Character Writing 101: Building a Character From Scratch! | Narrative Academy

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  • Опубліковано 21 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1 тис.

  • @TheStarfishface
    @TheStarfishface  4 місяці тому +589

    Hope you all enjoy my new little guys! I had a lot of fun with this one- I might do more like it in the future, if folks are interested? I like making new characters!!
    Also yes I got Latin and German confused, y'all can stop leaving comments about it 😅
    And if you want more writing and storytelling advice, check out my book!

    • @ianricardogiese4605
      @ianricardogiese4605 4 місяці тому +9

      As a character builder enjoyer myself, this video was very fun and enjoyable to watch. Really hope to see a sequel of it, tackling other elements on designing stories, especially one composed of different protagonist, maybe world building and character development. Really loved how they all turned out. NYXs design is so cool, really showing that chaotic and rebellious aura of his. Talos is such an interesting approach to a Druid, a really outside the box character when it comes to a dwarf and a Druid. And Asher is honestly my favorite out the trio, the color palette is so good, plus he reminds me a LOT of Mumbo Jumbo, he does feel like he has the same energy as him, quirky sometimes chaotic inventor.

    • @AzariahMarinaStarcaster
      @AzariahMarinaStarcaster 4 місяці тому +3

      I honestly hope you do more videos of this nature in the future! Watching artists turn randomly generated prompts into characters is really fun!

    • @נוהברנדל
      @נוהברנדל 4 місяці тому +3

      Can we get a link to the charts you used to randomize the characters? It seems really fun

    • @Fire_Fox_Gaming
      @Fire_Fox_Gaming 4 місяці тому +2

      The gnome looked like Coran from Voltron before you colored him 😂

    • @thereaper8878
      @thereaper8878 4 місяці тому +2

      this video has been helpful ive been wanting to make a sorta webtoon/story about a character who function as a sorta Anti-Villain using a concept very little people even use or know about the main idea is a group of people all made deals with a devil to gain powers to kill all of the worlds sinners the mains enemies would be holly beings like angels and such but also the normal worlds criminals i have the concept i just never knew what the main characters should be there names back story motivations for it all this has helped a little tho

  • @bleachbleachBLEACHER
    @bleachbleachBLEACHER 4 місяці тому +2593

    In the simplest terms - character creation is just a long process of asking yourself questions over and over again until you like the answers.

    • @potatodog1
      @potatodog1 3 місяці тому +18

      thats true

    • @Trazor_
      @Trazor_ 3 місяці тому +7

      real

    • @skylernaegaming124
      @skylernaegaming124 3 місяці тому +4

      True

    • @montserratmarroquin400
      @montserratmarroquin400 3 місяці тому +10

      So true
      I am constantly changing things about my ocs
      Especially if it involves them having more angst

    • @JoyfulObserver-y8h
      @JoyfulObserver-y8h 2 місяці тому +2

      Facts!!! And it takes time sometime like a week or more if you are thinking on the side with other things

  • @Ace_of_Storm
    @Ace_of_Storm 4 місяці тому +2024

    9:19 "so now we've given him some kind of important connection in his life... let's tear it away"
    -every angsty artist ever

    • @lavndvrrart
      @lavndvrrart 4 місяці тому +99

      @@Ace_of_Storm if you don’t do that, do you really have an oc?

    • @Ace_of_Storm
      @Ace_of_Storm 4 місяці тому +48

      @@lavndvrrart fair point

    • @alexarose832
      @alexarose832 4 місяці тому +62

      @@lavndvrrart no trauma, no Oc.

    • @babooblaster8763
      @babooblaster8763 4 місяці тому +19

      @@alexarose832Fr lol😂

    • @labbit35
      @labbit35 4 місяці тому +29

      I swear to god I feel like 90% of OCs have some sort of sad backstory or sum shit

  • @flabelle44
    @flabelle44 4 місяці тому +2057

    Maybe Nyx's family starts trying to track him down under the guise of bringing their sweet boy home but reality its because they're afraid that he'll out the secret of his parents scandal

    • @bella_daze3092
      @bella_daze3092 4 місяці тому +58

      I LOVE THAT❤❤❤❤

    • @lavndvrrart
      @lavndvrrart 4 місяці тому +131

      @@flabelle44 maybe they’re using a certain magical creature that they bought from poachers to track nyx down

    • @flabelle44
      @flabelle44 4 місяці тому +36

      @@lavndvrrart that would be cool

    • @flabelle44
      @flabelle44 4 місяці тому +91

      @@lavndvrrart Nyx's family could also be a point of conflict between him and Asher because Asher is trying to get Nyx's family to sponser his invention but Nyx is trying to convince him otherwise.

    • @x2bounty
      @x2bounty 4 місяці тому +72

      @@flabelle44 You know something that might be interesting? What if the fight that Talos and Nyx had wasn't resolved? And then this happens as a storybeat, coming in to make it SEEM like Talos had a point, but ultimately prove Nyx's point when it turns out to be a sham, and perhaps Talos could stand up for Nyx, which is something Nyx had always secretly wanted someone to do

  • @greenhydra10
    @greenhydra10 4 місяці тому +1123

    Maybe Nyx's former "family" was responsible for Talis's animal buddy going missing in some way? And I can only imagine they would have had SOME dealings with Asher in some way or another.

    • @marbelezju
      @marbelezju 4 місяці тому +118

      the nobles asher worked for boasted about his inventions to other rich families, including nyx's. nyx admired these inventions from afar, and wished he could get his hands on one, which lead to nyx deeply admiring asher's work and was always enamored by all new inventions asher produced. talis didn't ever feel the need to use these inventions considering he was fine without much in the first place, which led to asher trying to invent something talis would like and use. wowie, i never thought i could come up with something like that

    • @Im-extra-ordinary
      @Im-extra-ordinary 4 місяці тому +44

      @@greenhydra10 going off of this, maybe the dealings Asher had with Nyx’s family had actually helped them kidnap Talis’s buddy, basically meaning that Asher had unknowingly helped them steal something very dear to Talis, and after finding out about it, he feels guilty, even if he did it unknowingly which is why Asher is set on helping Talis get his buddy back, as well as making inventions to help everyone! Maybe Nyx at first only wanted to help to spite his “family” and get back at them one last time, but during the journey mostly ends up doing it because he genuinely cares!

    • @S4ph_Wuz_H3r3
      @S4ph_Wuz_H3r3 3 місяці тому +2

      @bread-dq3jh BFDI FAN SPOTTED!!!

    • @ThatGirlWhoDraws1
      @ThatGirlWhoDraws1 3 місяці тому +1

      @@S4ph_Wuz_H3r3 IM A BFDI FAN(ny) 2

    • @MattLourence
      @MattLourence 3 місяці тому +3

      @@Im-extra-ordinary I LOVE THESE IDEAS SM

  • @flomstuff-kk7fn
    @flomstuff-kk7fn 4 місяці тому +252

    "Now he has a personal connection. Lets tear it away"
    It really do be like that

  • @Koispeck
    @Koispeck 4 місяці тому +2171

    Nyx is my new son. Thank you Star for creating him.

  • @acloneofmyself
    @acloneofmyself 4 місяці тому +528

    ngl i love the the idea of tallis teaching nyx to fish, like a good ol’ dad and son bonding day and that nyx acts like he hates it but secretly enjoys it and maybe he confesses a few things too because he feels so comfortable in that situation? not really a story plot but just a cute lil fluff idea, could all be happening while asher is like at a meeting pitching something

    • @bella_daze3092
      @bella_daze3092 4 місяці тому +18

      I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS

    • @acloneofmyself
      @acloneofmyself 4 місяці тому +27

      @@bella_daze3092 could probably also add tallis saying to nyx before they go that its a “father and son bonding session” and nyx bluntly telling him that he’s not his dad, but by the end nyx is just confessing stuff to tallis who’s really understanding and stuff and offering advice and as a result, nyx just tells him “thanks, dad”

    • @superdiruiz1086
      @superdiruiz1086 4 місяці тому +14

      Extremely heartfelt moment. Panning shot. “AND THAT’S HOW I BELIEVE WE CAN USE PIGEONS TO COMBAT EVIL!”

    • @S4ph_Wuz_H3r3
      @S4ph_Wuz_H3r3 3 місяці тому +3

      @acloneofmyself II FAN SPOTTED!!!

    • @acloneofmyself
      @acloneofmyself 3 місяці тому

      @@S4ph_Wuz_H3r3 omg hey hello fellow fan :333

  • @Blub_Shaped_Kitsune
    @Blub_Shaped_Kitsune 4 місяці тому +364

    I have a silly idea. Maybe Asher tried to make his proposition of being an inventor to Nyx’s family but got rejected and went to another family. Then when Nyx scurried away and was off on his own, Asher remembered him. That could be why he went out of his way to comfort the poor kid and raise him in a sense (other than needing someone taller than himself) since he kinda knew them when he tired to pitch his inventions. Perhaps he stayed at Nyx’s house on a ‘trial’ to see what he could make but in the end, nothing caught the nobles eye and he was cast aside, just like everyone else who didn’t please them.

    • @Jr837_
      @Jr837_ 4 місяці тому +17

      aww i could se Nyx offering to be Asher's apprentice or bodyguard for work

    • @ChenayaDeSilva
      @ChenayaDeSilva 2 місяці тому +2

      Nope it's not silly it's mastermind

    • @Znerpznarpy
      @Znerpznarpy Місяць тому +2

      This is genius

  • @MossCoveredBonez
    @MossCoveredBonez 4 місяці тому +44

    the fact that the characters arent described using their class goes to show they have enough of their own character that they can exist outside of TTRPG mechanics and i love that

    • @TheStarfishface
      @TheStarfishface  4 місяці тому +13

      Yeah I was mostly using D&D stuff as a springboard, I very much wanted them to be able to exist outside the context of TTRPGs. :>

  • @GhoulishGallery1
    @GhoulishGallery1 4 місяці тому +514

    I'm sorry, I'm on the lineart for character 3 rn and I just screamed "MUMBO JUMBO???" at the top of my lungs, I love him so much

    • @s1lv3rp4w3dc4t
      @s1lv3rp4w3dc4t 4 місяці тому +42

      I KNOW

    • @wunderiee
      @wunderiee 4 місяці тому +18

      @@GhoulishGallery1 LITERALLY

    • @mackenziereasor9134
      @mackenziereasor9134 4 місяці тому +14

      SAME 😂

    • @carimeslockdownedtree2654
      @carimeslockdownedtree2654 4 місяці тому +26

      EXACTLY. And with the coloring he looks like the blond Mumbo interpretation my beloved hssmhskadg

    • @chabslopez
      @chabslopez 4 місяці тому +23

      LITERALLY. the second I saw the mustache I yelled out “MUMBO JUMBO!?” and then my sister kept asking me what that was 😂

  • @crushstuff6097
    @crushstuff6097 4 місяці тому +220

    Imagine talis’ old friend from the island appears again in a rare animals sale from poachers and a cool heist happens, talis wanting to break it out, nyx going with talis fighting everyone, while Asher tried to talk the saler into selling it to him for a low price not wanting to cause a scene (also serving distraction).

    • @benblueblade4143
      @benblueblade4143 Місяць тому +2

      Honestly perhaps a point of conflict if the old friend is a more common creature: Have it be sold for a price that the party can actually easily afford without issue. Asher wants to just pay the price and be done with it, either because he doesn't want to cause a scene or out of fear the poachers may be just a bit too much for him and his found family. Talis on the other doesn't want to just let them walk away so easily and refuses to endorse this sort of market at all. (And Nyx is just waiting in the background wondering when they can start punching)

  • @KarahKat
    @KarahKat 4 місяці тому +209

    me: pauses video, scurries to my closet to grab paper and pen to write down tips from the video and to make a character of my own using the charts.
    loved the video, it was exactly what I needed to help me write the characters for the current story :)

  • @VoidedAura_xX
    @VoidedAura_xX 3 місяці тому +68

    "Now he has a personal connection. Lets tear it away"
    Only the realest Oc creators give their most loved Ocs trauma

  • @Oceane1803
    @Oceane1803 4 місяці тому +730

    Star : "Wild Magic"
    Me : *sweats in Fool's Gold*

    • @dawnvee3796
      @dawnvee3796 4 місяці тому +72

      Fool's gold traumatized me too lol! Freaked out when our barbarian picked a wild magic option when she leveled up!

    • @Oceane1803
      @Oceane1803 4 місяці тому

      @@dawnvee3796 I can get that. Also lucky you, you get to be in a campaign. I wish I could be in one but can't find a DM anywhere.

    • @_TotallyNotReal
      @_TotallyNotReal 4 місяці тому +34

      Adore the og, love sands. That series (??) shaped my identity... Also that statement is so right, poor monkey boy

    • @Oceane1803
      @Oceane1803 4 місяці тому +20

      @@_TotallyNotReal Yeah Sands is pretty great. I honestly admire how Dingo manages to constantly stay in character with Rooster. I know I couldn't with a character like him.

    • @xpearl_heartx
      @xpearl_heartx 4 місяці тому +24

      The second she said “sorcerer” and “subclass” I was waiting and *praying* for wild magic to be mentioned

  • @lapiscarrot3557
    @lapiscarrot3557 4 місяці тому +370

    I may be going crazy, but character 3 (the gnome) really reminds me of Professor Heimerdinger from Arcane

  • @piecanl
    @piecanl 3 місяці тому +127

    20:53 the Minecraft brainrot is destroying my mind I immediately thought this was mumbo jumbo 😭

  • @OliverParker-r4d
    @OliverParker-r4d 4 місяці тому +78

    I love Asher Pennybrook's design! He looks like he'd be an eccentric noble!🧐 He looks like you'd meet him at a fancy event, and in the end, he'll have somehow convinced you to sign up as his latest test subject for his experiment of sending humans to one of Jupiter's moons! 🛸🌛

  • @medli20
    @medli20 4 місяці тому +94

    Talus has such surfer dad energy and I am here for it! All three of them are incredibly charming and easy to be enamored with, but I think he's my favorite of the trio. I want to kick back and have some fish tacos with him-- he seems like he'd have all sorts of wild stories to tell lol.
    And thank you so much again for the shout-out at the end; it's made my ENTIRE week and I just have the biggest, goofiest grin plastered on my face rn you have no idea 😄💖

  • @Zaxlfang
    @Zaxlfang 3 місяці тому +36

    32:50 You are correct! I has ideas =D
    I imagine Nyx would be the only real fighter in this party since Tallis just doesn't seem like the fighting type and Asher's magic is too unreliable since it's so random, so it would make sense to try and balance Nyx in some way so that the other two can't just always rely on him and his crazy fighting skills whenever they get into conflict.
    Nyx being grossed out by fish in that drawing could go hand in hand with making him not know how to swim or being afraid of the ocean or something like that. It would be a humorous yet effective way to balance him, especially if they are having to sail the seas to find Tallis's animal friend. And knowing Nyx he'd try to tough it out and keep it a secret even if he's having a mini panic attack on a boat or something which could lead to so many great bonding moments when Tallis and Asher find out or try to help him (Which could be especially tense if they find out because they realize he's drowning and they need to save him) and that just fits the found family vibes so well.
    If Nyx's nobel family is the one responsible for Tallis's sea buddy going missing that could make for a great reveal later in the story.
    And if the nobel family that Asher worked for just so happened to be Nyx's nobel family then that plot line could be what connects all three characters and could lead to some interesting plot points of Asher knowing Nyx from when he was very very little, and then they meet again and Nyx has like 1 or 2 memories of Asher like he was some distant uncle he never really knew which would just be really funny "Hello Nix my old friend! My how you've grown, last I saw you were hardly up to my chin!" "It's 'Nyx'... and who are you?" But would also help them bond a bit more since Asher remembers Nyx as a young child and I imagine would have been much kinder to Nyx than his own family was even back then.
    I can imagine Asher always pulling random trinkets out of his (Seemingly bottomless) pockets any and EVERY time the cast encounters a problem, and then they try to use it and it just flat out explodes on them. Very quickly Tallis and Nyx learn not to trust anything Asher invents. It makes sense since he uses wild magic which is unpredictable and luck-based, and could also serve as a chekhov's gun where one of his inventions actually works for once and saves the day somehow.
    Great video btw! Making characters is always difficult, although for me it's usually the storyline that starts causing actual problems, so I'm looking forward to that follow up video =D

  • @lovelybab7629
    @lovelybab7629 4 місяці тому +108

    If Asher’s hair was black, he would’ve looked so much like Mumbo Jumbo

  • @LaviniaConklin-il4nf
    @LaviniaConklin-il4nf 4 місяці тому +56

    YES, PLEASE make a follow up! I've been struggling to write characters, and even once I have them making their story is quite difficult. (I also maybe just fell in love with these three)

  • @deadberrry_6387
    @deadberrry_6387 27 днів тому +3

    the lineart of the gnome sorcerer is so funny because it looks like mumbo jumbo in the wild life series. all the designs are stellar btw

  • @Duck1sQuack
    @Duck1sQuack 3 місяці тому +16

    That “let’s tear it away” at. 9:23 sounded personal
    Edit: 10 likes? That’s honestly a lot for me lmao

  • @Corvid_COS
    @Corvid_COS 2 місяці тому +8

    I was watching the gnome speedpaint and oh my god it's Mumbo Jumbo himself

  • @maledictionwolf
    @maledictionwolf 4 місяці тому +33

    There's a book called Fantasy Art Genesis that has a ton of roll tables for random creature generation, plus action and emotion tables. Plus a lot of instructional stuff on drawing animals, plants and minerals.
    I love that book. While it's mainly based on creature and item generation, it can also be used for weird character generation and worldbuilding, and I think you'd have a lot of fun with it.

  • @laureldreams4108
    @laureldreams4108 4 місяці тому +34

    I don't know if you like minecraft youtoubers but for some reason this three give strong Scar, Grian, Mumbo vibes, maybe its just the designs that reminds me of them idk. I loved them, they seem pretty interesting, I wonder what the plot of their overall story is!

  • @cussundriakneal9904
    @cussundriakneal9904 4 місяці тому +10

    This honestly feels like a wonderful basic breakdown of 'how to build a *D&D* character' , 'D&D classes races basic' , while also being a 'How to Advance Character Creation that breaks character sterotypes'
    I'm going to be sending this to my new players as a gentle guideline on how D&D characters work, and how you can game plan for them! Thank you so much, these three are so wonderful and already so full of life and charm. I really admire your creativity. ❤

  • @Junipershroom
    @Junipershroom 4 місяці тому +96

    I love being gifted a member 😊
    Was anyone else in the stream where she drew the party dinamics?

    • @mewmewkitten
      @mewmewkitten 4 місяці тому +4

      It's so awesome also yess

    • @SpiritWillow
      @SpiritWillow 4 місяці тому +4

      Same

    • @discordiacreates6669
      @discordiacreates6669 4 місяці тому +6

      I got into that stream at about the halfway point and missed the context for the characters but it was fun anyway. Also, wish I knew who decided my day should start with a gifted membership for such a great channel, no chance to thank them smh 💙

  • @xaitheloser
    @xaitheloser 4 місяці тому +44

    YESSS TALES OF ALDERWOOD MENTION!!! I love that webcomic, I'm so glad you enjoy it too!!!!!!!!!!
    Also, this video was very educational! I feel like I learned so much, and I'm so excited to make some blorbos of my own!!!

  • @ech0fox122
    @ech0fox122 4 місяці тому +20

    I’d be interested in a storyline building video!!
    Also for the challenge idea the party could face could be that Nyx’s family were the cause of the little creature Taliss befriended. Maybe the creature was kept as a pet or showpiece or killed by Nyx’s family. This leads to Taliss going into a revenge streak, wanting to hurt the family who stole and mistreated his beloved friend.
    This leads to Nyx having to be the voice of mercy, but not forgiveness. Switching up the roles of the two.
    Very random idea but I hope everyone who reads it can enjoy it!

  • @PressPlaytoJayson
    @PressPlaytoJayson 4 місяці тому +18

    As a currently on-and-off storyteller, this series can actually help me with the constant imposter syndrome and push me to keep trying. Here's to more of these, this was a great video.

    • @dandelionbush6176
      @dandelionbush6176 3 місяці тому +1

      You should keep trying, especially if it gives you joy, keep up the work!!

  • @catlovesdonuts7456
    @catlovesdonuts7456 3 місяці тому +5

    as someone who loves to make characters and worlds but struggles with fleshing out story lines FOR said characters and worlds, I am BEGGING you to make that part two. (and also i love this party of little guys and would love to see more of them.)

  • @konata4567
    @konata4567 3 місяці тому +9

    I've been suffering an art/writer's block since early 2022. This video has reinvigorated me to get back into developing my own characters. You made the process look so fun and simple that I get excited to work on them. That hasn't happened in such a long time! This video is so important, thank you for making it

  • @PeriluneStar
    @PeriluneStar 4 місяці тому +23

    I literally love all three of them, please somebody make a comic or story about them JSKDLD-

    • @lavndvrrart
      @lavndvrrart 4 місяці тому +6

      @@PeriluneStar i have too many projects going on rn but THE PARACITES IN ME WANT TO

    • @GlowingAmberRaiinYTT
      @GlowingAmberRaiinYTT 4 місяці тому +3

      I'M ON IT

    • @lavndvrrart
      @lavndvrrart 4 місяці тому +2

      @@GlowingAmberRaiinYTT tell me when it’s out!!!

    • @PeriluneStar
      @PeriluneStar 4 місяці тому +2

      @@GlowingAmberRaiinYTT YESSS PLEASE TELL ME WHEN YOU FINISH

  • @JarenJohnson-rb4dt
    @JarenJohnson-rb4dt 3 місяці тому +6

    @TheStarfishface, I like to make stories that take things from stuff I like, Star Wars, Zelda, Batman, Sonic, Etc, and mash them up into one big universe but I can never get my characters right, this video really helped me, and showed me new ways of making more fleshed out characters so thanks, I look forward to watching more of your content :)

  • @ihavenohotcocoa6101
    @ihavenohotcocoa6101 4 місяці тому +11

    honestly I'd love to see these three become the mascots of the Narrative Academy in a way! Like showing how to build a narrative through these three.

  • @bonnie-cb1jb
    @bonnie-cb1jb 5 днів тому +2

    i wanted help with a character ive been working on reviving, but now im extremely hooked on yours and need a whole tv show 😭

  • @speckledblender5495
    @speckledblender5495 4 місяці тому +21

    I had a little thought. What if Asher accidentally makes a deal with Nyxs noble family and it makes it so that he can't go back on the deal. Talon and Nyx have to save Asher from this deal causing a lot of trama and issues or something like that. Just an idea. I think these guys are wonderful and I love your art keep up the amazing work.

    • @kasaiqueen3794
      @kasaiqueen3794 3 місяці тому +1

      thats so clever!! it could also be interesting to have Asher willingly make a deal with Nyx's family, which causes a huge fight between Nyx ans Asher and a rift in the party. the tension from that could be really cool, and a great character development moment for Asher especially

  • @GhostCracker0
    @GhostCracker0 20 днів тому +1

    Tbh my fav is Asher I love him sm. I just imagine him being a tiny kind of clueless guy who pops up insistently asking to shake your hand and pitching an idea.

  • @discordiacreates6669
    @discordiacreates6669 4 місяці тому +12

    I always love breakdown/explanation videos, as someone who can be a bit... Dense, with instructions, I always appreciate such thorough explanations and seeing the drawing process in the background is a nice added treat for visuals to go along with the explanation. Also nice to finally get the backstory for the fisherman guy because I missed that part of the stream and he looked like a nice character. Tbh, my way of designing characters is... Chaotic at best lmao, tend to be the type to come up with the character role or setting then fill in the character based on vibes second, though I've tried a bit of randomization before or making characters based on a specific goal, like never actually having a vampire character even once but having at least one werewolf so I tried that at one point just to check that off the list. I have a problem with sometimes designing characters with no real story or goal though and I honestly hardly ever know what I can or want to do with them so they tend to eventually get tossed out for lack of reason to keep them (I had over 20 OCs once, yes, I'm one of those people) but some I just... Really like. Would love to hear any suggestions for what to do with such characters, aside from a couple, because character design is pretty fun and I think I'm already decent with all of these tips, but not so much putting any character to use and most I haven't even attempted to draw lol. Good video though, watching this while a bit tired, might rewatch later in case I missed or forget something

  • @OhCramity
    @OhCramity 4 місяці тому +66

    Woah this is so cool!!! I just finished the vid and i absolutely love it! I'm already in love with these characters! would it be ok If i were to post fanart of these characters? with credit to you of course

    • @TheStarfishface
      @TheStarfishface  4 місяці тому +17

      Yeah sure! Just tag me if you post them on socials so I can share :>

  • @bright_and_breezy-n2e
    @bright_and_breezy-n2e 4 місяці тому +10

    Okay, so before watching the video, seeing the prompts had me flooded with an idea I wanted to share. Had to get it out of my system yk?
    It starts with the Halfling Gnome, who lives in a quiet village with his mother and father. Only, the wanderlust she inherited from her father calls her to wander the dangerous world, which her parents don't let her. Her father seems to be content with with the everyday people of her village and assumes he was just lucky enough to have gotten it out of his system by the time he met mom. She paints as a way to immerse herself into her imagination, letting her mind wander at the very least. One day, a lord and his family travel through and take note of her Artistic ability, and offers the sponsor her if she comes with them. Her parents agree and so does she under the idea that this is her chance to explore, so she can get it out of her system liker her dad. Once there she spends her time frolicking and exploring and using that as inspiration for her art, which the family sell. Then, one day, a Tiefling, our tiefling, shows up. They're mad and hysterically trying to convince their family to denounce their evil business practices. In the commotion it's revealed that the father is a tiefling as well, and this, combined with a call to adventure, convinces the Gnome into running away with the the Tiefling form earlier. On a cavern headed to the city, they explain that they joined a monastery in the mountains to learn to overcome their darker impulses as a tiefling, but he couldn't get used to the modest living conditions which caused the elder to kick him out. However, after burning the bridge with his family, he's now drifting along in search of finishing finding inner strength along the way. Eventually running into danger along the route, combat ensues, the tingling of the wonderlust manifest in sorcerer powers, that the Gnome uses to help the tiefling. At the city, they run into the dwarf who, in the form of a rat, steals their coin. This causes the tiefling to chase him because he broke the law and hates criminals, and the Gnome to follow suit because she needs money for art supplies as well as because she's enjoying running throughout the city like a mini adventure. The dwarf then runs into a bigger thug and his friends, and the 3 work together to get back the money. The tiefling, ever striving to be a virtuous person, gives agrees to split the gold with him (It pains them inside), and the Gnome does too since she can earn more with her paintings. The Dwarf, seeing these guys as suckers, decides to stick with them and protect them from the other thugs while he leeches off their talents. Then, they go on quest everyday to make money, the Gnome insisting to only sell her painting as a last resort since, she wants to go exploring anyway, and they're her paintings. The Drawf and Tiefling agree and shenanigans ensue.
    The tieflings growth in the beginning stems from self hatred, and a belief that he's responsible for making up for his conniving family, because of this, he's extremely prone to seeing things black and white as a coping mechanism to avoid the nuance of his feelings. The Gnome increasingly struggles with the fact that her curiosity doesn't seem like an itch that can be scratched, and starts to feel guilty about maybe never being able to settle down and returning to her parents, like she knows they want her to. The Dwarf believes more in nurture than nature, and that money is the ultimate nurturer. He's money hungry, seeing coin as freedom, and attaches his potential as a person to it. He's one with the nature of the city, and as a result, can only turn into things like strays and rats and the occasional sewer crocodile in the beginning.
    The Gnome uses charcoal as her medium for her art. The Tieflings monastery's main color is red. The dwarf's favorite thing to steal is blue jewelry because it reminds him of the open sky.

    • @aiimen3339
      @aiimen3339 3 місяці тому +1

      Wait this is so cool

    • @bright_and_breezy-n2e
      @bright_and_breezy-n2e 2 місяці тому

      @aiimen3339 thank you, I'm turning it into book now. I loved it so much. Hopefully a comic too

  • @snakebox4049
    @snakebox4049 День тому +1

    as soon as i saw the dnd thing i starting chuckling while grabbing my dice baggie which was almost 20 sets in it

  • @c-o-b-o-2010
    @c-o-b-o-2010 4 місяці тому +10

    This is a video I love to see. I am always trying to be to make my characters better visually and personally so that the story can be more interesting to read and more emotional for the potential audience to get invested in.

  • @Jinx_yippyyepp
    @Jinx_yippyyepp Місяць тому +1

    WE JUST WATCHED THIS IN CLASS NOW IM OBSESSED WITH YOUR STUFF, YOU NEVER STOPED TALKING ABOUT THINGS I LOVE AHHHHH!!!!

  • @sugareimon
    @sugareimon 4 місяці тому +6

    Maybe their stories tie together! Nyx’s family might have an interest in magic technology, so they hired Ash- maybe their new inventor works with the body parts of exotic magical creatures, or the creatures themselves, and that’s where Tal’s friend went. This would lead to an easy cast of villains and interesting interactions and drama! Maybe Ash has some guilt for what he contributed to, and Nyx gets to interact spitefully with his former family, and Tal can find actual anger within himself at Nyx’s family, etc etc!

  • @SnowFox-gv2rn
    @SnowFox-gv2rn 4 місяці тому +7

    Thanks for making this video!! I’ve been struggling with my character writing for a while, and this is just what I needed!

  • @loucievaconsin2698
    @loucievaconsin2698 4 місяці тому +17

    20:52 why does that he like mumbo though... ;D

    • @itzevelynn
      @itzevelynn 4 місяці тому +5

      I'm so glad someone else thought the same thing

    • @cinnarollinq
      @cinnarollinq 3 місяці тому +2

      @@loucievaconsin2698 even the story is mumbo-coded 😭

  • @randoontheinternet8007
    @randoontheinternet8007 5 днів тому +2

    Thinking about Nyx trying on a fake beard to fit in
    Also tallis drinking and being a giggly drunk
    Also asher doing street performances and either Nyx or tallis thinking its super corny
    I like these lil guys and love dwares and was so excited to see him

  • @RainGames2024-SecondTime
    @RainGames2024-SecondTime 3 місяці тому +6

    “Ok, so now he has a big connection in his life, now let’s rip it away >:]” most relatable character building sentence EVER

  • @madelinesardinha1707
    @madelinesardinha1707 19 днів тому +2

    12:28 hay, pissst, you know Tieflings can be like mushroom themed thing bc they can be dependents of an underdark thing, maybe (I'm pretty sure at least, tell me if I'm wrong 😅)

    • @ryanbrady6252
      @ryanbrady6252 8 днів тому

      @@madelinesardinha1707 ive never heard that before but tbh that sounds rad af

  • @SirCasticComics
    @SirCasticComics 4 місяці тому +6

    Incredible advice as always!! One of my favorite things about being an artist is how eager everyone is to share their knowledge and insight, thank you so much for doing that! You’ve been a big inspiration to me in helping me to start actually posting my webcomic and promoting it here in UA-cam, which has been so so so encouraging and empowering! It’s helping make a lifelong dream of mine come true. Thank you for sharing everything you do!! Hopefully I can give back to the art and webcomics communities just as much as they’ve given me.

  • @missicequeen2963
    @missicequeen2963 5 днів тому +2

    Omg I remember reading castoff and then I realized that was you

  • @yourlocaldisappointment
    @yourlocaldisappointment 4 місяці тому +3

    Watching you draw lineart is so fun 😭💗 everything is so clean

  • @kartumn
    @kartumn 4 місяці тому +3

    16:09 THE WAY I WAS SO CAUGHT OF GUARD BECAUSE THIS IS THE EXACT REASON WHY MY DND CHARACTER IS CALLED NIX. Though he's not a tiefling he's a Tabaxi but the name was also a cruel name given to him by others (though rather a nickname that eventually became his)

  • @casey_3
    @casey_3 День тому +1

    ts so genius I'm OBSESSED. ty for the inspo 🙏

  • @Mithical_C
    @Mithical_C 4 місяці тому +22

    I would LOVE to read a story like this one!!

  • @SparkBoltfire
    @SparkBoltfire 4 місяці тому +5

    I got a pretty interesting mix that I like a lot.
    Species - Animal Hybrid (cat)
    Gender - My Choice
    Class - Rouge
    I didn't do the background as I wanted to make my own
    Main Color - Yellow
    They tie in nice in my opinion

    • @AzariahMarinaStarcaster
      @AzariahMarinaStarcaster 3 місяці тому

      ​@@SparkBoltfire The combo I got was:
      Species: Dog/Wolf Hybrid (technically, I originally got human, but I decided I was allowed a re-roll if I got human)
      Gender: Nonbinary
      Class: Fighter
      Background: Acolyte
      Main Color: Yellow
      I couldn't figure out how to connect all of these things together until I rediscovered the Rune Knight subclass, which utilizes runes created by the giants. That prompted me to look into the giant pantheon only to discover "The Smiling God" Stronmaus, the neutral good giant deity of the sun, sky, sea, and weather. I'm still working out how and why this character ended up at a temple that worshipped the giant pantheon, but Stronmaus provided nearly everything else I needed, including a reason to have yellow be a prominent part of the character's color scheme and a template for the kind of personality this character has, which is extremely joyful and potentially kinda overzealous in that regard. I considered that he might even have some of Stronmaus's physical characteristics, mainly the wavy, auburn hair cloud giants generally depict him with.

  • @BooThyGhost
    @BooThyGhost 4 місяці тому +3

    I am in love with these characters! A follow up video would be amazing! I'm invested in these three goobers and would love to see how you'd flesh out this found family.

  • @julisantillan6379
    @julisantillan6379 4 місяці тому +1

    I fell in love with Asher!!! His relationship with Talis intrigued me also. The three party members are so different, it could make a fire story 🔥

  • @ShrillyGlitch
    @ShrillyGlitch 4 місяці тому +4

    I have a idea for Nyx! Since he's actively trying to prove himself (potentially whenever he can) it could accidently cause unwanted conflict within the group and with other people or creatures

  • @CynicalChaos-07
    @CynicalChaos-07 3 місяці тому +1

    I Love All Of The Character's, They're SOOOO KOOOOOOL, And THEY WORK SOOO WELL TOGETHER, I need some kind of story with all of these characters.

  • @zidarose
    @zidarose 4 місяці тому +5

    Do love using the pre-existing backgrounds (also rolling my dice because I am a dice goblin)

  • @thekrirkle
    @thekrirkle 3 місяці тому +1

    YESSS PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON STORYLINE CRAFTING !!!!!! this video was so informative and helpful

    • @thekrirkle
      @thekrirkle 3 місяці тому

      ugh... your entertaining yet incredibly educational video style as well as good vibes and good characters drew me in... just got the book... you sly dog, you salesman..... subscribed...

  • @Fluffybombb
    @Fluffybombb 4 місяці тому +11

    One time I had a Goliath monk. 1d4+5 twice as a bonus action at level 2 was really funny.

  • @chickennuggetpaw
    @chickennuggetpaw Місяць тому +1

    I love writing little guys! My favorite to write are villains- maybe you could make a video about creating villain characters specifically?

  • @AzariahMarinaStarcaster
    @AzariahMarinaStarcaster 4 місяці тому +14

    I immediately got butler vibes from Asher's suit, so that might remind Nyx of his family and be another layer to why he doesn't initially like him that much. It could also have the opposite effect and subconsciously make him feel more at ease, or maybe it's a mix of both and Nyx just spends a long time extremely conflicted on how he feels.

  • @AbeeBzzz
    @AbeeBzzz 11 днів тому

    15:00 - as I realized what you were going for, along with the subtle music, I got chills 😨😨😨

  • @Kaynil
    @Kaynil 4 місяці тому +3

    Pretty insightful video. You make the designing feel easy so it is great hearing how you get inspiration and references to build the characters and weave things together.
    I have a lot of stories that have joined me since I was a kid and I want to write them out and really fresh out and polish it into a proper interesting story.
    Also I highly highly recommend star's books. Honestly a big source of encouragement and a guide when the whole thing can feel so overwhelming.

  • @meadowofstars
    @meadowofstars 4 місяці тому +2

    PLEASE give us a video about creating storylines! i would kill for more writing and storycrafting advice from you!!!

  • @DNOTSoGoodArtist
    @DNOTSoGoodArtist 4 місяці тому +10

    I love your art style. Might as well consider making one for myself in the future.

  • @PeachyBunny_StarryTea
    @PeachyBunny_StarryTea 3 місяці тому +1

    How did you manage to make me fall in love with this adorable found family 😭😭😭

  • @goldenfeather3687
    @goldenfeather3687 4 місяці тому +3

    I love this!! I love the dynamic you described for them, and it’s given me some silly ideas hehe.

  • @Rose_artsy
    @Rose_artsy 2 місяці тому +1

    Dude, such a cool video! Thanks to this I got to flesh out my characters some more and now I'm more than happy with them! thanks a lot.

  • @CatComixzStudios
    @CatComixzStudios 3 місяці тому +3

    After all these years, I can't believe I NEVER considered the concept of a sea-based druid. It seems so obvious in hindsight! A guardian of nature, but for the ocean. Brilliant. Loved the others as well.
    PLEASE do a followup for making a storyline with them. Not only does that sound fun, it legit seems like a clever teaching tool using things you've already established.

  • @SmileGames10
    @SmileGames10 2 дні тому +1

    i love your style so much!

  • @cosmonaut2684
    @cosmonaut2684 4 місяці тому +4

    Maybe the city where the dwarf was an urchin from is a dwarven stronghold located right next to the sea with a cave gives the city direct acces to it and its where they park their botes.
    Im imagining some cool "under the sea" type of vibes.

  • @kelcrad59
    @kelcrad59 3 місяці тому +2

    I love nyx, also the first option for his backstory sounds like one for a character called Mercy from one of my faviroute book series, Cradle

  • @SprinkledCactus
    @SprinkledCactus 4 місяці тому +4

    This is exactly what I needed! Thanks Star :>

  • @AndyCandy-s9i
    @AndyCandy-s9i Місяць тому +1

    I HAD to subscribe after watching this video. The characters amazing, and their dynamics are sooooo CUUUTE!!! I LOVE THEM !!! Thank you for this video, it has given me ideas for my characters.

  • @Starlightdreamer112
    @Starlightdreamer112 3 місяці тому +3

    Plot twist the Nobles that Asher used to work for Is Nyx's family

  • @madelinesardinha1707
    @madelinesardinha1707 19 днів тому +1

    OMG, one that I've been ongoing on making is an immortal human Eldritch Knight that is haunted by an evil witch that gives her magic. When I use her outside of dnd I make her fuck with the spirit by not saying the spell just like a joke on what they do (think The Game Series's Spell Nicknames) because... she's jealous, she knew so many people that she just outlived. She's out lived elves, and for those you who don't know, elves can live for 1000s of years (more or less). While the witch has taken lives when she wasn't stuck with Dana (the character) and Dana was jealous that she could just not care, but over time she learned the depth of the witches guilt of insert event here that I'm still thinking about (either destroying her city with wild magic and isolated herself so everyone thought she was evil and once becoming a spirit losing wild magic, or her actually evil, but she thought she was good, and once she found out she was hurting people, she was overwhelmed by guilt and gave herself up and trapped in Dana) They grow a bound and become friends, while Windago (the 'evil' spirit) learns about the impact of her power, good and bad. Dana tries to undo her immortality, and once she learns she can't, she forms a group of Immortals to lead. (I'm still making the other immortals)

  • @ihazskinpv
    @ihazskinpv 4 місяці тому +3

    i really like the nyx you cooked
    hed be a good protagonist

  • @Evil.AquariumBoy55
    @Evil.AquariumBoy55 2 місяці тому +2

    Ohh conflict idea Asher does business with Nyx’s family! I can just imagine the drama how they’d have to work it out like Nyx hasn’t told the party the name of his family so all they know is they’re noble he’ll maybe they think the family are also tiefling’s so when Asher brings the news of him starting business with a Nobel family they’re all hyped for him but then he mentions the family name and all hell breaks loose

  • @SuperKitten176
    @SuperKitten176 3 місяці тому +3

    Bard is best class I love bards they’re so silly and fun and I get to play a silly little tune and blow someone up :D and Tiefling is best species because silly demons are fun and also color

  • @s.h.i.h.t.z.u
    @s.h.i.h.t.z.u 3 місяці тому +2

    I love them sm AAAAAAAAA Nyx is my fav

  • @Megamanlanprime
    @Megamanlanprime 4 місяці тому +4

    I love videos like these! Please do make more! Although a question I have is how do you design a character to fit into your story that you’re already writing? (Like if your story is starting to go in a new direction and you need to develop a new major or minor character that you didn’t think you’d originally need but now do need someone for a new role in the story.)

    • @TheStarfishface
      @TheStarfishface  4 місяці тому +4

      Basically just do the same thing but take your own worldbuilding and story into account!

    • @Megamanlanprime
      @Megamanlanprime 4 місяці тому +3

      @@TheStarfishface does it help if you know the role they need to have in the story for you or can that become annoying at times when you realize you developed a character that unintentionally got away from the original role you had for them in the story?

  • @4shc4t
    @4shc4t День тому +1

    Im taking Nyx's design and creating a character off of him, thank you person I found on youtube 18 minutes ago

    • @4shc4t
      @4shc4t День тому

      (Btw I mean JUST his design, nothing more nothing less)

  • @Lenorven
    @Lenorven 4 місяці тому +3

    Nyx oh man he is so cute i wish he was my character i like him so much AHHHHHHHHH I WANNA DO FAN ART OF HIM SO BADLY

  • @Quizzicalotl
    @Quizzicalotl 3 місяці тому +1

    This was very helpful in helping solidify some characters in a story I'm crafting. And I would love to watch a follow-up video where we get to see your three guys off on an adventure!

  • @RatLady-mv3lx
    @RatLady-mv3lx 4 місяці тому +3

    8:54 Okay okay hear me out... *baby griffin*

  • @DMapollogies
    @DMapollogies 4 місяці тому +2

    I NEED MORE OF THEM
    They are so zillie, i love them

  • @hawkfurze
    @hawkfurze 4 місяці тому +6

    Make the dwarf's creature friend be a crab named Vernon /j

  • @clipsocat5296
    @clipsocat5296 Місяць тому

    I've been struggling with some of these things for YEARS!!!!!! This has helped MORE than ANY video I've come across

  • @Kitty_Girl_Candy
    @Kitty_Girl_Candy 4 місяці тому +3

    Gifted a membership that ends in 30 days so time to make the most of it!

  • @LockNessChompers-vd3zo
    @LockNessChompers-vd3zo 4 місяці тому +2

    Please, I love these guys! Give us the story video!

  • @Loaf_X1
    @Loaf_X1 4 місяці тому +3

    I’m just watching this video at the 3rd character,reminds me of that rule of how to make a protagonist:Give them trauma.That’s what it reminds me of

  • @FlowerBlossom-yq7dr
    @FlowerBlossom-yq7dr 3 місяці тому +2

    I WANNA SEE A STORY WITH THESE SHORT BOIS PLSSSS I LOVE THEMMMMMMMMMM
    Also ty so much for this- I'm a writer and I struggle with creating new characters, so this is fantastic for me

  • @gaidencastro9706
    @gaidencastro9706 4 місяці тому +4

    As a ttrpg player, I go through the following steps:
    1. What funny/intriguing stories does the setting already tell, and how might a character be affected by it?
    2. What things in that setting does the character want to change?
    3. What lie do they tell themselves and live by?