It’s not that I’m trying to punish the GM or force him into not killing me but if I’m spending a ton of time on a character I expect to be able to play as the character for some time.
Tyson J. Hayes´s last blog ..Leveling Up My Roleplaying Skills

Glad to hear that I’ve inspired you, and I look forward to reading your post on meeting friends – make sure you leave a link to it here!

@Johnn: The process that I use depends on the character. Often, I can deal with most of the process almost subconsciously and just start writing, at other times I have to employ an even more rigourous procedure. Practice and experience usually enables me to single out the most important aspects of the character. More importantly (in terms of performing behind the screen) I have learned to take the process in the other direction, from character concept to characteristics and skills.

My campaigns rarely have early PC deaths, but when they do occur, some form of escape clause can get sometimes be called in (Ressurection spells or whatever). When there is no way around the death, there is more regret for lost potential than anything else, like any premature death. Because you can take a character concept and personality from one game to another, though, there is usually an avenue for the recycling of characters that had masses of unrealised potential. What I have found is that a substantial background makes players become that much more invested in the life of their characters, and that little bit more cautious about protecting the life of the PC, or that little bit more determined to make sure that while the character lives, he really LIVES, if you get me.

Question. That was a rigorous process Chris took your character through. Do you employ it in your games? If so, how do your players handle early PC deaths? Does it discourage them from making another fully fleshed out PC?

Glancing through the article again does remind me of learning the game myself and coming to my own realization that these were real people. I still remember a couple of years ago finally making that connection to one character I was playing.

It came about when I was making the skills for him and was trying to justify some bonuses I wanted. So I developed a back story to explain it and the entire character took on a life of his own. He was deep, complex, and motivated. In the end he ascended to be the patron god of loyalty as he was so loyal to his party and gave his life trying to save them.

Your post also inspired me to write a post on meeting friends over the gaming table (which will be posting tomorrow). Look forward to seeing how you finish this.
Tyson J. Hayes´s last blog ..Open Game Table Vol. 2 – Call for Submissions

It’s amusing (now) to actually compare your list with that first experience at roleplaying, in which the players (in general) did not keep me around, but Chris did. At the time, I was just cheesed off with their attitude.

Chris taught me how to take a character defined by game mechanics and treat it like a living, breathing, personality, and how to get inside that character’s head. That’s roleplaying.

We’re actually in week five of an eight week run of Introducing a New Player (http://www.apathygames.com/2009/11/03/apathy-university-introducing-a-new-player-introduction/). To us we think that rules should be regulated to the side lines, story and roleplaying should be held forward as the ideals. Rules can be taught, getting a player to interact can’t.
Tyson J. Hayes´s last blog ..Open Game Table Vol. 2 – Call for Submissions