Hello there, so, due to some old news (the somewhat old highlighted thread about "cringey" OCs) I decided to make a guide on how to make a good OC. Well, good Undertale OC for the matter.
Appearance[]
In my opinion, a good OC is one that will blend in with other background characters. There aren't many examples with Undertale OCs, so let's take a look at some very wonderful FNaF and MLP OCs. Sure there are some good ones, if not alot of good ones. But let me ask, does a "normal OC" that can "blend in" have rainbow colored hair? Is that OC supposed to be the prettiest/handsomest character to exist? Do they have some large cleavage, or a six pack if they're male?
NO!
Sure, I can see the rainbow hair, you can sort've get away with it to an extent. But in my opinion, a good OC is a creature that doesn't already exist within the depths of Undertale. But if you can't think of anything else, at least don't make it the same species as an important character (EX: a skeleton, a robot, a goat).
Occupation[]
Please, for the love of god, do not give your character an occupation that already exists. I mean, Royal Guard is fine. Considering there is more than one member (and the amount of royal guardsmen in game is small and I expect there are more secret ones).
But do not make your OC "the star of the Underground/runs a TV show", that is already Mettaton. Or the Head of the Royal Guard, that is Undyne. I have actually seen an OC in which their occupation is "to give humans a bad time", that is already Sans, or can even be seen as Asgore's job.
It is fine for your OC to not be doing anything for a living.
Personality[]
I don't have many things about personalities. Just don't make it the carbon copy of an existing character. If you can't make your OC without saying they're "a prankster who loves jokes" or "a scientist with a secret obsession for anime", then just merge two personalities and put some twists onto it.
Relationships[]
This is where it gets good. I don't think being friends with the canon background/secondary characters is bad, or even one or some of the main characters. But it's the crap saying that they're "the girlfriend to Sans" or "know that Flowey is Asriel and talks to him everyday" that pisses me off.
I mean I don't mind relationships with small characters or even being the exes of main characters to an extent. But if your character "knows Flowey is Asriel" or just "knows about Chara" then there's a problem.
The source of it is just the fact that the names Flowey, Asriel, or Chara are in that sentence. They're supposed to be super secret characters that even when you play Undertale, the protagonist (being Frisk or your name), has to work and find the clues that lead up to the full story of them. It'd pretty much take a miracle for your character to know of Chara or Asriel.
Naming[]
For character names, I'd recommend something creative. And not a common human name unless your OC is a human. If you're truly stuck, look back on some of your character information. Does your character live in Waterfall? Maybe I'd look up "names that mean water". Is your character's attacks based on fire? Maybe I'd look up "names that mean fire". Does your character really like space? Maybe I'd look up "names that mean space/galaxy" YOU GET IT.
Just don't be an Asgore when it comes to names.
Okay, I think I have covered everything there is to know about a successful OC. Feel free to post comments if I missed anything, or if you have some opinions. Thanks!