short answer: I just play?
Long assed answer: I have been playing games since the Atari. So, the way I do it is a bit different .
My 1st playtrough is to map the game in my mind . Meaning, in that 1st playtrough, anything goes . I make mistake, I pick choices just to see what reaction I will get, and sometimes I break up relationship just for the heck of it and see how it all end . (Nowdays they use that and call it ‘‘Default world state’’ 
cose everything goes to shit) .
There arent many COG that have enough replayability where you make a 100 mc . Well maybe some do, I wouldnt know…too lazy to do that .
Lets take my favorite wip : Fallen Hero
Innit I do have many mc . I have my main MC who struggle and is hoping for ‘die-in-your-arms-Ortegah’ kinda of ending. Then I have an mc who is playing everyone for fools . Another is there to destroy everything . Another want to take the world for themself…and so on .
There is no ‘True way’ to play . There is no, this is how the game should be played . Its called CHOICE for a reason.
Here you need to ask yourself if this sort of ‘Short coming’ is because the template of your character isn’t fitting with the story narrative, or higher expectation maybe?
I say that, because some peoples go with this mindset of ‘Imagining where this story would go’ and often it doesnt fit that, and they get dissapointed .
I say just play the game, create your character based on the narratives and choices you see before you . Not whats inside your head, thats role playing…but role playing cant change whats already written in the story .
You can always write fanfic yourself and give closure to your own character and to feel better . Thats allowed I think .
I hope this help a little 