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electraoutlaw

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A SImple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

So, you got yourself some snazzy tights and a cool name. That makes you a hero, right?

Well- I suppose. Being that there's no other name for the super-powered beings that randomly appear in Paragon City out of nowhere.

But- if you want to have a purpose, a real identity or heroic 'existence' if you will, I highly recommend that you investigate the history of your hero and share it with the rest of us.

The following is a simple guide for those who have not found the time or inspiration to write a character biography. (even for those of us who have 20+ alts). Keep in mind this is merely a basic outline and is certainly not the only way bios can be written. I would never want to interfere with anyone's artistic flow! This guide is simply meant to encourage those who have not yet attempted to write a background story or for those who are simply putting it off.
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Many of P City's heroes are zipping around, killing bad guys and saving good guys, all the while not knowing who they are. Sure- you can play the game and get just as much XP, Influence, and of course- Debt, as a hero with an interesting background. But- it will truly enhance your crime fighting experience if you have a reason for doing it all. When I finally wrote the bio for my main character, I found that I felt much closer to being a hero myself, and that's the beauty of the game, isn't it?

There are many things you can take into consideration when dreaming up a biography. Some of these include your origin, your name, your powers, and even your costume. Writing a bio can be tricky. Sometimes you may find something like a tiny little female blaster in pink, with a magic origin who was given super strength pills and trained by a Sumo wrestling king. BUT- If you keep all of the above listed factors in mind, you'll be sure to have a biography that flows and is true to the toon.

(I)The first thing to consider is your hero's ORIGIN.
This will determine why your hero is a hero.

A. Science Origin:
1. The science origin tends to make for a more technical, precise story line. Of course that depends on how much detail you want to go into. Some easy suggestions are things such as chemicals, evil scientists and experiments gone awry. Of course, there are no limits to what you can dream up, but try to make your high school science professor proud.
2. Remember, this origin is very close to the technology origin, so if you want to be true to your identity, it's good to try and distinguish between chemistry and machinery.

B. Technology Origin:
1. The technology origin (as mentioned above) is very similar to the science origin and therefore leads to a precise course of events. Simple suggestions may be the use of specially constructed machines, weapons or computer programming. Again, let your imagination flow, but keep your mind focused on mechanics and computers if you want to stay technological.

C. Mutation Origin:
1. I think this origin allows for a little more stretching of reality. It is of course, a little scientific, and will be more believable if there is some measure of a scientific background behind it. Why are you mutated? Perhaps a genetic mishap while you were still in the womb, perhaps something having to do with ancient ancestors and the faulty gene has just shown up in you, or maybe you just grew up too close to a radioactive power plant.
2. This origin can lead you just about anywhere since heroic mutations have yet to be encountered in real life and therefore there are no limits or laws as to what may happen. (None that I know of anyway)

D. Magic Origin:
1. Magic seems to be the most liberating origin you will find. Though keep in mind, it may be a little suspicious if you have a blaster with a magic machine gun and web grenades. You can begin anywhere with this origin and end anywhere. Let your story become a total fairy tale, complete with, well, fairies if you wish.

E. Natural Origin:
1. The trickiest and most seldom used of all origins. Why? Well, because it's tricky. How does someone become super powered without magic, technology, science or some genetic screw up? While this may appear to be the most boring and difficult to use of all the origins, don't be afraid of it! It can actually be quite imaginative.
2. Some suggestions that seem to work for the natural hero are as follows.
a. Spiritual stories. Since what may be considered spiritual is most likely not going to be technical, scientific, magical or mutational (I just made that word up), it is fitting to be used as a natural origin. This may range from a divine blessing or calling, to divine ancestry, to a relationship with a Native American earth spirit or a Mythological story from Greek or roman theology. These stories are as good as magic, but take on an entirely different feel.
b. Another direction you can take in the Natural origin is one of intense physical or mental training. Keep in mind that you will probably want to have a strong motive or reasoning behind this type of story. A natural hero who decided to be a hero must have some very strong drive for revenge, love, power, etc.

(II) The second item to consider is your hero's powers
A. There should be a reason that your origin led to the powers that you have. There is always a way to tie those things together and you most likely already thought of that when choosing your Archetype. You may want to avoid making a hero with the power to heal others because he was found stranded as a baby and fed nothing but earthworms and raw eggs all his life. It may be more suiting if he was blessed with the power from a supreme being or if he spent his entire life searching for a chemical combination to cure all human ailments.

(III) The third and fourth items would be your Costume and Name
A. These items can set the tone for your biography. Again- there are no limits to what you can create and you may be as off the wall as your heart desires. You may want to go with a realistic, classic style story about nobility and justice if you have a classic style hero. Or, you may want to go with irony and make a gigantic tattoo covered green skinned psyonic controller with a technology origin. The costume and name will usually determine for you whether you want a comical offbeat story or a more touching and sincere type.
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Remember, writing a character biography is fun and can improve the overall feel of your gaming experience. Don't be intimidated by the task. You have very little room to write in, so you don't need to have a long complex story figured out. You may want to totally disregard every word of this guide, or even purposely write a bio to defy it. Do so, by all means! As long as you get to write one and enjoy this very cool feature of the game.

I love being on a team of people who have good character bios. They are fun to read and talk about during downtime, and it reassures me that these players have put some thought into their game and want to play well, which indirectly means I might have a better chance of surviving.

See how that works?? :)

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

01/03/06 16:23

Phedre_D

GameAmp Staff
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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Great post! Maybe you should post it as a guide. I fully agree that it is great to read other people's bio. And it is also great fun to think one up. My hero is not my hero until I write her story. It is half the fun. Usually heroes that have a bio are better team players. I will always check if my team mates have a story. Just for the fun of it, and to see if they are into their hero.

01/03/06 16:43

Samurai_DD

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Loved the guide, even though I don't need it, lol. I have as much imagination and inspiration as 10 writers, and plus have a knack for it. All of my characters have bios, I would only wish that more characters had them, plus, it is a good start for RP, which seems to be something vanishing in MMO"RPG"'s!!! Hehe. Enough rant. Again, a marvelous guide!

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01/03/06 18:43

Madclergy

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Usually I wait till lvl 10 to see if I am going to continue playing the character by that point I am fully aware of my fun factor with the character and can begin to flesh out some of the background stories for said character.

All in all though, awesome post..I love to run across people with bio's, takes some of the hack and slash (so to speak but literal in the case of some stalkers/scrappers) outta lime light and puts the Roleplay back in MMORPG

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01/03/06 22:18

Neuronia

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Great post and I generally stop playing my toons if I don't write a good backstory for them...my natural scrapper was just a ne'er do well always getting into fights, until she got much better training which honed her reflexes...and tehn took to more challenging streets.

Great guide again

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01/03/06 23:28

Hobsnob

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Nice guide. I always right bios for my characters. I often have one already set up, or think of one as soon as I get the primary set, then get the secondary to fit with it. The only problems I face is that I run out of space. Which means I have to delete elements of it (or detail) or even start from scratch and think of a similer one.

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01/04/06 09:38

Samurai_DD

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

QUOTE

The only problems I face is that I run out of space. Which means I have to delete elements of it (or detail) or even start from scratch and think of a similer one.

You're not alone my friend. I write my ultra long detailed bios in Word, then resume them for CoH/V. They should give us infinite space. :)

01/04/06 10:09

IceMizer

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Another vote for more space in the Bio section. I like to give people a good backround on my characters and there is not enough space to do them justice or evil depending on who I create.

Excellent article on Bio writing. Writing a bio gives so much more life to the little pixels we play with.

01/04/06 11:21

DarkAudit

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

I wrote a great bio for King Coal. I had the bio in mind even before I created the character.

However, in light of recent events, the bio and the toon may be in poor taste.

Suffice to say, the story I wrote concerning how King Coal came to be has tragically come to pass in RL.

I wonder if it may be time to retire King Coal out of respect for the families of the lost miners in Upshur County, WV.

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01/04/06 17:01

LordXenophon

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Definately need more space. I keep writing bios that I think will fit, then have it complaining at me in the middle of the last sentence. I have to shorten it by a few words somewhere to get those last few words at the end! I don't know about infinite, though. I'd settle for double.

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01/04/06 22:30

Steampunk

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RE: A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Bio

Aye, the bio space should be longer. But just to add my two cents to the guide part:

It often provides much more fruitful (In my opinion) gameplay when you incorporate elements in your bio familiar to the reader. Sure, inside jokes are great fun, for three people. But to reach the larger bio reading audience (read: The folks milling about at the train station) it's great to include some element of Paragon or Pop culture lore or other item of obscure origin. Perhaps, as a technology or magic hero, you have a relationship to The Diablo Robotico that attacked Paragon in the 1950's that was shut down by a ragtag group of street luchadores? Or maybe, as a Pschcic user, you were too close to the tussle of Blue Steel and the Clockwork King in the 90's? Sure, people love to use the Rikti War, but be creative! You could be Synapse's wastrel adolescent clone attempt by Crey, or a mystical guardian of Ice sent to Paragon by the powers that be to restrore balance in the wake of the Winter Lords! Be creative, and remeber, people tend to like it if it inspires, but also, if they can relate.

P.S. If you want to be the cryonically frozen eccentric steam-powered son of Nemesis, sorry, it's taken. :P

01/04/06 22:48

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