Let me clarify: I'm making characters for my son's b-day. I don't know how to make them to where all of their pieces stick together AND have the whole things standing up. I made a practice one to see what to do. It looks great, but it's not together (just royal icing or tylose/water mix, or what to use), and I don't think it would stay standing on a cake. Ideas?

I would stick the pieces together as you make them, just dampen the pieces with a little boiled water to stick. You can use cocktail sticks (toothpicks)to give them support. I would put one in the head so it stays on, and then you could put two in each leg. I would also use royal icing under each foot to stick them down! Depends how tall they are really....short fat stumpy ones stand up much better than skinny tall ones lol! I would usually do figures sitting down or supported by something else more stable on the cake..... Oh also, use foam around your figure when youve put it on the cake, so that eveyrthing firms up and dries supported - otherwise you might come back in the morning to droopy figures!
hth!

What if you make the figures sticking skewers or toothpicks in the feet and then let them dry laying down flat? Make them a few days in advance so they dry well. The backs may be a little flattened doing that but maybe it wouldn't be so bad!