Hello everybody, I now started to GM one shots in DnD5e to meet with new players and found some patterns in applications - and that there are characters I do not want in my games and some which I take immediately and without further discussion with their players. Following lines are my criteria and other can have different - but it is up to them to reply and share how they choose their players ;) Also some can work for other systems as well, but it is up to you to look for general ideas. In short: Think about your user nick and avatar, it makes your first impression Follow the requirements Think how to make interesting combination of background and class Structure your text, write it short Put required data first, addition second. Head it properly so it is easy to read Think about three simple history milestones and three character features, so character is plastic and you have freedom to adjust and adapt in game Look for ways to be different from others Ask, but read through description and related topics first Full version : Player's nick and avatar This have nothing to do with the character, but for me it is first flag telling me about the player. It is the signature telling me something about the person, so I recommend to think about it. Following the requirement If I send how I want the application to look like, when someone does not follow it, he says he does not value my time. And how then I can expect he will value my game and try to really participate and work together for group fun? Same if I say I want only PHB classed and background - and someone comes with something from supplement or homebrew. I would expect him to put it there as option at least. For example if you want Town watch background, put it there in text as wish, but write the character with soldier background which is most similar from original rules. Background There is really nice video why background and class should not be aligned - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AWTNrxN1sw" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AWTNrxN1sw</a> - and I must say from experience it really works. Characters with this are on average much more interesting, with more engaging backstories and more posibilities for RP. And that is something good for player, group and GM alike. Short and structured text It is easy to write long and detailed backstories and descriptions. And it is hard to write short and still fully descriptive, Invest your time to do the second, use headings for paragraphs in bold making it easier to orient. I as GM invest time to prepare adventure, make your own investment to prepare character as easy and accessible as possible. Put addition after, not before, and head it adequately Go according the requirements. If I want your class, race, background and short history, write this down. And if you want to add picture, filled sheet, long history, put it after that (and I stress after , not before... ok, maybe picture can go before as it gives nice first impression). Put there clear heading it is addition and then it will be welcomed by me. What is short and simple history and character I usually want simple history and character and players usually take it it should be one history moment and one character feature done in detail. No. From multiple reasons, it is wrong and has high probability to lead to boring game. It means you should have three simple milestones in you history and three character quirks. Reason is it raise the chance it will affect the game. If you describe your character as being saved from orc raid and his personality as hating orc, what will you do if one shot does not revolve around orcs? Will you be silent? Or will you all the time speak about how orcs are bad (fun at first, but soon will be really annoying - real experience). So rather have multiple features and best if unrelated. So if you are fighter, have some background how you learned to fight and why you do it, but also look if there can be some experience with magic in past which formed your opinion on it. And if there was someone you met and who inspired you (either to be like him or on the contrary to never be like him). Or something similar. Also multiple features gives freedom to adjust your play according the group you will meet, you can stress some which seems to work and put in background those which do no. And the personal quirks shold contain something which will make you recognizable in speach - that you speak slow. That you put "you know" multiple times in sentence. That you refer to saints and their deeds all the time. That he is always extremely polite when starting conversation. Whatever. Make there some sign which will not only make your speech unique, but will it easier to identify when you speak - it is important not only as way to play your character better, but also as I as GM will hear 5 new voices in that game and recognition is sometimes of hellish difficulty. Surprise Look for way to do something unexpected. If you see some player was already invited to game, look into his character, contact him and elaborate history which will be somehow connected and will add bonds. Then you will be different from other players who apply and show that you are there willing not to only play the game, but to enhance it. And that is cool, isn't it? Ask Do not fear to ask, it is not something wrong, on the contrary it shows you thought things through. Make new topic for it or use personal message not to mix it with application. But of course read what was written first, so I does not have to tell you something written in first paragraph of description. That will show you are lazy.
