NPC Bio: Character Traits

Character Traits | Mini Bio | NPC Bio | Tiniest Bio of All | Deadlands NPCs
Name
Maiden Name or Nickname, if applicable
Year Story Takes Place
Birthdate If blank, a date will be generated.
Age
Gender
Male
Female
Birthplace
Current Home
Sexual Orientation
0 Exclusively heterosexual with no homosexual
1 Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual
2 Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual
3 Equally heterosexual and homosexual
4 Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual
5 Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual
6 Exclusively homosexual
Asexual
Racial Background
Physical Characteristics

Describe the character's physical appearance, making sure to list attributes like height, weight, hair color and any distinguishing characteristics.

Health Complaints

Does the character have any health problems?

Distinctive Voice or Speech Traits

List any distinctive voice or speech traits, like an accent, a lisp, stutter or use of slang terms from a particular culture.

Clothes and Accessories

Describe the kind of clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and other accessories that the character wears.

Character History Outline

Describe the character's personal and family history briefly.

Character's Current Situation

Describe the character's current situation, including relationships, job, and any other important factors in the character's life.

Favorites
Favorite Food
Favorite Color
Favorite Passtime
Favorite Items
Favorite Musical Genre
Annoyances

List things that really annoy the character.

Personality Type
ExtrovertIntrovert
Develop ideas through discussion Ideas come from thinking alone
Energized by action, people, things Energized by ideas, feelings, impressions
Like working in teams Would rather work alone
Outgoing Shy
Where, primarily, do you direct your energy? To the outer world of activity, and spoken words. To the inner world of thoughts and emotions
The terms Introvert and Extrovert (originally spelled brms in the context of psychology, although 'extrovert' is now by far the more common spelling) are referred to as attitudes and show how a person orients and receives their energy. In the extraverted attitude the energy flow is outward, and the preferred focus is on people and things, whereas in the introverted attitude the energy flow is inward, and the preferred focus is on thoughts and ideas.
Are you an Extrovert or an Introvert? Examine your day, your past week, your life. Does it feel more like "you" when you are interacting, communicating, experiencing (Extrovert)? Or are you more of yourself when alone thinking, reflecting, doing a hobby, etc (Introvert)?
SensoriNtuitive
Focused on the physical world Focused on the mental or spiritual world
Learn by hands on application Learn by theory
Realism Idealism
How do you prefer to process information? In the form of known facts and familiar terms. In the form of possibilities or new potential.
Those who prefer Sensing Perception favor clear, tangible data and information that fits in well with their direct here-and-now experience. Those who prefer Intuition Perception are drawn to information that is more abstract, conceptual, big-picture, and represents imaginative possibilities for the future.
Sensing and Intuition are the perceiving functions. They indicate how a person prefers to receive data. These are the nonrational functions, as a person does not necessarily have control over receiving data, but only how to process it once they have it. Sensing prefers to receive data primarily from the five senses, and intuition prefers to receive data from the unconscious, or seeing relationships via insights.
Are you a Sensor or an iNtuitive? Is your day mostly spent attending to reality, and understanding the facts (Sensor)? Or do you usually dream, theorize, compose, see symbolism, and walk the inner mind landscape (iNtuitive)?
ThinkingFeeling
Those who prefer Thinking Judgment have a natural preference for making decisions in an objective, logical, and analytical manner with an emphasis on tasks and results to be accomplished. Those whose preference is for Feeling Judgment make their decisions in a somewhat global, visceral, harmony and value-oriented way, paying particular attention to the impact of decisions and actions on other people.
Value truth Value harmony
Use logic in making decisions Use personal feelings in making decisions
Notice wrong reasoning Notice when people need support
How do you prefer to make decisions? On the basis of logic and objective considerations. On the basis of personal values.
Thinking and Feeling are the judging functions. They are used to make rational decisions concerning the data they received from their perceiving functions, above. Thinking is characterized as preferring to being logical, analytical and thinking in terms of "true or false". Thinking decisions tend to be based on more objective criteria and facts. Feeling, which refers to subjective criteria and values, strives for harmonious relationships and considers the implications for people. Feeling decisions tend to be based on what seems "more good or less bad" according to values.
Are you a Thinker or a Feeler? Are you objective, impersonal, interested in goals and ideas (Thinker)? Or are you more friendly, personal, interested in others, and are comfortable with deep emotions (Feeler)?
JudgingPerceiving
Uses schedules and timetables as a guide Does whatever comes up
Routinized and predictable Spontaneous and unpredictable
Can be too close-minded Can be too open-minded and fickle
Gets things done as soon as possible Procrastinates
How do you prefer to organise your life? In a structured way, making decisions and knowing where you stand. In a flexible way, discovering life as you go along.
Judging and Perceiving tell us which of the two preferred functions, the judging function or the perceiving function, is used in the outer world. Those who prefer Judging use their preferred judging function in the outer world and their preferred perceiving function in the inner world, and those who prefer Perceiving use their preferred perceiving function in the outer world and their preferred judging function in the inner world. Judging prefers making decisions and having closure and perceiving prefers to continue accepting data and to leave their options open, waiting to decide later. (The terminology may be misleading for some - the term "Judging" does not imply "judgmental", and "Perceiving" does not imply "perceptive".)
Are you a Judger or a Perceiver? Are you an organized, work-comes-first, decisive person (Judger)? Or are you an adaptable, spontaneous person who prefers to explore the possibilities (Perceiver)? Please note that Judger does not mean "judgemental", as some people have thought.
Personality Flaws
Paranoid Schizoid Schizotypical Borderline Personality Disorder Narcissistic
Patients with paranoid personality disorder are characterized by suspiciousness and a belief that others are out to harm or cheat them. They have problems with intimacy and may join cults or groups with paranoid belief systems. Some are litigious, bringing lawsuits against those they believe have wronged them. Although not ordinarily delusional, these patients may develop psychotic symptoms under severe stress. It is estimated that 0.5-2.5% of the general population meet the criteria for paranoid personality disorder. Schizoid patients are perceived by others as "loners" without close family relationships or social contacts. Indeed, they are aloof and really do prefer to be alone. They may appear cold to others because they rarely display strong emotions. They may, however, be successful in occupations that do not require personal interaction. About 2% of the general population has this disorder. It is slightly more common in men than in women. Patients diagnosed as schizotypal are often considered odd or eccentric because they pay little attention to their clothing and sometimes have peculiar speech mannerisms. They are socially isolated and uncomfortable in parties or other social gatherings. In addition, people with schizotypal personality disorder often have oddities of thought, including "magical" beliefs or peculiar ideas (for example, a belief in telepathy) that are outside of their cultural norms. It is thought that 3% of the general population has schizotypal personality disorder. It is slightly more common in males. Schizotypal disorder should not be confused with schizophrenia, although there is some evidence that the disorders are genetically related. Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are highly unstable, with wide mood swings, a history of intense but stormy relationships, impulsive behavior, and confusion about career goals, personal values, or sexual orientation. These often highly conflictual ideas may correspond to an even deeper confusion about their sense of self (identity). People with BPD frequently cut or burn themselves, or threaten or attempt suicide. Many of these patients have histories of severe childhood abuse or neglect. About 2% of the general population have BPD; 75% of these patients are female. Narcissistic patients are characterized by self-importance, a craving for admiration, and exploitative attitudes toward others. They have unrealistically inflated views of their talents and accomplishments, and may become extremely angry if they are criticized or outshone by others. Narcissists may be professionally successful but rarely have long-lasting intimate relationships. Fewer than 1% of the population has this disorder; about 75% of those diagnosed with it are male.
Obsessive-Compulsive Antisocial Histrionic Avoidant Dependent
Patients diagnosed with this disorder are preoccupied with keeping order, attaining perfection, and maintaining mental and interpersonal control. They may spend a great deal of time adhering to plans, schedules, or rules from which they will not deviate, even at the expense of openness, flexibility, and efficiency. These patients are often unable to relax and may become "workaholics." They may have problems in employment as well as in intimate relationships because they are very "stiff" and formal, and insist on doing everything their way. About 1% of the population has obsessive-compulsive personality disorder; the male/female ratio is about 2:1. Patients with antisocial personality disorder are sometimes referred to as sociopaths or psychopaths. They are characterized by lying, manipulativeness, and a selfish disregard for the rights of others; some may act impulsively. People with antisocial personality disorder are frequently chemically dependent and sexually promiscuous. It is estimated that 3% of males in the general population and 1% of females have antisocial personality disorder. Patients diagnosed with this disorder impress others as overly emotional, overly dramatic, and hungry for attention. They may be flirtatious or seductive as a way of drawing attention to themselves, yet they are emotionally shallow. Histrionic patients often live in a romantic fantasy world and are easily bored with routine. About 2-3% of the population is thought to have this disorder. Although historically, in clinical settings, the disorder has been more associated with women, there may be bias toward diagnosing women with the histrionic personality disorder. Patients with avoidant personality disorder are fearful of rejection and shy away from situations or occupations that might expose their supposed inadequacy. They may reject opportunities to develop close relationships because of their fears of criticism or humiliation. Patients with this personality disorder are often diagnosed with dependent personality disorder as well. Many also fit the criteria for social phobia. Between 0.5-1.0% of the population have avoidant personality disorder. Dependent patients are afraid of being on their own and typically develop submissive or compliant behaviors in order to avoid displeasing people. They are afraid to question authority and often ask others for guidance or direction. Dependent personality disorder is diagnosed more often in women, but it has been suggested that this finding reflects social pressures on women to conform to gender stereotyping or bias on the part of clinicians.
Severity of Personality Flaws
Minor, Not Disruptive
Noticable, Somewhat Disruptive
Severe, Very Disruptive
Mental Health Complaints
Adjustment Disorders Anxiety Disorders Dissociative Disorders Eating Disorders
All of the disorders in this category relate to a significantly more difficult adjustment to a life situation than would normally be expected considering the circumstances. While it is common to need months and perhaps even years to feel normal again after the loss of a long time spouse, for instance, when this adjustment causes significant problems for an abnormal length of time, it may be considered an adjustment disorder. The disorders in this category can present themselves quite differently. The key to diagnosing is to look at (1) the issue that is causing the adjustment disorder and (2) the primary symptoms associated with the disorder.
Info
Anxiety Disorders categorize a large number of disorders where the primary feature is abnormal or inappropriate anxiety. Everybody has experienced anxiety. Think about the last time a loud noise frightened you and remember the feelings inside your body. Chances are you experienced an increased heart rate, tensed muscles, and perhaps an acute sense of focus as you tried to determine the source of the noise. These are all symptoms of anxiety. They are also part of a normal process in our bodies called the 'flight or flight' phenomenon. This means that your body is preparing itself to either fight or protect itself or to flee a dangerous situation. These symptoms become a problem when they occur without any recognizable stimulus or when the stimulus does not warrant such a reaction. In other words, inappropriate anxiety is when a person's heart races, breathing increases, and muscles tense without any reason for them to do so. Once a medical cause is ruled out, an anxiety disorder may be the culprit.
Info
The main symptom cluster for dissociative disorders include a disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. In other words, one of these areas is not working correctly and causing significant distress within the individual.
Info
Eating disorders are characterized by disturbances in eating behavior. This can mean eating too much, not eating enough, or eating in an extremely unhealthy manner (such as binging or stuffing yourself over and over). Many people argue that simple overeating should be considered a disorder, but at this time it is not in this category.
Info
Inpulse-Control Disorders Mood Disorders Psychotic Disorders Sexual Disorders
Disorders in this category include the failure or extreme difficulty in controlling impulses despite the negative consequences. This includes the failure to stop gambling even if you realize that losing would result in significant negative consequences. This failure to control impulses also refers to the impulse to engage in violent behavior (e.g., road rage), sexual behavior, fire starting, stealing, and self-abusive behaviors.
Info
The disorders in this category include those where the primary symptom is a disturbance in mood. In other words, inappropriate, exaggerated, or limited range of feelings. Everybody gets down sometimes, and everybody experiences a sense of excitement and emotional pleasure. To be diagnosed with a mood disorder, your feelings must be to the extreme. In other words, crying, and/or feeling depressed, suicidal frequently. Or, the opposite extreme, having excessive energy where sleep is not needed for days at a time and during this time the decision making process in significantly hindered.
Info
The major symptom of these disorders is psychosis, or delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs that significantly hinder a person's ability to function. For example, believing that people are trying to hurt you when there is no evidence of this, or believing that you are somebody else, such as Jesus Christ or Cleopatra. Hallucinations are false perceptions. They can be visual (seeing things that aren't there), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smelling), tactile (feeling sensations on your skin that aren't really there, such as the feeling of bugs crawling on you), or taste.
Info
The primary characteristic in this category is the impairment in normal sexual functioning. This can refer to an inability to perform or reach an orgasm, painful sexual intercourse, a strong repulsion of sexual activity, or an exaggerated sexual response cycle or sexual interest. A medical cause must be ruled out prior to making any sexual dysfunction diagnosis and the symptoms must be hindering the person's everyday functioning. Gender Identity Disorder has also been placed in this category, although no outward dysfunction needs to be present for this disorder. Basically, it includes strong feelings of being the wrong gender, or feelings that your outward body is inconsistent with your internal sense of being either male or female. (Note: Gender Identity Disorder is listed here to give a place for these feelings to be presented. This does not represent a belief by the author that this is indeed a disorder.) Paraphilias all have in common distressing and repetitive sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors. These fantasies, urges, or behaviors must occur for a significant period of time and must interfere with either satisfactory sexual relations or everyday functioning if the diagnosis is to be made. There is also a sense of distress within these individuals. In other words, they typically recognize the symptoms as negatively impacting their life but feel as if they are unable to control them.
Info
Sleep Disorders Somatoform Disorders Substance Disorders Childhood Disorders
Primary Sleep disorders are divided into two subcategories: Dyssomnias are those disorders relating to the amount, quality, and timing of sleep. Parasomnias relate to abnormal behavior or physiological events that occur during the process of sleep or sleep-wake transitions. We use the term primary to differentiate these sleep disorders from other sleep disorders that are caused by outside factors, such as another mental disorder, medical disorder, or substance use.
Info
Disorders in this category include those where the symptoms suggest a medical condition but where no medical condition can be found by a physician. In other words, a person with a somatoform disorder might experience significant pain without a medical or biological cause, or they may constantly experience minor aches and pains without any reason for these pains to exist.
Info
The two disorders in this category refer to either the abuse or dependence on a substance. A substance can be anything that is ingested in order to produce a high, alter one's senses, or otherwise affect functioning. The most common substance thought of in this category is alcohol although other drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, special-K, and crack, are also included. Probably the most abused substances, caffeine and nicotine, are also included although rarely thought of in this manner by the layman.
Info
Children can suffer from disorders once thought only to affect adults. While most mental disorders can occur in childhood, some disorders are more likely to do so than others, and some, such as autism, always begin in childhood. Among the most common serious mental disorders in children are depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, conduct disorder, and autism. From 3 to 6 million children suffer from clinical depression. Everyday, 14 young people commit suicide in the United States. Autism affects 200,000 to 300,000 children. As many as one in ten children and adolescents develop conduct disorder, and one in twenty children are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Info
Memory Disorders Cognitive Disorders Medical Condition Related Mental Disorders Factitious Disorders
Disturbances in registering an impression, in the retention of an acquired impression or in the recall of an impression.
Info
The symptoms of cognitive disorders may vary from day to day. They can include "spaciness," memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, word mix-ups when speaking or writing, and clumsiness.
Info
Mental disorders due to a general medical condition
Info
People with factitious disorders feign, exaggerate, or actually self-induce illnesses. Their aim? To assume the status of "patient," and thereby to win attention, nurturance, and lenience that they feel unable to obtain in any other way. Unlike individuals who "malinger," people with factitious disorders are not primarily seeking external gains such as disability payments or narcotic drugs--though they may receive them nonetheless.
Info
Severity of Mental Health Complaints
Minor, Not Disruptive
Noticable, Somewhat Disruptive
Severe, Very Disruptive
Fears

Describe the character's fears.

At Stake

Describe what is at stake for the character and what the consequences are.

Politics
Enforce Morality
Personal Freedom
Social Services, Gov't Subsidies
Free Market
Expansionist
Anti-Expansionist
Local Power
Central Power
Political
Apolitical
Reliability of Memory
Eidetic
Very reliable
Right more often than not
Wrong more often than right
Poor
Full of blank spots
Full of unreal memories
Secrets

Describe the character's secrets.

Sense of Humor
Vulgar
Clean
Spontaneous
Complex
Dark
Light
Intellectual
Physical
Openly Displayed
Reticient
Conventional
Unique
Active (Makes Jokes)
Passive (Makes Comments)
Deviation from Type

In what way is does this character deviate from their type, how are they different from what we would expect?