As far as I know, this was originally written for writers working on characterization. It works great for detailing a roleplaying character, too. Some of the questions are, of course, irrelevant or inapplicable depending on character types.

I. The Basic

• A. Name
  • 1. Your current full name including any titles or additions
  • 2. Your birth name, or true name
  • 3. Any aliases you have/are used/using
• B. Occupation
• C. Residence
• D. Birthdate

II. The Physical

• A. Basics
  • 1. Height
  • 2. Weight
  • 3. Apparent age
• B. Build
  • 1. Type - short and stocky, tall and lean
  • 2. Musculature - lithe, heavily muscled
  • 3. Where do you gain/lose weight from first?
• C. Hair
  • 1. Length
  • 2. Type - wiry, curly, straight
  • 3. Color(s)
• D. Eyes
  • 1. Color
  • 2. Shape
  • 3. Unusual characteristics
• E. Voice
  • 1. Vocal Tone - nasaly, deep
  • 2. Vocal range - operatic singing capablilites, damaged and can only speak in whispers
• F. Birthmarks
  • 1. Locations
  • 2. Size, shape, colors, types
  • 3. Are they kept hidden?
• G. Scars
  • 1. Locations
  • 2. Size, shape, types
  • 3. Are they kept hidden?
  • 4. How and when did you recieve them?
• H. Tattoos
  • 1. Locations
  • 2. Size, shape, types, colors
  • 3. Are they kept hidden?
  • 4. How and when did you recieve them?
• I. Handedness
  • 1. Dominant - even if ambidexterous there is still a dominant
  • 2. Preferences for eating, weapons, drawing, etc.
• J. Clothing sizes
• K. In what ways are you attractive to the opposite sex?
• L. If your facial features were damaged beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body?
• M. Do you wear any identifiable jewelry?
• N. Most valuable physical asset?
• O. Unusualness (Is there anything different about you? 6 toes, need a wheelchair, ears too small)
  • 1. How did this unusualness come about?
  • 2. Do you need any special orthopedic devices? shoes, crutches, wheelchair
  • 3. How do others view your unusualness? How do they react to it?

II. Childhood

• A. Birth
  • 1. Type of birth - easy, breach, C-section
  • 2. Birthplace (location, state, etc)
  • 3. Time
• B. Area(s) you grew up in
  • 1. Descriptions
  • 2. Locations
  • 3. Feelings about them - yearn to go back, hate it
• C. Childhood friends
  • 1. Why are they your friends?
  • 2. Adventures you share?
  • 3. Things no one else but you and they would know
• D. Childhood enemies
  • 1. Why are they your enemies?
  • 2. Adventures you share?
  • 3. Things no one else but you and they would know
• E. Activites (hobbies, sports, academic leagues)
  • 1. Why did you join?
  • 2. Who was your coach or teacher? (Describe them, name, etc.)
  • 3. Did you enjoy/hate it?
  • 4. Greatest triumphs
  • 5. Greatest failures
• E. Art or music training?
  • 1. Who was your teacher? (Describe them, name, etc.)
  • 2. What was their attitude toward you?
  • 3. Did you enjoy/hate it?
• F. Describe your homelife as a child.
• G. Who/What were your role models?

III. Family

A. Father
• 1. Full name
• 2. How did you get along with them?
• 3. Are they alive?
• 4. How do you get along with them now?
• 5. Most memorable moments with them
• 6. Current location
• 7. Other information (Age, birthdate, schooling, military service, important incidents, etc.)
• B. Mother
  • 1. Full name
  • 2. How did you get along with them?
  • 3. Are they alive?
  • 4. How do you get along with them now?
  • 5. Most memorable moments with them
  • 6. Current location
  • 7. Other information (Age, birthdate, schooling, military service, important incidents, etc.)
• C. Siblings
  • 1. Full name(s)
  • 2. How did you get along with them?
  • 3. Are they alive?
  • 4. How do you get along with them now?
  • 5. Most memorable moments with them
  • 6. Current location(s)
  • 7. Other information (Age, birthdate, schooling, military service, important incidents, etc.)
• D. Any other relatives?
  • 1. Full name(s)
  • 2. How did you get along with them?
  • 3. Are they alive?
  • 4. How do you get along with them now?
  • 5. Most memorable moments with them
  • 6. Current location(s)
  • 7. Other information (Age, birthdate, schooling, military service, important incidents, etc.)
• E. Is your family well known?
• F. Are they respected, feared, neutral opinions by the general public?
• G. List anything else that only you and a family member might know about.

IV. Schooling, Formal Education, Training

• A. Schools public or private
  • 1. Pre-school
  • 2. Grade school (Primary school)
  • 3. Junior high school (Primary school)
  • 4. High school (Secondary school)
  • 5. College(s)
  • 6. Graduate Work
  • 7. Other including any formal schooling.
• B. Training
  • 1. Any training. (Art, Musical, Karate, Computers, etc.)
  • 2. Military service (MOS?)

V. Experiences through living

• A. Occupational
• 1. Why did you choose your present occupation?
• 2. What did you do before? (Odd jobs, etc. How long did you hold these, what types were they and why did you leave them?)
• 3. Any traumatic experiences in your present occupation that have affected you in some way
• 4. Any traumatic experiences in your past occupations that have affected you in some way
• 5. Greatest failure
• 6. Greatest triumph
• 7. What have you done that was considered "outstanding" by others of the same field?
• 8. How do you get along with others of the same occupation?
• 9. How important is success in your occupation?
• 10. What are your long term goals?
• 11. What are you willing to do to attain these goals?
• 12. How do your friends and relatives view your present occupation?
• 13. Do you have any published works in your field?
• 14. Has anyone ever stolen your work before?