Roleplaying - Individuality
Would you want to play in a party that consisted only of wizards?Well, maybe for a laugh, but we can all agree that a party of wizards will have some serious trouble in combat. In a well-rounded party, the roles of Striker, Defender, Leader, and Controller are represented.
You wouldn't want a party that consisted only of Controllers. Similarly, you wouldn't want a party that consisted solely of Comedians, or Mysterious Loners, or Zealous Fanatics.
Memorable characters fill distinct narrative roles.
When we observe other players roleplay well, we may find ourselves tempted to mimic the roleplayed behavior. Not only may the mimicked player be annoyed by having his thunder stolen, but the rest of the players will likely catch on to the mimicry and may be equally annoyed. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but by mimicking another character, we are not making our own character more interesting; we are making both our character and the mimicked character less interesting.
Instead of mimicking, think about what distinguishes your character from the other PCs. Think about your character's background, heritage, culture, homeland, and how these influence his perception of things. Think about how this perception differs from that of the other PCs.
Would an elf talk to a dwarf the same way a halfling would?
Would a wizard talk to a paladin the same way a cleric would?
Would a former soldier be as trusting as a former thief?
Would a former criminal have the same opinion of town guards as a former town guard?
Would someone raised in woodlands react the same way to visiting a big city as someone raised in a town?
By always keeping in mind what grants your character individuality among the PCs, roleplaying a memorable, unique character will come more naturally.
