Those of you familiar with White Wolf’s Old World of Darkness character sheets (note: link goes to a .pdf of the Mage sheet) might remember a couple of traits up in the very top section: nature and demeanor.

Nature described your character’s true self:  who she was when no one else was looking.  Demeanor defined who and what your character wanted the rest of the world to think she was.  It made for some interesting combinations — someone whose nature was “manipulator” might present themselves to the world as an “Honest-Abe”  to better control situations.  Or a visionary/thrill-seeker:  someone who’s out there taking chances left and right, because maybe, deep down, they think they’ll find meaning (even if the rest of the world just thinks they’re a reckless adrenaline junkie).

There’s a great list of archetypes at the White Wolf Wikia site.  It’s by no means conclusive, but it’s a good start.  Go take a peek.

While a character’s nature and demeanor could, conceivably, match, it was interesting to me when they were different.  The moments when a character’s hidden nature made itself manifest were some of the best RP moments out there.

I especially loved it as a GM, knowing when one of my players was acting based on his/her nature and everyone else attributed those actions to something completely different.  Or when they all sat and blinked for a moment, realizing that something Significant (yes, capital S) had just happened, and they were seeing another side of a character whose every facet they’d been sure they’d known.

When I create any new character — for our weekly tabletop game, for WoW, and even for my own writing projects — I keep that list in mind and ask myself, “Who does this character think he is?  Who does he want everyone else to think he is?” How do those perceptions work together?  How do they conflict?  When they contradict one another, which trait is going to rise to the fore?

Notice that first question, too — sometimes who a character believes him- or herself to be is skewed, and you have to break the idea of “nature” down even further — their true nature and the nature to which they aspire.  Maybe it’s who they used to be, or who they think they ought to be.  (For a really great example of this, and to shamelessly plug an excellent book, look at the character of Carl Shivers in Joe Abercrombie’s Best Served Cold. )

They don’t even have to realize that two nature exist within themselves.  The conflict between might be slight, or one might conceal itself neatly within the other.  I’d argue that for a long while, Gaius Baltar from the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica filled this description — things that he insisted proved his altruism and selflessness (even and especially to himself) also proved his amazing capacity to cover his own ass.

Both of these traits may very well change over the course of the character’s life — I don’t think Davien started out as a Penitent/Defender, but I’d say it’s what fits her best now.

Take a look at the list — what are your characters’ natures and demeanors?  Are there any archetypes you’d add to the list if you don’t see them there?

Tags: , , ,