Weaknesses for Characters

Blind Hemingway

Ancient Iwaku Scum from 2006.
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Surrealism, Surreal Horror (Think Tim Burton), Steampunk, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Spaghetti Westerns, Mercenaries, Dieselpunk, Cyberpunk, Historical fantasies
Workshop written by RORY.

I think that while it's good to get into a character's mindset so thoroughly, it's not particularly healthy to not list down a character's weaknesses either. I think physically listing them down at least would help you keep in touch with the character even further on, when you refer back to your application. It helps to keep your character grounded, in that sense, when you look back at your app.

Almost every RP requires some form of a weakness. Some people don't like to think of them, because roleplaying is their escape from their lives which have their weaknesses in them. Others come up with weirds approaches like peas or Alarice (Though she is a very powerful). If you look at your app sheet and see no weaknesses there, you might become so attached to your character that you might start god-moding. I mean, it's very natural for everyone, including myself, to want to be the best or the most perfect person around, but that's not realistic, nor is it fun for everyone else.

This leads to a good question: What is a weakness?

Using Wikipedia, they suggest: Weakness is a symptom used to describe a number of different physical or perceivedconditions, including: lack of muscle strength, malaise, dizziness or fatigue.

Yes, I did underline perceived on purpose. The reason why, is a lot of times characters seem to have a lot of things wrong with them like being schizo, mentally unstable, can't remember their past, or any other number of soap opera drama reasons. This in of itself is not a bad thing; however, when not played properly (meaning doing basic research) these weaknesses tend to be highly romanticized and turned into making the character bad ass.

A lot of people are afraid to give their characters serious failings, but to be honest it is these failings that make a character more interesting.

So, I say the better term to use for weakness, is flaw.

A character flaw is a limitation, imperfection, problem, phobia, or deficiency present in a character who may be otherwise very functional. The flaw can be a problem that directly affects the character's actions and abilities, such as a violent temper. Alternatively, it can be a simple foible or personality defect, which affects the character's motives and social interactions, but little else.

Going further into this aspect, there are two sorts of flaws present in writing; minor and major. RPers tend to focus more on the majors.

What's the difference?

Minor flaws are imperfections which serve to distinguish the character in the mind of the reader / viewer / player / listener, making them memorable and individual, but otherwise does not affect the story in any way. This can be anything from having a thick accent, nervous reactions, etc. This is key to making a sympathetic character and breaking away from archetypes or stock weaknesses and over all should have a greater role in game play.

Major flaws are a much more noticeable and important hindrance which actually impairs the individual, whether physically, mentally or morally. Sometimes major flaws are not actually negative per se (such as devout religious beliefs or a rigid code of honour), but are classified as such in that they often serve to hinder or restrict the character in some way. Most common example used in a lot of RPs are Schizophrenia and amnesia. Major falls need to serve as some form of direction for your character, like how a villain causes their downfall or a paladin questioning his code of honour.

Moving away from the stock notions of amnesia, how about not being able to keep committed relationships? Or not being able to drive? Or being really smart and talented but being held back because everyone else says you suck? Also try to avoid being "bitchy" and "grumpy." This works well if one or two characters have this as an issue but if everyone has that angst issue, you'll end up with a game full of some very cranky people! If you wanna be more out there, if your character is over protective, how about extending that into be controlling?

There are also tragic flaws, most often expressed in Greek lore of how a hero's pride and arrogance most often brings their own downfall and normally death; such as Jason abandoning Medea and ends up dying destitute and a lone under a dry rotting Argos. Unless a story calls for it, most RPs generally don't take this route unless your name is Asmo.

In summary, remember: Don't play down your weaknesses or prevent them from ever coming up in play! Likewise, if your character is a mean sonofabitch but he is totally an angel around his friends, what's the point? Also make sure you try to balance things out between major and minor flaws. All of these styles help add personality to a character and allows you to move away from aminu styles.
 
123 Ideas for Character Flaws, from Writers Write

  1. Absent-minded – Preoccupied to the extent of being unaware of one’s immediate surroundings. Abstracted, daydreaming, inattentive, oblivious, forgetful.
  2. Abusive – Characterized by improper infliction of physical or psychological maltreatment towards another.
  3. Addict – One who is addicted to a compulsive activity. Examples: gambling, drugs, sex.
  4. Aimless – Devoid of direction or purpose.
  5. Alcoholic – A person who drinks alcoholic substances habitually and to excess.
  6. Anxious – Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous.
  7. Arrogant – Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance. Inclined to social exclusiveness and who rebuff the advances of people considered inferior. Snobbish.
  8. Audacious – Recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like; insolent; braze, disobedient.
  9. Bad Habit – A revolting personal habit. Examples: picks nose, spits tobacco, drools, bad body odour.
  10. Bigmouth – A loud-mouthed or gossipy person.
  11. Bigot – One who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.
  12. Blunt – Characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion. Frank, callous, insensitive, brusque.
  13. Bold – In a bad sense, too forward; taking undue liberties; over assuming or confident; lacking proper modesty or restraint; rude; impudent. Abrupt, brazen, cheeky, brassy, audacious.
  14. Callous – They are hardened to emotions, rarely showing any form of it in expression. Unfeeling. Cold.
  15. Childish – Marked by or indicating a lack of maturity; puerile.
  16. Complex – An exaggerated or obsessive concern or fear. (List specific complex.)
  17. Cruel – Mean to anyone or anything, without care or regard to consequences and feelings.
  18. Cursed – A person who has befallen a prayer for evil or misfortune, placed under a spell, or borne into an evil circumstance, and suffers for it. Damned.
  19. Dependent – Unable to exist, sustain oneself, or act appropriately or normally without the assistance or direction of another.
  20. Deranged – Mentally decayed. Insane. Crazy. Mad. Psychotic.
  21. Dishonest – Given to or using fraud, cheating; deceitful, deceptive, crooked, underhanded.
  22. Disloyal – Lacking loyalty. Unfaithful, perfidious, traitorous, treasonable
  23. Disorder – An ailment that affects the function of mind or body. (List the disorders name if they have one.) See the Mental Disorder List.
  24. Disturbed – Showing some or a few signs or symptoms of mental or emotional illness. Confused, disordered, neurotic, troubled.
  25. Dubious – Fraught with uncertainty or doubt. Undecided, doubtful, unsure.
  26. Dyslexic – Affected by dyslexia, a learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to recognize and comprehend written words.
  27. Egotistical – Characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance. Boastful, pompous.
  28. Envious – Showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another’s advantages; covetous, jealous.
  29. Erratic – Deviating from the customary course in conduct or opinion; eccentric: erratic behaviour. Eccentric, bizarre, outlandish, strange.
  30. Fanatical – Fanatic outlook or behaviour especially as exhibited by excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions on some subject.
  31. Fickle – Erratic, changeable, unstable – especially with regard to affections or attachments; capricious.
  32. Fierce – Marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid.
  33. Finicky – Excessively particular or fastidious; difficult to please; fussy. Too much concerned with detail. Meticulous, fastidious, choosy, critical, picky, prissy, pernickety.
  34. Fixated – In psychoanalytic theory, a strong attachment to a person or thing, especially such an attachment formed in childhood or infancy and manifested in immature or neurotic behaviour that persists throughout life. Fetish, quirk, obsession, infatuation.
  35. Flirt -To make playfully romantic or sexual overtures; behaviour intended to arouse sexual interest. Minx. Tease.
  36. Gluttonous – Given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink. Voracious, ravenous, wolfish, piggish, insatiable.
  37. Gruff – Brusque or stern in manner or appearance. Crusty, rough, surly.
  38. Gullible – Will believe any information given, regardless of how valid or truthful it is, easily deceived or duped.
  39. Hard – A person who is difficult to deal with, manage, control, overcome, or understand. Hard emotions, hard hearted.
  40. Hedonistic – Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
  41. Hoity-toity- Given to flights of fancy; capricious; frivolous. Prone to giddy behaviour, flighty.
  42. Humourless – The inability to find humour in things, and most certainly in themselves.
  43. Hypocritical – One who is always contradicting their own beliefs, actions or sayings. A person who professes beliefs and opinions for others that he does not hold. Being a hypocrite.
  44. Idealist – One whose conduct is influenced by ideals that often conflict with practical considerations. One who is unrealistic and impractical, guided more by ideals than by practical considerations.
  45. Idiotic – Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless.
  46. Ignorant – Lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge.
  47. Illiterate – Unable to read and write.
  48. Immature – Emotionally undeveloped; juvenile; childish.
  49. Impatient – Unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless. Unable to endure irritation or opposition; intolerant.
  50. Impious – Lacking piety and reverence for a god/gods and their followers.
  51. Impish – Naughtily or annoyingly playful.
  52. Incompetent – Unable to execute tasks, no matter how the size or difficulty.
  53. Indecisive – Characterized by lack of decision and firmness, especially under pressure.
  54. Indifferent – The trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally, remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern. Having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless.
  55. Infamy – Having an extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act that affects how others view them.
  56. Intolerant – Unwilling to tolerate difference of opinion and narrow-minded about cherished opinions.
  57. Judgemental – Inclined to make and form judgements, especially moral or personal ones, based on one’s own opinions or impressions towards others/practices/groups/religions based on appearance, reputation, occupation, etc.
  58. Klutz – Clumsy. Blunderer.
  59. Lazy – Resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness.
  60. Lewd – Inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious. Obscene or indecent, as language or songs; salacious.
  61. Liar – Compulsively and purposefully tells false truths more often than not. A person who has lied or who lies repeatedly.
  62. Lustful – Driven by lust; preoccupied with or exhibiting lustful desires.
  63. Masochist – The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.
  64. Meddlesome – Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner, given to meddling; interfering.
  65. Meek – Evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant; humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness.
  66. Megalomaniac – A psycho pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence.
  67. Naïve – Lacking worldly experience and understanding, simple and guileless; showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgement.
  68. Nervous – Easily agitated or distressed; high-strung or jumpy.
  69. Non-violent – Abstaining from the use of violence.
  70. Nosey – Given to prying into the affairs of others; snoopy. Offensively curious or inquisitive.
  71. Obsessive – An unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone.
  72. Oppressor – A person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures, to keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority.
  73. Overambitious – Having a strong excessive desire for success or achievement.
  74. Overconfident – Excessively confident; presumptuous.
  75. Overemotional – Excessively or abnormally emotional. Sensitive about themselves and others, more so than the average person.
  76. Overprotective – To protect too much; coddle.
  77. Overzealous – Marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea.
  78. Pacifist – Opposition to war or violence as a means of resolving disputes. (Can double as a merit in certain cases)
  79. Paranoid – Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others.
  80. Peevish – Expressing fretfulness and discontent, or unjustifiable dissatisfaction. Cantankerous, cross, ill-tempered, testy, captious, discontented, crotchety, cranky, ornery.
  81. Perfectionist – A propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect or does not meet extremely high standards.
  82. Pessimist – A tendency to stress the negative or unfavourable or to take the gloomiest possible view.
  83. Pest – One that pesters or annoys, with or without realizing it. Nuisance. Annoying. Nag.
  84. Phobic – They have a severe form of fear when it comes to this one thing. Examples: Dark, Spiders, Cats
  85. Practical – Level-headed, efficient, and unspeculative. No-nonsense.
  86. Predictable – Easily seen through and assessable, where almost anyone can predict reactions and actions of said person by having met or known them even for a short time.
  87. Proud – Filled with or showing excessive self-esteem and will often shirk help from others for the sake of pride.
  88. Rebellious – Defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition; insubordinate; inclined to rebel.
  89. Reckless – Heedless. Headstrong. Foolhardy. Unthinking boldness, wild carelessness and disregard for consequences.
  90. Remorseless – Without remorse; merciless; pitiless; relentless.
  91. Rigorous – Rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard; demanding strict attention to rules and procedures.
  92. Sadist – The deriving of sexual gratification or the tendency to derive sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others. Deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty.
  93. Sadomasochist – Both sadist and masochist combined.
  94. Sarcastic – A subtle form of mockery in which an intended meaning is conveyed obliquely.
  95. Sceptic – One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
  96. Seducer – To lead others astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; corrupt. To attempt to lead or draw someone away, as from principles, faith, or allegiance.
  97. Selfish – Concerned chiefly or only with oneself.
  98. Self-Martyr – One who purposely makes a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy from others, as a form of manipulation, and always for a selfish cause or reason.
  99. Self-righteous – Piously sure of one’s own righteousness; moralistic. Exhibiting pious self-assurance. Holier-than-thou, sanctimonious.
  100. Senile – Showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength or mental functioning, esp. short-term memory and alertness, as a result of old age or disease.
  101. Shallow – Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious.
  102. Smart Ass – Thinks they know it all, and in some ways they may, but they can be greatly annoying and difficult to deal with at times, especially in arguments.
  103. Soft-hearted – Having softness or tenderness of heart that can lead them into trouble; susceptible of pity or other kindly affection. They cannot resist helping someone they see in trouble, suffering or in need, and often don’t think of the repercussions or situation before doing so.
  104. Solemn – Deeply earnest, serious, and sober.
  105. Spineless – Lacking courage. Cowardly, wimp, lily-livered, gutless.
  106. Spiteful – Showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite; vindictive person who will look for occasions for resentment. Vengeful.
  107. Spoiled – Treated with excessive indulgence and pampering from earliest childhood, and has no notion of hard work, self-care or money management; coddled, pampered. Having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or over-solicitous attention.
  108. Squeamish – Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted.
  109. Stubborn – Unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; bull-headed. Firmly resolved or determined; resolute.
  110. Superstitious – An irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear from an irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
  111. Tactless – Lacking or showing a lack of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others.
  112. Temperamental – Moody, irritable, or sensitive. Excitable, volatile, emotional.
  113. Theatrical – Having a flair for over dramatizing situations, doing things in a ‘big way’ and love to be ‘centre stage’.
  114. Timid -Tends to be shy and/or quiet, shrinking away from offering opinions or from strangers and newcomers, fearing confrontations and violence.
  115. Tongue-tied – Speechless or confused in expression, as from shyness, embarrassment, or astonishment.
  116. Troublemaker – Someone who deliberately stirs up trouble, intentionally or unintentionally.
  117. Unlucky – Marked by or causing misfortune; ill-fated. Destined for misfortune; doomed.
  118. Unpredictable – Difficult to foretell or foresee, their actions are so chaotic it’s impossible to know what they are going to do next.
  119. Untrustworthy – Not worthy of trust or belief. Backstabber.
  120. Vain – Holding or characterized by an unduly high opinion of their physical appearance. Lovers of themselves. Conceited, egotistic, narcissistic.
  121. Weak-willed – Lacking willpower, strength of will to carry out one’s decisions, wishes, or plans. Easily swayed.
  122. Withdrawn – Not friendly or Sociable. Aloof.
  123. Zealous – A fanatic.