Character Flaw Index

[Creed]

It's included in my recent post on the character creation process, but I thought it warranted its own page.

This morning I found a long list of possible character flaws that may be useful to some Scribes who are looking for new ways to make their characters different. I definitely find it informative, and there are some funny entries too.

You can find the list here: Character Flaw Index

Enjoy!

 

[Ekorus]

Thank you for this referrence! It also leads to some other very useful Indexes.

 

[La Volpe]

Thank you for this referrence! It also leads to some other very useful Indexes.

This keeps happening when I go to TV Tropes:
xkcd: Tab Explosion

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

This keeps happening when I go to TV Tropes:
xkcd: Tab Explosion

I KNOW!! That site is so...addictive...

 

[caters]

Do characters really need flaws? I mean sure different personalities is fine by me but flaws? Especially those phobias, are they really needed?

I mean sure in prehistoric times phobias might have been useful but now they are just annoying and can actually predispose us to more problems, especially heart problems. I personally have never had a phobia in my life. I have been scared before but mostly when young and I was able to endure it every single time. I might have been scared of lions in the past but not anymore(Not that I want to be close to lions but I think I could easily defend myself without looking scared if I was in that situation).

 

[Ireth]

Do characters really need flaws? I mean sure different personalities is fine by me but flaws? Especially those phobias, are they really needed?

I mean sure in prehistoric times phobias might have been useful but now they are just annoying and can actually predispose us to more problems, especially heart problems. I personally have never had a phobia in my life. I have been scared before but mostly when young and I was able to endure it every single time. I might have been scared of lions in the past but not anymore(Not that I want to be close to lions but I think I could easily defend myself without looking scared if I was in that situation).

Everyone has flaws. Everyone. It's part of what makes us human (or in the case of non-human but equally sentient characters, people). It doesn't have to be a phobia, it can be a mindset or a bad habit.

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Do characters really need flaws? I mean sure different personalities is fine by me but flaws? Especially those phobias, are they really needed?

I mean sure in prehistoric times phobias might have been useful but now they are just annoying and can actually predispose us to more problems, especially heart problems. I personally have never had a phobia in my life. I have been scared before but mostly when young and I was able to endure it every single time. I might have been scared of lions in the past but not anymore(Not that I want to be close to lions but I think I could easily defend myself without looking scared if I was in that situation).

Personally I love to give my characters phobias...

I also have quite a lot of them myself...

 

[La Volpe]

Do characters really need flaws? I mean sure different personalities is fine by me but flaws? Especially those phobias, are they really needed?

Flaws help with a few things:
a) Helps readers identify with the character
b) Allows the character to grow (this is an important one; if your character doesn't have flaws, how can s/he have a character arc?)
c) Makes interactions more interesting
etc.

You'll also note that 7 of the bucketload of flaws in that list could be classified as phobias. Most are other things.

I mean sure in prehistoric times phobias might have been useful but now they are just annoying and can actually predispose us to more problems, especially heart problems.

I don't think anyone perceives phobias as being useful.

I personally have never had a phobia in my life. I have been scared before but mostly when young and I was able to endure it every single time. I might have been scared of lions in the past but not anymore(Not that I want to be close to lions but I think I could easily defend myself without looking scared if I was in that situation).

I don't think a fear of lions is a phobia. Most people would be afraid of lions (when faced with one), because lions can legitimately murder you, no problem. Phobias, as far as I understand it, are irrational fears.

 

[DragonGurl]

It's included in my recent post on the character creation process, but I thought it warranted its own page.

This morning I found a long list of possible character flaws that may be useful to some Scribes who are looking for new ways to make their characters different. I definitely find it informative, and there are some funny entries too.

You can find the list here: Character Flaw Index

Enjoy!

Thank you so much for sharing this! This list is a great jumping off point for the "lie the character believes" which is where I like to start when planning a new project.