Personality Options

Personality

The following is a list of possible personality traits ideals, bonds, and flaws, as well as linkages, for you to look over in relation to creating your character.

Traits

Despite my birth, I do not place myself above other folk. We all have the same blood.

Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want.

I always have plan for what to do when things go wrong.

I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick.

I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me.

I am horribly, horribly awkward in social situations.

I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.

I am tolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of other Powers That Be.

I am intolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of other Powers That Be.

I am intolerant of other faiths and condemn the worship of other Powers That Be.

I am tolerant of other faiths and condemn the worship of other Powers That Be.

I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster.

I am working on a grand philosophical theory and love sharing my ideas.

I ask a lot of questions.

I believe that everything worth doing is worth doing right.

I blow up at the slightest insult.

I bluntly say what other people are hinting or hiding.

I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.

I can stare down a hellbeast without flinching.

I change my mood or my mind as quickly as I change key in a song.

I connect everything that happens to me to a grand cosmic plan.

I don’t like to bathe.

I don’t like to get my hands dirty, and I won’t be caught dead in unsuitable accommodations.

I don’t part with my money easily and will haggle tirelessly to get the best deal possible.

I don’t pay attention to the risks in a situation. Never tell me the odds.

I eat like a pig and have bad manners.

I enjoy being strong and like breaking things.

I enjoy sailing into new ports and making new friends over a flagon of ale.

I face problems head-on. A simple direct solution is the best path to success.

I feel far more comfortable around animals than people.

I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer.

I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention.

I get bored easily.

I have a crude sense of humor.

I have a joke for every occasion, especially occasions where humor is inappropriate.

I have a lesson for every situation, drawn from observing nature.

I have a strong sense of fair play and always try to find the most equitable solution to arguments.

I hide scraps of food and trinkets away in my pockets.

I idolize a particular hero of my faith and constantly refer to that person’s deeds and example.

I judge people by their actions, not their words.

I keep multiple holy symbols on me and invoke whatever deity might come in useful at any given moment.

I know a story relevant to almost every situation.

I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to.

I like a job well done, especially if I can convince someone else to do it.

I like to squeeze into small places where no one else can get to me.

I like to talk at length about my profession.

I love a good insult, even one directed at me.

I misuse long words in an attempt to sound smarter.

I never pass up a friendly wager.

I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplations, becoming oblivious to my surroundings.

I once ran twenty-five miles without stopping to warn my village of an approaching threat. I’d do it again if I had to.

I place no stock in wealthy or well-mannered folk. Money and manners won’t save you from a hungry owlbear.

I pocket anything I see that might have some value.

I quote the sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation.

I quote misquote the sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation.

I see omens in every event and action. The Powers That Be try to speak to us, we just need to listen.

I sleep with my back to a wall or tree, with everything I own wrapped in a bundle in my arms.

I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story.

I take great pains to always look my best and follow the latest fashions.

I think anyone who’s nice to me is hiding evil intent.

I use polysyllabic words to convey the impression of great erudition.

I watch over my friends as if they were a litter of newborn pups.

I work hard so that I can play hard when the work is done.

I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.

I…speak…slowly…when talking…to idiots…which…almost…everyone…is…compared…to me.

If someone is in trouble, I’m always willing to lend help.

If you do me an injury, I will crush you, ruin your name, and salt your fields.

I’ll settle for nothing less than perfection.

I’m a born gambler who can’t resist taking a risk for a potential payoff.

I’m a hopeless romantic, always searching for that ‘special someone’.

I’m a snob who looks down on those who can’t appreciate fine art.

I’m always picking things up, absently fiddling with them, and sometimes accidentally breaking them.

I’m always polite and respectful.

I’m confident in my own abilities and do what I can to instill confidence in others.

I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets.

I’m driven by a wanderlust that led me away from home.

I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation.

I’m full of witty aphorisms and have a proverb for every occasion.

I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind.

I’m oblivious to etiquette and social expectations.

I’m rude to people who lack my commitment to hard work and fair play.

I’m used to helping out those who aren’t as smart as I am, and I patiently explain anything and everything to others.

I’m well known for my work, and I want to make sure everyone appreciates it. I’m always taken aback when people haven’t heard of me.

I’m willing to listen to every side of an argument before I make my own judgment.

I rarely speak, preferring gestures and the occasional grunt.

I’ve enjoyed fine food, drink, and high society among my temple’s elite. Rough living grates on me.

I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones.

I’ve read every book in the world’s greatest libraries–or like to boast that I have.

I’ve spent so long in the temple that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world.

My eloquent flattery makes everyone I talk to feel like the most wonderful and important person in the world.

My favor, once lost, is lost forever.

My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what.

My language is as foul as an it possibly can be.

No one could doubt by looking at my regal bearing that I am a cut above the unwashed masses.

Nobody stays angry at me or around me for long, since I can defuse any amount of tension.

Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.

Sarcasm and insults are my weapons of choice.

The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it.

The common folk love me for my kindness and generosity.

The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable–or where such things could be hidden.

The leader of my community has something wise to say on every topic, and I am eager to share that wisdom.

There’s nothing I like more than a good mystery.

Thinking is for other people. I prefer action.

To me, a tavern brawl is a nice way to get to know a new city.

When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.

Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors and spread gossip.

Ideals

Aspiration. I seek to prove my self worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Any)

Aspiration. I work hard to be the best there is at my craft.

Aspiration. I’m determined to make something of myself.

Aspiration. I’m going to prove that I’m worthy of a better life.

Aspiration. Someday I’ll own my own ship and chart my own destiny.

Beauty. What is beautiful points us beyond itself toward what is true.

Beauty. When I perform, I make the world better than it was.

Change. Life is like the seasons, in constant change, and we must change with it.

Change. The low are lifted up, and the high and mighty are brought down. Change is the nature of things.

Change. We must help bring about the changes the Powers That Be are constantly working in the world.

Charity. I always try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost.

Charity. I distribute money I acquire to the people who really need it.

Charity. I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need.

Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization.

Community. We have to take care of each other, because no one else is going to do it.

Creativity. I never run the same con twice.

Creativity. The world is in need of new ideas and bold action.

Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling.

Fairness. I never target people who can’t afford to lose a few coins.

Fairness. No one should get preferential treatment before the law, and no one is above the law.

Fairness. We all do the work, so we all share in the rewards.

Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well.

Family. Blood runs thicker than water.

Free Thinking. Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress.

Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them.

Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue his or her livelihood.

Freedom. The sea is freedom–the freedom to go anywhere and do anything.

Freedom. Tyrants must not be allowed to oppress the people.

Friendship. Material goods come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever.

Generosity. My talents were given to me so that I could use them to benefit the world.

Glory. I must earn glory in battle, for myself and my clan.

Greater Good. It is each person’s responsibility to make the most happiness for the whole tribe.

Greater Good. My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit.

Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others.

Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy.

Greed. I’m only in it for the money and fame.

Greed. I’m only in it for the money.

Honesty. Art should reflect the soul; it should come from within and reveal who we really are.

Honor. I don’t steal from others in the trade.

Honor. If I dishonor myself, I dishonor my whole clan.

Ideals aren’t worth killing for or going to war for.

Independence. I am a free spirit–no one tells me what to do.

Independence. I must prove that I can handle myself without the coddling of my family.

Independence. When people follow orders blindly they embrace a kind of tyranny.

Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge.

Live and Let Live. Meddling in the affairs of others only causes trouble.

Logic. Emotions must not cloud our logical thinking.

Logic. Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true, or our logical thinking.

Master. I’m a predator, and the other ships on the sea are my prey.

Might. If I become strong, I can take what I want–what I deserve.

Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins.

Might. The strongest are meant to rule.

Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter.

Nature. The natural world is more important than all the constructs of civilization.

No Limits. Nothing should fetter the infinite possibility inherent in all existence.

Noble Obligation. It is my duty to protect and care for the people beneath me.

People. I help people who help me–that’s what keeps us alive.

People. I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I perform. That’s all that matters.

People. I’m committed to my crewmates, not to ideals.

People. I’m committed to the people I care about, not to ideals.

People. I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care.

Power. I hope to one day rise to the top of my faith’s religious hierarchy.

Power. If I can attain more power, no one will tell me what to do.

Power. Knowledge is the path to power and domination.

Power. Solitude and contemplation are paths toward mystical or magical power.

Redemption. There’s a spark of good in everyone.

Respect. All people, rich or poor, deserve respect.

Respect. People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Respect. Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity.

Respect. The thing that keeps a ship together is mutual respect between captain and crew.

Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority.

Responsibility. It is my duty to respect the authority of those above me, just as those below me must respect mine.

Retribution. The rich need to be shown what life and death are like in the gutters.

Self-improvement. The goal of a life of study is the betterment of oneself.

Self-Knowledge. If you know yourself, there’re nothing left to know.

Sincerity. There’s no good pretending to be something I’m not.

Tradition. The ancient traditions of worship and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld.

Tradition. The stories, legends, and songs of the past must never be forgotten.

Bonds

A powerful person killed someone I love. Someday soon, I’ll have my revenge.

A proud noble once gave me a horrible beating, and I will take my revenge on any bully I encounter.

An injury to the unspoiled wilderness of my home is an injury to me.

Everything I do is for the common people.

I am in love with the heir of a family that my family despises.

I am the last of my tribe, and it is up to me to ensure their names enter legend.

I come from a noble family, and one day I’ll reclaim my lands and title from those who stole them from me.

I created a great work for someone, and then found them unworthy to receive it. I’m still looking for someone worthy.

I entered seclusion because I loved someone I could not have.

I entered seclusion to hide from the ones who might still be hunting me. I must someday confront them.

I escaped my life of poverty by robbing an important person, and I’m wanted for it.

I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

I fleeced the wrong person and must work to ensure that this individual never crosses paths with me or those I care about.

I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again.

I have an ancient text that holds terrible secrets that must not fall into the wrong hands.

I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds against that person’s.

I owe a debt I can never repay to the person who took pity on me.

I owe everything to my mentor–a horrible person who’s probably rotting in jail somewhere.

I owe me life to the priest who took me in when my parents died.

I owe my guild a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.

I owe my survival to another urchin who taught me to live on the streets.

I protect those who cannot protect themselves.

I pursue wealth to secure someone’s love.

I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.

I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do great deeds and win it back.

I sponsor an orphanage to keep others from enduring what I was forced to endure.

I suffer awful visions of a coming disaster and will do anything to prevent it.

I swindled and ruined a person who didn’t deserve it. I seek to atone for my misdeeds but might never be able to forgive myself.

I want to be famous, whatever it takes.

I was cheated of my fair share of the profits, and I want to get my due.

I will become the greatest thief that ever lived.

I will bring terrible wrath down on the evildoers who destroyed my homeland.

I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.

I will do anything to prove myself superior to me hated rival.

I will face any challenge to win the approval of my family.

I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my place of business and ruined my livelihood.

I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic.

I wish my childhood sweetheart had come with me to pursue my destiny.

I work to preserve a library, university, scriptorium, or monastery.

I worked the land, I love the land, and I will protect the land.

I would die to recover an ancient artifact of my faith that was lost long ago.

I would do anything for the other members of my old troupe.

I would lay down my life for the people I served with.

I’ll always remember my first ship.

I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it.

I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it.

I’m loyal to my captain first, everything else second.

I’m still seeking the enlightenment I pursued in my seclusion, and it still eludes me.

I’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor.

In a harbor town, I have a paramour whose eyes nearly stole me from the sea.

It is my duty to protect my students.

It is my duty to provide children to sustain my tribe.

I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question.

My family, clan, or tribe is the most important thing in my life, even when they are far from me.

My honor is my life.

My house’s alliance with another noble family must be sustained at all costs.

My ill-gotten gains go to support my family.

My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love.

My isolation gave me great insight into a great evil that only I can destroy.

My life’s work is a series of tomes related to a specific field of lore.

My loyalty to my sovereign is unwavering.

My tools are symbols of my past life, and I carry them so that I will never forget my roots.

My town or city is my home, and I’ll fight to defend it.

No one else is going to have to endure the hardships I’ve been through.

Nothing is more important than the other members of my hermitage, order, or association.

Nothing is more important that the other members of my family.

One day I will return to my guild and prove that I am the greatest artisan of them all.

Ruthless pirates murdered my captain and crewmates, plundered our ship, and left me to die. Vengeance will be mine.

Should my discovery come to light, it could bring ruin to the world.

Someone I loved died because of a mistake I made. That will never happen again.

Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind.

Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back.

Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back.

Somewhere out there I have a child who doesn’t know me. I’m making the world better for him or her.

The common folk must see me as a hero of the people.

The ship is most important–crewmates and captains come and go.

The workshop where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me.

Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for.

Flaws

A scandal prevents me from ever going home again. That kind of trouble seems to follow me around.

An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

By my words and actions, I often bring shame to my family.

Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.

Don’t expect me to save those who can’t save themselves. It is nature’s way that the strong thrive and the weak perish.

Gold seems like a lot of money to me, and I’ll do just about anything for more of it.

I am dogmatic in my thoughts and philosophy.

I am easily distracted by the promise of information.

I am inflexible in my thinking.

I am slow to trust members of other races

I am suspicious of strangers and suspect the worst of them.

I am too enamored of ale, wine, and other intoxicants.

I can’t help but pocket loose coins and other trinkets I come across.

I can’t keep a secret to save my life, or anyone else’s.

I can’t resist a pretty face.

I can’t resist swindling people who are more powerful than me.

I follow orders, even if I think they’re wrong.

I harbor dark bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation failed to quell.

I hate to admit it and will hate myself for it, but I’ll run and preserve my own hide if the going gets tough.

I have a ‘tell’ that reveals when I’m lying.

I have a weakness for the vices of the city, especially hard drink.

I have an insatiable desire for carnal pleasures.

I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior.

I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.

I have trouble trusting in my allies.

I hide a truly scandalous secret that could ruin my family forever.

I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely.

I let my need to win arguments overshadow friendships and harmony.

I like keeping secrets and won’t share them with anyone.

I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives–and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret.

I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.

I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat.

I overlook obvious solutions in favor of complicated ones.

I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple’s hierarchy.

I remember every insult I’ve received and nurse a silent resentment toward anyone who’s ever wronged me.

I secretly believe that everyone is beneath me.

I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others.

I too often hear veiled insults and threats in every word addressed to me, and I’m quick to anger.

I turn tail and run when things go bad.

I will never fully trust anyone other than myself.

I would kill to acquire a noble title.

I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

I’d rather kill someone in their sleep than fight fair.

I’d risk too much to uncover a lost bit of knowledge.

If I’m outnumbered, I always run away from a fight.

If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it.

I’ll do anything to get my hands on something rare or priceless.

I’ll do anything to win fame and renown.

I’ll say anything to avoid having to do extra work.

I’m a sucker for a pretty face.

I’m always in debt. I spend my ill-gotten gains on decadent luxuries faster than I bring them in.

I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure.

I’m convinced that no one could ever fool me in the way I fool others.

I’m horribly jealous of anyone who outshines my handiwork. Everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by rivals.

I’m never satisfied with what I have–I always want more.

I’m quick to assume that someone is trying to cheat me.

I’m too greedy for my own good. I can’t resist taking a risk if there’s money involved.

In fact, the world does revolve around me.

It’s not stealing if I need it more than someone else.

Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I stop and take notes on its anatomy.

My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning.

My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.

My pride will probably lead to my destruction

No one must ever learn that I once stole money from guild coffers.

Now that I’ve returned to the world, I enjoy its delights a little too much.

Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.

Once I start drinking, it’s hard for me to stop.

Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation.

People who don’t take care of themselves get what they deserve.

Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land.

The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear.

The people who knew me when I was young know my shameful secret, so I can never go home again.

The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.

There’s no room for caution in a life lived to the fullest.

Unlocking an ancient mystery is worth the price of a civilization.

Violence is my answer to almost any challenge.

When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money.

When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it.

Linkages

Linkages connect the Characters to each others. Linkages require all parties in the linkage to agree to it, and to agree on the nature of it. Lnkaes come in two parts: A nature of the linkage, and a basis for the linkage.

Nature

Familial

Siblings

Distant Cousins

Family Friends

Cousins who are equally likely to inherit

In love with the same person

Black sheep of the family

Member in good standing of the family

Friendship

Friendly Rivals

Childhood Friends

Friend of a Friend

Former co-workers

Neighbors

Fellowship

Longtime adventuring companions

Reluctant Allies

Bound together by a sacred oath

Members of a guild

Traveled to town together

One is the brains, one is the brawn

Survived with

Escaped with

On the run with

Secrecy

The only survivors

The only two who know the secret

Members of a secret cult

Witnesses to an assassination

Each carries half of a treasure map

You keep him close because he knows your secret

Battle

Brothers in arms

Mercenary and Employer

Fought in the militia together

Served opposite sides in the last war

A blood debt still needs to be repaid

Refugee & Helping Hand

Magical

Both carry a curse

Trained together

Servants of the same Power That Is

One dreamed that the other would save their life long before they met

Linked together by a dark ritual

Protected by

Is magically bound to

Basis

To Get Rich

By killing every monster you see

So you never have to adventure again

To establish a stronghold

Enough to be above the law

-er than anyone else

Enough to pay for your habit

Enough to pay for your obsession

Enough to pay for your research

Enough to pay for your affairs

To Be A Hero

To one special person

In the eyes of a mentor

And lord it over everybody else

Who nobody will fuck with

If only in appearance

That bards will pen epics about

To Crush Your Enemies

And loot their corpses

And hear the lamentations of their people

To serve your homeland

To serve your House

To serve your Liege

And get your revenge

To make an area safe for you to operate in as you please

But leave a few alive to spread the tale

To Get Away

From this town

From a life of poor decision making

And put your bad luck behind you

From a life of crime

With reinventing yourself

From your mentor

From your House

From your past

To Get Respect

On a throne of your foes’ skulls

And impose your justice

From your peers

From your brothers in arms

From your church

From your guild

From your House

From your family

From your mentor

To earn the Lord’s favor

And find a following

To Indulge

In drink and luxuries

In forbidden rituals and lore

In bloodshed

On a home of true grandeur

A friend

In quiet contemplation in your faith

Well Met

An abandoned farmstead

The shrine at the crossroads

The ancient oak

The gypsy fortune teller

The charred remnants of a trade caravan

Drinking buddies with

Business associate with

Lost a bet to

Is indebted to