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Procrastinating writing so here's how I was taught to build characters, AKA The Last Character Sheet You'll Ever Need.
Desire:
Weakness:
Need:
Wound:
Fear:
Core Belief:
Mask:
True Self:
Desire:
Weakness:
Need:
Wound:
Fear:
Core Belief:
Mask:
True Self:
DESIRE
This is not a "Want". The Want is surface level. The Desire is what sits underneath. I.e. If what they want is an award/trophy, what they desire is the approval of their peers.
This is not a "Want". The Want is surface level. The Desire is what sits underneath. I.e. If what they want is an award/trophy, what they desire is the approval of their peers.
WEAKNESS
Their flaw/s. What will always tempt them towards their worst traits? Hubris? Entitlement? Pettiness? Reliance on external validation? Naivete?
Their flaw/s. What will always tempt them towards their worst traits? Hubris? Entitlement? Pettiness? Reliance on external validation? Naivete?
NEED
What are they missing, that they do not know they are missing? What will spur their growth? (For better or worse.)
What are they missing, that they do not know they are missing? What will spur their growth? (For better or worse.)
WOUND
Why are they like this?
Why are they like this?
FEAR + CORE BELIEF
Directly links to the Wound. Ben's Wound -- the crushing weight of legacy and the incident with Luke -- led to his Belief that he was always pre-destined for darkness, but also his Fear that he will never be as strong as Darth Vader.
Directly links to the Wound. Ben's Wound -- the crushing weight of legacy and the incident with Luke -- led to his Belief that he was always pre-destined for darkness, but also his Fear that he will never be as strong as Darth Vader.
MASK
Who do they pretend to be in order to stave off confronting their Need?
Who do they pretend to be in order to stave off confronting their Need?
TRUE SELF
Who are they underneath everything? Who do they become when they confront their Need for change?
Who are they underneath everything? Who do they become when they confront their Need for change?
Ex: Ben Solo
Weakness: Temper
Need: Compassion + self-love
Desire: Admiration (pursued first through power, then love)
Wound: Legacy
Fear: Never be as strong as Vader
Belief: Dark destiny
Mask: Kylo Ren
True Self: Ben Solo -- kind, gentle, understanding, selfless, courageous
Weakness: Temper
Need: Compassion + self-love
Desire: Admiration (pursued first through power, then love)
Wound: Legacy
Fear: Never be as strong as Vader
Belief: Dark destiny
Mask: Kylo Ren
True Self: Ben Solo -- kind, gentle, understanding, selfless, courageous
Ex: Rey from Jakku
Weakness: Compartmentalizes trauma, controlling of the uncontrollable, believes she is insignificant
Need: Find self-worth, family/love
Desire: Belonging, purpose
Wound: Abandonment
Belief: They'll come back
Mask: Messenger/Herald
True Self: Hero
Weakness: Compartmentalizes trauma, controlling of the uncontrollable, believes she is insignificant
Need: Find self-worth, family/love
Desire: Belonging, purpose
Wound: Abandonment
Belief: They'll come back
Mask: Messenger/Herald
True Self: Hero
