Creating a Character

Creating a character involves more than just choosing a race and a class; it requires developing a detailed backstory and personality that will guide your in-game (IG) actions. Think about your family, upbringing, and significant life events. Was your character born in a small village or raised in the slums of Allanak? Did they grow up under the harsh sun, learning to survive in the wilderness, or were they sheltered within the walls of the city? These elements will shape how your character views the world and interacts with others.

Once you have a solid backstory, consider your personality and how it manifests in their daily interactions. Are they friendly and outgoing, or reserved and cautious? Do they have any quirks, such as a particular way of speaking or a habitual gesture? How do they relate to others? Are they a social butterfly, a showy performer, or a solitary thinker? Do they naturally lead or prefer to follow? These details, however small, add depth to your characters. Use the EMOTE commands (help emote, help emoting) and command emotes (help command emotes) to express your mannerisms.

Spend some time thinking about your character's family life. Even though you won't have literal parents in the game, you can create a background involving 'virtual' parents and siblings (vNPCs). Is your character the loved child of well off merchants, or did they grow up in the Labyrinth (slums) as an orphan? Perhaps they were born to a simple hunter in Red Storm or are part of a tight knit family of tribals. Consider your character's childhood experiences. Were they bullied by other kids in the commons or included? Were their parents kind or cruel? Did they have or have not? Did they constantly try to escape the city or did they yearn to know its workings from without? These insights give you hooks to hinge your character's thoughts, feelings and goals off. It gives them something they do (or don't) care about.

Finally, determine your character's goals. In Armageddon, the aim is not to become the most powerful character but to pursue goals that are meaningful within the game world. Whether your character aspires to start a merchant house, become a renowned gladiator, or simply survive in the desert, these goals will drive your gameplay. Choose goals that are enjoyable for you to pursue, as the process of moving toward these goals is where the true fulfillment of roleplaying lies. Keep in mind that as your character evolves or their circumstances change, that it's also fine for their goals to change.