Avatar-related concepts: Consistency and believability

In roleplay of all kinds, believability of the characters is important. This applies to avatars in virtual worlds as well, just as soon as they start being more than moving profile pictures in a 3-D chat app and/or dress-up dolls. And one of the most important elements of believability is consistency. This means not to change your avatar too much.

Sure, it can be fun to style and restyle your avatar. And it isn't really believable for your avatar to always look the same and especially always wear the same, no matter when and where.

But too drastic changes aren't believable either. Fundamental changes in shape. A wholly different new skin that isn't just an improvement, and that can't be explained in any way.

Okay, as long as you're still building your avatar, change away as you need. But once your avatar's basic looks are defined, don't deviate from them in ways that are too hard to explain.

Even if you want to change your hairstyle, you should ask yourself if that would be possible in real life. Reversibly so if you want to return to your previous or usual hairstyle. For example, from a fairly short black bob to a long, lush, wavy blond mane is impossible to explain without a wig and hard enough with a wig because it's difficult enough to hide a bob under a wig.

A good advice would also be to mind where your split is if you have one. In the middle? On the left? On the right? Keep it there.

Doing your hair if that's possible and putting on make-up if you don't wear it all the time anyway can make you look a whole lot different, but in credible ways. And in general, a believable avatar is one that can be recognised without a name tag, even in different outfits.