Character Shapes

Character Shapes: Finding your Character's Core

Table of Contents

• Block
• Star
• Circle
• Triangle
• Overview
• Profile Code

Believe it or not, your character can also be defined as a shape in terms of their personality traits, their strengths and their weaknesses. Adding one of these four elements into your wolf's profile may help others understand your wolf on their most primal level and further help you to round them out as a character. Below you may find the four basic varieties and the traits associated with them.

It is also not uncommon for a character to switch or, rather, evolve into a different shape via a plot, a life-changing event, or the simple act of coming-of-age. For some characters - particularly youths transitioning into adulthood - adopting traits from two different shapes help diversify their character and help move them forward in a unique and original way in terms of their overall development. One way to easily pick out how to describe your wolf is to pick one (1) of each Want, Need, Do's and Don'ts; then, choose a primary and secondary Strength and Weakness. Alternatively, you may pick and choose as many traits as you see fit; just remember to keep in mind that every character has a realistic balance of good and bad attributes.

It is noted that some of these shapes often "butt heads" or do not work well together regardless of any situation. Rather take a test to decide? Click here! (Test provided by Caroline.)

(This post was last modified: Aug 17, 2015, 06:02 AM by Rook.)

The Block Character.

A block personality's focus is on emotion and stability. Their wants and needs are primarily based around emotion and structure. They are conservative and do not like much change. They are symbolized by the block because of their ability to stay anchored and steady, as well as the ability to be a "building block" as part of a system. It takes a lot to move this personality from its core standards. They make very loyal friends. The standard block personality has the following wants and needs:

Needs	Wants	Do	Don't
To be morally good To be appreciated To be understood Acceptance	Autonomy Security To please others To reveal insecurities	Be sincere and genuine Be sensitive in approaching them Limit risk level Behave properly and well-mannered	Be rude Abandon them Make them feel guilty Promote too much change

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Appreciates beauty Stable Sincere Remembers past feelings and thoughts shared in a conversation Strong empathizer High achiever Prefers small groups Receptive to other's suggestions Plans well with superb follow-through Highly disciplined Good behind-the-scenes worker Respectful of leaders and superiors Receptive to creative thinking Very observant Nurturing Excellent skill trainer Strongly goal-oriented Analytically oriented Dependable Acts appropriately Encouraging in times of trouble Emotionally deep Enjoys deep, sensitive conversations Characteristically genuine Often does more than required Concerned about being a good "team player" Loyal to family regardless of relationship Proper Remembers special occasions Seeks to learn Loyal friend Feels a sense of purpose Self-sacrificing Sees life as a serious endeavor

Strong perfectionist Tends to lecture and overkill issues Smug and self-righteous Verbally self-abusive Envious of other's effortless success Fears risking self in conversation Feels intense on many subjects Highly emotional Expects others to know their feelings Expects others to be sensitive Argues primarily from emotional perspective Easily frustrated with lack of team work Discouraged if unsuccessful in goals Sets unrealistic goals Feels others can't do things as well as them Over-extends self Expects others to be deep Expects others to make their goals a priority Craves security in their work Tends to over-plan and over-prepare Can be moody and unpredictable Easily feels rejected Feelings are easily hurt Lacks ability to relax Often feels guilty Not spontaneous Self-esteem depends on outside influences Critical of own and others' work Feels inadequate with natural talents Shies away from public exposure and performance High expectations of self and others Unwilling to negotiate principles Performance-oriented Easily frustrated Offended if not appreciated

Briefly about Blocks:

These wolves are hard workers and are organized in their roles. They like structure and rules, and dislike situations in which they cannot discern what is expected of them. They prefer working alone instead of with others as a team. They also think sequentially (A, B, C, D, E, F...) and are capable of collecting lots of information and mentally organizing it for future use. However, they sometimes have trouble with admitting that they have "enough information," and making a final decision. It is also characteristic of them to avoid certain stimuli as to keep their heads in check and avoid dealing with emotions, others' or their own.

(This post was last modified: Jul 13, 2013, 10:32 PM by Mapplethorpe.)

The Star Character.

A star personality's focus is on fun and enjoying life. Their wants and needs are primarily based around having a good time. They are creative and spontaneous and a joy to be around. They are symbolized by the star because of their high visibility to others in most situations. They tend to be loud and fun promoting. They also tend to only put a little in when it comes to responsibility. The standard star personality has the following wants and needs:

Needs	Wants	Do	Don't
To be praised To socially look good To be popular Approval	To be noticed Freedom Playful adventure To loosely hide insecurities	Be social Be attentive Be forgiving Be open to suggestions	Ignore them Make them commit Remind them of the rules Be depressed around them

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Very optimistic and rarely depressed Likes self and accepts others well Adventurous and daring Spontaneous thinker Loves to volunteer for missions Easy to converse with Comfortable with others Expresses self well in conflict Sees life as an enjoyable experience "Social butterfly" Demands action vs. observation Friendly and genial Accepts guidance from others Able to take risks Very flexible Charismatic and fun to work with Strong visual learner Appreciates and lives for the present Energized by large groups Disciplined if the task is fun and challenging Excellent at superficial conversation Breaks the monotony of life Inspires cooperation Enjoys being physical (close contact) Turns crisis into comedy Non-judgmental Flashy Highly energetic Excellent short-term leader Highly entertaining Supports dreams and intuitive thinking Concerned about the broad picture, not details Likes to tackle short-term projects which have visible results Enjoys new experiences

Irresponsible and unreliable Self-centered and egotistical Flighty and uncommitted All talk, little action Superficial and mostly wants a good time Undisciplined Unwilling to experience pain to excel Loud and obnoxious Needs to look good socially Exaggerates stories and omits painful truths Often speaks before thinking Unsympathetic towards depression in others Makes insensitive jokes about sensitive stuff Light-minded and superficial Often repetitious Interrupts others freely Forgets what others tell them Poor listener Too talkative about everything and nothing Feels no need to prepare for the future Unable to confront issues Play today, plan tomorrow Not goal-oriented Overly dramatic in self-expression Disorganized Requires all activities to be fun Restless with long-term goals Needs vacations Can handle stress only for short periods of time Needs social interaction Often defies leaders and superiors Resents authority Sloppy Not very serious Sarcastic

Briefly about Stars:

Wolves who harbor a star personality are creative and are constantly searching for new ways to accomplish a task. Their mind never stops working and they think in cognitive leaps (from A straight to F). They see the forest and miss the trees; they see the mountains but disregard the boulders and rocks. They don't like highly structured environments and will not tolerate the mundane, often becoming frustrated when their short attention span doesn't not hold up. They are always searching for excitement away from their current surroundings.

(This post was last modified: Jul 13, 2013, 10:32 PM by Mapplethorpe.)

The Circle Character.

The circle personality's focus is on peace and tranquility. Their wants and needs are primarily based around being peaceful and harmonious, as well as avoiding any sources of conflict. They are good negotiators and listeners. This is why they are symbolized by the circle because of their ability to stay fair and well-rounded to promote harmony. The standard circle personality has the following wants and needs:

Needs	Wants	Do	Don't
To feel good inside To be respected To be understood Approval	To please others Protection Contentment To reveal insecurities	Be loving and sensitive Be firm, patient, gentle, casual, simple, concise, and informative Listen intently Look for nonverbal cues to feelings	Be unkind or too domineering and intense Demand leadership Speak too fast Forgo verbal expression

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Quiet, reflective, and peaceful Patient with self and others Appears to accept life well Enjoy's life's simplicity Sincere and genuine lifestyle Compatible with others Kind to others as well as other creatures Listens superbly Good negotiator and mediator Likes many possibilities Receptive to other's input Uses slower pace and utilizes time to think Strong empathy skills Blends in all situation Handles beauracracy well Calm under pressure Accommodates others easily Values goal-setting Flows well with crisis Non-conformist Trusts self in all environments Receptive to suggestions Slow to anger Respected for their gentle manner Takes time to enjoy others' company Considerate Sometimes prefers dangerous tasks and scenarios for excitement Non-demanding Accepts diversity well Supportive Tolerant of unkind behavior Accepts life with drama Can entertain self easily Liked by most Likes most individuals

Easily hurt Bashful and unsure of self Not openly excited about experiences Resents being pressured into things Takes passive approach to life Prefers personal comfort zone Boring and detached Resists making commitments Doesn't complete tasks Poor leadership and delegation skills Often lazy and not responsible for self Easily manipulated in changing plans Lacks consistency in goal-setting Takes a "wait-and-see" attitude to life's experiences Low energy Accepts others' decisions without seeking best advice first Doesn't contribute openly Responds slowly in conversations Likes a low profile Prefers to observe others interact Refuses to take a stand on issues Waits for a sign for someone to make a decision for them Hesitant to engage in conversations Dishonest with feelings (often agrees with others or majority of opinions) Resists strong direction Directionless Gives very little energy to conversation Difficult to motivate and inspire Fearful of confrontations Works at a slow pace Easily manipulated Fears change and risk-taking Likes to keep low profile Works obsessively to maintain peace within a group Won't express honest perception if controversial

Briefly about Circles:

Circle personalities make for one very social wolf. They are the shape that has the most empathy, perception and consideration for the feelings of others. They listen and communicate well, and they can read others with such accuracy as to spot a liar straight off the bat. They enjoy harmonious surroundings and their greatest difficulties lie in dealing with conflicts. They are easily swayed by others but can be an effective component to a well-functioning family and pack (even if a strict hierarchy's customs don't always agree with them).

(This post was last modified: Nov 14, 2022, 11:35 PM by Camden.)

The Triangle Character.

The triangle personality's focus is on power and leadership. Their wants and needs are primarily based around being in charge. They are good leaders. They are symbolized by the triangle because of their points and they know what direction they are going. They also enjoy pointing others in the most efficient direction. They can also be sharp. The standard triangle personality has the following wants and needs:

Needs	Wants	Do	Don't
To look good (performance-wise) To be respected To be right Recognition	Leadership To hide insecurities To please self Challenging adventure	Offer leadership positions Support their decisive nature Demand their attention Present issues logically	Be slow and indecisive Embarrass them Argue from emotion Use physical punishment

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Excels with logic Thrives on independence Natural leader Creative in crisis Acts in a logical, sensible way Keeps a good perspective Productive with follow-through Self-motivated Excellent organizer Difficult to discourage Thrives on competitiveness Thrives on leadership and high-ranking positions Highly disciplined Comfortable with power as long as it's their own Dynamic and direct Committed to a productive life Natural goal-setter Direct and honest with opinion Does well in emergencies and disasters Excellent decision-maker Loyal to task at hand Loyal to relationships Proactive in solving dillemmas Engages in conflict comfortably Promotes group cohesiveness Handles responsibility well Tells others where they stand in a relationship Very resourceful Great sense of perspective Reliable Strong protector Quick with good advice Confident in own abilities Promotes interesting experiences High self-esteem

Generally seeks to serve self Stubborn Promotes turmoil with personal gain Rationalizes and denies personal behavior Always right Often arrogant Inconsiderate of others' feelings Out of touch with personal feelings Insensitive Unappreciative of detail and beauty Harsh to and judgmental of others Promotes quantity rather than quality Often drives self and others Refuses to relax Blames others for personal misfortunes Doesn't often ask for advice Dislikes being told what to do Slow to give compliments Hides insecurities Thinks negatively Has big expectations of self and others Tactless Selfish Impatient with self and others Angers easily when frustrated Makes decisions too quickly Brash and insensitive Readily dismisses commands or orders Uncompromising Critical of others Too competitive Requires loyalty from others Poor listener Defiant of others' authority Difficult to please

Briefly about Triangles:

Triangle personalities almost always belong to a wolf cut out to be a Leader, a high-ranking pack wolf, a distinguished wolf with a pack role, or a wolf who simply knows what they want and how to get it by various means. They thrive on recognition and take delight in opportunities to share with others their often numerous accomplishments. They have confidence in themselves and never hesitate to tell others about how the world turns and works.

(This post was last modified: Jul 16, 2013, 02:23 PM by Fenru.)

Overview.

Overall, these shapes not only help your character as an individual but in finding their core shape and picking out certain personality features, distinguishing them as such also help them see where they fit in with others:

• A Block is somebody who feels most comfortable with a stable environment and clear directions on what to do. He is conservative and likes things that are regular and orderly. If given a task, he will work on it until it is finished, even if it is repetitious, cumbersome and lonely.
  
  
• A Triangle is goal-oriented. He enjoys planning something out and then doing it. He gets motivated by the accomplishment. He will tend to look at big long-term issues, but might forget the details. When given a task he will set a goal and work on a plan for it.
  
  
• A Circle is social and communicative. No hard edges. He handles things by talking about them and smoothing things out with everybody. Communication is the first priority, and making sure there is harmony. When given a task, he will talk about it.
  
  
• A Star is usually off-the-wall and quite creative. He feels best doing new and different things most of the time and gets bored with regularity. When given a task, he will come up with bright ideas about it.
  
  

TIP!

The Block and Triangle are both convergent, capable of working towards something specific and finite, and they do it in a logical and systematic way. But they might be lacking in personal creativity. The Circle and Star are both divergent. They are creative, extroverted, and intuitive; and will reach out around them into new areas and to others; but, they aren't particularly systematic or dependable. Blocks and Triangles may become frustrated with Circles and Stars due to the fact that the divergent personalities seem incapable of finishing what they are "supposed" to be doing but will do all kinds of other things and not care about deadlines. The Circles and Stars might find the Blocks and Triangles cold and narrow-minded when they do not take outside factors and new possibilities into consideration.

If in need of ways to reach out and communicate with a certain personality shape, here are some ways to try and approach that character:

• A Block will need fairly specific explanations, examples, and instructions. They will not be happy just floating around, not knowing where the request or task is going. A Block will feel good about being presented with a procedure and carrying it through until it is done. It doesn't matter much if it is repetitious, regularity is a source of comfort. For a Block it is a good idea to have more of a formal routine, certain rituals that are repeated.
  
  
• A Triangle needs to see a goal and needs to see some accomplishments. They will be most interested in the big picture and in the end result. They will always need to know WHY. If it is a task the pack needs to do, they might appreciate specific targets and milestones, and will take great pleasure in checking off each one that gets done. It should always be clear what the underlying intention is with what they do. If the general direction is agreed upon, the Triangle can be quite flexible in how the pack gets there to achieve its goal(s).
  
  
• A Circle doesn't need a plan or a system and might be turned off by such matters. They need to talk about whatever is at hand. Getting to an overall harmonious situation is more important than getting specific procedures or targets done right. A Circle will not just sit and listen to their companion's version of the plan, they would want to add their part and see the matter from different angles so that they can get a sense of the whole thing. To deal with a circle one has to be flexible and willing to discuss any aspect of the matter.
  
  
• A Star must be presented with new and different things. Always. Unexpected angles is what will motivate them. They are not particularly interested in staying with the subject, but will often contrast it with drastically different ideas. They like to explore many possibilities at the same time, and there must always be multiple choices available. If something needs to be done, it is perfectly fine if no kind of procedure or structure is recognized and every day is different. To deal well with a Star, one must be flexible enough to jump around quite a bit and avoid preconceived ideas about where they will end up.
  
  

These wolves and characters, like humans (the people who play them!), are different from one another. If one isn't able to adjust to different personality types, then a character will probably mainly attract the ones that are similar to them, and others just won't appreciate what they do or say. If they do recognize the different types of personalities and if they approximate their way of relating to reality, then there is no limit to who they can deal with and network with successfully.

If it isn't apparent already, there is no value judgment connected with which category these personalities fall into. None of them are better than the other ones, and each one is a somewhat fragmented package. It has qualities that are good for certain purposes and it has qualities that aren't so good for other purposes.

The best way of testing these is probably to evaluate your wolf and mentally envisioning or asking them to pick a shape that they like the most and then the shape that they like the second most. That will give you, the writer, a more composite picture; only then will the qualities possibly blend or even balance one another to some degree.

(This post was last modified: Jul 13, 2013, 10:33 PM by Mapplethorpe.)

Adding Character Shape Stuff to Your Profile

Want to spruce up your character profile Personality field with some character shape qualities? Feel free to copy/paste this into the Personality field. If you need any assistance, feel free to post in the Genius Bar or ask in the chatbox for help!

Code:

</div><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" colspan="4">
<tr>  
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;">Needs</td>
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;border-left:0px;">Wants</td>
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;border-left:0px;">Do</td>
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;border-left:0px;">Don't</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class='trow1'><center>NEEDS here</center></td>
<td class='trow1' style="border-left:0px;"><center>WANTS here</center></td>
<td class='trow1' style="border-left:0px;"><center>DO this</center></td>
<td class='trow1' style="border-left:0px;"><center>DON'T do this</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>  
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;">Forte</td>
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;border-left:0px;">Strength</td>
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;border-left:0px;">Weakness</td>
<td class='trow_sep' style="width:25%;border-left:0px;">Downfall</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class='trow1'><center>Character's FORTE</center></td>
<td class='trow1' style="border-left:0px;"><center>Character's STRENGTH</center></td>
<td class='trow1' style="border-left:0px;"><center>Character's WEAKNESS</center></td>
<td class='trow1' style="border-left:0px;"><center>Character's DOWNFALL</center></td>
</tr></table><div>

(This post was last modified: May 11, 2014, 04:29 AM by Datura.)