Page 60 - Character Designer's Handbook [2020 Sampler Edition]

Social Outcastsocial Outcasts
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Don't make the mistake of excluding the less savory people in society
as being people. Often the underprivledged,undereducated, or
otherwise outcasted masses can be a rich and unique outlook on
what makes people human and a rich source of inspiration for
characters.

Historical Figuresistorical Figures
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Human history is rich with a unique pool of larger than life
characters and inspirational figures. Truth is often stranger than
fiction so crack open a history book and find the inspiration for
everyone from visionaries to villains.

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Yourselfourself
You can't forget that you can be a rich source of inspiration for
character traits. While you never want to be too into yourself or
make the character too much you, having a thing or too in common
with a character can be a great way to become more invested in
them.

Using Existing Fictional Characters as Inspirationsing Existing Fictional Characters as Inspiration
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There is definitely a truth to the idea that imitation is flattery but often when we use
another person's created character for inspiration this can be a trap to take a little too
much away from their creation and not make something of your own.

While there's nothing necessarily wrong with using an existing fictional character for
inspiration it does tend to be better to have blinders to what your neighbor is doing in
most cases.

It doesn't mean you shouldn't find inspiration in existing characters but it does mean
that when you create a character you should start with a clean slate and make the
character with the intention they need to be unique. Instead of trying to aim for a
character like someone else's try instead to focus on the impact the character makes
and making one of your very own that can replicate that impact in their own unique
way.

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