A Character Creation Guide (CCG) is a document meant to help introduce new writers to the creation of a character who has a particular species or factional identity. In the Creating a Character Guide, CCG's are described as being “… written specifically for each species, giving you all the details you need when you make your character.” This template is meant to help others create a CCG that is useful to players new and old, and that helps a writer feel more comfortable creating a character of the given species or faction.
Note that although CCG's are often for species, there are faction-specific CCG's, such as those for the Yamataians or the Hidden Sun Clan. You may choose to create additional subsections in your CCG, as you deem appropriate. You may even decide to remove or rename certain sections in the template. Whatever choices you make, your CCG will be reviewed as part of the submission process, so be prepared to explain choices you made if you alter the template dramatically.
A CCG for a species is required in some cases. According to the Creating A Species Guide, when submitting a new species for possible adoption into SARP's canon, the following rule applies: “Unless the Species is for GM use only, you must create a Species-specific Character Creation Guide”.
Consider reviewing the many currently-available CCG's to see how other writers have assembled their CCG's in the past. Click Here To See The List.
====== Creating a [Name of the Species] ======
This guide will help you create a member of the...
{{Image! You should definitely include an image of the species here, and try to add more images elsewhere in the article.}}
===== Why You Should Play A [Name of the Species] =====
In this section, take a moment to gush a little about how interesting or exciting the species or faction is. Try to 'hook' the player, and convince them why they ought to read on, and give character creation a try.
===== Overview =====
Use this section to create a brief summary of the species or faction. Try to briefly describe their general appearance, and then follow that up with some other crucial facts about their government, their place in the universe, or their overarching goals. This should expand on the hook, and then provide a framework for the later sections of the guide.
==== Naming and Language ====
Character sheets start with a name, so you could address how to name a member of the species here in the guide. Consider explaining the Naming Conventions of your species or faction, as well as the languages it uses.
==== Gender ====
Advise the writer here with what they need to know about gender and identity in the species or faction. If there's significant [[wp>Sexual_dimorphism]], or cultural aspects they need to be aware of, note that here or link to it.
==== Age and Date of Birth====
Recommend a general age-range for new characters here.
===== Physical Characteristics =====
What does the writer need to know to fill out this section of the character sheet? Link them to the relevant section of the Species page, if possible. Give the reader the bare minimum information they need to create a character of this species. Try to hit the major features; height, weight, skin color and type, physique, and the nature of the species' sex.
===== Personality =====
A brief overview of the culture and psychology of the species or faction in question. Considerations about family, social connections, feelings about military service, gender, and other major and important cultural notes should be found in this section of the guide. Do feel free to link to the relevant wiki section for the culture page of the species or faction.
==== Likes and Dislikes ====
What does the species or faction tend to like or dislike? Giving the reader some elements here in simple terms can help communicate some of the values of the species.
==== Goals ====
Urge the writer to think of goals for their character. Suggest some common motivations that members of the species or faction might have.
===== Recommended Occupations =====
A user of this guide might be thinking about what occupation their character should have at this stage. Recommend a few occupations (jobs) to your reader, and link them to the relevant pages. Think of occupations that would be easy for a complete newbie to jump into and figure out. Being a member of the [[stararmy:start]] is highly recommended for any species that can join (if applicable for your species). Consider suggesting one or two other occupations that the species or faction might have. Describe them in brief, including the requisite skills, and link the reader to further information in other wiki articles.
===== History =====
You could give the broad strokes of the recent history of the species or faction here. Consider describing the history that might be typical for an occupation that's often recommended to new writers. Matters of family and birthplace should be covered in history, as well as the steps they took to reach their current position and occupation, so try to give the writer tips and links here.
==== Skills ====
What are the common skills of the species or faction, and why?
===== Inventory & Finance =====
Does the species or faction have a standard issue? If not, list a few of the items that a member is very likely to have on their person, or have access to.