Original Character Origins

[Duskfall]

How did you come up with your Original Character? Is (s)he based off of your own person? Or was (s)he created from scratch? How has your OC developed over the years you’ve followed him/her? Duskfall was the result of a character I create in my 7th grade years. He started out solely as a human from the Halo universe. Shamefully, he was almost a Gary Stu character, whose skills were only second to the Master Chief’s. At the same time, the pony who is now Duskfall also began his time as a self-insert. That’s right guys; Duskfall was a self-insert OC character. I needed an outlet for my extremely active imagination back then, so Duskfall (then he had a human name) and his squad were my go-to cast. Duskfall’s Gary Stu/Self-Insert stage was relatively short lived. As I began to read more stories, actual novels and fanfiction alike, I started to learn what Gary Stus and Self-Inserts are and why they are the plague of the creative world. At that point, I had adjusted my characters and compartmentalized their skill sets. Instead of a squad of 6 men (actually 5 men and a woman) who could give Master Chief a run for his money, I now had a squad of 6 who would need to coordinate and plan before they tackled any relatively difficult problem. I also was able to give each character a distinct personality: the boisterous and perverted heavy-weapons specialist, the possibly insane CQB specialist, the highly logical, but emotionally fragile sniper, the serious, but friendly generalist, the egotistical, but highly philosophical pilot, and the brainiac and innocent techie. With the introduction of several nostalgic video games into my life, my characters began veering back into Gary Stu territory. When I began playing the Golden Sun series again, my cast began to each gain their own psychic (in layman’s terms) powers. With the Red, Blue and Yellow version of Pokemon, each character had a pokemon form, all who could speak and wield halo-esque weapon with relative ease, all while still retaining their “wild” nature (in other words, not captured by a pokeball. They could also actively attack pokeballs attempting such an action). In general, the introduction to a new series would shift my characters closer to Gary Stu status. When I got back into the Command and Conquer series (and more specifically Red Alert 2), I even had my cast master the Chrono technology, giving them the ability to bend time and space (Doctor Who(oves) anyone?) When Summer 2011 rolled around, I found several My Little Pony PMV’s(Pony Music Video), all of which I found to be very good. When I began to watch actual MLP:FiM episodes, I was instantly hooked to the show, unlikely most other bronies who go through the stage of denial and disbelief first. As I said before, introductions to new series shifts my characters closer to being Gary Stus. Now was not an exception. With this new series, my characters were now innate embodiments of “Artificial” Elements of Harmony (basically the friendship apocalypse). It was several months like this. However, as I began to read My Little Pony fanfiction, I realized I needed a heavy fix to my OCs. I’ve read so many My Little Pony fanfiction that would be capable of being able to be sold in stores (if people could get over the stigma the My Little Pony name carries). One by one, I began throwing out aspects of my characters. I first got rid of anything Pokemon related from my characters. Then I changed my characters’ backgrounds and got rid of their relations to the Golden Sun series. And for several months, my OC’s were all MLP/Halo crossover based. At this point, my 6 UNSC Marines whose lives belonged to Humanity and ONI were now traitors to the human race and now working as mercenaries to Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria. They have their own little continent to themselves south of canon Equestria where they have their base of operations should Equestria require their service. Recently however, I have made one major and final change to my characters. All of my characters’ relations to Halo no longer exist and now exist purely in the My Little Pony universe and nowhere else. My main and personal character was now a changeling (a shapeshifting pony-like insect) who suffered a personality disorder (in the eyes of his peers and queen), giving him the gift of individualism. He struggles to find a comfortable life in the pony society, where his kind is rejected. That is the current iteration of my OC, Duskfall. So, who is your OC? What is he like? Did he go through insane amounts of development and fixes like Duskfall has? Post below about your OC!

[Naked Crook]

All of my OCs are in the NHRPG. Some of them are based off of specific character traits of my own, while others are the complete opposite of me. Some are based off of characters I have seen on TV or in games, while others are totally original. My most famous OC, Preston Vernette, in the NHRPG has a personality that shares many qualities with my own. Unforgiving Intelligent Arrogant Quick on the cunning and the subterfuge But most of all...he is a just man, who believes in personal liberty, and loyalty to both the state and his institution before anything else.

[Daca 'Csmure]

For my own charrie. (For what thousands I had) Daca had originated from the Halo universe; more so after a strong bond between sister and brother, only to have her brother ripped away from her life. She broke down severely depressed and sworn to revenge for what she had lost. A best friend and a sibling who watched over her. While he trained she was drafted into a different keep to go through trials for her womanhood. To earn her place within the sangheili culture. However while in such she learned a key skill; basic herb/healing properties. To her full knowledge being a doctor is quite shameful for sangheili but she only wished to heal minor wounds. Cuts and bruises. Eventually after gaining her rites she parted and puttered at home still hurtful and bitter to other females who tried to train her. Her mother whom she knew dearly tried to help her, doing anything in her power to give her true daughter what she wished for most. Being near her older brother. She put word in about her basic herb classes and was eventually drafted into a medical ward, than advanced.. eventually making a mistake and becoming a warrior. But yes I went through some trial and error trying to basically understand their culture and how it would be; went through some downfalls upon how to make her... right in my eyes but not 'perfect' as every character has their flaws. She's ignorant, stiff, and rather annoyed at the pesky male warriors that swoon and gaze. Even by change of her hand slipping and killing one. =D But overall I'm pretty content with her.

[killerrabbit213]

lol wow people put way more thought into characters then i

[Kairu]

Excellent, I'm surprised I didn't come up with this thread. Now to answer the question. Most, if not, all of my OCs are based off of myself in some way, shape, or form. But what I first do, is get a template to use of an already established character, generally from a video game. My favorite character I've ever made, Rhykim Verass, was originally based off of the character Nightmare, from the Soul Calibur games. I took the idea of Nightmare, a large, muscular, evil, being who wielded strength beyond all limits. But for the sake of the RP, I had to tone down that strength. I then took his weapon, and modified it slightly to make it a little more realistic for the RP, but still fitting for Rhykim. Then, giving the circumstances and the role he was to be, I then added his personality. Also unforgiving and intelligent like Vernette, but also honorable. He also isn't afraid to do what he has to, to get things done, whether it be burning small towns and pillaging it to a full on war with his enemy. But to make him human and vulnerable, I added a sort of "behind the scenes" love life as well as now, his manipulation to a higher entity. Finally, I spiced up his backstory to include a little bit of me so I can relate to the character. I usually leave the name for last, in which I went online and searched for a name generator for medieval/renaissance era names. Rhykim and Verass were both selected last names out of a list, but I liked them more together, and that was the creation of Rhykim Verass. As for my second favorite, Adriel Cyne, he was heavily based off of Napoleon Bonaparte. He is also a leader who is suppose to be along the lines of evil, but is also compassionate. He, and his army, wear Napoleonic Era style uniforms and Adriel prefers the contemporary method of staying as far away from the battlefield as he can, but still there for inspirational and morale purposes. When he is engaged in combat, he prefers horseback combat, versus infantry style fighting. For his personality, I took some of the common traits of Napoleon and added them to Adriel, but then also added in the love for his family and respect of his enemies, both traits that I personally share. My third favorite/best character was Kairu in the Fallout RPG here on TNO. He was based off of the idea of me in the Capital Wasteland. So I was, in fact, my own template for this. However, his backstory that was later revealed was all improv and was created on the spot.

[lynksys]

I based James Stolt from the NHRPG off of my RDC in boot camp. Markovz was based off of I don't know. The Yin to the Yang.