Mary Sues, Gary Stues, and Godmods.
Mary Sue/ Gary Stue:
This refers to "perfect" characters. Here are the dos and don'ts of character making and situations.
Do:
Have flaws and phobias.
Run out of ammo sometimes.
Have a normal weapon, pet, or life.
Get hurt sometimes.
Be ugly, old, or disabled without powers to make up for it.
Make lots of mistakes.
Run out of ammo sometimes.
Have a normal weapon, pet, or life.
Get hurt sometimes.
Be ugly, old, or disabled without powers to make up for it.
Make lots of mistakes.
Don't:
Always do evrything right.
Always do everything wrong.
Never need to reload or never lose your weapon.
Have weapons like swords in a modern setting.
Have exotic pets like tigers and wolves in a non-fantasy setting.
Have a perfect life in which there was never anything wrong.
Have an overly tragic life.
Never get hurt/ dodge bullets, etc.
Be perfect and always loved by everyone.
Be perfect and hated by everyone for it.
Have powers in a non-fantasy setting.
Have animal parts like wings, etc in a non-fantasy setting.
Have multiple personalities or mental disorders. There is nothing against those who have disorders in real life, but it tends to make the roleplay all about one character, and that is unfair. However, if your research is done and the character has a legit reason to have a mental disorder besides, "I want my charrie to have a unique disorder," then this is fine.
Always do everything wrong.
Never need to reload or never lose your weapon.
Have weapons like swords in a modern setting.
Have exotic pets like tigers and wolves in a non-fantasy setting.
Have a perfect life in which there was never anything wrong.
Have an overly tragic life.
Never get hurt/ dodge bullets, etc.
Be perfect and always loved by everyone.
Be perfect and hated by everyone for it.
Have powers in a non-fantasy setting.
Have animal parts like wings, etc in a non-fantasy setting.
Have multiple personalities or mental disorders. There is nothing against those who have disorders in real life, but it tends to make the roleplay all about one character, and that is unfair. However, if your research is done and the character has a legit reason to have a mental disorder besides, "I want my charrie to have a unique disorder," then this is fine.
Godmods:
This refers to a player that attempts to control other players or force the plot along their own storyline. There is no dos in godmodding, only don'ts. Don't write for other players unless they say you can. Don't try to control others. And don't have a fit if there's a twist that you don't want.