It's been a while since I've played FL (almost a year), and even longer since I've written a description for a character. I can get the descriptions of the items and clothing and such, but how do you go about..doing it? (I.E. in what order do you describe the character? Face, then work down? Hair, eyebrows, nose, then ears, etc.)
Thanks,
Etsoshex.
I usually work from the view point of a picture critic. First you imagine standing back looking at your character from far away. Then get close and examine from the feet up. The from detailed face description to armor and weapons and any other accessories.
That's pretty cool. I'll do that and see how things work out.
Thanks.
Like questy said envisioning them is a big deal. Once that is done I usually use the same format for my descs. The first paragraph should be all the details of the char's facial featuresand hair, as those tend to stand out a bit. I begin the second paragraph with a line or two about their body stature or stance. Then the rest of the second paragraph is what they're wearing.
Just be sure to follow all the 'help desc' rules. You can't make the reader feel a certain emotion, and your character must be frozen in time. No "A human stands here" because what if someone looks at you while you're sitting? "He has a small smile on his face" won't work either, because what if you use the frown social? Describe the mouth bluntly. It doesn't have to be expressing anything.
Also, I'd go from the head down. The face should be the largest part of your description.
I work top down. And my last half-dozen or more characters have not had one ounce of clothing mentioned anywhere in the desc. Not saying you can't put it in, just that go with whatever works for you.
Just be sure to follow all the 'help desc' rules. You can't make the reader feel a certain emotion' date=' and your character must be frozen in time. No "A human stands here" because what if someone looks at you while you're sitting? "He has a small smile on his face" won't work either, because what if you use the [i']frown social? Describe the mouth bluntly. It doesn't have to be expressing anything.
Also, I'd go from the head down. The face should be the largest part of your description.
Those are good suggestions. Always remember to format and please spell & grammar check.
Just be sure to follow all the 'help desc' rules. You can't make the reader feel a certain emotion' date=' and your character must be frozen in time. No "A human stands here" because what if someone looks at you while you're sitting? "He has a small smile on his face" won't work either, because what if you use the [i']frown social? Describe the mouth bluntly. It doesn't have to be expressing anything.
Also, I'd go from the head down. The face should be the largest part of your description.
Dunno about the expression part. I like using expressions (mouth, eyes and otherwise) to help show some of my character's personality. I don't think it's that off-putting if your desc shows a friendly smile but you may frown when something else happens.
Is Bali's desc essay still around? That was pretty good at giving a general format to follow.
I believe putting in an expression for the mouth actually gives your character, well, character. If I wanted a character that had a sly nature, I'd say his mouth was slashed into an evil grin, baring his serated teeth...etc. You get the idea. It doesn't have to be blunt for it to be by the rules. The most important thing to do with your description is to have fun. This IS a game right?
I guess someone's lips could be smiling, or frowning; that's up to you, and most descs work fine. However, I think it would paint a better picture if you said more about the lips, not really what they express.
Instead of: "These lips are thin and smiling", I would use: "These lips are thin and glossy". Same word-count, just one has more spiritual meaning, while the other is more physical.
Dunno about the expression part. I like using expressions (mouth, eyes and otherwise) to help show some of my character's personality. I don't think it's that off-putting if your desc shows a friendly smile but you may frown when something else happens.
Is Bali's desc essay still around? That was pretty good at giving a general format to follow.
I lost it when I reformatted my computer.
I guess someone's lips could be smiling, or frowning; that's up to you, and most descs work fine. However, I think it would paint a better picture if you said more about the lips, not really what they express.
Instead of: "These lips are thin and smiling", I would use: "These lips are thin and glossy". Same word-count, just one has more spiritual meaning, while the other is more physical.
Or both: "Her glossy lips are curved into a thin smile." 
All this desc talk is making me want to roll a new char.
After reading On Writing by Stephen King, I seem to prefer being concise rather than flashy. But I admit, both work just fine. 
I generally give an overview of say, their height, or build, or any other main defining features. Then I will elaborate on points that need it, starting from the head and working down (unless I have other reason to work from the bottom up due to something significant, like having tank-tracks instead of legs).
I usually split them into two paragraphs; overview and main feature (usually the head if they don't have a 'main feature') in first paragraph, and the rest in the second. I'll add a third if there is something else extra that needs elaborating on. Try not to make your descriptions too long. Make them long enough to describe things that need describing but don't incessantly go into detail on things that just don't need it. Unless there is something truly special about your character's nose, you shouldn't need to type lines and lines about it.
And although I do fall foul and end up putting a few flashy lines in my descriptions now and again, I, like Icor, I prefer to be to concise when describing a character. Just because you're clear and concise with your descriptions doesn't mean they have to be boring or 'non-flashy'. 
Just what I do anyway. My word isn't gospel.
Dey
I'll let you in on a secret. Make a char as a desc making char. What you do is, log on and bio everyone online. Take the best line out of each of their descriptions, editting slightly to fit your race. Then bravo, you have an award winning desc!
*Before you is a large, winged female, standing tall at around three foot or so. His entire body is enveloped within a layer of coarse, brown fur. Further down towards her neck, past her smooth-skinned face, two eyes can be seen embedded into his neck. *
Gah! Ivoryin found the secret to my award-winning description...
But seriously, that is a pet hate of mine. Looking at a desc for ideas, fine. Robbing chunks from a desc, urgh. If you want ideas, you can always ask IG to some degree. A long time ago hunting, a female halfling asked me if I thought she looked pretty, and asked me to 'recommend' some 'accessories' she should buy to 'prettify' herself further. I told her to get herself a ribbon/bow for her hair, and her description reflected that. Thought it was quite cool to RP ideas like that.
Obviously, you can't say IG though, "Hey guys, do you think I'd look better with blue or green eyes?" or "Hey, should I have two or three legs?"
Dey
Don't ask an evil dude though, cause they'll be like, "You, you'd look pretty with a spear stuck in your eye. Maybe some big swollen brand-marks... hehe. Hehe".
Haha, I remember a friends character who had a description that was approved that went something like this (he was a ninja) "before you is a hooded figure draped in shadow, you can discern little about him." and that was it.
Here's a tip: if you do the advanced character setup when you roll make sure your desc matches your bio. I've had friends who forgot what they put on their bio and didn't match it up with the desc.
(Resurrecting post kinda)
Alright, I've got the basic idea, but how do you start the bloody thing? "Before you is a ___" is just so overdone, yunno? Anyone with suggestions? How do you start yours?
