So, today I was thinking about making characters, and the thing about my game is that it makes some things really easy on the GM. Things like monstrous and redeeming traits give the GM a lot to work with, plot wise. However, also it can turn off some players, namely players like my friends. They are dyed in the wool players of d20 who rank min/maxing characters as one of life's great pleasures. In this game however, things are very nebulous. You make up your own skills, you have to say what your character as a monster believes in and is addicted to. This was a hard concept for my buddies to wrap their head around. To help simplify the whole deal, I made a quick questionaire for my players. I gave it to one of my friends to make a character with, and I'll post what he put down later when he gives it back. Here are the questions, and why they're important.
Who are you?
Obvious, yeah? This is where you start determining your character's flavor.
What type of monster are you?
The type of monster you are determines a lot of things you can do. Monsters are fairly archetypal. Orcs are savage berserkers, trolls are regenerating fighting machines, giants are territorial behemoths who tend towards violence.
What do you do?
Now we get into the touchy feely narrative stuff. Talking about your character's deal helps show the player how he wants to play and the DM what kind of game to make.
What monstrous traits control you?
This is to further flesh out what makes the character tick.
What redeeming features make you something more than a monster?
Same thing. These are the important mechanics for the game, so it's good the player really thingks about them.
What were you like when you were a monster?
A little bit of background gives the GM hooks and the player insight.
When did you realize you could be something more?
Now this is important. How the monster began his journey is something special. That event had to have done something amazing to fundamentally change the player's character.
What do you think of humans? Elves? Any other races you like or don’t like?
More color stuff. Does the character harbor prejudices? Are there certain types of people he keeps in contact with?
Do you have any friends?
This is for when he chooses contacts during character creation. Thinking about it beforehand helps hime figure out how he's going to use them.
Do you have any enemies?
More fat for the GM to chew on. If the player has an idea, the GM should act on it.
What is your prized possession?
It can be anything, and it shows what is important to your character. It can be an item, a person, a code of honour or whatever. This is to show for that character, what he or she cherishes.
What can you do that no one else can?
This helps the character differentiate himself, and gets him to think of skills.
What sort of life do you live?
More setting stuff for the GM to fool around with.
What shortcomings do you have?
Not only does this help for character creation, but the GM once again gets ammo to level at the character.
So this list is just as important for the GM as it is for the player. I'll get some sweet stuff to use for making a campaign. Like I said, I'll post his answers with commentary later on. Thanks.