So recently my motivation for play testing this game has hit a new low thanks to constant playing and reading over the same thing over and over and over again to check for consistency issues, grammar and the likes.

So I decided to take a very small break to replenish my motivation through playing games like freaking Portal Stories: Mel that pisses me off and watch some YouTube videos (Like what any other bored person would do XD).

While I was browsing through videos, I recently chanced upon the Myers-Briggs Personality type for characters by Extra Credits. While I will not say I have not learned it in my organization behavior class, I have not really thought of using it to classify my characters and see where they belong under the 16 personality types of Myers-Briggs.

To those who do not know what Myers-Briggs is, I shall shamelessly quote from the website that says:

'The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful in people's lives.'

In other words, using personality type indicators like The Big 5, Myers-Briggs and Maslow's Hierarchy (Used to understand a character's needs and motivations). We can better understand our character’s motivation and justify the actions they do in our story. This can prevent people from seeing your characters as purely one-dimensional and outright flat.

Unfortunately, when I was planning for my characters, I did not really spend much time thinking of their personalities, but as time passed, I start to add more and more about their little quirks, habits and the likes (Though it may not be obvious at times). However, I have not given them proper classification.

So I've decided to spend some time thinking through my character's personalities and where they belong to under Myers-Briggs 16 personality types. Hopefully in my next play through, I will be more conscious of the kind of response they would make in response to different situations and make changes accordingly. It is a big mistake in my part for not thinking through their characters sooner.

Of course, a disclaimer here. Personality tests like this are not 100% foolproof in describing a person, as some characters like Vincent, lie in the center of both introversion and extroversion, making him an ambivert, but it gives you a good template and framework to rely on when thinking of your characters.

After spending much time reading through their dialogues, quirks and their behaviors, I've decided that these main characters fall under the following categories: (I've also realised Damien is the opposite of Vincent and Isabel is the opposite of Lyeric.)

Main Characters:

• Damien Raizen: INFJ - Assertive Variant
• Vincent: ESTP - Assertive
  
• Isabel Aria: ISTJ (Normal) / ESTJ (President) - Both Turbulent Variant
  
• Lyeric Horzon: ENFP - Assertive (Literally your typical RPG Hero-like personality from what I read.)
  
• Lilium Cazam (Commander) - ESTJ - Assertive Variant
  
• Lilium Cazam (Normal) - INFJ - Turbulent Variant

Lilium is a bit of a special case, but unfortunately due to how my story is crafted at the moment, I can't really show Lilium's normal side which is kind of a pity in my opinion because well... I won't say it here XD.

To those who would like to learn more about their own personalities, you can try it out over here at 16 personalities.

Or if you just want a chart, you can have a look over here.

To conclude my rarely updated blog for those reading. I would suggest anyone who is planning on making a game spend sometime thinking through on how their characters would influence the story and what kind of personalities they should have that would fit the story best.

To be consciously aware of their personality is a great way to make sure there is diversity in your party so they can separate themselves from one another and say 'We're not the same person.'. - Which means conflict and this can add great depth to your characters.

Of course you're not limited to Myers-Briggs as there is also the Enneagram of Personality, individualism vs collectivism, External/Internal Locus of Control, Type A Type B, Uncertainty Avoidance, Power Distance, Achievement Vs Nurture orientation (These 3 are usually cultural influences), the big 5 like I mentioned before and really many more.

Sigh, I wish I spent more time thinking through their personalities right at the start as I'm forced to read through the dialogue and check to see if their actions are consistent throughout the story. Given that I'm this late in stage of development, there really isn't much I can add/change without toppling the balance.

I kinda regret not doing this in early stages of development.

But don't worry, the game is coming along quite nicely at the moment. I've added and changed what I can to make sure my characters live up to their personalities. I've also added one more additional feature that should hopefully invoke the completionist personality in you XD But for now, I'm taking a short break from development because I am burned out to hell.

I hope you enjoyed reading it and thanks for taking the time to read!