Making a Character Development spreadsheet

[kerbonklin]

I decided to bust out excel/OpenOffice to fully work out  my still-under-construction skills.  I have columns of categories to describe each character in relation to their base class and some relations to the other party members, and other side-classes they can learn throughout the plot. (etc.)

Help me think of category ideas while I go refer to a game design booklet I have. (Or just other ideas of organization)

*refer to attached image of what I have currently*

Level of Flair refers to how fancy their actions are. (like heavy skill animations, etc. based on personality)

 

[Shaz]

What about appearance? For creation of sprites/faces.


Relationships with other actors, likes/dislikes - those will help you shape your dialogue.

 

[kerbonklin]

I'm going through my awesome video game design book  Level Up! (by Scott Rogers) and I made quite a few new columns.

One of them that I feel is super important is Professions, like "what does the character do for a living, and how do they apply that to various situations?"

Like for example taken from the book, if there's a demolition expert trying to break into a prison to free his friend, he won't negotiate but he will BLOW IT UP! (even if it's a door knob instead of turning it)

Another column would be Motivation and any conflicting motivations.

 

[WNxTyr4el]

This seems perfect for development of my next game! Can't wait to see the finished spreadsheet.

 

[kerbonklin]

This seems perfect for development of my next game! Can't wait to see the finished spreadsheet.

Something makes me afraid to know what your intentions are...

Anyways this thread is just for ideas and I will not be posting any kind of "updates", it was just an incomplete sample of documentation being used for my current project. It could possibly help others as a tip on management and organization, yes.

 

[C-C-C-Cashmere]

No, it is really useful, and don't doubt posting it. I never even thought of having character spreadsheets to represent their traits/profession etc. I guess I'm not a spreadsheet guy overall. Well, except when doing statistics

 

[cosmickitty]

not the same format... but might give you some ideas:

http://wooded-wolf.deviantart.com/art/1-to-1-Character-Development-103369578

a more visual version:

http://saiyandudette.deviantart.com/art/Character-History-and-Development-Meme-Blank-319720628

just interesting info:

http://linawifeofl.deviantart.com/art/Character-Development-Guide-134227248

 

[CWells]

Making an opeoffice/spreadsheet is great for managing a large library of skills and states definitely.

You could add sections for specials obtainted at X level

Elemental strengths/weaknesses

Parameters...

 

[WNxTyr4el]

It'd be great if you could post/attach a working xlsx document for us lazies to use for our projects . I'd make my own but I know you're working on one annnnd I'm lazy lol

 

[Wyn Wizard]

I'm not sure how well everyone is familiar with Microsoft Access, but you could create a very easy to use database that will make putting in items easier. When i download Microsoft Access, i will post an example of what i mean.

 

[WNxTyr4el]

I only have the Starter editions on my Desktop. I don't know what features would be locked. Plus my Access skills are...lacking somewhat

 

[kerbonklin]

If you wanted to be very complex, using Access would definitely help more than Excel spreadsheets / Google Doc Spreadsheet.

With Access you can do things useful things like Queries, Reports, simple calculations which are good enough for any needs, Relationships between your tables, etc. Make a table for Actors, Weapons, Armors, Items, Enemies, etc. and link them all together where necessary for easy viewing.

For example, make a relationship between Actor table > Class table > Weapon table + Armor table, and then you can have an extension + box next to each actor, pulling up Classes with another extension + box, that pulling up all possible weapons and armors for that class, and so on.

 

[WNxTyr4el]

...You know way more than I do lol. I can make simple reports and lists and maybe some stuff with relationships. I make Excel my ***** (Notrly but I'm good with it)

 

[Wyn Wizard]

wow, seems as though this unitelligent fool (meaning me) actually was able to help with something. lol.