Character Personality Generator
Traits make a character recognisable. Want, need and the lie they believe make them change. Generate all of it, lock what fits, and see how the pieces drive an arc.
- Trait
- Trait
- Trait
- Flaw
- Want
- Need
- The lie
- Archetype
How this personality plays on the page
Press Analyse to see how each trait shows in a scene, the contradiction that makes them real and a suggested arc.
How want, need and the lie drive an arc
Step through a four-beat arc for one character. Watch the lie lose its grip as the want and the need pull in opposite directions.
Act one: the lie in charge
Wren believes "If I need anyone, I'm weak." She wants to win the smuggling contract alone. When her partner offers help, she refuses and takes the dangerous route herself.
Scene: She lies about the leak in the hull rather than ask for tools.
Not every arc is positive. In a flat arc the character already knows the truth and changes the world around them; in a negative arc they cling to the lie and fall. Swap the resolution beat above and you have a tragedy.
Pick a sharper flaw from the character flaws list, or see which of the 12 archetypes your character leans toward.
Questions
What is the difference between a want and a need?
The want is the external goal the character consciously chases (win the tournament). The need is the internal change they must make to be whole (stop seeking their father's approval). Stories get their tension from the gap between the two.
What is "the lie" a character believes?
A mistaken belief about themselves or the world, usually formed by an old wound, that stops them from getting what they need. K. M. Weiland's "Creating Character Arcs" popularised the term; in a positive arc the character lets go of the lie.
How many personality traits should a character have?
Three dominant traits are enough for most characters: two that help and one that complicates. Add a flaw that can actually cost them something.
Can I lock traits I like?
Yes. Lock any line and press Generate; only the unlocked lines change.