behave rationally and the enemy of those who needlessly pick fights... I wounder which you are?

Dr. Newman (same person plus a whole lota time)
Strength to Forgive when it's hardiest too
Wisdom to Trust and to know how far you can Trust
Compassion for those that need it... and deserve it




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Laurence is a lot about trying to hold yourself to a higher standard, so he may not always live up to it, but:

"Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly."

(Nolan: "Hoi tee toi tee toi!" or "Fiddledeedee potatoes.")



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 05/02/14 09:01PM

Levi: You can't trust anyone, especially yourself.

Blair: I'd rather be an effective person than a good person.

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Magnus Rymaus Blair Allen

Young Angela: Daddy's Little Girl

Angela @ 20 yrs old: Daddy's not-so-little Girl

Jez: "There is always another way"

Realized I haven't posted one for Evie.

"Family first. More than anything else, family first."

---

Evelyn "Evie" Bowery
Biochemist, amateur lounge performer
Suddenly Cane Free

Grinner: "Respect or fear. You're going to do one. You choose."

Axton: "Family first... Family second... Just family."
and
"Its not enough to survive, if you aren't living while you do it"

I like to find quotes that best fit my characters.

Eliza's was: "Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it's going on when you don't have strength."

Kris' is: "In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity."

Here are some of my favorite quotes I had for creating Tammi-Lynn.

"Be yourself. Unapologetically."
"Just because I'm sassy and have a mouth on me doesn't mean I'm coming from a negative place."
"When you are around me, you're going to get glitter on you."
"I do destroy men on a weekly basis. It's like a hobby. I'm a praying mantis."
"We're the ones who flirt with disaster, on your ass we'll pounce like a panther. Cut the bullshit out with a dagger."

Can anyone guess who these quotes are from?

Kristin

I love you so much, Kri$tin. <3