Making a character
Back to the Tome of LARP
In some battle games you can get away without a character per se, but in most LARPs you need to have an idea of what character or persona you are playing. It is often a good idea to start playing something similar to but not identical to yourself.
Have a concept (just a few words)
I like to get people to describe their character in 2 words, an adjective and a noun. For those of you who's schooling days are long behind them (like me) that is a describing word and an object. Examples of using this method are Honourable Knight, Shrewd Priest, Vicious Gambler, Magical Elf or Confused Amnesiac. In just two words you can start to get the core of your character. It is easy to get carried away with all the details so it is good to have a base that you can refer back to. The character should evolve but not stray too far from this idea.
Avoid cliches
It is said that almost everyones first character is either Batman or Aragorn. The orphan bent on revenge or the dispossessed noble. There is nothing wrong as such using these concepts but they are so hard to do in an interesting manner. The same thing goes for characters from books or movies.
Just enough backstory
It is very easy to go overboard and detail every aspect of your characters life but often that is not necessary. To me the best way to use the backstory is to explain the reason that they start the way they are. Where did they learn their skills, values, outlook and flaws. This can add a lot without locking you into a big chunk of history that is hard to remember.
Fit into the game world
Most games won't allow you to spontaneously create nations or big world events to match your characters history. Look over the lore/world of the game and find something that seems interesting or make up a character that doesn't tie into the game world.
Be prepared to change
You might find that an idea or concept isn't working. There is no problem with scrapping it and starting again. Some of the best ideas may go through several cycles before they are finished.
Connect with others
It is important to have connections to other parts of the game world. The lone wolf character gets old fast and is boring too. joing a group ois the easiest way but you can also have other players as friends or enemies. Or even add a goal that will involve you meeting and working with others.
KISS
If in doubt, Keep It Simple Stupid. Start small and add complexity over time.