Personalities in Etrian Odyssey

[Isabelyes]

So, since this kinda applies to every EO game, I figured it'd post it here.

Well, this is my problem:

I keep on reading, hearing and seeing stories about how everyone's Zodiac is an introverted genius who dislikes the ex-whore Princess that's in just about every party, and he's actually gay with the Gladiator, who secretly wants to just end it all.


Alright, that might not have been totally true, but you get the point.
Almost everyone has made up stories for their party members.

I'd love to be able to do the same. Even though I beat EO I & II without such stories, EO III, with its new classes, is a fresh start, and an excellent opportunity to start creating personalities for my characters.

However, I always fail at doing so. I've tried to - I really have - but when someone dies, for instance, I'm like "Oh no, this is the moment everyone realizes they might not make it!" - and even when there's only one person left, I think "What must he be feeling, surrounded by his dead friends and comrades?" - But, no.

It just doesn't spark any kind of emotion.
I'm always like, "Eh, if they die, I'll just get a game-over; no big deal."
and every time I'm climbing stairs, thinking "Woah, they're already half-dead, and now they have to climb this, too." just sounds really cheesy -
Especially if they're at the floor above after mere seconds.

So, my request is this: Could any of you be so kind - and knowledgeable - to teach me how to create personalities, and how to stick with them?

Please, this is a serious thread. I understand that some of you might be like "Eh, just imagine everyone having an orgy all the time because some female party members starts masturbating at the start of every battle due to having a monster-fetish.", but, please keep such comments scarce.

[MisterLingo]

[eharper256]

To be honest, I often work in reverse, creating a story and then seeing if a character can go with it with appropriate skills.

It helps if you have a good knowledge of stories and characters within them to begin with. Often a good character can start with: "Oh what if Suchandsuch from Novel X was actually a refugee pirate from frozen azure seas of Lllama-Land."

That is to say, you can start by taking something from a old favourite character of yours and then tweaking parts for a laugh.

Otherwise, the best method, a carryover from the days I did a Drama degree: Pretend you've just sat down to interview this character. If it helps, think of their portrait, sat in front of you. Think about how they would respond.

Ask them questions (Type them if you prefer, I do). Where were you born? What brought you here to the labyrinth?
---

I mean, I actually have plenty of experience doing this kind of thing because I've been GM'ing pen and paper RPG games for the better part of a decade, and creating NPC characters that are interesting to your players is a big part of that engagement.

Etrian is not too big on previously set up backstory, which is good in some ways, as it gives you free reign to RP people as you like.

Of course, I've had some hilarious hair tearing moments with EOIII, often due to saying 'can't subclass unless they get taught about it by another in the party'. I confused myself with a relationship diagram I wrote as a result.
---

Last but not least, if you're lost, go with stereotypes. They always work. Check out http://www.tvtropes.org/ if you want a HUUGGE (and often hilarious) list of all of the tropes, stereotypes, idioms, and plot devices in fiction.

For example, is your female monk the classic ? Your Princess a standard generic ?

[Isabelyes]

Thanks for the advice, both of you!

@Existing characters: I actually disagree with this;
You see, in the previous games, my party'd consist of:

Cecil
Rosa
Edge
Rydia
Edward

-> Final Fantasy IV characters.
If I want to create a personality, I shouldn't create a character that already has one.

Still, the idea about interviewing is nice.
The only thing is that I'd have no idea how they'd respond - but I'm gonna give it a try.

[eharper256]

[Isabelyes]

So, time for an interview!

Party members:

Louise the Princess
Dave the Pirate
Emma the Hoplite

Hideki (?) the Shinobi (the name should be Japanese, of course. Might change it due to Chobits, though.)
Ranma the Zodiac


So let's begin!



Louise:

[spoiler]Me: Louise, what has happened in your life, and what made you challenge the Labyrinth?

Louise: Well, as you know, I'm a Princess. You might not have heard of me, but you should have! *stare*

Me: *Stares back*

Louise: Well, to be honest, I wasn't born a Princess.
My ancestors were friends of the Royal family in my country,
so when my parents abandoned me to conquer the labyrinth - or so I've been told - the Royal Family gladly took me under their care.

Me: That certainly is an interesting story!

Louise: ...But it might not be true.

Me: ?

Louise: You see, lately I've been dreaming of a city beneath the sea.
I'm sure they aren't just dreams, though!
I feel...as if I've lived there - a long time ago.
That's why I want to challenge the labyrinth:
To find my parents...and to uncover the truth about them!

Me: That's the spirit!

Louise: But mostly for the fame, though.

Me: Oh.

Louise: *Smile*
[/spoiler]



Dave:
[spoiler]Me: 'Sup Dave, I heard you liked rum?

Dave: *Isn't answering me*

Me: Um, Dave?

Dave: Hmm? Oh. Sorry, chap; didn't see you there.
*Dangerously waves his hand holding a bottle of rum*

Me: Um, yeah. You know, I'll come back later.

Dave: *Has already forgot about me*
[/spoiler]


Emma:
[spoiler]Me: So, Emma -

Emma: *Silence*

Me: (?)
Me: Um, are you alright?

Emma: *Silence*
Emma: ...
Emma: Yes, I am. I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something.
What did you wanted to ask me?

Me: Well, I wanted to know why you want to venture into the labyrinth.

Emma: ...
Emma: I don't trust you. What good would it do you to know such a thing?

Me: Um - it'd satisfy my curiosity?

Emma: ...
Emma: I see.

Me: Yeah. Um. Well.
Me: Well, at the least, you seem like you're a honest person.
However, I'd think you're more of an attacking person.
What exactly made you choose to be a Hoplite?

Emma: Because I want to protect people.
Because I want to compensate for my past.
Because I want to survive.

Me: (?)
Me: Well, thank you for taking your time to hear me out.

Emma: ...
[/spoiler]



Dave, again:
[spoiler]Me: *Grabs bottle out of Dave's hand*

Dave: Wtf?

Me: Dave, could you -

Dave: Hey, if you don't- *hiccup* - gimme that bottle, you'll regret it, pal!

Me: But it ain't a bottle. It's a teddy bear.

Dave: ?
Dave: Oh. I see. Stands to reason, it does.

Me: *Smiles*

Dave: But where'd me bottle run off to?

Me: It disappeared. Bottles tend to do that, ya know.

Dave: Huh.
Dave: Stand to reason, that.

Me: Sure does.

Dave: Well, that's settled, then. Now, off to find me bottle!

Me: Do you want me to help searching?

Dave: Sure - but the bottle's mine, ya hear?

Me: Sure, sure. Could you answer a few questions, then?

Dave: No, I'm not gay.

Me: *Thank God*
Me: No, that's not it. I simply wanted to ask why you want to explore the Labyrinth.

Dave: Hmm?
Dave: I'm a Pirate. That's why I'm gonna rule the seas!

Dave: Stands to reason, don't it?

Me: Yeah, sure. *Nods*
Me: (I bet he hasn't got any reasons at all. Just a desire to be rich - and a bottle of rum.)
Me: (Oh, wait. He hasn't got that, either.)

Me: *Drinks*

Dave: (He drinking out of a teddy bear?)
Dave: (...)
Dave: (Stands to reason.)
[/spoiler]



Hideki:
[spoiler]Me: Hey, Hideki - hey, where's he gone off to?

Hideki: *Complete silence*
Hideki: Everywhere.

Me: Woah, don't scare me like that.

Hideki: *Murderous stare*

Me: So, um -

Hideki: *Disappears*

Me: Stop that!

Hideki: *Silence*

Me: So, how did you end up in the labyrinth?

Hideki: ...
Hideki: I'm getting paid.

Me: ?

Hideki: Quests, missions.
Hideki: Selling items.

Me: You do know that you'll have to share the money with your party members, right?

Hideki: Yes. And I shall do so. Very quickly.

Me: 0_o

Hideki: As long as I get paid, I'll do whatever you'll want me to do.

Me: *Starts fantasizing*
Me: (Oh, stop that!)[/spoiler]



Ranma:
[spoiler]Me: And, last but not least, Ranma!

Ranma: SSHHHT!

Me: Woah!

Ranma: Be silent, please.

Me: *Whispers*
Me: Alright. Sorry.
Me: So I heard you like books?

Ranma: Yes. Also, stop trying to break the fourth wall.

Me: (Wait, what?)
Me: (Why do I get this feeling she's kinda omnipotent?)

Ranma: That's because of my glasses, of course.
Ranma: I won't wear them during battle, mind you.

Me: Ah. Of course.

Ranma: Fancy a cup of tea?
Ranma: You're looking thirsty.

Me: (But, she hasn't even looked at me!)

Ranma: Good. I don't like tea either.

Me: o_0

Ranma: Stop making weird faces. You're creeping me out.

Ranma: And I don't like being creeped out.

Me: (Uh-oh, her hands are glowing. Better not ask anything else.)

Ranma: Go on.

Me: Um.
Me: Uh, what's your favourite kind of magic?

Ranma: Ether, good sir. Not magic.

Me: (What's the difference?)

Ranma: They are two fundamentally different ways to call on the Spirits of Nature.

Me: ...

Ranma: But, never mind that. I prefer Ice Ether.
Ranma: ...Want me to show you something?

Me: (Uh-oh.)
Me: Um, I'd rather -

Ranma: *Stands in front of me*
Ranma: *Looks up at me*
Ranma: *Smiles*

Ranma: *Soft voice*
Ranma: Here. A gift. For you.
Ranma: *Hands me a light-blue crystal*

Me: Woah. Thanks, Ranma.

Ranma: ...

Me: (Are those tears?)

Ranma: But, I need to study some more.
Ranma: I bid you farewell. I hope we'll meet again someday.

Me: (...)
Me: (She's actually kinda nice.)

Me: (She must have been kind of lonely...)

Me: *Cries*
[/spoiler]


Whew, I'm done.

[Isabelyes]

[eharper256]

Yep, thats the spirit.

I've always liked the Interview technique. It really helps you get into a characters shoes. I've fleshed out alot of characters with it.

The Free association sounds cheesy, but its terribly fun. Once you're comfortable with the process, it also works in conjuction with the questioning interview. Ask snap questions, get snap answers.

i.e. What's your favourite Colour? Orange, Whats your pet peeve? eating grapes and choking on the pips, Favourite Animal? Monkeys!

And so on.

[Isabelyes]

Meh, I don't like that much randomness.

I'm feeling pretty comfortable with these characters.
Thanks for your advice! :3

[noodles]

[SirthOsiris]

Ah, I remember a recent attempt to write an EO fanfic. Only got to the first floor, though. Was trying to do it while playing the actual game.
-Protector was a crazy white knight, constantly proclaiming his love to a woman guard in some far off place.
-Survivalist was a silent girl who probably had the ability to hit an apple off your head at 100 yards... though one wondered if she actually WANTED to hit the apple.
-Landsknecht was a tomboy who loved fighting.
-Alchemist was a social recluse, and loved experimenting on animals; the cuter, the better. Despite this, he was a decent guy.
-Medic was a student who made some kind of bet involving going into the labyrinth. Problem was, he was a coward, and freaked out very easily. He kept saying everyone was going to die.
-Others may have involved a ronin that was fighting a wolf just as the labyrinth appeared. Another was a hexer who the group found slaughtering everything in her path.

Frankly, most of this was off the top of my head. I think I was thinking of the most comedic extremes.

[Isabelyes]

[eharper256]

[Isabelyes]

...Kino didn't.

[Kinokokao]

XD just now popped in here to read this and WTF!

[spoiler]

BECAUSE ITS TRUE

[/spoiler]