Ad Hoc Writers
Ad Hoc, Ad Astra, Ad Draconus

Humanoid Character Builder Outline

from Reba Leon
Copyright (C) 1985 & 1993, Ad Hoc Writers, Hayward, California
Revised June 4, 1992 and January 9, 1993

1. Physical Characteristics.
   1. Names.
      1. Real.
         1. Given.
         2. Middle (None, one or more).
         3. Family or place.
         4. Order of name(s).
      2. Nickname(s).
         1. Source.
         2. Character likes or dislikes nickname.
      3. Alias.
         1. Keep same initials?
         2. How similar to real name?
   2. Statistics and characteristics.
      1. Age.
      2. Height.
      3. Weight.
      4. Visible racial characteristics.
      5. Birth date.
      6. Birthplace.
      7. Hair.
         1. Color
            1. Natural.
            2. Artificial.
         2. Length.
         3. Amount (Baldness?).
         4. Style.
      8. Eyes.
         1. Color.
            1. Natural.
            2. Artificial.
            3. Both same?
         2. Shape.
         3. Alignment.
         4. Spacing.
         5. Wear glasses or contacts?
      9. Hands and feet.
         1. Shape.
         2. Length of fingers/toes.
         3. Appearance of skin.
         4. Scars or deformities.
      10. Head and face.
          1. Shape.
          2. Texture of skin.
          3. Shape and size of nose.
          4. Shape and size of ears.
          5. Other visible sensory organs or appendages.
          6. Scars or deformities.
      11. Body.
          1. Size.
          2. Shape and proportions.
             1. Average.
             2. Muscular.
             3. Flabby.
             4. Obese.
             5. Thin.
             6. Noticeable deformities.
      12. Voice.
          1. Pleasant.
          2. Harsh.
          3. Monotone.
          4. Animated.
          5. Loud.
          6. Soft.
          7. Pitch.
          8. Sound while singing.
          9. Peculiar characteristics.
      13. General intelligence level.
      14. Abilities.
          1. Foreign languages.
          2. Talents.
          3. Etc.
      15. Qualities.
          1. Imagination.
          2. Good judgement.
          3. Taste.
          4. Poise.
          5. Etc.
   3. Habitual expression (when in repose or no one is looking).
   4. Habitual posture.
   5. Style of dress.
   6. Manner of speech.
   7. Way of.
      1. Gesturing.
      2. Moving.
      3. Walking.
   8. Scars or handicaps.
      1. Physical.
      2. Mental.
      3. Emotional.
      4. Does character hide, display or act indifferent to them?
   9. Health.
      1. State of health.
         1. Physical.
         2. Mental.
      2. Visible health problems?
   10. Adornment.
       1. Body.
          1. Cosmetics.
          2. Tatoos.
          3. Jewelry.
          4. Scarification.
          5. Paint.
          6. Where applied?
       2. Clothing.
          1. Simple or elaborate?
          2. Use of color.
          3. Preferred amount of clothing.
          4. What items does character carry?
             1. Pocket knife.
             2. Keys.
             3. Coins.
             4. Wallet.
             5. Weapons.
          5. Where are items carried?
             1. Pocket(s).
             2. Pack.
             3. Pouch.
             4. In hair.
             5. On or in footwear.
             6. In sight.
             7. Hidden.
2. History and background.
   1. Education.
   2. Work experience or skills.
   3. Friends.
      1. Best.
      2. Same sex.
      3. Opposite sex.
   4. Enemies.
      1. Why?
      2. Major or minor antagonist?
   5. What incident of childhood affected character the most?
   6. Family.
      1. Attitude toward close relatives.
         1. Mother.
         2. Father.
         3. Step-parents.
         4. Siblings.
         5. Which relatives are living?
      2. History of parents.
      3. Is character married, divorced, widow/widower?
         1. Relationship with spouse or former spouse.
   7. Description of home.
      1. Physical environment.
      2. Mental environment.
      3. Emotional environment.
      4. Other persons in home, if any.
   8. Leisure activities.
      1. Music?
      2. Art?
      3. Reading?
      4. Pets?
      5. Sports?
      6. Other?
      7. Active (hobby or participant) or passive (watch) interest?
   9. Kinds of music, art, reading material preferred.
3. Personality and character traits.
   1. Attitude toward:
      1. Family roles.
      2. Marriage.
      3. Money.
      4. Religion.
      5. Sex.
      6. Other races.
      7. Work.
   2. Ambitions.
   3. Favorite color(s).
   4. What does character hate and like most?
      1. Activity.
      2. Mode of travel.
      3. Quality or characteristic.
   5. Character's proudest achievement.
   6. Character's worst failure.
   7. What has character done of which s/he is most ashamed?
   8. Basic nature.
      1. Inner directed?
      2. Outer directed?
      3. Autonomous?
   9. Sense of humor.
   10. How do others see character?
   11. How do others react to character?
   12. Describe character's favorite fantasy.
   13. Describe what character tries hardest to avoid.
       1. Chief taboos.
       2. Chief fears.
   14. Who has had greatest influence on character?
   15. What kind of person would character like to be?
   16. How far away is character from this ideal?.
       1. Subjectively.
       2. In the opinion of others.
   17. What does character most regret?
   18. What opportunities lost?
   19. How does character see the future?
   20. What is the character's philosophy of life?
   21. What makes life worth while for character?
   22. What is worth dying for?
   23. Your opinions about the character.
       1. What is single most important thing to know about the character?
       2. Give a one line characterization.
       3. What trait will make the character come alive and why?
       4. Why is the character worth writing about?
       5. Why/how is this character different from other, similar characters?
       6. Do I like or dislike this character?
          1. Why?
       7. Will the readers like/dislike this character for the same reason?
       8. Why will this character be remembered? (Characters who are remembered are those who are strong in some way; saints, sinners, or a combination.)
   24. What are the character's strongest and weakest points?
       1. Strongest.
       2. Weakest.
   25. What is the character's present problem?.
   26. How will it get worse?
   27. Show the character in scenes expressing the following emotions and/or activities (Know what the character will do in a given situation before that situation appears in the story. Then s/he can react naturally.):
       1. Amusement.
       2. Anger.
       3. Annoyance.
       4. Command.
       5. Cruelty.
       6. Crying.
       7. Determination.
       8. Exuberance.
       9. Fear.
       10. Fighting.
       11. Frustration.
       12. Grief.
       13. Hate.
       14. Humility.
       15. Impatience.
       16. Irritation.
       17. Joking.
       18. Joy.
       19. Kindness.
       20. Laughing.
       21. Love.
       22. Lust.
       23. Mistrust.
       24. Passion.
       25. Patience.
       26. Pride.
       27. Resentment.
       28. Respect.
       29. Singing.
       30. Sorrow.
       31. Suspicion.
       32. Tenderness.
       33. Terror.
       34. Thoughtfulness.
       35. Wariness.

Basic outline contributed by Ad Hoc Writers member Reba Leon. Additional material contributed by Ad Hoc Writers members Shirley Dickensheet, Malcolm Easton, Adrienne Foster, Mark Kreighbaum, Raymond (Buzz) Nelson, Jerry Perkins and Jim Van Scyoc.

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