• Of course, in order to create a character you must first have one in mind.  The video game of EverQuest fortunately has a screenshot feature, so getting a picture of a character is relatively easy.  In this particular instance, we shall recreate the character Valetrian Lochinvar, found in this site's Keyplayers section :

We shall transform a character from this...

... to this.

• Characters of this series are primarily created through use of a template that best defines the shape, physique, and personality of that character.  For our purposes today, we shall use a standard heroic male-style template :

Templates can be found at the following site :

• Most templates available will be in Index Color mode, i.e. GIF files.  In order to work from them, you will need to convert them into RGB files by going to Image>Mode>RGB and you will be doing your saving from this point on in PSD format.
• The templates listed are too small to work on for detail at the moment, so what you'll need to do is increase its size by 300%.  The picture should be a little over 1000 pixels tall now.

• It's at this point that you start to add lines to the picture.  To do so, you will want to do the following :
• Create a New Layer and label it "Linework", or something similar.  This is what you will draw on.  This way, if anything goes wrong you can always clean up the linework without actually affecting the base template underneath.
• Start to lay down lines.  The best way to keep nice, curving lines, is to use the Pen Tool, like below :

You will need to create a curve path that you are comfortable with, then Stroke the path for that curve, starting a curve for the next line.  The Pen Tool's brush width should be the second from last on your pallete, as the arrow indicates.
• For other details, smaller details (or if you just don't feel comfortable using the Pen Tool), you can use the Paintbrush Tool at the same brush width.  It's a little more difficult to get smooth lines, but gives you a little more control over smaller detailing and unusual line designs.
• By repeating this process over and over, you will add lines until the base detailing is done, as you can see :

• If you don't want to risk affecting certain lines you have made, you can make another Layer for linework and start working from that one.  Continue until you have completed your lines:

• If you haven't done so already, this would be an excellent time to save your work.  Saving often is recommended whenever you feel you've gotten a good amount of work done that you definitely don't want to lose.
• Remember : Animated-style characters are somewhat simple and not overdetailed.  You don't need to get every detail when you make the lines, just the most prominent ones.
• Congratulations, you're done with the most time-consuming portion!

• With the new lines, the original template's grey shadow-portions may not fit properly and you might have to add in additional grey for the new shadows.  What you will need to do is select your bottom Background layer (the one the original template is on) and paint in grey where any new shadows should be.
• Like linework, shadows don't have to be overly prominent in Animated-style.  Think conservatively when you work on it.

While this next step will involve more layers, it is a relatively quick step;  Animated-style uses simple, flat layers of color.  Simply create a New Layer for each specific color and fill it in so it matches the right parts of the body :

To help you stay within the lines, you'll probably want your color layersto be between the Linework layer and the bottom Background layer.
• When you get your colored layers done, you'll discover shading those layers is a breeze.  Simply change the layers from Normal mode to Multiply Mode :

• Occassionally you'll want to add extra textures to your character's clothing or body, such as when they wear chain mail.  While there are many different techniques to do such, here is one that you might wish to use...
• Select the layer you want to apply the texture to; make sure the Preserve Transparency button is activated (this will prevent anything from going outside the colored area).
• Choose a texture to apply; here is an example of a chainmail texture :

You can find more on the Internet or even in photographs or magazines.  Remember to keep the textures simple, Animated-style (as we've mentioned before) uses limited amounts of detail.

With the texture image selected, click Ctrl-A to select the entire image.  Then click Edit>Define Pattern to store this image as a pattern in Photoshop memory.

Go back to your character's image and click Edit>Fill...  In the upcoming window, make sure Pattern is selected from the menu, and click OK.  Your layer with the color will be completely replaced with the new texture.

But never fear!  Now go to Edit>Undo.  This will remove the texture you just applied.  Now go to Filter>Fade Fill...  This will reapply the texture once again, but now you can modify how strong the Opacity is, as well what mode it is in : Overlay mode and 50% Opacity is usually best for textures like chainmail or lizard scales, but adjust to whatever fits your picture best.  You should now have a nice blend of both color and texture.

• Highlights should primarily be reserved for flat plate metal and shiny leather.  It adds the last amount of shine detail for the body.  To do this, create a new layer, just under the Linework layer and over all the color layers.  Then, using either the Pen Tool or the Paintbrush Tool add a single thick line (3rd or 4th smallest brush size), draw a strong white line aligned with the curve of the body.  Then, make the Layer's mode Overlay; this changes it from pure white into a much brighter-colored version of the color it's laying over.

If you wish to, you can add another very thin line along with the thick one to add an extra highlight, but try to be conservative with these so not too much deatil is added.

• The head can possibly be the most difficult part, as you'll want your characters to look different from each other while still retaining the simple design of Animated-style.  The best way to do this is to look at other Animated-style characters such as on the Batman-Superman Adventures website, the DCU Animated website, or even go to the source at the Bruce Timm website.  For Valetrian, we used Aquaman as a reference :

 The two share many facial similarities, so when we work on Valetrian's face we try and go for a similiar design : similar jaw structure, similar hair shape, placement of the ears and eyes, etc...  This is usually drawn using the Paintbrush Tool and on a new layer at the top of your layer hierarchy.
• When you've applied the linework for the head, apply colors in the exact same manner as you did for the clothing : with a seperate layer of flat color underneath the head's line layer, converting that layer into Multiply mode.
• Note : since heads always tend to have unique shapes, you may have to do more recoloring of your bottom template layer, adding and removing greys for shadows and even removing and reworking some of the black base lines to accomodate head shape and hair.
• As you can see, upon completion you can have something that looks similar to its reference yet is still unique, while retaining an Animated-style appearance :

• One thing you may wonder about while working on this portion is how to make your characters' faces look distinctly different from one-another -- after all, there's only so many different character faces in the game of EverQuest.  For instance, Brother Qwinn and the Priest of Discord use the same character model in-game :

However, by adjusting some details here and there, from the moustache design to the shape of the head, even how the eyes are expressing, you can still make your character distinct; just keep your character's personality in mind :

• Add whatever details you think your character is missing, and when you're happy with the product it's time to Flatten Layers into a single flat image.
• Reduce the image back down to a small size, about 34%.
• Because of the flat colors these images are best suited as GIFs, so you'll want to Image>Mode>Index Color (do not do this before reducing its size or your lines will become stilted and jagged).
• File>Save as... your image as a GIF, and you now have your very own Animated-style character!