The founding group discussed the following options of what we should do about the player/protagonist:
- We could make the protagonist a cipher that the reader can put themselves into, allowing the reader to create their character and write it on the adventure sheet
- The text could have Y/N to stand for ‘your name’ or a gap where the reader could fill it in
- We could design a complete character and challenge ourselves to make it so the reader can identify with them
Julia said that the Y/N idea is boring – she would prefer our protagonist to have a personality.
It was also suggested that the player could decide the personality through the choices they make, which fits in with the paradox theme and the dragon’s moral choices.
We then talked about quantifying this with characteristics that could change throughout the book and could be documented on the player’s adventure sheet. We discussed the option of having a Dungeons & Dragons style character sheet that the reader can fill in as they go along.
These choices and personality styles would also contribute to Paradox’s physical expression as well.
We then discussed the different races in different parts of the world that Lauren designed, and decided that each kingdom would be a different race.
The group then decided that the player’s character should be a young-ish person, and perhaps they are a wizard in training. We wondered what race they should be, but then decided they should be human because the story begins in the human lands.
Ms Urquhart suggested that the protagonist would be more interesting and easy to identify with if they have a vulnerability, which we all agreed with. We decided the character should be able to use magic in combat, but that they should potentially have to learn more about their skills throughout the course of the book so that they are not too powerful right from the beginning.
Lucy suggested: They are an apprentice and you learn different spells along the way.
Julia agreed saying it would be rewarding to watch them develop.
Lucy added that the journey is important – a personal journey along with the actual journey, with the protagonist developing along the way.