"This is a test."
"A what?"
"A test."
"A what?"
"A test."
"Oh, a test."

Sorry. Couldn't resist. X3

This here be the Shadow Star Litmus Test, your easy-guide checklist for determining whether your character might be one of those horrid Mary Sues you keep hearing about. This list is made especially with Shadow Star's worldbuilding and character base in mind and drawn partially from the stellar examples of SS for Dummies. For each question answered "yes" to, give yourself one point. Ranges for total scores are at the end of the test.

Naming: It's all in a name

1. Is the character named after yourself, either RL name or screenname? (If you named yourself after the character, it's still the same thing.)
2. Is it a name you covet for yourself and would have if you could?
3. Does the character have a nickname/code name? (Patroller/Thief codenames don't count)
4. Do they have a nickname that doesn't relate to their real name at all and doesn't have any circumstances? ("My name is Charlemagne Oliver Napoleon, but please, call me Danny." >_>)
5. Do they have a name that has a special meaning in a language that doesn't exist in Shadow Star (i.e., Japanese)?
6. Is the name (or parts of it) directly pulled from a book/show/movie/etc?
7. Does your character have a last name that is different from their parents'?
8. For no apparent reason?
9. Does your character somehow have a last name without knowing their parents?
10. Do they have multiple middle names/last names?

Gender/Species/Sources: And now for the basics

11. Is the character the same gender as you?
12. Is this the case with all your characters?
13. Did you pull ideas for your character from Dungeons and Dragons?
14. From Lord of the Rings?
15. From Harry Potter?
16. From more than one of the above?
17. Do you try to get modern clothing for your character?
18. Modern technology? (Yes, guns count. In fact, +3 if you're actually silly enough to try and get a gun in a medieval-ish setting.)
19. Without any explanations?
20. Is your character a new species/only one of its kind?
21. Is your character from another world/dimension/time?
22. Without any good reason?

Appearance: In the eye of the beholder

23. Does the character look unusually sexy, handsome, beautiful or exotic?
24. Do they have special-looking eyes that are unexplained?
25. Do they wear clothes that make Britney Spears/Justin Timberlake envious?
26. Despite the fact that Shadow Star doesn't have clothing like that?
27. Do they have the figure for it?
28. Do they wear black, leather, chained, spiked, or goth clothing? (+1 per additional yes)
29. Do they have piercings in odd/unusual places? (i.e., besides the ear? +2 if it's the tongue, do you have any idea how unsanitary this is in a medieval-ish setting?)
30. Does your character have scars from abuse/self-infliction? (+2 if it's self-inflicted, unless you can prove you actually know jack about SI)

Possessions, Pets, and Bonds: It's not the quantity, it's how you use it

31. Do they carry an inordinate amount of weapons? (i.e., more than, say, three)
32. Do these weapons have names? (Klarn weapons don't count)
33. Is any of their armor made from pure gold (+2 for stupidity) mythril (+2 for not reading the guide) or nonexistant metals?
34. Is more than one weapon/piece of armor your character have/wear enchanted?
35. Is everything your character has/wears enchanted?
36. Is there 'something special' about the origin of one or more weapons/items your character has?
37. Does your bond/pet have special abilities?
38. Something unique about their appearance?
39. Even if it isn't really physically possible?
40. Do you have more than one bond? (trainingmasters don't count)
41. Do you attempt to "bond" with a non-bondcreature?
42. Does your character have more than two pets?
43. More than one telepathic/non-mundane pet?

Abilities: Look Ma, no hands

44. Is there something your character can do better than most everyone else?
45. Is there more than one thing?
46. Is your character a master at something while under thirty?
47. Is your character a master of more than one guild?
48. Do they have a personal relationship with one of the gods? (Normal druidic relationships don't count)
49. With more than one?
50. Is said god(s) at their beck and call? (+3, because you need to be smacked)
51. Are they a master at any weapon they come into contact with?
52. While being under thirty?
53. Can they shapeshift? (Demons, changelings, Changer druids, and bondtalent shapeshifting don't count)

Royals: The princess complex

54. Did you try and give yourself a royal by having them already bonded?
55. Or converting a bond to a royal a la Steve?
56. Was this royal more than one royal color?
57. Was this royal a male with one of the species that have female-only royals? (+2 for not reading the Guide)
58. If you couldn't have a royal, did you make yourself special by trying to get a power position/making yourself nobility/making yourself "royalty" not associated with the government?
59. Was this position/noble/royalty something completely made up for your character alone?

Personality and background: It's all in the attitude

60. Does your character have an angsty past?
61. Is your character evil, but falls for a good guy and so redeems themselves by turning to good?
62. Is your character evil, but turns to good for some other reason?
63. Do they not like associating with other people? (+2, because how the hell were you planning on playing this character?)
64. Do they have a kiss-my-ass attitude toward everyone in general?
65. Because of their angsty past?
66. Do animals like the character? (-2 if said animals are not cute and fuzzy: i.e., insects, crabs, remoras, etc.)
67. Is this character unusually lacking in prejudice/openminded to everyone for no good reason, even when it goes against the world structure? (i.e., you like half-elementals)
68. Is this character an orphan? (+4 for you and your crazzin' orphans. On the other hand, if your character has both biological parents living and in regular contact, -4.)
69. Were both parents murdered?
70. By your character?
71. Died in an accident?
72. Or just mysteriously absent?
73. Is this character taken in by a loving foster family who always wanted a child?
74. Is your character raped?
75. Do you describe your character's personality in less than two sentences?
76. In less than ten words?
77. Do you describe your character's weapons/powers more than their personality?

Play and plotline: It's what I do, yo

78. Does your character always save the day?
79. With their incredible fighting skills, gorgeous looks, or supernatural intellect?
80. With more than one of the above?
81. Does the first post with them include scenes from their angsty past?
82. Is your character determined to save the world alone?
83. Do they die?
84. Do they almost die?
85. Repeatedly?
86. Does everyone mourn their loss?
87. Even characters who had never met this character?
88. Do they somehow by some miracle come back to life?
89. With methods not involving Chaosian magics?
90. Do the gods interfere directly to bring your character back to life?
91. Has anyone complained about your character taking up too much of the spotlight?

IRL: Me and you, and you and me

92. Would you want your character as your friend?
93. Your best friend?
94. Do you want/expect everyone to like your character?
95. If they don't, are you offended?
96. Do you wish you were your character and pretend you are when you're not RPing?
97. Is this character going to appear in a story you plan to write outside the RPG?
98. In another RPG?
99. In multiple other RPGs?
100. In every RPG you've ever played?

Now add up your points. Question total: 100, maximum possible 126, minimum possible -5

1 - 15: No problems here. Your character falls well within the range of normal, fun characters. Because, let's face it, everyone needs a character that sees their parents killed a brutally tragic way. XD On the other hand, if you actually made a negative score, I'm going to suspect you cheated.

16 - 30: It's a bit on the iffy side, but still tolerable. Just be careful how much wangst you insert into their lives. >_> Even Sueish characters can be loveable if played well.

31+: UNLEASH THE STABBIES UPON THE SUE!