In-depth Character Sheet

When I do character sheets I have the part that wouldn't change stay at the top, and then if something changes I re do the sheet again under it with all of the changes, and when it changed. I use excel to keep it organized and easier to change. It is almost a time line kind of thing.

 

Why are you resurrecting a five year old thread?

Even the worms have rotted away.

 

FULL NAME: Robin

MEANING: unknown
NICKNAME: N/A
AGE APPEARANCE: 22
SPECIES: humanoid(unknown type)
GENDER: male
SEXUAL PREFERANCE: N/A

APPEARANCE

HAIR COLOR: brown
HAIR STYLE AND LENGTH: short
EYES COLOR: brown
EYESIGHT: 20/18(not including micro vision power)
HEIGHT: 6 feet
WEIGHT: 240 lbs
OUTFIT/CLOTHING STYLE: Shorts to show muscles
ABNORMALITIES(TAIL): N/A
DISTINGUISHING MARKS(SCARS,MOLES): none
SELF CARE(MAKE UP): none
FIRST IMPRESSION ON PEOPLE: people really like him. Likewise, he likes other people a lot and does whatever he can for them.

SKIN COLOR: tan
BODY TYPE/BUILD: noticeably muscular

DEFAULT EXPRESSION: neutral
POSTURE: straight, showing
DESCRIBE THEIR VOICE: low, deep, and caring

RELATIONSHIPS

MOM: none
HOW WELL DO THEY GET ALONG: she died
DAD: none
HOW WELL DO THEY GET ALONG: he died
SIBLINGS: none
HOW WELL DO THEY GET ALONG: never had them
CHILDREN: 1, Alma
HOW WELL DO THEY GET ALONG: great
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: grandma and grandpa

PAST LOVER(S): N/A
CURRENT LOVER: Lisa
REACTION TO MEETING SOMEONE NEW: introducing himself and asking if he can help
ABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHERS: very well
HOW SOCIABLE(LONER,ETC): loner in his teens, family for a few years, very sociable afterwards

FRIENDS: Lisa
PETS: Solaria, a female wolf
LEAST FAVORITE TYPE OF PERSON: Fat and bad
PARENTALTYPE(PROTECTIVE,ETC): protective and warm
AFFINITY WITH...: pretty much anyone
FAVORITE PEOPLE: family
LEAST FAVORITE PEOPLE: none so far

PERSONALITY
FAVORITE COLOR: blue
FAVORITE FOOD: pizza
FAVORITE ANIMAL: wolf
FAVORITE INSTRUMENT: piano
LEAST FAVORITE COLOR: N/A
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD: N/A
LEAST FAVORITE ANIMAL: N/A
LEAST FAVORITE INSTRUMENT: N/A
HOBBIES: building
USUAL MOOD: happy
DRINK/SMOKE/DRUGS: none
DARK VERSION OF SELF: N/A
LIGHT VERSION OF SELF: N/A
HOW SERIOUS ARE THEY: very serious
BELIEVE IN GHOSTS: no
(IN)DEPENDANT: yes
SOFT SPOT/VULNERABILITY: death of relative
OPINION ON SWEARING: unneeded, unnatural, bad for anyone(my opinion as well)
DAREDEVIL VS CAUTIOUS: cautious
MUSIC TYPE: classical
BOOK TYPE: biography
GAME TYPE: anything really
COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE: 50-90 F(wide range,I know)
SLEEPING PATTERN: completely diurnal
CLEANLINESS/NEATNESS: neat
HOW DO THEY PASS TIME: building and conversation
WHAT ANIMAL WOULD THEY BE: elephant(warm but protective)
FEARS: death, others getting hurt
COMFORTS: feeling fine, being engineer and doctor

HOW DO THEY ACT WHEN THEY ARE...
SAD: voice gets higher but no other change

HAPPY: normal
ANGRY: "it is not wise" or "I told you" in normal tone

AFRAID: cries
LOVE SOMEONE: does everything they can to help

HATE SOMEONE: ignore
WANT SOMETHING: ask for it
CONFUSED: logical

HOW DO THEY REACT TO...
DANGER: protect at risk of death
PROPOSAL TO MARRY: accepts
DEATH OF LOVED ONE: cries so much he goes away for life
DIFFICULT GAME/MATH/ETC: trial and error
INJURY: his own injury, self treatment(he can do self surgery)
SOMETHING IRRESISTABLY CUTE: resists staying with it for hours and hours

HISTORY

BIOGRAPHY: unknown
FIRST APPEARANCE: 5 years old after death of parents

KNOWLEDGE

LANGUAGES: only English
SCHOOLING LEVEL: high school
FAVORITE SUBJECT: none
INTERESTED CAREERS: none
EXPERTICE: building, healthcare
PUZZLES: high
CHEMISTRY: unknown
MATH: high
ENGLISH: high
GEOGRAPHY: unknown
POLITICS/LAW: unknown
ECONOMY/ACCOUNTING: unknown
COOKING: medium(or intermediate) level

SEWING: none
MECHANICS: high
BOTANY (FLOWERS): unknown
MYTHOLOGY: none
DRAMATICS(ACTING,SINGING): none
READING LEVEL: high
HOW GOOD ARE THEY AT PLANNING AHEAD: high
IMPULSIVE/STRATEGY: unknown

 

I remain opposed to character sheets.

 

I have never really done this before and I am having trouble seeing how this is of any use to writers. Looking at the example, I don't think I could answer all those questions for any character I ever created ever. Ever. You only need to know what is important to the story. I think it's better to think on the fly sometimes and let the character develop with the story. Writing down answers to all those questions seems like a waste of time. It's not really writing, is it? And are you really going to go back and look at your sheet to see how your character styles his hair? Are you really going to put that in the story? I guess I just procrastinate in other ways.

 

I'm glad we no longer use xD 0____O >.< faces on the forum. /misses point

 

I've never seen the point of character sheets. Yes, they contain some information that is enlightening, but really--do we need to know your character's favorite juice drink? Or favorite animal? Do these things really help you create plot? Don't get me wrong, you can find a way to integrate this information without wasting time thinking about it. Like if you character's favorite animal is unknown, you can find that out pretty easy while writing and creating a valid reason for it. I always feel like character sheets bog you down with a lot of irrelevant information that really bogs down process.