What is Your Opinion on Original Character Profiles?

[kinder]

What do you think is better: when someone has a very detailed character profile or when they only have the basics? 

At times I have seen incredibly well thought out and detailed characters, long descriptions on everything from their appearance to their personality. Some people have spent years mastering their characters while on the other hand I have come across people who have a preference of typing out just their character's name, age, and sending over who their face claim is. I am somewhere in between the two; usually I type out details for about a few days at most.

And what are your skills and weaknesses when it comes to character information?

My skills tend to go toward typing out my character's history/background. I can type with ease 2,000 words on my character's background but I incredibly weak when it concerns their personality. For me it is very difficult to accurately describe my character's personality because I see there being a lot to it and when attempting to describe it, I often repeat myself or see there are contradictions. It is even more difficult when I am making a character with some form of mental disorder. Because although I am very well educated in psychology and mental disorders, it seems to be harder for me to describe than it is for me to play it out.

[an0nymouse]

I'm going to be on all of your discussion posts, so don't mind me. 

Anyway, I don't mind how detailed my partner wants to be or doesn't want to be with their characters, simply because I used to only give the basics because that's how everyone at the time was doing it (or, at least, everyone I was roleplaying with).

I, myself, spend a great deal of time - sometimes days - working on a character, simply because I love knowing that I put my all into them. There's often a lot of unnecessary, useless information put into my characters, but I put them because it makes me feel better. 

My skills are definitely backgrounds and appearance information. To me, background information comes easily and, when I get into it, I can easily write information for three pages just about what has gone on in my character's past. Appearance is just kind of a given. 

My biggest weakness is personality. I can write one and play it to perfection, but my issue is that I dislike having a personality that's set in stone. Everyone molds and changes under different circumstances, contrary to what fiction wants to make you see. The big, bad biker who is always angry can definitely start bawling because someone he loved died. That mobster who's totally apathetic can become enraged when he totals his car. My thing is, as previously stated, personalities are not set in stone. It's a lot easier to play a blank slate than something that has to be "shallow, snooty, and totally ladylike." 

[kinder]

That is fine! :D

I agree with you on all points really. That is why when people are able to type all this information on personality I am very surprised and somewhat overwhelmed with how much detail there is. Not that that is a bad thing of course! And those who prefer to give basics I can also understand, some people prefer to really let their character develop during the roleplay. But history to me feels like it would be very easy -- whether someone types a paragraph or three pages worth.

[loverkitty]

For me, I am also somewhere in the middle. Usually, when it comes to making an OC unless I already had it made prior to asking to roleplay, I just follow the format used by my rp partner. That way I know I am putting the necessary info out for them to read and what they want to know. My strength is definitely writing out their personality but I suuuuuck at writing biographies and backstories because I have an idea in my head of the backstory but when I try and write it out I can't seem to find the right words to describe what I am trying to say.

[sacredwarrior]

I love details so when I make an OC, I usually try to make them detailed but to the point so they'll be easy to understand.