When do you prefer to think of a character?

I have a basic idea of the characters for all the dolls I want to get, but I know that they're subject to change. I was convinced Alana was going to be a girly-girl and so I bought her all this pink stuff. After I had her home for a while and took pictures of her, I realized she's a total tomboy! Its good to have a rough idea of your doll (it helps in the naming process too, I always have the names picked out beforehand) but you have to know that it may change later on

 

In between, kind of
If I see a doll I really like, and I can't get it out of my head, then it'll usually end up coming home or going on my wishlist.
Their characters are usually developed during shipping and after they arrive. It's just kind of hard for me to devlop the charries well without the doll being here since each doll is different, even those of the same sculpt (I've come up with 'characters' during shipping and had to change them multiple times since they didn't fit the dolls once they got here). And I know for sure that I'd be going through a lot of dolls if I was looking for even just one of any of my other (non-dolly) characters.
Zaffy /DOT Lahoo atm/ was created before I decided on a doll, and now I'm kind of flopping if it's the right mold for him. Love the mold, but dunno if it fits (will wait until I get his face-up and tattoos down to make a decision).
Phyllo /Soom Uni Bygg/ was also based off of a pre-existing character that was meant to be housed by a Soom Glati, but the Bygg sculpt was a prefect match (:

 

All my dolls characters were worked out after I had them, and in some cases (my yder) I'm still trying to work them out!!!!

Thats with the exception of Rio (vampire luwen) who was originally a character in a story/RP and the luwen mold just fitted him perfectly. I only plan to buy 2 more dolls their characters are also from that story/RP

 

While I'm saving money or waiting for him to get here, coming up with his character helps me pass the time and gives me something to do. Although, when Lex got here, his story changed a few times, and his character changed once. Because of that, I never really settled on his physical appearance. I've already come up with Kristian's solid character, along with his appearance~

 

Always before buying. And 9 times out of 10 it just comes to me randomly while looking at one of my dolls and wondering what their friends would be like. So when I buy said friend I usually have the character already planned out.

 

My two boys were quite a impulsive buy so I didn´t have a story for them. I did think it up before they arrived, but it wasn´t good for them, it just didn´t fit. It made bonding difficult, it really made me frustrated. The only thing I knew for sure was, that they are brothers.
But one day a story came to me that is just perfect and almost all chaacters I have in mind are great for it. So now I know what my future dolls will be and I think it´s much better that way.

 

My dolls got/get their character after I've recieved them. Currently I'm waiting for my Dollmore Ripley Days, and all I know about him is that his name's gonna be Ageha xD
My Dollmore LE Kara Klum got his name Light because I love Death Note, the manga. He's a shy boy and doesn't say much.
Azhpel is my Dollmore Kid boy Rafel. I thought he needed an angelic name because he's so cute. To start off with he was pretty character-less, but he's improving!

Anyway now this got to be more about their names than the question. Anyway I first settle my dolls' characters after I've recieved them!

 

Well, with the doll I have now, I made up her character during the assembly of her. So for now I'd say after However, I am planning on buying two more dolls and I already have their personalities pretty much straightened out (Now if I could only figure out some names....). So both?

 

I'm kind of in the process of thinking up my doll's character at the minute, even though I'm still getting the money together for him! He's going to be a 'dollmore' kid boy Joshua and right now I'm thinking he's gonna be a lil bit of a badass but I'm not certain. It'll probably be more solid once I have him!

 

Sometimes I'm buying a sculpt for an OC, sometimes I'm buying because I'm just in love, it'll come to me in the end at the end of the day, and that's what I tend to trust, that was how it was with my first boy who I bought because I was in love with his secretive smile. Now he has a full personality and backstory, which is neat! =3

 

Definitely before for me, though it usually changes once they get there. I don't think I'd be comfortable buying a doll if I didn't already have a character planned for him or her.

 

As it is, it's before for me
Or more like I have to have at least an idea for a character sort of thing? Then once they get here and I can have a look at them, I can further develop them~

However I do have plans to get some OCs in doll-form (in the rather distant future as it is), since they'd make for awesome modding projects. ;D

 

I fall in love with the sculpt first, then I start thinking up a possible character. But I try to leave doll characters vague and open to change. For me, the sculpt is the more important part - if the sculpt and the character I'd come up with aren't a good match, I'd more likely make up a different character rather than change to a different sculpt.

 

For me, I'll think of the character before buying it. But the original idea probably will change when I get it so it really depends..

 

Definitely beforehand. I spend hours looking at for particular molds to personify my characters.

 

It works both ways for me.

I do buy a doll with a character in mind but sometimes the doll turns into whole another character upon arrival. I find it fascinating how perception plays a huge part into the doll's final outcome...

 

I'm also kind of both. I don't have a character in mind when I'm looking for dolls; I fall in love with the face long before I fall in love with the doll. Once I decide for sure what doll I want, I'll get a general idea of the kind of character they will be, based on facial expressions and whatnot (sometimes I'm influenced by the default clothing/wig/face-up done by the company >.<), but just like characters in a book or real life change and develop over time, so do my dolls.

The way a character reacts to things is very important to personality-- sometimes you'll find yourself thinking, 'I was going to have this character react in this way, but that conflicts with some of his past decisions... it would be more believable if he reacts this way.' ... Or maybe I just over-think my character development as a result of too many years of amateur writing

I don't actually have a BJD yet, but this is how I treat my plushies and my geisha dolls, as well as characters I write about.

 

Usually I have my own characters that I search for a sculpt for. My first was the doll before the sculpt and it all came to me while I was waiting for him as well as the characters for my next two as well (to go with my first boy).

I'm definetely going to be more forcused on character dolls for a while now (since it might limit me from going crazy with doll spending/ not knowing what to pick) Usually I need to think of a character before I allow myself to buy a doll, but that hasn't been a problem so far, I fall for the dolls and scuplts too. ^_^

 

I choose before, but that's cause it's easier that way. Lol.
With my first doll, I knew nothing of her when I ordered her. But it didn't take me long before she shortly came to come up with things here and there. But I was still very uncertain about her before she came. However, once she did come, it was actually really easy to bring her to life. It took me a little while to get her look down. But I got it!
My second doll I bought knowing much about him. As I've started the story he and my first doll are in. SO! It's was a bit easier to make up. It's nice to know whom you're getting though. Rather then get stressed on how you're gonna make your doll. Whom your doll is gonna be, so on and so forth. But i suppose some people like that challenge. XD

 

Both! haha Well i prefer to have an idea and then look for the sculpt, or I see a sculpt and get an idea, but either way I usually have the character before the doll. However, the one I have right now is going a totally different direction then what I planned. I got him about a year ago and he had a character and I'm now currently redoing his faceup and totally changing him! I also ahve plans for three other dolls and the sculpt I want for them but I probably won't be able to get them for a while! *is broke :'D*