Electra Posted April 5, 2010 Posted April 5, 2010 Okay, people have been talking for ages about how long and awful the big questionnaire is, how it's lifted wholesale from D&D, how it repeats itself, etc. Here is my stab at improving it and fining it down a little. Make no mistake, it's still very long. But hopefully this version has slightly better flow, and not quite so many repetitive or non-applicable questions. Tell me what you think, or make additions and subtractions of your own. Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? What is your full birth name? Where do you live? How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. How would you describe your heritage? How tall are you? What is your body type? Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? Do you resemble anyone famous? Do you have a dominant hand? What kind of clothing do you wear? Do you wear makeup? What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? Do you have any distinctive habits, nervous tics, or mannerisms? Where did they come from, and what causes them? Do other people notice and remark on these habits? Do they annoy you or other people? History Where do you come from? Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country? How do you feel about the place you come from? Where is your home town? What was/is it like? Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. What stupid things did you do when you were younger? Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? If you do have these secrets, what do you fear would happen if the truth became known? How far would you go to protect those secrets? Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? Family What are your biological parents' names? Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? Where are your parents now? Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). How do your parents view you now, or how would they? Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. What was your birth order in the family? Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do? Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged? Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind? What type of person would be your ideal mate? Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future? What is the worst thing someone has done to you? Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? Who or what do you trust the most? Why? Who or what do you despise? Why? What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them? Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? Is there anything you would give you life for? How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it mark of success, or a means to an end? How do you generally treat others? Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? What are your most annoying habits? Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can? What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? What is your favorite treat (dessert)? Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? If you have a favorite scent, what is it? Do you have a favorite animal? What is your most treasured possession? Why? Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life?How important is it to you? Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization? Could you kill? Have you killed? What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? How would you react to watching someone kill another person? Would your reaction be different if the killer was a friend or an enemy of yours? How would you react if something important was stolen from you? How would you react to public humiliation? How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? What is your preferred combat style? Have you ever received any awards or honours? What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn? Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? What do you do for fun? Do you have a costume? What does it look like? How do you normally dress when not in costume? What do you wear to bed most nights? Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? What would you like to be remembered for after your death? Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? What do you perceive as your greatest strength? What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? As a player, if you could, what advice would you give your character? Speak as if he/she were sitting right here in front of you. Use proper tone so they might heed your advice...
Electra Posted August 8, 2010 Author Posted August 8, 2010 Also, since I don't think these ever got posted anywhere else, here are some sample questions for the Twenty Questions Interview. Players can choose any questions they like, but it can be hard to get started. These twenty questions were adapted for the Freedom City setting from the 7th Sea character creation process. 1. Where is your hero from? 2. How would your hero physically describe him/herself? Is this different from how others would? 3. Does your hero have distinguishing speech characteristics or recurring mannerisms? 4. What is your hero's motivation? 5. What are your hero's greatest strengths and weaknesses? 6. What does your hero love? What does your hero hate? 7. How would you describe your character's mental and emotional state? 8. What does your hero fear the most? 9. What is your character's greatest ambition? 10. How does your hero feel about the state of the world and his/her place in it? 11. Does your hero have any prejudices? How does he/she get along with others? 12. Where do your heroes loyalties lie? In what order? 13. Does your hero have a lover or partner? How do they feel about the hero now? 14. Does your hero have a family? What is the relationship there like? 15. How would the people closest to your hero describe him or her? 16. Is your hero a role model? 17. How spiritual is your hero? Does your hero follow a relgious tradition? 18. Is your hero part of a team, or would he/she like to be? Why? 19. How does your hero feel about the place of metahumans and aliens on Earth? 20. If you could give one piece of advice to your hero, what would it be?
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