4.6 Testing and Refining Characters

Playtesting Character Interactions

  • Consistency: Ensure characters act in ways consistent with their profiles and arcs.
  • Believability: Test dialogue and actions to confirm they feel natural and engaging.
  • Impact: Verify that reader choices genuinely affect characters and their relationships.

Gathering Feedback

  • Share your story with beta readers or collaborators.
  • Focus on questions like:
    • Are the characters compelling and relatable?
    • Do the character arcs feel satisfying?
    • Do the reader’s choices have noticeable effects on the characters?

Iterate Based on Feedback

  • Refine dialogue, actions, and arcs to address any gaps or inconsistencies.

Reasoning

Testing ensures your characters resonate with readers and function effectively within the interactive framework. Iteration based on feedback leads to a more polished and engaging story.