Character Mechanisms - creating character profile instructions (part 9)

This is part of a series of posts to create a character using Character Mechanisms using the Character Profile sheet.

From the last post, I created knowledge and career for the character profile information. I'll focus on the relationship first and do the dream second. If I can, I'll finish up with the remaining generators except that skipped one. Finally, I'll show the entire character profile sheet finished.

√Group A Important

√Group B Reliant

Except skipped combined action engine

Group C Flavor

√Knowledge Generator

√Career Generator

Relationship Generator

Dream Generator

Fact Generator

Modifier Generator

Group D

Sound Generator

1. Relationship Generator

Who does my character's know?

6

4

6 merchant

4 designer, lone wolf personality

This character knows a designer, probably a clothing or armor designer. This relationship fits in nicely with the character's social, acknowledgment & self-actualize, ugliness motives.

Style is everything.

2. Dream Generator

Who did my character dream about at night?

I'll roll for two and maybe a plot and/or twist if needed.

first symbol

11

1

11 character, role or aspect of self

1 mother, help, care, or sacrifice

second symbol

1

6

1 animal, instinct or motive

6 cat, create or luck

plot

6

9

6 temptation

9 prevent

twist

11

5

11 reversal of fulfillment

5 when, timing is perfect

3. Fact Generator

What does my character sense?

1

5

1 see

5 structure

4. Sound Generator

What does my character hear?

10

11

10, 11 swish

5. Modifier Generator

How is my character's dream modified?

2

10

2 degree

10 nearly

Unnamed character's dream which the character remembers constantly

So, bringing it all together, I think the dream is that the character's mother is trying to reach the family cat in the road to save it from the oncoming structure, a vehicle. A swish sounds out, however, something is preventing her from reaching the cat even though there is plenty of time. The mother is nearly escaping, but can't quite break free from a dark tentacle-like force.

The Final Character sheet.

This character can be used now, with high amount of detail, with a name, race, and maybe gender. Additional details can be added to this, if the character becomes more important.

Click to enlarge image of Dakota character profile.

I assigned an androgynous name, Dakota, so this character could be any gender or race — even dwarf. This is a sample character for the Character Mechanisms book which will go into the next update.

This finishes doing all of the random tables and engines found in Character Mechanisms, except the combined action engine. I wont do that skipped step since I don't have any real instructions in the current book edition. That would probably entail adding some more stimulus response actions based on the total known details.

Thank you for reading this series.

I'll next switch to something else for a while.

Pick up Character Mechanisms   

Story Mechanisms

Individually value $13

Fable part 2: bird symbolism

Myths Series
Myth making: my plan
What are myths, legends, and folklore? Definitions (Quotes)
Joseph Cambell : Myths

Myths: Types and functions

Mythology: How they are created

Myth #1: Blood and Water - Begin
Myth #2: From them, all become
Type of Myth #1 & #2; Fable #1: part 1
Fable part 2: bird symbolism

In the last post I discussed the desire to create my first fable. But first I wanted to research how others made fables.

First I look at the 'bird'.

What have birds symbolized?

Often, bird tracks symbolize good omens and authority for Native Americans. Crows that meant wisdom and eagles that meant courage and strength. The hawk might have meant natural forces or protection from evil spirits.

Past Fables

Aesop, Greek fable storyteller, has several bird related tales.

In "The Crow and the Pitcher," the crow unable to drink from the low sitting water uses stones put into the pitcher to bring the water up until it could drink.

In "The Farmer and the Nightingale," after being caged by the farmer, the bird tricks the farmer. The bird does this by promising things that seem more than what the farmer really receives.

In "The Ant and the Dove," the story shows a good karma effect where the dove saves the ant. The ant then saves the dove.

In "The Fox and the Crow," the story shows not to trust flatterers.

In most of the other tales listed, the either the bird's song, splendor, or wisdom - very similar to Native American beliefs.

Christianity

Christian bird symbols
In Christianity, the dove stood for one member of the trinity of gods.

The eagle is used as a symbol of Christ, John the baptist, and baptism.

The pelican is used as a symbol of atonement and redemption.

The phoenix has been used as a symbol of the resurrection.

Chinese

Chinese bird symbols
In Chinese tales, birds sometimes bring help or visit virtuous people. Owls may be a sign of ill omen.

The hen is one of the Chinese zodiac animals. It may represent wisdom, courage, loyalty, and determination.

The crane symbolizes longevity and wisdom. The crow is a symbol of filial piety. It's call can be considered an ill omen.

A dove is a symbol of long life and fidelity.

Ducks are symbols of happiness and the mandarin duck is loyalty.

An eagle symbolizes strength and lonely struggle.

The phoenix is a symbol of joy and peace.

Birds in dreams

birds in dreams
Birds in dreams can represent goals, aspirations, and hopes.

Next post

In the next post I'll look at the snake.