When people see a long profile such as the one in this guild, they freak out, or just get lazy. The point of this guild is not only to improve your roleplaying skills but also to improve your character development so that you can better understand the characters you create. This is the purpose of the long profile.
However, this guide will help you not only fill out the long profile, but also perhaps make you ask questions of your character you had never thought of before.
Character
The first section is the Character section. This is perhaps the most straightforward of the sections.
Name:
Provide the first, middle, and last names of your character. You may also add a list of nicknames, if you like.
Age/Year:
The age with this guild goes with the year, unless otherwise stated. Students are eleven in their first year, though ten-year-olds close to their eleventh birthday may also be first years. Second years are twelve. This goes on until the seventh year, of which students are normally seventeen, though they may be eighteen by the end of the year.
Gender:
Male or female, obviously. There are no other choices.
House:
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Try to match your character's personality with the house.
Blood:
Full-blood, Half-blood, Muggle-born. You must apply to have any ability added to your blood.
Wand:
What wood, how long, and what is at its core?
Common wood types: Rowan, Birch, Alder, Oak, Willow, Vine, Ivy, Reed, Ash, Hawthorn, Holly, Hazel
Known core types: Dragon heartstring, Phoenix feather, Thestral hair, Unicorn tail hair, and Veela hair; Peacock feathers are also an option
Sexuality:
Straight, Bi-sexual, etc.
---------------
Personality
The next section is the Personality section, probably the hardest section for people. It does not need to be hard however. In fact, it can be easy to create more than two or three paragraphs needed. Think of one aspect of your character's personality. Then ask yourself these questions:
1. How did your character come about this trait? What caused them to be that way?
2. How does this trait affect their performance?
3. Does this trait give them any strengths? Any weaknesses?
4. What other traits does this trait cause them to have?
With these questions, you have already filled up one of your paragraphs. Then all you have to do is repeat the process with another trait. You could even use one of the traits listed from question three.
Here's an example:
My character, Fay, is a perfectionist.
1. How did your character come about this trait? What caused them to be that way?
- First year of Hogwarts, he faced many hard blows from Slytherin students because he was half-blood
- He started trying to prove himself through grades and performance
2. How does this trait affect their performance?
- Desires to be perfect
- Has high standards
- Believed he was worthless unless he was perfect
- Would experience hopelessness if he could not be perfect
- Has worn off some
- He now drives himself when it comes to proving himself
- Can be demanding toward his students
- Tries to make his classes fun
- Will stay up well after hours to help students and get things done
- Rarely looks to others for help
3. Does this trait give them any strengths? Any weaknesses?
- Known for his energy, ambition, and talent
- Will always get things done
- Failure to meet his standards causes stress
- Can get dark and angry when disappointed
4. What other traits does this trait cause them to have?
- Ambitious
- Hark-working
- Successful
- Frustrated
- Conflicted
Now, put it all together, and I have not one but three paragraphs:
"Fay has always had the desire not to be excellent, but perfect, as is the case with many of those who are invited to Hogwarts. His standards are extremely high, and failure to meet those standards causes great stress. It has worn off some, but he used to believe that he would only be valued if he was perfect. He would experience a sense of pressure coupled with hopelessness and helplessness.
Some perfectionists are born, others are made. Fay was made after suffering blows from Slytherin students his first year at Hogwarts because of his half-blood heritage, so he began trying to prove himself through excellent grades and performance. By adulthood, he drove himself when it came to proving himself, and is known for his energy, ambition, and talent. However, he can get dark and angry when faced with disappointments, though this side of him is rarely seen now.
Fay can be very demanding, especially toward his students, but he wants to make sure they go far in their careers. In exchange, he makes his class as fun as he can. He is a hard worker, staying up well after hours to get things done, or staying a long time after class to help students that need help. In turn, though, he rarely looks to others for help, determined still to prove himself."
For help with character traits and personality types, I recommend the book Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein. Here is a link to the whole book online: [X]
Another useful book, though there is no link to it, is the Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays, which has 366 days of the year, each with a different personality description.
---------------
Weaknesses:
This is a good place to list the weaknesses from your detailed personality. Other things to include would be physical characteristics (sickly, not much strength, shortness/tallness) and perhaps food weaknesses (allergies, cannot resist something), etc.
Strengths:
Same as weaknesses, except...strengths, obviously.
Secrets:
This is optional, but I am sure everyone has something they do not want people to know. List them here.
Patronus:
The patronus takes the form of an animal, usually a normal animal. This animal reflects the person's personality and feelings. Think of what animal represents your character and that will be their patronus.
Boggart:
The boggart takes the form of the character's worst fear. Think of your character's greatest fear and describe it.
---------------
Likes
It shouldn't be too hard to fill up. Answer these questions:
1. What are my character's hobbies?
2. What about things like favorite color, animal, number, flower, subject, etc.?
3. What does my character enjoy (i.e., warmth, fire, cold, snow, material things, etc.)?
---------------
Dislikes
1. What does my character hate doing?
2. What does my character avoid or fear?
3. What sort of people does my character dislike?
---------------
Looks
Section three is all about your character's appearance. Again, it does not need to be hard to fill up two or three paragraphs. I will break it down into parts of the appearance, and provide questions.
Build
1. How tall is your character? How heavy?
2. Are they thin/heavy set with a small frame/thick bones?
3. Do they have broad shoulder and a narrow waist, or vise versa? Or are their shoulders and hips about even?
4. How muscular are they?
5. In girls, how busty are they?
6. Does anything in their past affect how they look, such as illness?
Hair
1. What color is it? Does it reflect their heritage? Do they have any highlights or odd colors?
2. What texture is their hair? Soft, grainy, straight, curly, frizzy, smooth, etc.?
3. How long is their hair?
4. How do they normally style it?
Face
1. Describe the shape. Is it round, long, heart-shaped, gaunt?
2. Skin color. Are they very pale or very tan? Does it reflect their heritage? Any blemishes or scars?
3. Are their eyes set evenly on their face? Too far or too close together?
4. How big or small is their nose? Does it hook down or is it pushed up?
5. Do they have a big mouth? Thin or thick lips? Are their teeth straight and white?
6. How old do their features make them look? Younger or older than they are?
Eyes
1. What color?
2. Are they large or small? What shape?
3. Does your character need glasses or contacts to see?
4. Do they tell anything about your character?
5. Does your character have long eyelashes and thin eyebrows, or vise versa? Are the eyebrows high-set or low-set?
6. Who did they get their eyes from? Mother or father?
Clothes
1. What does your character normally wear?
2. What do they wear to formal events?
3. Do they follow the Hogwarts dress code?
4. What do they wear in the winter? In the summer?
5. How do their clothes make them look? Neat and clean, or sloppy?
---------------
Past
This is your character's biography. This tells what made your character who they are today, and is, therefore, vital to your character's profile. Again, I will break it down into parts and questions. Please use detail, and be creative. You only need to tell up to your character's current age, but I will provide questions through adulthood.
Quick List:
Simply a brief overview of your character's history.
---------------
Prologue - Your character's family history.
1. Who was their father? Was he a wizard, or did he grow up a normal life? Where was he from? Did anything strange happen to him?
2. Who was their mother? Was she a witch, or did she grow up a normal life? Where was she from? Did anything strange happen to her?
3. How did your character's parents meet? Did they marry before they had your character? Did they move somewhere new?
Birth - Your character's first year.
1. When was your character born? During the day or at night? What day? Where were they born?
2. Was there anything strange about their birth?
3. What happened during their first year, if anything?
Toddler - Years one to five.
1. How fast did your character grow? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
2. When did they start preschool? Kindergarten? Or were they homeschooled?
3. Did they get along with other children? How did this change their personality?
4. Did anything strange happen during this time?
Childhood - Years six through twelve.
1. How did your character grow? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
2. Did the character continue going to a normal school? Were they homeschooled?
3. Did they get along with other children? How did this change their personality?
4. Did anything strange happen during this time?
5. At what age did your character show the first signs of magic?
6. When did they get the letter to go to Hogwarts?
7. How went their first and second years at Hogwarts?
Teens - Years thirteen through nineteen.
1. How did your character grow? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
2. Did they get along with other children? How did this change their personality?
3. Did anything strange happen during this time?
4. How went their third year Hogwarts? Fourth? Fifth? Sixth? Final?
5. Did they pass their O.W.L.S their fifth year? Their N.E.W.T.S their last years?
6. What did they do the year after they left Hogwarts? Did they go to a college? Get a job?
Adulthood - Years twenty and up.
1. When did they finish college?
2. What jobs did they have?
3. Did anything strange happen during this time?
4. Did they get married? Have children?
5. If they are a teacher, what happened that led them back to Hogwarts?
Answer these questions, and I am sure you will have well more than three paragraphs.
---------------
Family
Everyone has or had family. Here, you can explain how those family members died, if they did, how old they are or were, what your character's relation is with them, and how often your character sees them. Names of these family members are appreciated, but not required. Provide information on the mother, father, and siblings, along with anyone else in the family that is important in the character's past.
---------------
Pet
This is optional, but a pet can give your character a companion. It is prefered that you choose an owl, rat, toad, or cat, but I will make some exceptions as long as you proivde a good reason. This is pretty straightforward.
Name:
The pet's name.
Age:
How old?
Gender:
Male or female?
Breed:
Cat, owl, toad, rat, etc., and specific breed would be nice.
Picture:
Either a picture or description, or both, are acceptable.
Personality:
Does not need to be long. Just a couple sentences of the pet's behavior.
---------------
Short History:
This is not you character's history. This is the story of your character's pet. How did your character get said pet, for example?
---------------
Other
If you can think of anything else worth mentioning about your character, put it here. If not, just leave it blank.
And that brings us to the end of the guide. I hope it was useful, and helped you create a profile that will be approved on the first try. If you still need help, or have questions about something, feel free to PM me or Lanfaer.
However, this guide will help you not only fill out the long profile, but also perhaps make you ask questions of your character you had never thought of before.
Character
The first section is the Character section. This is perhaps the most straightforward of the sections.
Name:
Provide the first, middle, and last names of your character. You may also add a list of nicknames, if you like.
Age/Year:
The age with this guild goes with the year, unless otherwise stated. Students are eleven in their first year, though ten-year-olds close to their eleventh birthday may also be first years. Second years are twelve. This goes on until the seventh year, of which students are normally seventeen, though they may be eighteen by the end of the year.
Gender:
Male or female, obviously. There are no other choices.
House:
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Try to match your character's personality with the house.
Blood:
Full-blood, Half-blood, Muggle-born. You must apply to have any ability added to your blood.
Wand:
What wood, how long, and what is at its core?
Common wood types: Rowan, Birch, Alder, Oak, Willow, Vine, Ivy, Reed, Ash, Hawthorn, Holly, Hazel
Known core types: Dragon heartstring, Phoenix feather, Thestral hair, Unicorn tail hair, and Veela hair; Peacock feathers are also an option
Sexuality:
Straight, Bi-sexual, etc.
---------------
Personality
The next section is the Personality section, probably the hardest section for people. It does not need to be hard however. In fact, it can be easy to create more than two or three paragraphs needed. Think of one aspect of your character's personality. Then ask yourself these questions:
1. How did your character come about this trait? What caused them to be that way?
2. How does this trait affect their performance?
3. Does this trait give them any strengths? Any weaknesses?
4. What other traits does this trait cause them to have?
With these questions, you have already filled up one of your paragraphs. Then all you have to do is repeat the process with another trait. You could even use one of the traits listed from question three.
Here's an example:
My character, Fay, is a perfectionist.
1. How did your character come about this trait? What caused them to be that way?
- First year of Hogwarts, he faced many hard blows from Slytherin students because he was half-blood
- He started trying to prove himself through grades and performance
2. How does this trait affect their performance?
- Desires to be perfect
- Has high standards
- Believed he was worthless unless he was perfect
- Would experience hopelessness if he could not be perfect
- Has worn off some
- He now drives himself when it comes to proving himself
- Can be demanding toward his students
- Tries to make his classes fun
- Will stay up well after hours to help students and get things done
- Rarely looks to others for help
3. Does this trait give them any strengths? Any weaknesses?
- Known for his energy, ambition, and talent
- Will always get things done
- Failure to meet his standards causes stress
- Can get dark and angry when disappointed
4. What other traits does this trait cause them to have?
- Ambitious
- Hark-working
- Successful
- Frustrated
- Conflicted
Now, put it all together, and I have not one but three paragraphs:
"Fay has always had the desire not to be excellent, but perfect, as is the case with many of those who are invited to Hogwarts. His standards are extremely high, and failure to meet those standards causes great stress. It has worn off some, but he used to believe that he would only be valued if he was perfect. He would experience a sense of pressure coupled with hopelessness and helplessness.
Some perfectionists are born, others are made. Fay was made after suffering blows from Slytherin students his first year at Hogwarts because of his half-blood heritage, so he began trying to prove himself through excellent grades and performance. By adulthood, he drove himself when it came to proving himself, and is known for his energy, ambition, and talent. However, he can get dark and angry when faced with disappointments, though this side of him is rarely seen now.
Fay can be very demanding, especially toward his students, but he wants to make sure they go far in their careers. In exchange, he makes his class as fun as he can. He is a hard worker, staying up well after hours to get things done, or staying a long time after class to help students that need help. In turn, though, he rarely looks to others for help, determined still to prove himself."
For help with character traits and personality types, I recommend the book Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein. Here is a link to the whole book online: [X]
Another useful book, though there is no link to it, is the Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays, which has 366 days of the year, each with a different personality description.
---------------
Weaknesses:
This is a good place to list the weaknesses from your detailed personality. Other things to include would be physical characteristics (sickly, not much strength, shortness/tallness) and perhaps food weaknesses (allergies, cannot resist something), etc.
Strengths:
Same as weaknesses, except...strengths, obviously.
Secrets:
This is optional, but I am sure everyone has something they do not want people to know. List them here.
Patronus:
The patronus takes the form of an animal, usually a normal animal. This animal reflects the person's personality and feelings. Think of what animal represents your character and that will be their patronus.
Boggart:
The boggart takes the form of the character's worst fear. Think of your character's greatest fear and describe it.
---------------
Likes
It shouldn't be too hard to fill up. Answer these questions:
1. What are my character's hobbies?
2. What about things like favorite color, animal, number, flower, subject, etc.?
3. What does my character enjoy (i.e., warmth, fire, cold, snow, material things, etc.)?
---------------
Dislikes
1. What does my character hate doing?
2. What does my character avoid or fear?
3. What sort of people does my character dislike?
---------------
Looks
Section three is all about your character's appearance. Again, it does not need to be hard to fill up two or three paragraphs. I will break it down into parts of the appearance, and provide questions.
Build
1. How tall is your character? How heavy?
2. Are they thin/heavy set with a small frame/thick bones?
3. Do they have broad shoulder and a narrow waist, or vise versa? Or are their shoulders and hips about even?
4. How muscular are they?
5. In girls, how busty are they?
6. Does anything in their past affect how they look, such as illness?
Hair
1. What color is it? Does it reflect their heritage? Do they have any highlights or odd colors?
2. What texture is their hair? Soft, grainy, straight, curly, frizzy, smooth, etc.?
3. How long is their hair?
4. How do they normally style it?
Face
1. Describe the shape. Is it round, long, heart-shaped, gaunt?
2. Skin color. Are they very pale or very tan? Does it reflect their heritage? Any blemishes or scars?
3. Are their eyes set evenly on their face? Too far or too close together?
4. How big or small is their nose? Does it hook down or is it pushed up?
5. Do they have a big mouth? Thin or thick lips? Are their teeth straight and white?
6. How old do their features make them look? Younger or older than they are?
Eyes
1. What color?
2. Are they large or small? What shape?
3. Does your character need glasses or contacts to see?
4. Do they tell anything about your character?
5. Does your character have long eyelashes and thin eyebrows, or vise versa? Are the eyebrows high-set or low-set?
6. Who did they get their eyes from? Mother or father?
Clothes
1. What does your character normally wear?
2. What do they wear to formal events?
3. Do they follow the Hogwarts dress code?
4. What do they wear in the winter? In the summer?
5. How do their clothes make them look? Neat and clean, or sloppy?
---------------
Past
This is your character's biography. This tells what made your character who they are today, and is, therefore, vital to your character's profile. Again, I will break it down into parts and questions. Please use detail, and be creative. You only need to tell up to your character's current age, but I will provide questions through adulthood.
Quick List:
Simply a brief overview of your character's history.
---------------
Prologue - Your character's family history.
1. Who was their father? Was he a wizard, or did he grow up a normal life? Where was he from? Did anything strange happen to him?
2. Who was their mother? Was she a witch, or did she grow up a normal life? Where was she from? Did anything strange happen to her?
3. How did your character's parents meet? Did they marry before they had your character? Did they move somewhere new?
Birth - Your character's first year.
1. When was your character born? During the day or at night? What day? Where were they born?
2. Was there anything strange about their birth?
3. What happened during their first year, if anything?
Toddler - Years one to five.
1. How fast did your character grow? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
2. When did they start preschool? Kindergarten? Or were they homeschooled?
3. Did they get along with other children? How did this change their personality?
4. Did anything strange happen during this time?
Childhood - Years six through twelve.
1. How did your character grow? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
2. Did the character continue going to a normal school? Were they homeschooled?
3. Did they get along with other children? How did this change their personality?
4. Did anything strange happen during this time?
5. At what age did your character show the first signs of magic?
6. When did they get the letter to go to Hogwarts?
7. How went their first and second years at Hogwarts?
Teens - Years thirteen through nineteen.
1. How did your character grow? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
2. Did they get along with other children? How did this change their personality?
3. Did anything strange happen during this time?
4. How went their third year Hogwarts? Fourth? Fifth? Sixth? Final?
5. Did they pass their O.W.L.S their fifth year? Their N.E.W.T.S their last years?
6. What did they do the year after they left Hogwarts? Did they go to a college? Get a job?
Adulthood - Years twenty and up.
1. When did they finish college?
2. What jobs did they have?
3. Did anything strange happen during this time?
4. Did they get married? Have children?
5. If they are a teacher, what happened that led them back to Hogwarts?
Answer these questions, and I am sure you will have well more than three paragraphs.
---------------
Family
Everyone has or had family. Here, you can explain how those family members died, if they did, how old they are or were, what your character's relation is with them, and how often your character sees them. Names of these family members are appreciated, but not required. Provide information on the mother, father, and siblings, along with anyone else in the family that is important in the character's past.
---------------
Pet
This is optional, but a pet can give your character a companion. It is prefered that you choose an owl, rat, toad, or cat, but I will make some exceptions as long as you proivde a good reason. This is pretty straightforward.
Name:
The pet's name.
Age:
How old?
Gender:
Male or female?
Breed:
Cat, owl, toad, rat, etc., and specific breed would be nice.
Picture:
Either a picture or description, or both, are acceptable.
Personality:
Does not need to be long. Just a couple sentences of the pet's behavior.
---------------
Short History:
This is not you character's history. This is the story of your character's pet. How did your character get said pet, for example?
---------------
Other
If you can think of anything else worth mentioning about your character, put it here. If not, just leave it blank.
And that brings us to the end of the guide. I hope it was useful, and helped you create a profile that will be approved on the first try. If you still need help, or have questions about something, feel free to PM me or Lanfaer.
