Exchange of Realities

The hub for articles on creating engaging secondary characters, or engaging characters in general.

Introduction and Philosophy:

• The Need for Engaging Secondary Characters
• Mrs. Brown and the Dice

Step by Step:

• Distinctiveness and Memorability (Step 1)
• Character Building from Three Foundations (Step 1B)
• What Do We Need to Know? (Step 2)
• Planning Impact (Step 3)
• Socratic Characterization (Asking Questions) (Step 4)

Tips

• Characters on the Fly
• Dealing With Large Casts of Characters

Resources for Questions

• Two Things Every Character Needs
• What’s in Your Workspace?
• What Keeps You Going?
• What Can’t You Do?
• What Would You Do Without…

Details

• The Naming of Characters
• Basic Clothing and Characterization
• More Characterization Through Clothing

What Not To Do

• The Dangers of Designated Love Interests 
• Five Ways to Annoy a Group with a Character in Love
• Four Comic Relief Characters Who Aren’t So Funny

Differentiation and Archetypes

• Character Differentiation: What Are Your Archetypes?
• How To Hide Archetype Use

Notes on Power

• Power:  What It Is, What It Isn’t
• How To Avoid the DMPC Label With Powerful Characters

Autonomy:  For Side Characters to Live

Stylistic Decisions:

• Manipulation:  Individual, Organizational, Propaganda
• Community Notes:  Absence of Community, the Tabula Rasa Character

For PCs:

•  Two Things to Do Before Planning an In-Game Character Arc

Love

• The Dangers of Designated Love Interests
• How to Create an Attractive Character
• Five Ways to Annoy a Group with a Character in Love 
• How to Keep Couples Spicy

Inanimate Characters: Locations

• Living Locations: Where Setting is Literally Character
• Giving Personality to Sentient Locations
• Character Development for Intelligent Locations 

Inanimate Characters: Magic Items

• The Basics of Intelligent Magic Items 
• Giving Personality to Intelligent Magic Items
• Living With Your Intelligent Magic Item 
• Avoiding the Hazards of Intelligent Magic Items

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