Character Creation & Development.

Creation.

Filling character sheet should be an Art, not just a character optimization mathematical exercise.

Best way is to start from a character's concept - decide whom you wish to play.

Some ideas might include:
- Archer Witch?
- Swordsmaster?
- Lightsaber engineer?
- Hacker?

Character's concept must adhere to the game world - in the most of fantasy worlds, technology is underdeveloped - so there are no hackers, for example.

Once concept is decided, think of character's background - where he or she was born and raised, what's her or his age, education, goals, hobbies, history, personality, etc.

Then come up with description - how he or she looks, behaves, what he or she wears and on what occasion, what she or he carries.

Then choose skills, feats, powers, equipment, etc - in a way that makes sense considering concept and background.

Then add visual representation - if You can draw, do it. Otherwise You can download something from the internet.

Character's theme song or a few are also nice, You can give these to Storyguide / Game Master / so he or she can use these during game sessions - or if You play online, You can listen to these while playing Your character.


Development.

In most of roleplaying games characters accumulate experiences, scars, gain and lose equipment.

Choosing which powers to develop should be consistent with what was played already, as well as with what training options character has.

It's nice to write character's journals - even if You do not publish these, as well.


Conclusion.

Character creation & development should be internally consistent, an art form - but too many don't know how to fill their character sheets. ;)