- Someone who likes music and plays an instrument
- Happy-go-lucky types (probably because they contrast my personality lol) but terribly stubborn
- They fell first fast... (if they have a potential ship)

I have been trying to mix it up a bit, but I seem to default to those three "types" whether all fall into one character or are three separate characters.

• emotionally constipated lesbian girl-boss dealing with comphet. azula, cersei clones.
• bishounen young man who abuses his positions of power and has a nasty attitude. sprinkle sprinkle homoeroticism.
• earnest, kind-hearted lover girl/boy who i’ll let martyr themselves if i ever completed a character arc.  
• stoic law-abiding citizen who’s trying to find their heart. usually a soldier or cop or something.

• stoic, disciplined women (lawful alignments, typically have a starting motivation to find a macguffin, oft a family member)
• silly boys
• amnesiacs <3 my beloved
• investigator/detective archetypes
• characters with obsessive qualities, particularly that that helps them cope with grief (poorly)

I have very specific Types and I’m no longer ashamed to say that I just recycle them 45834805434 times with different face claims, backgrounds. Sometimes I do branch out but these experiments will typically be my 3rd or 4th character.

1. The Child Soldier. They’ve been put through the meat grinder for as long as they can remember, and they no longer have normal physiological/emotional responses to other people and events. They consider themselves meat (complimentary) and will not hesitate to throw brutality at a problem. Some Ink child soldiers adopt a moral code in order to reclaim some semblance of personhood. Other Ink child soldiers have come around to enjoy violence as their birthright. They still have goals. But they torture, pursue, and murder in order to let off steam. They don’t need a fancy justification to make someone bleed. If some hero doesn’t like it, then they better put their fists up. These characters may seem chaotic, but their lives were completely shaped by strict rules and punishments. Left on their own, Ink child soldiers generally seek death before they could dare dream of freedom. I really like giving my child soldiers actual IC authority so that I can create problems for other people. Child soldiers are pretty well-rounded stats-wise, except for a near-nonexistent charisma stat. Do NOT let them roll to persuade. Intimidate is OK.

2. The Redeemer. An idealistic scion who uses their resources and privileges to improve the lives of people around them. I’m very straightforward about their moral alignment. While they can have multiple motives, their primary driver should be goodness for its own sake. I bring redeemers to sites where 70% of the characters are really dark or self-centered. Some redeemers are chaotic and others are lawful. These characters may end up in a rebel faction if the canons are really outwardly (and consistently) corrupt, but sites generally don’t get that far. Redeemers have decent dexterity and high charisma stats. These are generally rogues, but they can also be mages on the right site.

3. The Ice Queen. An older canon who occupies a respected seat within an organization. They are shrewd and intelligent, and generally prioritizes the bigger picture above the immediate gains/losses. Some ice queens may start off idealistic, but all of them are firmly planted in realpolitik by the time the site begins. They are experienced statesmen who can work a crowd, placate an angry aristocrat, and manage a spy network. They are a mentor to several characters on the site, but they are more feared than loved. This is a character who may or may not realize that they are now upholding power for its own “necessary” sake. The Ice Queen has a high res stat, a high int stat, and a decent charisma stat. They rely on NPC underlings for self defense, even if they are trained in the martial arts. If the Ice Queen is a younger man, then there is a chance that he is also The False Earl. The Earl has stolen the seat from someone under mysterious circumstances, and they seem to be a responsible steward… for now.

4. The Iago. A highly competent advisor who either 1) primarily acts in favor of their own interests or 2) is an ass-kissing enabler who drives a more important character down a dark path. Iagos always seem to know how to say the right thing, and they tend to have a talent for making money, Iagos have high intelligence and charisma stats, but they have very low or nonexistent combat capabilities.

5. The Dragon. This character is selfish and likes to pillage for fun and riches. Unmoved by ethics systems beyond “survival of the fittest” and will laugh at any weakling who attempts to enforce their idealism. They don’t have much emotional depth beyond that. Really! Generally suited to being a warlord or a pirate. Even if affiliated with a “good” faction, they’ll prioritize jobs based on the payday. Throws great parties, though. Dragons have high strength and constitution stats. Some of them have surprisingly decent charisma, and they can easily sway weaker men and women into following them to battle.

Nearly all my characters boil down to the same Vibe™, and I am ashamed for it, but:

Character without a sense of self-worth, wholly dedicated to a single goal (often a misguided attempt at doing 'the right thing') that either causes them to harm themselves and everyone/thing around them, or that they cannot help harming themselves/everyone/thing around them even if it is against their ultimate goal. Because of their lack of self-worth, they view the harm they cause as inevitable rather than something that can be worked through or past, and their only 'salvation' is attaining that one single goal... but of course, that goal is always going to be out of reach, either because it is impossible for anyone at all to achieve, or because the character cannot overcome the personal failings necessary to achieve it.