I'd like to present a few of my game characters and get some feedback. Do you think they're rounded characters, what are good ways to present their personalities? These are questions i would like to ask. Also I'm willing to incorporate other ideas so don't be afraid to post some random ideas. First up is Cliff.

Name: Cliff

Age: 24

Height: 6ft 1 in

Weight: 245 lb

Body Type: Strong, Tough.

Likes: Working Out, Working on Motorcycle, Cats.

Bio: Strong in physique, mean spirited in outward personality. He isn't one to show mercy onto another person if they anger him, he will quickly remind you of what happens when you piss him off. Many see him as a violent simpleton who uses his strength to bully others to get what he wants. Even when he shows uncanny intelligence many are quick to think it's a fluke. Deep down he feels the pain of what others think of him, but he has grown so accustomed to the way others treat him that he doesn't know how to change. As a child he had an abusive and mentally unstable mother that took her aggression out on him; beating and belittling him. He interpreted his mother's actions as the way the world works: "The strong dominate the weak", this ideal has been burned into his mind.

Future: Can he find peace before he destroys himself?

As a character his (Cliff's) story is very believable and plausible. He's got conflict, and he's obviously a confrontational character capable of pushing things along. He would do well with a character that accentuates his issues but also negates them. He'd likely need someone who is very similar, but leads by example.

So a good complimentary character would be someone of action, but not necessarily with as much violent nature behind their actions. I was thinking of having a strong-minded love interest who sees through his persona and tries to help him. My idea was to have this love-interest be a playable character earlier on; as one of the main character's friends. This would allow me to establish the character's personality and allow more confrontation within the group when Cliff joins later on.

another good way to complement this guy is to show a what-could-be. You have one character who is very similar to Cliff, but was unable to leave the cycle of anger, and has become someone who no longer has any shred of nobility left in him. And then you have another wizened master type guy who was just like him, but then eventually overcame his anger somehow, and is now in full control of his potential.

While not a bad suggestion, I think the likelyhood of some of these characters not only traveling together but listening to one another would be difficult. A wizened master would likely be of no interest to Cliffe, who may feel invincible and lacking in humility. The more violent type would further Cliffe's problems, and create hostilities between the two forces trying for dominance.
My biggest fear with these two personality types, aside from cliches, are over-dramatic and forced situations between Cliffe and them.

A female companion with a gentler but still brazen touch would definitely be right for Cliffe, however it is unfortunately cliche. (But accurate to real life, tho these characters do not have healthy relationships down the road.) You may benefit more from having someone who can act as more of an older-brother-he-never-had. This can allow you to have freedom over the love interest being less cliche, and even keep the story from revolving too heavily around the romance.

Sounds exactly like my protagonist, but of the opposite sex. I feel cliché...

Agreed. The temptation is to have a love-interest woman thrown in to solve the problem.

However, your character seems to have a soft side when you say he likes cats. Now this is just postulating but cats are significantly weaker and more gentle than dogs. You have to have a certain personality and carefulness about your actions to really gain a cat's trust. So there IS already potential that Cliff can relate to something weaker than him.
(If you said he liked dogs, the tough guy image would be complete since dogs only behave once you assert that you the master are more aggressive and stronger than it. Playing with dogs is rough and tumble and dogs can fend for themselves. Cats mostly hiss and scratch in an effort to run away.)

LOL, so without even knowing it you have an established weakness about your character. So a new 'mommy' love interest is not really the best idea, but it might be interesting to have say a little girl. She could be a child or a young runaway teen. This child character could in turn help him win the affections of the demure young woman that Cliff has been admiring.

That's my two cents.

That was certainly a very informative post, I added the extra "likes Cats" at the last moment not thinking about. After reading your post my new idea is to incorporate the child idea and make this said child a team member. The child would notice Cliff's weakness and try to make him realize he doesn't have to be so defensive/aggressive all the time. Cliff would have trouble opening his feelings to other people but the child could help him, leading to his development throughout the story. Thank you for the great post.

It's hard to avoid the cliche romance within a story, its become such a staple in literature we tend to rely on it to hold the pages of our stories together. Also for the big brother Idea, I was thinking of having an older character (Around 40 or so) who would be an ex-soldier who would be a teacher at the local school. This new character has seen death, and the destructive nature of power-hungry individuals, and knows first hand that the need to have control over everything is just an illusion conjured up by the truly weak.

well, the characters I suggested to complement Cliff are not there to travel with him. They simply are encounters that holds a mirror up to Cliff's face and give him a glimpse of what could be. They don't even have to be in his life for too long. Just show up, give him something to think about, and then disappear again.

You seem to have a pretty good idea going. However the huge age gap between members may be problematic if there's a 40 year old, a child, and a young adult. The character would have very little rapport.

My suggestion would be this: Have there be a big-brother-he-never-had figure for Cliffe come into the story at some point. Have the love-interest be a run away closer in age to Cliffe, perhaps make them a refugee of some sort. Someone who can pull at his sympathy strings. The two together can channel Cliffe's rage and strength and anger into pride and a need to protect and defend. Turn his negatives into a positive through the help of these characters while diminishing his hostility and his self-loathing as he becomes more confident he's doing the right thing and being someone worth being, yada yada.

Something to think about or play with.

As for elliot's idea, there is potential in those as story-telling elements. Perhaps a bad-guy could be a person who has Cliffe's issues but deeper exaggerated and no one to save him.

Time for a new character, this time it's an older person without as many character flaws.

David Carter:
Age: 45
Height: 6ft 3 in
Weight: 175 lb
Occupation: Private Investigator
Weapon: Guns
Body Type: Lean, Toned
Likes: His Family, Paranormal Investigation, Traditional Japanese Art
Dislikes: Unreasonable People, Art Critics, Violence

Bio: A formerly reputable officer, he has since become a freelance detective. Though he isn’t officially part of the police force, they still will request his services often when dealing with investigative cases. Happily married and has a young daughter just entering elementary school, there isn’t much else he wants besides spending time with his family and studying art.

I think there is still more I could do with this character, but I'm not sure what. If any of you have an idea please post.

And here is another one, again please post any comments you may have about the characters. Negative and positive comments are both welcomed equally so don't fear posting.

Name: Gwen Held
Age: 23
Height: 5ft 5 in
Weight: 227 lb
Occupation: Cook, College Student
Weapon: Savior’s Ark
Body Type: Voluptuous
Likes: Italian Food, Anime, Technology
Dislikes: Evil, Unimaginative People, Spiders

Bio: We have all experienced moments of awakening; the realization of an inner talent that until that moment was hidden within ourselves. Some can draw, others are great at math, and even more are great lecturers. But how many do you know have mystic powers? Not many I’m guessing, hell it’s unheard of in real life right? That would normally be true if Miss Held hadn’t been born. Gwen was born with a great gift: the Savior’s Ark, with it she was destined to protect humanity from the shadowed forces of “Galva”. “Galva”, a dark entity said to have existed since the beginning of time, some say it was from this entity that gave birth to the universe, others say it is a parasite bent on devour all life. There isn’t much evidence proving either theory, but the evidence of its existence is undeniable to the few who can see its evil offspring.