Share your RP inspiration sources

[Deeceem]

At first I want to say, that I enjoyed reading everyones approach in this thread, it was quite interesting.

Now on to me.
I personaly can't point directly at specific inspirations. Characters just appear in my mind, maybe because I heard a song or I just happen to think a specific frame of a character would be interesting to play. Usually with a specific mindset, morality, interests etc. pretty much like Rodnas described it. That's also how I approach playing my characters, by acting.
When I create characters, my first concern I think about is, would I as a player enjoy interacting with said character? If the answer is yes, I just try it ingame and see if I enjoy acting that role as well and if I am even able for my standards to do it well enough.
Works? Great! I have a basic character set up!

Then there come things like background and such. Not only to explain why the character is how he/she is, but also to have more guidelines for more specific situations. "Oh my character was born on Manhatten, so he/she probably is used to the corruption of the LPI and won't be surprised about paying a bribe, unlike maybe someone with a gallic background who just arrived in Liberty the first time."
One other major point for me are weaknesses, I don't like my characters having no weaknesses - they make them way more interesting. Usually those come, when my mind has made up at least the frame of the characters background. Characters for instance can be dumb, easy to panic, forgetful, struggle with their job, cocky and whatnot which all can turn against the character itself and may influence the character in doing or saying things which everyone involved may have a laugh at or maybe a good enjoyable facepalm.

That's usually a process of months for me.

I could probably go on and on and on about this topic, but let's stop for now.