I tend to start with a very loose concept and then begin to fill in the details as I go. In tabletop games, I will usually have a stronger concept in mind when I build my character than when I first build a character in an MMO. Part of that is, in the tabletop setting, I know who I'm going to be playing with so that gives me a framework in which to start building the character. Online, I have no idea what I might run into so I try to keep my concepts a bit more generalized and let the interactions begin to define the character. Also, in the case of EVE, not knowing much about the setting, I decided to keep the initial concept as basic as possible.
But Steffanie has surprised me a lot. I had figured I would play against the grain and try to be an extroverted, live for the party and excesses type character. That concept pretty much burned up upon entry and I'm glad that it did. I, and the character, are building up long term plans now...I find that once I find a hook with a character I will start building from there and filling in as much detail as possible.
As to the plans I have in mind, I would like to achieve them, but the more I think about it, the more I feel I will have more fun with the journey than actually fulfilling the goals. I am prepared to see most of them blow up in my face and I'm okay with that. Steff, well, I won't know how she'll take it until it happens.
Which actually brings me to a question...Now, I know pretty much what motivates and guides Steff and a general idea of what she will and won't do, but for the most part most of what happens, her actions, choice of wording, etc. is very much unplanned and on more than one occasion her going in a completely different direction than I had intended. Does anyone else have that experience of their character seemingly having a life of their own?