Another month, another spotlight! As most, if not all, of you know we like to use the start of each new month to celebrate one of your characters that has caught our attention for one reason or another. This could be an incredible biography, intriguing plots or a remarkable personality. Usually, it's a combination of a few factors that has left us impressed and willing to see more. Whatever the reason, a spotlighted character is one that we adore and the monthly spotlight is a great way for us to celebrate your creativity!
This month we're spotlighting Vanity Mettlestone, RPed by the wonderful Daphne!
For more information on Vanity make sure to check her bio, relationships or aesthetic.
As is tradition, we asked Daphne a couple of questions:
What was your initial thought when you were contacted about being spotlighted?
Well Marijke had disguised the PM as a question so I was just kind of curious and half-expecting Vanity to be in some sort of trouble.
What was the inspiration for your character?
Honestly I think I was 99% inspired by the name, I already had the name 'Mettlestone' for Emery which I stole from a book and then I think I saw the name 'Vanity' somewhere and decided to put them together. Then I tried to figure out a personality for her that fit the name.
What is your favourite RP that your character has taken part in?
There's a lot of them because Vanity always gets into the funniest things.
One of my favorites is the moment the big rivalry with June started at the end of year feast: https://hogwarts.nz/threads/y44-end-of-year-feast.118288/page-4
But I also really enjoy her friendship with Morrie (which started as a similar rivalry) and how they bonded over being chaotic and also both hating June. The start of their reluctant alliance was very fun too. https://hogwarts.nz/threads/no-one-likes-these-dances.121115/
What is your favourite aspect of your character?
The fun plots she generates. Vanity just chooses chaos first, always. It's kind of what I try to do when I'm writing her, give in to my own chaotic instincts. Vanity herself is fully convinced she's sly and cunning but she has the subtlety of a wrecking ball and the temper of an angry cat. She's very fun to write.
Your least favourite aspect?
Sometimes her inability to just have a normal friendship gets a little annoying, with her personality it's hard to not have things blowing up in her face all the time. I also wish I played up the thieving aspect of her character more, as it is something I think could be interesting. So if anyone wants to have plots where she steals your stuff, let me know.
If you could meet your character in real life would you want to? Why or why not?
Honestly, not really. Teenage girls can be terrifying and I think Vanity is the worst kind. I'd rather steer clear of her before she could make fun of me.
What do you feel your strength in developing characters is?
I think a strength of mine is consistency. I have often managed to keep characters around and fairly active for all seven years of Hogwarts, which helps a lot with building and developing them. I also think I'm pretty good at making them make bad choices sometimes and letting there be consequences, it's really fun when you do that sometimes.
Your weakness?
I feel like my characters can get a little repetitive. It's not too bad, but I do feel like there's a few types I tend to play. Vanity is actually an attempt to do something different with the 'mean girl' archetype by also making her just kind of silly and chaotic, which has been fun.
What would you recommend to those looking to further develop their characters?
RP with different people, don't be afraid to throw your character into an open thread or PM someone for a thread if you haven't RPed with them much. And let your characters suffer sometimes, it really helps with the development. Let them get their heart broken or let them do something stupid that will have consequences, it'll really help your character grow.
What are you most looking forward to on HNZ in the next several months?
I'm really looking forward to sorting! I didn't sort last year so the urge is big.
What is your favourite part of HNZ?
The community is the basic answer, but I have made a lot of great friends on here so I can't NOT say it, haha. In addition I think the site structure and yearly events like Quidditch and the dances are a lot of fun and keep the site from getting dull. So I also really enjoy that.
Well Marijke had disguised the PM as a question so I was just kind of curious and half-expecting Vanity to be in some sort of trouble.
What was the inspiration for your character?
Honestly I think I was 99% inspired by the name, I already had the name 'Mettlestone' for Emery which I stole from a book and then I think I saw the name 'Vanity' somewhere and decided to put them together. Then I tried to figure out a personality for her that fit the name.
What is your favourite RP that your character has taken part in?
There's a lot of them because Vanity always gets into the funniest things.
One of my favorites is the moment the big rivalry with June started at the end of year feast: https://hogwarts.nz/threads/y44-end-of-year-feast.118288/page-4
But I also really enjoy her friendship with Morrie (which started as a similar rivalry) and how they bonded over being chaotic and also both hating June. The start of their reluctant alliance was very fun too. https://hogwarts.nz/threads/no-one-likes-these-dances.121115/
What is your favourite aspect of your character?
The fun plots she generates. Vanity just chooses chaos first, always. It's kind of what I try to do when I'm writing her, give in to my own chaotic instincts. Vanity herself is fully convinced she's sly and cunning but she has the subtlety of a wrecking ball and the temper of an angry cat. She's very fun to write.
Your least favourite aspect?
Sometimes her inability to just have a normal friendship gets a little annoying, with her personality it's hard to not have things blowing up in her face all the time. I also wish I played up the thieving aspect of her character more, as it is something I think could be interesting. So if anyone wants to have plots where she steals your stuff, let me know.
If you could meet your character in real life would you want to? Why or why not?
Honestly, not really. Teenage girls can be terrifying and I think Vanity is the worst kind. I'd rather steer clear of her before she could make fun of me.
What do you feel your strength in developing characters is?
I think a strength of mine is consistency. I have often managed to keep characters around and fairly active for all seven years of Hogwarts, which helps a lot with building and developing them. I also think I'm pretty good at making them make bad choices sometimes and letting there be consequences, it's really fun when you do that sometimes.
Your weakness?
I feel like my characters can get a little repetitive. It's not too bad, but I do feel like there's a few types I tend to play. Vanity is actually an attempt to do something different with the 'mean girl' archetype by also making her just kind of silly and chaotic, which has been fun.
What would you recommend to those looking to further develop their characters?
RP with different people, don't be afraid to throw your character into an open thread or PM someone for a thread if you haven't RPed with them much. And let your characters suffer sometimes, it really helps with the development. Let them get their heart broken or let them do something stupid that will have consequences, it'll really help your character grow.
What are you most looking forward to on HNZ in the next several months?
I'm really looking forward to sorting! I didn't sort last year so the urge is big.
What is your favourite part of HNZ?
The community is the basic answer, but I have made a lot of great friends on here so I can't NOT say it, haha. In addition I think the site structure and yearly events like Quidditch and the dances are a lot of fun and keep the site from getting dull. So I also really enjoy that.
Please join us in congratulating Daphne on this month's spotlight or ask any burning questions you might have!
~Marijke
(on behalf of the HNZ site staff)
