CREATING YOUR CS

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The next step is to create your CS, otherwise known as your Character Sheet. Your CS is designed to help you and other players keep track of who your character is, what equipment he has, and what your character can do. If you're just starting out with a new character, your CS will probably be short. That's okay -- your character will build history and specifics as you progress through the game. Every game has a different character sheet template. The one I include below has the basics, but you will have to ask your GM what their version is. Many games require you to send your CS to your GM before you're allowed to play in the RPG. Again, check with your GM for the specifics. As you may notice, I will be saying this a lot: if in doubt, check with your GM. 

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Here is what a simple CS looks like: 

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Name: John Han
Age: 32
Sex: Male
Species: Human
Occupation: Pilot
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190
Physical Description: John is tall, with short light brown hair and dark brown eyes. He is thin, but muscular, with a pinkish scar than runs down the top of his right forearm. His skin is pale and reddish, but free of blemishes. John is also clean-shaven, but can grow a thick beard when he wants to.
Clothing: John wears worn work clothes, featuring a dirty white short-sleeved shirt and olive-colored cargo pants often with grease stains. Combat boots are his usual attire on his feet, and he often has a sweat-stained red bandana tied around his neck.
Personality: John is quiet and unassuming, but he has a temper when provoked. He generally prefers to stay where he is and mind his own business, but he has been known to go out of his way to help those who need it. 
Weapons: blaster rifle, blaster pistol, a few thermal detonators
Abilities: John is physically strong for a human, but he isn't the acrobatic type. He is good with anything mechanical, as he has worked on fighter pilots and shuttles for years. Being Force-sensitive, he has slight foresight abilities. However, because he is not aware of his powers, they are not developed further. 
Biography: John was born on the planet of Corellia, where he made a living by helping his father with a mechanic business he later inherited. Not one to move around a lot, John has never considered leaving his home planet. He was married once to his childhood friend, but she died three years into their marriage from a mysterious illness. He has few friends, and prefers to live a quiet life. 

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Now, the CS template for your game may include "class," "rank," "points," or otherwise to help determine where you are in the game compared to other players (differences in strength, powers, etc.). Be sure to ask your GM how points will be assigned. Many new players start from the beginning (rank 0 or 1, for instance) until they build rank in the game. Again, and I cannot stress this enough, this is something you must ask your GM. It varies for all games.

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Also, pictures of your character are usually allowed, but optional. Even if you find a picture, fill out the clothing and physical description sections thoroughly (if they're part of the template). Pictures of weapons, ships/vehicles, or other equipment are also often allowed. Again, check with your GM.

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It is also important to be sure your character's information doesn't contradict any world-specific information in the RPG. Using Star Wars as an example, you wouldn't put in the biography that John's home planet of Corellia was destroyed by the fifteenth Death Star. Rather, you should -- yup, you guessed it! -- check with your GM.

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A good rule of thumb is to copy the format and style used by other players and to know at least a little bit about the RPG world you're about to join. Asked around if you're not sure. It's appreciated by the other players if you know a bit more about what you're doing before starting in a game. 

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