Any advice on what to consider when creating an immortal character? How do I "age" a characters personality to suit their age?
Well it all depends, like any other character, what experiences they go through, which will slowly (or quickly depending on how big the moment is) change someone's personality. It also depends on whether they were always immortal and what point of their life they are at. For example if they are young and know they can't die they may be reckless or have an extended childhood. Dunno if that helps
1/ Is he born to immortal parents? As in, is his whole race immortal, or is he some kind of freak, genetic or otherwise? If his race is immortal, they've probably evolved a fair degree of responsibility (although, possibly not - see how frivolous those immortal Greek gods were!) and will bring their children up to embrace this responsibility. If he's some sort of freak, he MAY realize how much good he could do...or how much harm, and nobody can stop me!!! 2/ Personality doesn't age...if you're some sort of show-off, you'll still be some sort of show-off, just with less to show off. It is a fact that the older you get, the less physically able you become. (About 3-5% every 5 years from 35 to 65, then 5-8% every 5 years). Typically, this will mean you cease or reduce physical activity...my father quit football at 40, was down to just walking by 70, pretty much quit all exercise from about 80. There are exceptions and variations, but this is a good baseline. This reduced ability may manifest itself in reduced activity; it may manifest in increased activity - as you try to complete that bucket list before you can no longer manage white-water rafting down the Grand Canyon, especially as you no longer have the kids around to slow you down! Short story, go whichever way you want; just have a rationale for whatever you do.
Um, I'm pretty sure immortal characters don't age. Otherwise they would die, because that's what age leads to, you know? Death.
This reminds me of something I read... Positions vacant. Short-order fry cook. Topless waitress. These jobs are NOT the same position. In the same way, I'm thinking that the OP was asking two different questions for two different characters.
I think it would probably do two main things you can rely on to be present. Two things that would be general. 1. Weariness. Immortals are going to be bored. They'll have done a lot of stuff. 2. Unimpressed. When you've lived three thousand years, winning the lottery just won't impress, you know? Especially if you're a powerful god being, so this applies particularly to them. 3. Confidence. Same reasons, similar feel to it. When you've seen it all, you're going to have developed a lot of skill and knowledge (probably) and that's going to mean your not too nervous.
I don't think so. I think they just mean what they said for the title, it's about the relevance of immortality to the character. I'm pretty sure.
How old does the character appear? Why? How long have they looked this way? In what sense are they immortal? Is it just that they don't expire naturally, or are they impervious to harm? Can they be killed by conventional means? Do they feel pain? Do they regenerate? What historical events have they been through? How many close relationships have they had? How have past experiences shaped the person they are today?
I think the question here would be how to suit the character's personality to the age he lives in. Because it depends on how long the character has lived. Decades? Centuries? Millennia? Has existed since the beginning of time?... That could change a lot how he/she will behave and react to events in the present.
My antagonists aren't necessarily the best examples, but... Intention is first to be considered. Take Adolf Hitler, for instance. Most will agree he's just about the best example of immorality we've had in quite some time. But, his initial intention was to free the German people from debt, unemployment and the immoral influences of the media. But he went too far with it.
I had do answer this aeon old question myself, when a character I have found out that his father's line are immortal... suffice to say he was like "of for fooks sake, thats too much time" and has had do devise a way of making sure he doesnt get too bored, Maybe have the person in question age slightly each year (not much as well, that would defeat the point, but you also need to consider what job they have, my main character looks a little older than he would otherwise do, because he has a job that causes him to be like that. there is a lot to think about with which others have covered
If you have seen the film called 'Watchmen' then you will know a bit about doctor manhattan who was human and became immortal and all powerful like a God, but you can see throughout the film and comics how he changes in personality to not careing! It's interesting to watch and might give you some ideas
And the way in which he's developed during Star Trek: Voyager shows how many different ways you could portray him!
I would need to know what kind of immortality in order to ponder this further. Biological immortality where the being simply will not die of old age but could die from a car accident, or supernatural immortality where the being is impervious to any sort of death and cannot be killed by any means?
Some of these are already mentioned, but : - Is it that he does not age or is he indestructible (or both)? - Does he have superpowers? - How old is he? Was he born to be mortal and somehow gained immortality later? - Does he have a physical body or is he some kind of spiritual entity? Maybe he changes bodies (either by occupying them or via reincarnation) - Is he alive? He might be a zombie, a collective consciousness ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_mind_(science_fiction) ) or an artificial intelligence (robot) - How does he look like? If human, what age? Can he change his appearance? - Is he human, or belong to an immortal species? - Is he alone or are there other immortals? What is their relationship? - How does he related to humans? Friendly? Hostile? Does not care? - Forever is a very long time. What time-scale does he think or plan his actions? This determines how deep does he get involved in the everyday life. - How does he entertain himself? - What is the cost of this immortality? The Highlander could not have kids, other immortals may need to sacrifice a virgin at every full moon, etc... An immortal character who lived hundreds or thousands of years (or even more) is not necessarily wise. One-celled lifeforms are immortal but they are far from being wise. A kid who gained immortality at the age of 3 could remain in that childish state forever. Contrary to that an immortal person could forever develop mentally, reaching a god-like state after a long time. If you need a human being become immortal in a plausible way (sci-fi) here is some reading on aging and death : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/horizon/june98/microbes.htm
Springhole has a fantastic article about immortals in general, but what kind of immortal are you looking at specifically? Someone who'll never die of old age but who still needs to eat and to avoid injury, somebody who can be hurt but who doesn't need to eat, somebody who can heal from injuries extra quickly, somebody who can't be hurt at all?
But note Q is classed as a child or Young teen of his kind (even though he has taken on the looks of a man) and he only likes to tease Picard because he is immature and in one episode of Star Trek he actually gets told off by his parents or older peers and told to leave Picard and his crew alone...naughty Q!
Assuming your character is a human with some sort of supernatural/sci-fi modification. I think it's interesting to consider some of the debilitating/negative effects of immortality. Think how much your character, personality, beliefs, and interests have changed in your life. Even from pre-teen, through teens, and onto adulthood. Think how much you have forgotten. Now extend that over centuries (or more!) and imagine how confused it might leave someone. My WIP has three immortal characters and they have all gone slightly loopy with it. One has become terrified of dying (more than is "normal" anyway) leading to him making a series of terrible decisions, one has become overbearingly arrogant and is constantly winking at secrets he shouldn't, the other has lost all sense of who he is and what he should be doing. I'm simplifying for length obviously...
Do they have any weaknesses, or are they just OP bad ass? +All the rest of questions already been asked.
I'd bet everything worthwhile has already been said above me, so i'll start with the pointless stuff. People looked a lot different ten thousand years ago. How hairy is this character? Say you didn't wear cloths for thousands of years, would the character forget they were supposed to? Maybe if they're hairy enough it wouldn't matter. The longer we're around, the more DNA flakes off our body. If you've been around long enough, almost every part of the earth might have been part of you. Especially if you shed.
Oops! I misread the OP. I thought it said 'immoral' not 'immortal.' Never mind. Forget I posted. Nothing to see here.
But, during Voyager, he develops through being essentially a rebellious teenager to a mature parent with a child of his own to raise, with all the challenges to one's own rebellious streak that are inherent in parenthood. He even gets to be the voice of maturity during the civil war in the Q continuum in "The Q and the Grey".
