@@larsdahl5528 Trolls are aggressive; This guy is more of a clown I think. He's the non-horrific and less nightmare inducing kind of clown though. He made me laugh pretty hard at least.
player: so how did you become a cleric? cleric player (forge domain): I trained with fellow priests and warriors for a long time, then for my last trial, they put me in a Metal cast and cast Heat Metal on it, forging me in fire, becoming a tool of my God. player: ... that's metal as fuck!
Honestly if that led to permanent scarring (perhaps only below the neck for social reasons) that'd be an awesome sign of devotion to their God. I may have to borrow this
**speaking to a winged teifling standing over 2 dead bodies** "so. . . care to explain the charred corpses?" well i used to run scams back home but one day i got caught cheating a local crime boss' daughter out of her money. so his goons came in the middle of the night and dragged me out of bed and into the street where they beat me half to death and carved the skin off my wings then tossed me into a pig sty and told me to skip town or die... so i cleaned myself up gathered my things and limped out of town. then the invasion happened and some military types herded me into some camp for civilians while the battles went on and i played along there for a bit while i came up with an idea which never came then my father told me to head to the capital to run a job for him then i got caught up in ANOTHER war zone and the military types dumped me here with a bunch of other refugees where those two fools there tried to rob me and where then commended to the hells just in time for you and your lot to round the corner... and now im here. homeless, flightless, searching for some devil worshiping dwarf, and ANSWERING INANE QUESTIONS FROM A BAND OF WEIRDOS IN AN ALLY WAY!!! "that... was a much longer answer than i wanted. . . " IT'S BEEN A MUCH LONGER FEW MONTHS THAN I WANTED!!! **begins long winded tear of violent cursing in court infernal while kicking corpses** aaand that's how the party met their new pit fiend teifling warlock~
@Jack Gibson sort of. i actually ended up playing this character (with some alteration to make him less ridiculous) and its been going great. he's oddly enough gotten along with the paladin of all people the best and the party is now saving up for a sailing ship. the poor paladin doesnt know how to handle it "i sense so much fiendish evil coming from him but he's so nice and helping me get over my drinking problem WHAT DO I DO!?!" at this rate we're gonna be satan buddies~
Many times to introduce characters we will talk to the DM in private about the characters backstory so he knows what to put in the campaign, then we have to Role play our characters to the others in game so we meet in game for the first time. this way the players have to talk to each other and gain each others trust through action and talking rater than "You two meet in a tavern, you are a Bard and You are a rogue. Get along because you are in a party."
I was actually wondering about this because my next character will likely be a dhampir rogue who is keeping his undead nature along with most of his backstory secret, which makes it difficult to discuss character goals and such with the rest of the players. Do you have any tips for how I could still share with the party without SHARING with the party? (That probably sounds confusing sorry)
For me, no. Anxiety keeps me from being capable of eating while role playing because I end up feeling sick to my stomach. I've always loved acting but I'm fearful of preforming, so my solution is to not eat much for those 6 hours.
Um... sometimes yes, but sometimes I require caffeinated sugar-water beverages. And sometimes I require a flagon of rum and access to the cask. It all depends on my mood.
I think these are good for the player to have as a reference but not as an intro. Introducing a character to a party, I'd do a concise surface level description of what the other player's see (such as style of dress, equipment, and cleanliness), any particular mannerisms that stand out, such as a nervous tick or maybe they'd notice the way the character their right hand to hold their left arm while it hangs to the side. And finally behavioral clues such as timidness, or confidence, or swagger or cruel facial expressions. These are all indicators the other characters can see and make observations about. There should be a reason for the party to get together, such as maybe the watch captain told the player to go and find another player at the tavern. The interaction should be where players - as their characters - would have to ask questions or make comments or conduct a job interview, whatever, with the new character with everyone getting a high level snapshot of the social contract the characters are creating. Then over the course of the early adventure, each character would build their knowledge of each other and as events happen that reveal certain backstory elements or characters establish a bond and reveal more intimate knowledge about themselves, the players would develop this strategy of how they want to accomplish their personal goals. "I need to avenge my family by finding and killing the lord who did it, and Esmeralda seems strong enough to help me. How would I encourage her to get involved? I should help her accomplish her goals by doing X...." If I go an office party, I don't lay out my whole human experience to someone I just meet (unless I'm creepy and don't know social rules, I guess), so why would I do that with my other players/characters. As long as you, as the player, make it point to show up to each session, participate positively in the game (take the dangling plot hooks or support the other characters during the adventures), and to ensure you have fun and that you help everyone else have fun, the rest should be a relatively enjoyable experience. I mean, unless you really pick some annoying, bothersome or tiresome character, then maybe a death is in order and a reroll, eh?
One of the best pieces of character creation advice i ever read was page 18 of the AD&D 2E Players Handbook. The section labeled "What do the Numbers Mean?" It guides you down a simple way of realizing your character's past and personality as reflected in the number values of her stats. It is surprising what a useful creative tool this is. It gives you just enough of a nudge that you can start filling in the details all on your own, if you are feeling stuck. Of course, it also assumes that you actually rolled for your stats -like us old timers did back in the day! :)
Usually my introduction depends on who’s DMing, what kind of campaign I’m in, etc. normally me and my friends don’t go deep into detail with our characters just simple, this my name, my race and my class. The actual introductions, alliances, and roles are established through RP. For example, my current character is a Draph(home brew race taken from Grand Blue Fantasy) paladin. Through RPing i showed that he was a selfless, animal loving, tank who is often apprehensive about jumping head first into a situation, but doesn’t think twice about helping if someone’s in trouble or throws themselves at danger. He’s always right up front and throws himself in harm’s way to keep his friends safe. He also tends to play the straight man in the weirder antics of our group, sometimes even encouraging/participating. Eventually I revealed to the other characters that before finding his calling as a blood Paladin he was once a pirate; a fact that hit different because it was suspected, but never actually known for sure, plus my character wears heavy armor so his nautical tattoos were never visible. My friends all had really cool reveals about their characters as well. That’s why we choose to keep our intros as short and simple as possible. :)
"and his famaly gets burned and hung at the same time because that's just how you kill people"... i might steal that and have my players very confused. because whoever ordered their execution said something silly like that.
Having read that, I've already devised a possible (and entirely awful) means of executing someone that way: Take an ordinary gallows, but make the trapdoor and release mechanism metal (something that won't melt or burn in fire. Have something burnable as the trigger for that mechanism off to the side a bit, and place a wood pile under the trapdoor. Position the victim as you would with the normal gallows, then light the fire. If the fire burns the trigger mechanism first, the trapdoor opens and they get hanged. If the victim dies in the fire they're standing over first, they burn. With proper refinement (and let's face it, we live in a world where they figured out how to make a metal bull such that when a person was put inside and then the bull was placed over a fire, the victims screams sounded like the bellowing of a bull; that refinement would happen), you can rig it such that both happen at basically the same time. Sometimes being an engineer is disturbing. (also, if you're not familiar with the Brazen Bull, I'm sorry. It's an unpleasant wikipedia article to read.)
Finally, somebody who understands the PC/GM contract for what it is! Thank you! Seth Skarkowski is also big on the overall experience of this thing we all love. I've always tried to work with PC's regarding the way we fill out our characters, and it's wonderful to see an experienced GM who gets the entirety of the paradigm. Keep going.
My goal as a player: have meaningful, memorable interactions with my fellow party members, and the setting in general, without devolving into a soap opera or power fantasy. My goal as a character: learning to redeem and forgive myself and others, using my patrons' approval as a measuring stick. Potential issues: I constantly lie about everything, even to myself. So I dumpstat cha and give myself a tell: rapid blinking. That way my party can navigate my lies. Character arc: in my background, I have proven to myself that I was a monster, but I became unsatisfied with that life and eventually found a reason to believe that maybe people can change: maybe I can change. Moving forward, I try to redeem everyone, projecting myself onto the villains we fight, particularly those I most associate and empathize with (who happen to be the most fundamentally corrupted race in the setting), and every time I can't, my faith in my own ability to redeem myself sinks, until I stop trying altogether. Eventually, I realize that theres a difference between 'can't change' and 'won't change,' and no matter how many others choose not to repent, I will do so even if it kills me. (which it legitimately might.) We'll see if my character is still alive by this point in the arc, but after that, I struggle to keep the progress I've made. I'm never really sure if its enough to save my soul, and I still struggle, but I am content that I have done and am doing everything I can to be the best version of me possible. TL/DR: people can't change -> everybody can and must change -> some people choose not to change, and that's what separates good people from evil: improvement -> some things about you don't need to change. Nobody is perfect, but what matters is that you try. Admittedly, my character is more complex than this. His themes include redemption, forgiveness, anger, honesty, and manhood, with separate arcs for each, but this is already a really long comment. Your thoughts would be appreciated, thanks for reading. EDIT: I just realized that the above arc sounds really melodramatic, so for context, my character is a homebrew race I made called vandira, which are literally soulless semi-devils that have to drink copious amounts of blood on a regular basis to survive, leading many young vandira to assault and/or murder for a meal. As you can imagine, a decent person in that situation would be more than a little appalled by themself, and vandira suffer a ton of racism, even if they manage to get their fix through shady deals instead of hurting anybody. My character is one of the unlucky ones: born with a conscience, and accidentally took a desperately needed meal too far.
Hi, Guy! So glad I found this channel. In regards to introducing characters, as much as I completely see where you're coming from here, myself and my D&D group unanimously agreed to not go beyond race, class and approximate age when introducing our characters, opting instead to let any further backstory we have to be revealed down the line in-game as we all get to know each other or come across aspects of quests or the world around our characters that resonate specifically with a character. For me, this adds an extra level of intrigue to the game and I would recommend it to any group starting a new game. For example, we recently just discovered that our half-elf bard companion descends from royalty, a fact that was revealed by a show of a signet ring on her hand, which allowed her to speak with a Lady in her home about a witch's missing daughter. It left me surprised and wanting to know more about her, almost generating some sort of side-quest alongside the main one to find the missing girl.
Out of all of the boring people and the snorefest of talk that they typically do of games you are the most entertaining and I actually enjoy watching you
That kind of sounds like a lot. I typically try to keep my descriptions short, sweet, and to the point. I give a general idea of what they look like, while pointing out any distinctive features, and then give them a description of their personality, or what one might assume their personality to be on first glance. If my character has been with the party since before the game began, then I’d give a more thorough description of the personality, as well as telling them the character’s goal. Anything I haven’t told them, I’ll tell them later in the game when it comes up and I’ll drop context clues along the way.
Pretty miffed that you claimed that Sam was merely bound to Frodo and that a friendship was built over time. Sam had been one of the gardeners of Bag End for years and they had already developed a loving bondservant relationship, Sam was committed to Frodo not out of fear of the Wizard, but out of fear of losing his master and friend. Yes. Sam WAS sworn to protect Frodo by the wizard, however, that was not unwilling, that was merely the expression of things that were bound to happen anyways.
I made an college of illusion wizard who wanted to go on great adventures to be able to tell stories with amazing realistic visuals, essentially making movies based off his real life.
Good stuff! Even if I don't use this process, there's plenty for me to take inspiration from. You've said in previous videos that the collective tastes of the group will essentially inspire the way the DM manages the group, and I think this is no exception to that. What's important is to learn from all DM experiences, and these videos by extension, and use what you see as the best formula for the players at hand. For example, in my group, I may implement almost all of this, but the last bit would be a secret question to all of the players with short form answers. I'd keep those pinned to my DM wall throughout the campaign next to their saves, and use that as a cairn stone for the campaign.
Hahahahahaha!!! I hit the like button like I hit a bull with an axe and I hit the subscribe button like I hit a mammoth with a club, all for Esmeralda! Hahaha. Outstanding content!!! Thank you for making this video!! :-D
I love how I had absolutely no clue what had happened at 11:25, and yet I knew when I clicked it I was gonna be sent to that part of "mixing LoTR and Star-Trek".
Loving your channel and the fantastic insightful content you produce. I have just spent the past 2 hours pouring through my character document to really nail down his motivations, i look forward to sharing these videos with my fellow players. Thank you :)
I have seen countless "D&D advice" videos. THIS is the one that I think is the most important. THIS is the one I would like to show to my players. (Although I'm not going to, because my players are not loyal enough to me to do homework, y'know?)
I'm still in the "forever GM" category, though the way I have my players introduce themselves is quite simple, I have them write a three point background small enough to fit on a note card. Point 1: Why did you become [role]? Typically "what made you take up adventuring?" Point 2: What can your character do? Example: if they're a wizard, what kinds of magics do they like to use most? Point 3: What is your personal goal? What does the player want to do in the game, what does their character want to accomplish?
I usually go with first impressions for my intro. I describe what they look like, what their body language is saying in the scene and give a general idea of what their personality might be like.
Guy, you are right. One does need good hair to be on UA-cam. Also this video is very good. I tend to introduce my characters in similar fashion to this method. I especially liked how you discussed how a character needs to align with the roles of the other party members. Very good.
I wrote an adventure called Goblin Bell, about a small town on a hill with a giant bell. The bell is rung when goblins from the forest attack every night, running up the hill. The villages rolls boulders down the hill to smoosh the goblins, and the next day roll them all back up the hill for the next nights raid.
So far my character introductions have been lackluster. My best was my Gnome Beguiler who, with her nervous stutter, introduced herself as a librarian and then proceeded to Nat 20 a search check for books. When the rest of the party stepped away to discuss something privately though, she became curious and tried to secretly cast invisibly to eavesdrop. She rolled poorly, the cleric used Divine Insight to trounce it and fearing her to be a spy the party interrogated her. She was forced to admit that she was, in fact, a phantom thief who had come to the frontier in search of the truth that the government was hiding.
Normally I just let my PC indruduce himself to the other players. But you gave me some inspiration to try another way of introducing my PC. I'm curious how others will react, compared to my normal introduction
i actually was once thinking about an esmeralda. she was married her whole life, had kids, got grandchildren, but she never felt satisfied with her life. So when her husband died of old age and their little farm became a little bit too overbearing for herself, she and her eldery cat, who most often is strolling away doing her own thing up to the point people even doubt her very existence, went out to find the adventure. her handbag (= same stats as a morning star) is her weapon, though she overhelms others more with her motherly, authoritarian presence. RIP you, who she calls by your full name! Behave and you get a candy which she seems to have an endless supplly of in her morn... handbag. i then decided to play another character, who fits better into the party, but i still have her on the waiting list for another adventure.
Well of course this party is going to be more cohesive- you've planned out your characters entire story arc and then told the other players up front. At this point any plot is just an obstacle and you have no need to interact with each other in a meaningful way because you all already know how this is going to end... next you're going to say you pre-roll all 20 levels of your character right at the start. That sounds pretty boring to me. Don't introduce your character to other players like this. Work this stuff out and tell the DM your hopes, but from the moment you sit down at the first session, you should be ready for your character to develop organically in a totally different direction. The world should affect your character as unexpectedly as your character effects the world
Have to say I totally agree. Half the fun of this game is the secrets of the character's pasts, goals and ambitions seeping out over time - sometimes with dramatic DM driven effect, other times just through RP. Unloading the whole thing up front to the rest of your party is ... yawn. Not to mention totally unrealistic.
I really enjoyed this video (as I do all of your videos lol). The only issue I have is I've just released a couple videos on my channel covering these things. The video talking about a backstory I actually decided last minute to mention about fears /worries so now I feel as though I've just copied your much better video 😊.
I sometimes do some sort a little 'cutscene' that presents character in their natural environment. In sci-fi setting I had character that was addicted to quite few things, so I told how 'Camera' pans over the dirty floor, clothes shattered around, then the character, her look, how she is smoking while sitting on bed with clearly a hooker to her side. She got up, dressed, and went out without a word, leaving money. She got on her motorcycle and drove off. Then after that quick transition to cage fight and slaughters a guy there. I myself had fun telling this little story and gave an idea to my fellow players who generally my character is.
Appreciate the advice on how to think through building a character with personality, beliefs, intentions, vulnerabilities and role in the milieu. It's refreshing! I get so tired of yet another optimal build video that is focusing on mechanics only.
Uhm... Why do you watch so many "optimal build" videos?! You know... There are uploaded more videos (pr. time) to UA-cam than it is possible to view (in that same.time!) so you have to choose what to see!
@@larsdahl5528 well, you have made an assumption here, Lars. I actually don't watch those vids if they are clearly labeled. I note the subject and "pass them by". I may actually miss out on some good content, but that approach to chargen just doesn't interest me anymore. I really have no problem with others enjoying the game their way.
One of my favorite characters was Call, An alcoholic Jedi. He turned to substance abuse to help him cope with the shear number of people he has had to kill, occupational hazard of being a PC. Unfortunately the game fell apart, we didn't do a session zero and the players all had different ideas about what we were trying to accomplish. We also all were melee fighters with low skills, that did not help.
I've seen way too few people talking to each other before the campaign and discusses their party and characters before they play. I love to chat about sessions and everything within the campaign after session. Helps you both plan for the next session and remember what happened in the previous one. As for introducing my PC to a campaign, I prefer to show rather than tell my fellow players. I will discuss the basics of the character with them (class and background), but leave the details only to players that agrees with me to make PCs with a shared backstory. I usually only tell my plans, motivations and details in full to my GM. This way, I make the character more interesting to my fellow players because they don't know excactly what I'm up to unless they go look for it. This makes for a more realistic development of character relationships: They meet by coincidence (or fate), cooperate through necessity, and grow to trust each other in a cameraderie through their common experiences and efforts. The relations become not only between PCs, but also player and PC. If you serve all players the details of your character, the character relations can feel less genuine (in my experience), allowing for less surprises and twists for you and your GM to work with.
Your example of Esmeralda reminds me of a Warrior I played, at first I intended to make him a diplomatic character but in the module we were playing we kept getting ambushed by everything so he decided instead that he was just gonna kill everything not human or human-like
at some point, someone in my group had that idea that :"you gotta have a good backstorry with a lot of secrets that you slowly reveal" so everybody and their grandma had a secret from one another and had to hide that (obviously none knew that there even was a secret) so we all went along, had to text the GM or had to write secret notes. needless to say it was a mess
It's a good video, Guy... AND for the record, a great ideal. However, I'd recommend it "branded" more like "the way to intro to your fellow Players/GM your Character Concept"... rather than necessarily leading straight to the character sheet, itself. Personally, I think that's more what you mean, anyway. I've been involved in RPG's for 30 years or a bit more, and it's just natural for Players to want to keep a few things "secretive" to their characters at the table "until the time is right" for their own reveals... AND that's fine, most of the time. At session-0's, Concepts are discussed more than actual Characters, while we (at my tables) figure out approximately how the group plans to organize for a team-dynamic, and mostly it's to avoid a whole party of wizards, or a standing group of warriors-only... Nothing wrong with attempting a team as such on purpose, but without intending to do it, it can lead to crises... The only exception that I can think of being workable is a group of Rogues, since being "skill-monkeys" by nature, Rogues can usually get dynamic enough in-game to specialize themselves through RP and only seem wonky as hell in small doses... utterly manageable with the occasional kidnapping of a "useful" NPC... Fleshing out these questions in the "Character Concept" stage of build(s) is great so everyone already has the idea of what "Party Role" they're working on, and can return with a PC-sheet that reflects something resembling what everyone wants... and a PC that the other PC's can thereby justify "going off adventuring with"... With regard to "Party Dynamics" some groups like the dubious titles involved, "Heart, Face, Scout, etc..." and once in a while, we would write these down on folded notes to be drawn "randomly" from a hat... The "role" you drew was thereby your base concept for a PC, and you had utter freedom otherwise in the construct... so long as you worked toward fulfilling that particular role in the game... It was rather hit-and-miss with some (usually less experienced Players) but for the most part, rendered HILARIOUS as well as EPIC results. {like everything just a suggestion} As to specific intro's for PC's... However we manage to concoct a storyline/setup to put the various PC's on a crossroads with each other, it comes to a basic description from Player-Players about what they see as they approach or are approached, with the occasional tidbit of GM's mischief interjected to maintain the sense of story as necessary. ...and maybe we just like making things more complicated than they have to be, too. ;o)
my current DM only allows race, and appearance as an introduction as we play in a shop and often have 9 players. most come in and out and there are only very few core regulars.
It's a good policy for any game. Classes are a game mechanic. Characters in the world wouldn't necessarily identify as their class. A Barbarian would most likely just call herself a warrior. After all, "barbarian" is technically a slur. A Noble trained as a Bard (those Bardic colleges have pretty much the best education available in a fantasy world) almost certainly wouldn't want anyone to think she was a _performer._ Mother would have a _fit._ No, she's a young gentlewoman out to see the world with a couple of friends is all. _Imply_ class through appearance and action. Introduce your Wizard leafing absently through a heavily-bound book, your Fighter meticulously sharpening his sword, your Rogue absently practicing sleight of hand with a coin.
@@johnharrison2086 ... until it's too late. For a character like that, it can be great for the rest of the group to find out what class you went with when your "Dwarven warrior" starts spitting Eldritch Blasts instead of closing with his axe. That free armor proficiency is _great_ for spellcasters too.
For introducing characters you need to have the GM and the newbie talk and work it into the story. For example in the Temple of Elemental evil campaign my backup character is a Storm Barbarian that they will find imprisoned or being dragged off by one of the four cults. Basically they want to study his primal storm connection. Another good one was when I was asked by a DM on how I wanted to be introduced to the characters I said 'At a dead run.' so we worked it so that my character was running from an enemy that by himself would hopelessly outmatch him and the first thing he said when seeing the party was, 'Oh thank god! Reinforcements!' before turning on a dime and charging his pursuer.
Totally understand getting to know the players and figuring out what they want to get out of the game. I totally get going over the stuff that would be told to us over a table in an inn somewhere so it doesn't slow down the actual game when it is time to play as well as helping the other players understand actions and assist in goals. I do not like the idea of going over flaws and how the party intends to deal with them with the players. I feel like getting to know social and battle tendencies, and reacting to them, is a fun portion of the game. If I know the "tell" before the game starts, you might as well not even have the trait.
Yeah, I'm of two minds about these advice. On the other hand, it's ok to tell your fellow players these things beforehand, but it's fun to discover them alongside with your character.
You know I had a player who was really bad about this. This was one of those people that when I found them I was an insecure teenager, and they were in their thirties but as the two of us got older he just became a more he just became a more Negative and abusive person where as I grew out of it. I started a story-based table, as an author, narrator, galactic force type DM, so I'm really good about giving character cues and letting people introduce their characters how they want them to. It's a situation where I set up the scene, and then I let them decide however they would like to describe their character. Player in question kept getting frustrated and hating their character so they would leave. They tried to play Ambrose the Sailor, didn't show up to Session 1, wasn't asshole in session 2 who decided to destroy the goal of 2 pcs because they were debating for 30 seconds about the risks and then didn't come back for a while. When he did finally come back he asked me about working on homebrewstuff so he could have an interesting character. Me being me I said okay, so we worked on a "drider like race but they aren't ties to srow so they're not driders" race. Now, I understand some races get racial abilities but these were the 3 things he threw a FIT for, claiming, "other classes have these" and for 1v1 equivalent, he's right, but not to all of these. 1d10 piercing dmg+ 1d6 poison for a bite at lvl1. A "range grapple" for shooting web. The web spell once a day (which I pushed back hard on, but still was nice enough to let him have half dimensions so it didn't invalidate the spell. When he used this in game he did full dimensions and bitched that I, as the DM, said the spell was okay, omitting what i said about the conditionsof the spell). Wall climbing. This character is a supposed orphan who lives in the sewer, who lives pretty much a Primal life, they hunt and gather stuff in the sewer. Their own introduction to their character went over somewhat okay, as they were playing a hyper nervous character who literally clung to the very first person who was nice to them and that was the entirety of the character. For about six sessions until he realized everybody was not interested in engaging in this boring character, and leaving again, all he did was literally hide behind the Paladin as this character and then complaining bitch to me about how this character, who has never worn or made clothing in her life, and who doesn't even have a tailoring kit, wants to make a shirt so she should have made a shirt by now and it should be quick. In my games I literally will tell the player upfront how much time they need to spend on making something, and if they are going to try to speed up the time, they have to roll for it, and he kept making shit rolls so the job went as it was supposed to and eventually he quit because he couldn't make the shirt that he wanted to give the Paladin. It's not that I told him no, I just told him that it would take x amount of time and he threw a fit about it. And left for 3 months. His last character that he brought back when I attempted to see if he would come back and in better moods this time is actually now an NPC with the group because he didn't come back better, he just questioned and undermined my authority as a DM. Things like making an ancient lock that has withstood the test of time having a better DC than a 16. Asking me what the quality of weapons are, he told me no and that he wanted to roll something else, and for me if your character has a good reason to roll something else or to be looking at things from a different angle, I'll usually let you roll but you have to give me the argument. However in his case he told me no, I asked for his ankle as to why and he tells me literally, "I dont know. You're the Dm, so I hoped you'd just tell me to roll something different." He later told me it was because he's playing an archaeologist and he automatically knows weapons that are over a century-old. And when I told him that this weapon didn't apply to that because it's a new craft stone weapon he got upset about this because it's my name so I should have had something for his character specifically even though in that one very commonplace weapon I literally would have said the same thing about it to anybody who asked. That last character has essentially become a meme to the group. One of their Noble contracts had hired him to go help them with a archaeology site and he had agreed because one of his kin had gone there and disappeared. When I introduced him standing at the gate looking for the party to come back from a latest Quest, he said he wouldn't have been doing that because it shows weakness and he would have just been standing there stoically until he noticed them. He is not in the game anymore, so I've been basing the character off of what he presented and then adding a little bit here and there, so I've decided to keep the stoic comment. Whenever he does something he'll say something like, "I'll let you all debate about what your party wants to do while I stand there... stoically." The party love hate it. They like the character NPC better but they love hate whenever he gets involved he will say the word stoic. Not always but it gets there a lot whenever he's describing himself
Both times I got intorduced (sorry I miss spelled it) it was in a battle. When I introduce it's you meet at a town festival and get selected or you all got contracted by the adventurers guild and meet at the common tavern scene.
After watching this, I feel the need to make a buff wizard janitor. Running around in overalls, and rather clobbing enemies in the head with a wrench rather than flingin spells (which he isn't really good at anyway)
If you'll allow I'd like to tell you a story. This is the story of Noiry, the bad wizard. She went to a school for wizards, but got laughed out by her colleges. While they continued to excel in charming people, blowing things up, and conjuring objects, she could not do any of these things. She took to the school of illusion. The only school she could seem to make any progress in. Before making much progress she left the college, ashamed of herself as a failure, and so she made a mask. She hid behind this mask and became a performer. She learned to play the accordion, learned to do silly little tricks that weren't really magic. She found fun little magic items to make her happy and take her mind off things. She would not fight. In fact she was so good at not fighting she would outrun even horses to escape her problems. But she always had that mask. Deep down inside the shame of a failed career hides, and so the mask will never come off. And that my friends, is Noiry, the performer illusionist with a mask on her face. I hope you enjoyed this story, and that it may have given you ideas to make stories of your own. The timing and subject of this video were perfect for giving this idea for community review. I will admit she is already a character of mine, but it is always good to get more opinions, even after she has risen to the mighty level 7 (that is a joke I promise). So comments on my own story are also welcome. Don't be shy everyone!
@@nickwilliams8302 Haha! Any sane party wouldn't want her for a fight because she's a bit on the very annoying side, but a wise player would appreciate the utility her character can bring to the party.
@@chaosmastermind maybe a Party of rollplayers wouldn't want her. But it is such an interesting Story waiting to be written, that everypony wanting to roleplay some time would have their fun with it. Ye, maybe she wouldn't fight for herself, but what if she Not only gets along with the other PCs, but becomes Close Friends with them? Would she fight for her Friends? Maybe she's the little bit of distraction with her illusions that they need to Kill the evil Cleric of Vecna because he Turns around to fight the ogre suddenly approaching him with a Big Club? Even non-fighting characters can turn the Tide of a battle, and she's more likely to turn the events of a non-battle encounter. Maybe she's not made for a campaign of dungeon-crawling up to Level 20, but of diplomatic intrigues, stealthy operations and sometimes trying to defeat the Guards of the nobles they just robbed without killing them. I'd surely like to play alongside a character like this. But Hey, to each their own. Nothing Bad about wanting to slaughter your way through masses of living experience points trying to Kill you. Sometimes that's everything you need after a hard week.
@@CrystalTeacup Yes! Perfect! Creativity is the name of this game friend. She is a very unique and quirky character, and though she may not fight I'm only limited by my imagination in other situations!
Gosh... Got another cool idea for a/some character/s! Jimothy was having fun in the woods when he fell in a deep pit and found a dying fire elemental. Jimothy's leg was broken and his head was bleeding. The elemental (Timbo) made a deal with Jimothy: That if they binds thier life forces Timbo will follow Jimothy's orders entirely until Jimothy is dead. Also Timbo fave Jimothy the power to get out of the pit. Every point of damage Jimothy takes is unhealable, and increases Timbo's hp and firepower. Jimothy started adventuring because having a fire elemental around you all the time isn't great when working in silos... Jimothy wants to belong with people/weirdos who don't get burnt easily... He also wants to earn enough money to live comfortably until he's fully absorbed by Timbo. He wants to live life to the fullest because he's very weak. Timbo's backstory ain't too special- but he's a cool hungry firedude. Jimothy's story can be a little bleak. Yamir was a respected lone fisherwoman in a bustling fishing village. One day she discovered a glowing crystal skull named Enlil that "convinced" Yamir telepathically to search for the other twelve skulls. Enlil has weak magic and psionic abilities. Yamir is very well built because if her time being a fisherwoman. She uses a thin single-edged blade for gutting fish, and a large rope-attacted fishhook. Every time she uncoves a new crystal skull she becomes more enamored by them until she is just an extension of the their will. The party could try to save her, but in the end she has aligned with the skulls and would become immediately brainwashed again anyway. The skulls such as Enlil are VERY tough, but if they were somehow broken then Yamir would abandon the party. I'll think of what the skulls (Anunnaki) want to do (return to space in peace, vengeance on the one who made them so, world domination) later.
Oh, and Yamir's troubles would be about the choice to remove choice from your life and having faith. A lighter story than Jimothy's, since Yamir is completely at peace. Enlil's wisdom cannot be denied. They will surely do the right thing *wink*.
Well, I’m starting a campaign... One person is playing as a demon. I’m playing a warlock who’s patron forced me into a pact with it to save a village I’d lived in for most of my life. I did it. Then, he still destroyed the village with demons. So I hate demons. And a party member is a demon. Problems... It might not end well.
As long as the common goal is enough that the characters can get over it for long enough it should work out fine. I’m about to DM a game with a gay tiefling who was in a cult and an adopted Dragonborn paladin who doesn’t know anything about social encounters or intimacy.
GOOD IDEA FOR INTRODUCING DRUID. (If there is a ranger in the party) (New player isn’t at table yet.) So you see a nice looking pet/possible familiar (wolf, lion, tiger, etc.) Ranger’s pet “died off” Ranger is sad. Ranger sees animal “OMG WE GOTTA KEEP IT” Ranger gets “pet” with a name tag, with the Druid’s name on it. Ranger asks “u wanna join my party?” (The ranger hears a voice say ‘yes’) Animal transforms in a blinding flash o light) Dm/You: HEYYYY (PLAYER’s name) COME OUT (was hiding from the rest of the players) Druid: Sorry I’m a (race) but I found this cool animal if you want a pet/familiar. (Druid hands Ranger’s pet back) Profit.
Still playing my first PC which my DM premade for me; sad I couldn’t make a barbarian like that, but everyone loves Velma Bloodthirst III, the bloodthirsty barbarian with the most common sense (except when in rage).
“Hey guys my goal at the table is to explore character uselessness, to create and then dive into a pit of despair with my character, who is sad because he can do literally nothing and must be carried by the team” This guy’s goal is trolling, unless the group wants it to, in which case their shared goal is satisfaction of their masochism.
I am playing a barbarian in a game, his main goal is to die in battle against the largest foe he can find. All this because of a great crime he committed years ago which saw him exiled from his clan and hold. The other players can't figure out why and it frustrates them a little as he drives onward into more dangerous situations.
Typically I describe the appearance of my character and some stuff that they are carrying. So Rothe my current character. Pale Skin ,Jet Black hair, black leather armor, 5ft 8 140 lbs, slender elven like face with human ears. Has a necklace with a spider on it and a black gem. Has a bow, rapier and two daggers on him.
Right now in my party there has to be character growth, or we'll end up killing each other. I'm an Areni Hugh Elf Druid, well a character I had no idea was coming in is a Wood Elf Paladin, and a Dragonborn Cleric...that's a recipe for disaster, but at the moment neither have a choice and has to work together or we'll all die. However, my Elf went off into the wilderness very young before it was beaten into him why he should hate Wood Elves, also he's a Druid so he would avoid towns as much as possible. I could see this turning into a Legolas and Gimli situation, as long as there isn't another Wood Elf in the party...that will end bad for everyone.
When he started talking about alignment, I immediately thought of Gimli and Legolas. They he mentioned Sam and Frodo first and I was a little disheartened XD
I once played as a dwarf barbarian who was a veteran soldier of his nation. It lead to a really fun interaction, PC, in character: You're a barbarian. Me, in character: ...Excuse you?? Was that supposed to be a racism thing? PC: What? Me: I'm a citizen of Thaylon! You think I'm a barbarian just because I'm a dwarf? PC: No? Because you rage in battle and don't wear armor. Me: Didn't realize it was a crime to get angry while fighting.
The Frodo/Sam relationship, in the books at least, was more of a "beloved master/loyal servant" kind of thing. Which was a bit of an archaic concept by the time the movies were made, but a much stronger character motivation than "nosy gardener who got caught eavesdropping and only came along because the wizard made him."
I was playing a Shifter tiger in a Murder mistery, and my friend was introducing her character to mine for the first time. In the moment her character was ready to shake my character's hand, I made him puke a fur ball.
Chat with me and other awesome role players on Discord: discord.gg/Znwtkd2 🎲
How to be a Great Game Master ur awesome brother hope is all well
just seen this video as im wanting to DM/GM here soon. would you be ok if i created this as a NPC or even PC some day?
...Esmarelda, with her +1 handbag...
Handbag of SMITE!... because there's a brick in it.
My sister kept a brick in her purse when she was in college.
+1 Handbag of Whippersnapper Smiting
You enchant it by stowing magic jewelry and sweets in it.
Put a vorpal brick in it.
+3 vs muggers and rogues.
Handbag of devouring; trouble goes in, but it don't come out!
Welp, Esmerelda the Barbarian is now my newest NPC.
Probably the best use of the character, TBH.
Are we sure that this is not Shadversity in a strangely obvious disguise?
Yeah, they do have similarities
I was wondering why I wasn't subscribed to him, I was thinking "I swear I see this guy all the time, I swear I was subscribed to him"
I just spit my drink laughing... Have my like
wait this isnt shadversity's d&d channel?!
glad I'm not the only one who's been thinking they are similar in quite a few ways.
"No, I am not going to tell the barbarian she needs a shave. I like my head to remain firmly attached, thank you."
"The goblin bell tolls for whoever has... hit it, basically. Because that what bells do..."
That is what we call an internet troll, right?
@@larsdahl5528 Trolls are aggressive; This guy is more of a clown I think. He's the non-horrific and less nightmare inducing kind of clown though. He made me laugh pretty hard at least.
All goblins are rap**ts!
player: so how did you become a cleric?
cleric player (forge domain): I trained with fellow priests and warriors for a long time, then for my last trial, they put me in a Metal cast and cast Heat Metal on it, forging me in fire, becoming a tool of my God.
player: ... that's metal as fuck!
Holy shit, that sounds so cool but also so painful.
Honestly if that led to permanent scarring (perhaps only below the neck for social reasons) that'd be an awesome sign of devotion to their God. I may have to borrow this
@@ciarfah If it's particularly big enough, why not scar the face too? Show the whole world how fucking metal you are.
**speaking to a winged teifling standing over 2 dead bodies**
"so. . . care to explain the charred corpses?"
well i used to run scams back home but one day i got caught cheating a local crime boss' daughter out of her money. so his goons came in the middle of the night and dragged me out of bed and into the street where they beat me half to death and carved the skin off my wings then tossed me into a pig sty and told me to skip town or die... so i cleaned myself up gathered my things and limped out of town. then the invasion happened and some military types herded me into some camp for civilians while the battles went on and i played along there for a bit while i came up with an idea which never came then my father told me to head to the capital to run a job for him then i got caught up in ANOTHER war zone and the military types dumped me here with a bunch of other refugees where those two fools there tried to rob me and where then commended to the hells just in time for you and your lot to round the corner... and now im here. homeless, flightless, searching for some devil worshiping dwarf, and ANSWERING INANE QUESTIONS FROM A BAND OF WEIRDOS IN AN ALLY WAY!!!
"that... was a much longer answer than i wanted. . . "
IT'S BEEN A MUCH LONGER FEW MONTHS THAN I WANTED!!! **begins long winded tear of violent cursing in court infernal while kicking corpses**
aaand that's how the party met their new pit fiend teifling warlock~
@Jack Gibson sort of.
i actually ended up playing this character (with some alteration to make him less ridiculous) and its been going great.
he's oddly enough gotten along with the paladin of all people the best and the party is now saving up for a sailing ship.
the poor paladin doesnt know how to handle it "i sense so much fiendish evil coming from him but he's so nice and helping me get over my drinking problem WHAT DO I DO!?!"
at this rate we're gonna be satan buddies~
dimly the dwarf:
for when you are going for a gimly, but you get only 1's in intelligence.
Vinx .909 I thought Dimli was Gimli’s cousin.
We don’t talk about him.
So basically Gimli in the movies then?
Good old Dimli, and his elven friend Legless, the raging alcoholic.
@@Here_is_Waldo that had me laughing way too hard
Isn't that just Gimly in general? :P
Many times to introduce characters we will talk to the DM in private about the characters backstory so he knows what to put in the campaign, then we have to Role play our characters to the others in game so we meet in game for the first time. this way the players have to talk to each other and gain each others trust through action and talking rater than "You two meet in a tavern, you are a Bard and You are a rogue. Get along because you are in a party."
I was actually wondering about this because my next character will likely be a dhampir rogue who is keeping his undead nature along with most of his backstory secret, which makes it difficult to discuss character goals and such with the rest of the players. Do you have any tips for how I could still share with the party without SHARING with the party? (That probably sounds confusing sorry)
You mean your main reason for playing D&D isn't to eat carbohydrates?
20:47 "You don't want to see Esmaralda when she is hungry!".
For me, no. Anxiety keeps me from being capable of eating while role playing because I end up feeling sick to my stomach. I've always loved acting but I'm fearful of preforming, so my solution is to not eat much for those 6 hours.
@@2to5Raccoons That is why most players snack on chips or crackers...to help settle their stomachs. xD
@@adakahless I can act out my characters just fine as long as I don't eat. It is only when I start snacking that I feel sick to my stomach.
Um... sometimes yes, but sometimes I require caffeinated sugar-water beverages. And sometimes I require a flagon of rum and access to the cask. It all depends on my mood.
I think these are good for the player to have as a reference but not as an intro. Introducing a character to a party, I'd do a concise surface level description of what the other player's see (such as style of dress, equipment, and cleanliness), any particular mannerisms that stand out, such as a nervous tick or maybe they'd notice the way the character their right hand to hold their left arm while it hangs to the side. And finally behavioral clues such as timidness, or confidence, or swagger or cruel facial expressions. These are all indicators the other characters can see and make observations about.
There should be a reason for the party to get together, such as maybe the watch captain told the player to go and find another player at the tavern. The interaction should be where players - as their characters - would have to ask questions or make comments or conduct a job interview, whatever, with the new character with everyone getting a high level snapshot of the social contract the characters are creating. Then over the course of the early adventure, each character would build their knowledge of each other and as events happen that reveal certain backstory elements or characters establish a bond and reveal more intimate knowledge about themselves, the players would develop this strategy of how they want to accomplish their personal goals.
"I need to avenge my family by finding and killing the lord who did it, and Esmeralda seems strong enough to help me. How would I encourage her to get involved? I should help her accomplish her goals by doing X...." If I go an office party, I don't lay out my whole human experience to someone I just meet (unless I'm creepy and don't know social rules, I guess), so why would I do that with my other players/characters.
As long as you, as the player, make it point to show up to each session, participate positively in the game (take the dangling plot hooks or support the other characters during the adventures), and to ensure you have fun and that you help everyone else have fun, the rest should be a relatively enjoyable experience. I mean, unless you really pick some annoying, bothersome or tiresome character, then maybe a death is in order and a reroll, eh?
One of the best pieces of character creation advice i ever read was page 18 of the AD&D 2E Players Handbook. The section labeled "What do the Numbers Mean?" It guides you down a simple way of realizing your character's past and personality as reflected in the number values of her stats. It is surprising what a useful creative tool this is. It gives you just enough of a nudge that you can start filling in the details all on your own, if you are feeling stuck. Of course, it also assumes that you actually rolled for your stats -like us old timers did back in the day! :)
My favorite part of Harry Potter was where Legless and Dimly saved Eragon
Not my kind of joke.
I loled
Oh yeah, Harry Potter is my favorite anime.
I'm sure you're a blast at the table
I love the Black Pearl arc.
Once played a Bard that was V from V for Vendetta. I introduced myself by reciting V's introduction speech.
Usually my introduction depends on who’s DMing, what kind of campaign I’m in, etc. normally me and my friends don’t go deep into detail with our characters just simple, this my name, my race and my class. The actual introductions, alliances, and roles are established through RP. For example, my current character is a Draph(home brew race taken from Grand Blue Fantasy) paladin. Through RPing i showed that he was a selfless, animal loving, tank who is often apprehensive about jumping head first into a situation, but doesn’t think twice about helping if someone’s in trouble or throws themselves at danger. He’s always right up front and throws himself in harm’s way to keep his friends safe. He also tends to play the straight man in the weirder antics of our group, sometimes even encouraging/participating. Eventually I revealed to the other characters that before finding his calling as a blood Paladin he was once a pirate; a fact that hit different because it was suspected, but never actually known for sure, plus my character wears heavy armor so his nautical tattoos were never visible. My friends all had really cool reveals about their characters as well. That’s why we choose to keep our intros as short and simple as possible. :)
Best intro to any video ever.
"and his famaly gets burned and hung at the same time because that's just how you kill people"... i might steal that and have my players very confused. because whoever ordered their execution said something silly like that.
Having read that, I've already devised a possible (and entirely awful) means of executing someone that way:
Take an ordinary gallows, but make the trapdoor and release mechanism metal (something that won't melt or burn in fire. Have something burnable as the trigger for that mechanism off to the side a bit, and place a wood pile under the trapdoor. Position the victim as you would with the normal gallows, then light the fire. If the fire burns the trigger mechanism first, the trapdoor opens and they get hanged. If the victim dies in the fire they're standing over first, they burn. With proper refinement (and let's face it, we live in a world where they figured out how to make a metal bull such that when a person was put inside and then the bull was placed over a fire, the victims screams sounded like the bellowing of a bull; that refinement would happen), you can rig it such that both happen at basically the same time.
Sometimes being an engineer is disturbing. (also, if you're not familiar with the Brazen Bull, I'm sorry. It's an unpleasant wikipedia article to read.)
@@rashkavar
i knew about it, and yea, humans would have figured it out...
I'm glad to know he enjoyed Gladiator as well. XD
Hung by fuckin chains???
6:00 he's so good at these impressions. And it's incredibly accurate as well. Actually laughed out loud
Finally, somebody who understands the PC/GM contract for what it is! Thank you! Seth Skarkowski is also big on the overall experience of this thing we all love. I've always tried to work with PC's regarding the way we fill out our characters, and it's wonderful to see an experienced GM who gets the entirety of the paradigm. Keep going.
My goal as a player: have meaningful, memorable interactions with my fellow party members, and the setting in general, without devolving into a soap opera or power fantasy.
My goal as a character: learning to redeem and forgive myself and others, using my patrons' approval as a measuring stick.
Potential issues: I constantly lie about everything, even to myself. So I dumpstat cha and give myself a tell: rapid blinking. That way my party can navigate my lies.
Character arc: in my background, I have proven to myself that I was a monster, but I became unsatisfied with that life and eventually found a reason to believe that maybe people can change: maybe I can change.
Moving forward, I try to redeem everyone, projecting myself onto the villains we fight, particularly those I most associate and empathize with (who happen to be the most fundamentally corrupted race in the setting), and every time I can't, my faith in my own ability to redeem myself sinks, until I stop trying altogether.
Eventually, I realize that theres a difference between 'can't change' and 'won't change,' and no matter how many others choose not to repent, I will do so even if it kills me. (which it legitimately might.)
We'll see if my character is still alive by this point in the arc, but after that, I struggle to keep the progress I've made. I'm never really sure if its enough to save my soul, and I still struggle, but I am content that I have done and am doing everything I can to be the best version of me possible.
TL/DR: people can't change -> everybody can and must change -> some people choose not to change, and that's what separates good people from evil: improvement -> some things about you don't need to change. Nobody is perfect, but what matters is that you try.
Admittedly, my character is more complex than this. His themes include redemption, forgiveness, anger, honesty, and manhood, with separate arcs for each, but this is already a really long comment. Your thoughts would be appreciated, thanks for reading.
EDIT: I just realized that the above arc sounds really melodramatic, so for context, my character is a homebrew race I made called vandira, which are literally soulless semi-devils that have to drink copious amounts of blood on a regular basis to survive, leading many young vandira to assault and/or murder for a meal. As you can imagine, a decent person in that situation would be more than a little appalled by themself, and vandira suffer a ton of racism, even if they manage to get their fix through shady deals instead of hurting anybody. My character is one of the unlucky ones: born with a conscience, and accidentally took a desperately needed meal too far.
7:30 sounds like my granny, pretty darn accurate, including the rage xP
What if the face of the party could also fight? I think you are looking for a paladin
Hi, Guy! So glad I found this channel.
In regards to introducing characters, as much as I completely see where you're coming from here, myself and my D&D group unanimously agreed to not go beyond race, class and approximate age when introducing our characters, opting instead to let any further backstory we have to be revealed down the line in-game as we all get to know each other or come across aspects of quests or the world around our characters that resonate specifically with a character. For me, this adds an extra level of intrigue to the game and I would recommend it to any group starting a new game.
For example, we recently just discovered that our half-elf bard companion descends from royalty, a fact that was revealed by a show of a signet ring on her hand, which allowed her to speak with a Lady in her home about a witch's missing daughter. It left me surprised and wanting to know more about her, almost generating some sort of side-quest alongside the main one to find the missing girl.
Out of all of the boring people and the snorefest of talk that they typically do of games you are the most entertaining and I actually enjoy watching you
That kind of sounds like a lot. I typically try to keep my descriptions short, sweet, and to the point. I give a general idea of what they look like, while pointing out any distinctive features, and then give them a description of their personality, or what one might assume their personality to be on first glance. If my character has been with the party since before the game began, then I’d give a more thorough description of the personality, as well as telling them the character’s goal. Anything I haven’t told them, I’ll tell them later in the game when it comes up and I’ll drop context clues along the way.
Pretty miffed that you claimed that Sam was merely bound to Frodo and that a friendship was built over time. Sam had been one of the gardeners of Bag End for years and they had already developed a loving bondservant relationship, Sam was committed to Frodo not out of fear of the Wizard, but out of fear of losing his master and friend. Yes. Sam WAS sworn to protect Frodo by the wizard, however, that was not unwilling, that was merely the expression of things that were bound to happen anyways.
THANK YOU! I thought everyone overlooked that and I was about to post something similar myself.
@@fullelement4886 Nah that bothered me immediately too
Sam is the real hero. Without him Frodo would be buggered.
You had me at Carbohydrates...
Once you mentioned that she flies into a rage and beats people down with her handbag, I immediately thought "Esmerelda = Best Girl".
I wish I had a DM like you at least once in your life. You sound so considerate.
I made an college of illusion wizard who wanted to go on great adventures to be able to tell stories with amazing realistic visuals, essentially making movies based off his real life.
Fear the geriatric stealth berserker!
Good stuff! Even if I don't use this process, there's plenty for me to take inspiration from. You've said in previous videos that the collective tastes of the group will essentially inspire the way the DM manages the group, and I think this is no exception to that. What's important is to learn from all DM experiences, and these videos by extension, and use what you see as the best formula for the players at hand. For example, in my group, I may implement almost all of this, but the last bit would be a secret question to all of the players with short form answers. I'd keep those pinned to my DM wall throughout the campaign next to their saves, and use that as a cairn stone for the campaign.
As soon as Esmerelda was decribed I visualised a character from Discworld 😁
Very helpful. Watching this because my anxiety rarely allows me to properly introduce a character
I really like your mannerisms and stuff you are just cheery and fun to listen to.
I kind of want to read a story with an angry old barbarian grandma who scolds enemies into submission as a main character now.
Nanbarian.
Hahaha, I have a new campaign starting tomorrow! Thanks for the advice.
The beginning of the video was “I am the friendly harmless barbarian”
These cringy introductions are the highlights of my day, lol
Hahahahahaha!!! I hit the like button like I hit a bull with an axe and I hit the subscribe button like I hit a mammoth with a club, all for Esmeralda! Hahaha. Outstanding content!!! Thank you for making this video!! :-D
11:25 that's quite the homebrew
I love how I had absolutely no clue what had happened at 11:25, and yet I knew when I clicked it I was gonna be sent to that part of "mixing LoTR and Star-Trek".
Loving your channel and the fantastic insightful content you produce. I have just spent the past 2 hours pouring through my character document to really nail down his motivations, i look forward to sharing these videos with my fellow players. Thank you :)
I have seen countless "D&D advice" videos. THIS is the one that I think is the most important. THIS is the one I would like to show to my players.
(Although I'm not going to, because my players are not loyal enough to me to do homework, y'know?)
YESSS I JUST NEED THIS NOW
I'm still in the "forever GM" category, though the way I have my players introduce themselves is quite simple, I have them write a three point background small enough to fit on a note card.
Point 1: Why did you become [role]? Typically "what made you take up adventuring?"
Point 2: What can your character do? Example: if they're a wizard, what kinds of magics do they like to use most?
Point 3: What is your personal goal? What does the player want to do in the game, what does their character want to accomplish?
I usually go with first impressions for my intro. I describe what they look like, what their body language is saying in the scene and give a general idea of what their personality might be like.
Your hair is saying D D 👍
Guy, you are right. One does need good hair to be on UA-cam.
Also this video is very good. I tend to introduce my characters in similar fashion to this method. I especially liked how you discussed how a character needs to align with the roles of the other party members. Very good.
I wrote an adventure called Goblin Bell, about a small town on a hill with a giant bell. The bell is rung when goblins from the forest attack every night, running up the hill. The villages rolls boulders down the hill to smoosh the goblins, and the next day roll them all back up the hill for the next nights raid.
Well you changed your intro! I really like it ! Nice
So far my character introductions have been lackluster. My best was my Gnome Beguiler who, with her nervous stutter, introduced herself as a librarian and then proceeded to Nat 20 a search check for books. When the rest of the party stepped away to discuss something privately though, she became curious and tried to secretly cast invisibly to eavesdrop. She rolled poorly, the cleric used Divine Insight to trounce it and fearing her to be a spy the party interrogated her. She was forced to admit that she was, in fact, a phantom thief who had come to the frontier in search of the truth that the government was hiding.
Fantastic video again! I will be sending this link to my new players :D
Normally I just let my PC indruduce himself to the other players. But you gave me some inspiration to try another way of introducing my PC. I'm curious how others will react, compared to my normal introduction
i actually was once thinking about an esmeralda. she was married her whole life, had kids, got grandchildren, but she never felt satisfied with her life.
So when her husband died of old age and their little farm became a little bit too overbearing for herself, she and her eldery cat, who most often is strolling away doing her own thing up to the point people even doubt her very existence, went out to find the adventure.
her handbag (= same stats as a morning star) is her weapon, though she overhelms others more with her motherly, authoritarian presence. RIP you, who she calls by your full name! Behave and you get a candy which she seems to have an endless supplly of in her morn... handbag.
i then decided to play another character, who fits better into the party, but i still have her on the waiting list for another adventure.
Well of course this party is going to be more cohesive- you've planned out your characters entire story arc and then told the other players up front. At this point any plot is just an obstacle and you have no need to interact with each other in a meaningful way because you all already know how this is going to end... next you're going to say you pre-roll all 20 levels of your character right at the start.
That sounds pretty boring to me. Don't introduce your character to other players like this. Work this stuff out and tell the DM your hopes, but from the moment you sit down at the first session, you should be ready for your character to develop organically in a totally different direction. The world should affect your character as unexpectedly as your character effects the world
Have to say I totally agree. Half the fun of this game is the secrets of the character's pasts, goals and ambitions seeping out over time - sometimes with dramatic DM driven effect, other times just through RP. Unloading the whole thing up front to the rest of your party is ... yawn. Not to mention totally unrealistic.
You're repeating exactly what he said.
Jy herhaal presies wat hy gesê het.
I really enjoyed this video (as I do all of your videos lol). The only issue I have is I've just released a couple videos on my channel covering these things. The video talking about a backstory I actually decided last minute to mention about fears /worries so now I feel as though I've just copied your much better video 😊.
I sometimes do some sort a little 'cutscene' that presents character in their natural environment. In sci-fi setting I had character that was addicted to quite few things, so I told how 'Camera' pans over the dirty floor, clothes shattered around, then the character, her look, how she is smoking while sitting on bed with clearly a hooker to her side. She got up, dressed, and went out without a word, leaving money. She got on her motorcycle and drove off. Then after that quick transition to cage fight and slaughters a guy there. I myself had fun telling this little story and gave an idea to my fellow players who generally my character is.
Appreciate the advice on how to think through building a character with personality, beliefs, intentions, vulnerabilities and role in the milieu. It's refreshing! I get so tired of yet another optimal build video that is focusing on mechanics only.
Uhm... Why do you watch so many "optimal build" videos?!
You know... There are uploaded more videos (pr. time) to UA-cam than it is possible to view (in that same.time!) so you have to choose what to see!
@@larsdahl5528 well, you have made an assumption here, Lars. I actually don't watch those vids if they are clearly labeled. I note the subject and "pass them by". I may actually miss out on some good content, but that approach to chargen just doesn't interest me anymore. I really have no problem with others enjoying the game their way.
One of my favorite characters was Call, An alcoholic Jedi. He turned to substance abuse to help him cope with the shear number of people he has had to kill, occupational hazard of being a PC. Unfortunately the game fell apart, we didn't do a session zero and the players all had different ideas about what we were trying to accomplish. We also all were melee fighters with low skills, that did not help.
I've seen way too few people talking to each other before the campaign and discusses their party and characters before they play. I love to chat about sessions and everything within the campaign after session. Helps you both plan for the next session and remember what happened in the previous one.
As for introducing my PC to a campaign, I prefer to show rather than tell my fellow players. I will discuss the basics of the character with them (class and background), but leave the details only to players that agrees with me to make PCs with a shared backstory. I usually only tell my plans, motivations and details in full to my GM. This way, I make the character more interesting to my fellow players because they don't know excactly what I'm up to unless they go look for it. This makes for a more realistic development of character relationships: They meet by coincidence (or fate), cooperate through necessity, and grow to trust each other in a cameraderie through their common experiences and efforts. The relations become not only between PCs, but also player and PC.
If you serve all players the details of your character, the character relations can feel less genuine (in my experience), allowing for less surprises and twists for you and your GM to work with.
Guy just amazing advice again, thank you
Im going to have my players watch this video, i have a big problem with players trying to win d&d
The "win" is getting to hang out with friends for awhile and having a good time. How long have they been playing?
Have you tried with something else than D&D?
It is usually easier to cure such problems by changing RPG system.
@@larsdahl5528 How does this change the problem?
I've been watching dnd videos for like, 3 days straight. Why is YT showing me haircare ads? Lol.
Also, very helpful video!
Ditto.
Your example of Esmeralda reminds me of a Warrior I played, at first I intended to make him a diplomatic character but in the module we were playing we kept getting ambushed by everything so he decided instead that he was just gonna kill everything not human or human-like
at some point, someone in my group had that idea that :"you gotta have a good backstorry with a lot of secrets that you slowly reveal" so everybody and their grandma had a secret from one another and had to hide that (obviously none knew that there even was a secret) so we all went along, had to text the GM or had to write secret notes. needless to say it was a mess
my character's wife (another PC) is a barbarian who flunked out of wizard school. probably one of my favorite character backstories!
It's a good video, Guy... AND for the record, a great ideal.
However, I'd recommend it "branded" more like "the way to intro to your fellow Players/GM your Character Concept"... rather than necessarily leading straight to the character sheet, itself.
Personally, I think that's more what you mean, anyway. I've been involved in RPG's for 30 years or a bit more, and it's just natural for Players to want to keep a few things "secretive" to their characters at the table "until the time is right" for their own reveals... AND that's fine, most of the time.
At session-0's, Concepts are discussed more than actual Characters, while we (at my tables) figure out approximately how the group plans to organize for a team-dynamic, and mostly it's to avoid a whole party of wizards, or a standing group of warriors-only... Nothing wrong with attempting a team as such on purpose, but without intending to do it, it can lead to crises... The only exception that I can think of being workable is a group of Rogues, since being "skill-monkeys" by nature, Rogues can usually get dynamic enough in-game to specialize themselves through RP and only seem wonky as hell in small doses... utterly manageable with the occasional kidnapping of a "useful" NPC...
Fleshing out these questions in the "Character Concept" stage of build(s) is great so everyone already has the idea of what "Party Role" they're working on, and can return with a PC-sheet that reflects something resembling what everyone wants... and a PC that the other PC's can thereby justify "going off adventuring with"...
With regard to "Party Dynamics" some groups like the dubious titles involved, "Heart, Face, Scout, etc..." and once in a while, we would write these down on folded notes to be drawn "randomly" from a hat... The "role" you drew was thereby your base concept for a PC, and you had utter freedom otherwise in the construct... so long as you worked toward fulfilling that particular role in the game... It was rather hit-and-miss with some (usually less experienced Players) but for the most part, rendered HILARIOUS as well as EPIC results. {like everything just a suggestion}
As to specific intro's for PC's... However we manage to concoct a storyline/setup to put the various PC's on a crossroads with each other, it comes to a basic description from Player-Players about what they see as they approach or are approached, with the occasional tidbit of GM's mischief interjected to maintain the sense of story as necessary.
...and maybe we just like making things more complicated than they have to be, too. ;o)
my current DM only allows race, and appearance as an introduction as we play in a shop and often have 9 players. most come in and out and there are only very few core regulars.
It's a good policy for any game. Classes are a game mechanic. Characters in the world wouldn't necessarily identify as their class.
A Barbarian would most likely just call herself a warrior. After all, "barbarian" is technically a slur.
A Noble trained as a Bard (those Bardic colleges have pretty much the best education available in a fantasy world) almost certainly wouldn't want anyone to think she was a _performer._ Mother would have a _fit._ No, she's a young gentlewoman out to see the world with a couple of friends is all.
_Imply_ class through appearance and action.
Introduce your Wizard leafing absently through a heavily-bound book, your Fighter meticulously sharpening his sword, your Rogue absently practicing sleight of hand with a coin.
This comment confused me at first but @Nick Williams that quite helped me.
@@witchBoi_Connor
Cheers. Mostly, I just manage to do the first half of that.
So I describe my tough Mountain Dwarf with his spiked armour and battleaxe. .. nobody realises he is a Warlock
@@johnharrison2086
... until it's too late.
For a character like that, it can be great for the rest of the group to find out what class you went with when your "Dwarven warrior" starts spitting Eldritch Blasts instead of closing with his axe.
That free armor proficiency is _great_ for spellcasters too.
For introducing characters you need to have the GM and the newbie talk and work it into the story. For example in the Temple of Elemental evil campaign my backup character is a Storm Barbarian that they will find imprisoned or being dragged off by one of the four cults. Basically they want to study his primal storm connection. Another good one was when I was asked by a DM on how I wanted to be introduced to the characters I said 'At a dead run.' so we worked it so that my character was running from an enemy that by himself would hopelessly outmatch him and the first thing he said when seeing the party was, 'Oh thank god! Reinforcements!' before turning on a dime and charging his pursuer.
Thanks for the Esmeralda at the end 😁😁
Totally understand getting to know the players and figuring out what they want to get out of the game. I totally get going over the stuff that would be told to us over a table in an inn somewhere so it doesn't slow down the actual game when it is time to play as well as helping the other players understand actions and assist in goals.
I do not like the idea of going over flaws and how the party intends to deal with them with the players. I feel like getting to know social and battle tendencies, and reacting to them, is a fun portion of the game. If I know the "tell" before the game starts, you might as well not even have the trait.
Yeah, I'm of two minds about these advice. On the other hand, it's ok to tell your fellow players these things beforehand, but it's fun to discover them alongside with your character.
You know I had a player who was really bad about this. This was one of those people that when I found them I was an insecure teenager, and they were in their thirties but as the two of us got older he just became a more he just became a more Negative and abusive person where as I grew out of it.
I started a story-based table, as an author, narrator, galactic force type DM, so I'm really good about giving character cues and letting people introduce their characters how they want them to. It's a situation where I set up the scene, and then I let them decide however they would like to describe their character.
Player in question kept getting frustrated and hating their character so they would leave. They tried to play Ambrose the Sailor, didn't show up to Session 1, wasn't asshole in session 2 who decided to destroy the goal of 2 pcs because they were debating for 30 seconds about the risks and then didn't come back for a while. When he did finally come back he asked me about working on homebrewstuff so he could have an interesting character. Me being me I said okay, so we worked on a "drider like race but they aren't ties to srow so they're not driders" race. Now, I understand some races get racial abilities but these were the 3 things he threw a FIT for, claiming, "other classes have these" and for 1v1 equivalent, he's right, but not to all of these.
1d10 piercing dmg+ 1d6 poison for a bite at lvl1. A "range grapple" for shooting web. The web spell once a day (which I pushed back hard on, but still was nice enough to let him have half dimensions so it didn't invalidate the spell. When he used this in game he did full dimensions and bitched that I, as the DM, said the spell was okay, omitting what i said about the conditionsof the spell). Wall climbing.
This character is a supposed orphan who lives in the sewer, who lives pretty much a Primal life, they hunt and gather stuff in the sewer. Their own introduction to their character went over somewhat okay, as they were playing a hyper nervous character who literally clung to the very first person who was nice to them and that was the entirety of the character. For about six sessions until he realized everybody was not interested in engaging in this boring character, and leaving again, all he did was literally hide behind the Paladin as this character and then complaining bitch to me about how this character, who has never worn or made clothing in her life, and who doesn't even have a tailoring kit, wants to make a shirt so she should have made a shirt by now and it should be quick. In my games I literally will tell the player upfront how much time they need to spend on making something, and if they are going to try to speed up the time, they have to roll for it, and he kept making shit rolls so the job went as it was supposed to and eventually he quit because he couldn't make the shirt that he wanted to give the Paladin. It's not that I told him no, I just told him that it would take x amount of time and he threw a fit about it. And left for 3 months.
His last character that he brought back when I attempted to see if he would come back and in better moods this time is actually now an NPC with the group because he didn't come back better, he just questioned and undermined my authority as a DM. Things like making an ancient lock that has withstood the test of time having a better DC than a 16. Asking me what the quality of weapons are, he told me no and that he wanted to roll something else, and for me if your character has a good reason to roll something else or to be looking at things from a different angle, I'll usually let you roll but you have to give me the argument. However in his case he told me no, I asked for his ankle as to why and he tells me literally, "I dont know. You're the Dm, so I hoped you'd just tell me to roll something different." He later told me it was because he's playing an archaeologist and he automatically knows weapons that are over a century-old. And when I told him that this weapon didn't apply to that because it's a new craft stone weapon he got upset about this because it's my name so I should have had something for his character specifically even though in that one very commonplace weapon I literally would have said the same thing about it to anybody who asked.
That last character has essentially become a meme to the group. One of their Noble contracts had hired him to go help them with a archaeology site and he had agreed because one of his kin had gone there and disappeared. When I introduced him standing at the gate looking for the party to come back from a latest Quest, he said he wouldn't have been doing that because it shows weakness and he would have just been standing there stoically until he noticed them. He is not in the game anymore, so I've been basing the character off of what he presented and then adding a little bit here and there, so I've decided to keep the stoic comment. Whenever he does something he'll say something like, "I'll let you all debate about what your party wants to do while I stand there... stoically." The party love hate it. They like the character NPC better but they love hate whenever he gets involved he will say the word stoic. Not always but it gets there a lot whenever he's describing himself
“No time to explain, get in the cart”
Both times I got intorduced (sorry I miss spelled it) it was in a battle. When I introduce it's you meet at a town festival and get selected or you all got contracted by the adventurers guild and meet at the common tavern scene.
Disappointed about not seeing my first read "nitro pc", but the actual topic is actually really important!
I think I once saw a computer shop selling something they called a "Nitro PC".
That intro was like her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II sitting down at the table. I knew she'd rock a barbarian.
0:15 lol, she might look like an old lady now, but watch her rage and become this 20 foot giant barbarian whenever she rocks the battlefield xD
new dwarven name: Dimly the Grimly
After watching this, I feel the need to make a buff wizard janitor. Running around in overalls, and rather clobbing enemies in the head with a wrench rather than flingin spells (which he isn't really good at anyway)
That is the problem with D&D. No Troll Shaman working a day job at the stuffer shack like in Shadowrun.
I remember always giving my wizard at least 12 strength and a quarter staff so I could beat people to death with it when I ran out of spells. LOL
A barbarian who uses his words?
You mean words like "ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!!!!"?
Jokes aside, really informative video, thank you.
If you'll allow I'd like to tell you a story. This is the story of Noiry, the bad wizard. She went to a school for wizards, but got laughed out by her colleges. While they continued to excel in charming people, blowing things up, and conjuring objects, she could not do any of these things. She took to the school of illusion. The only school she could seem to make any progress in. Before making much progress she left the college, ashamed of herself as a failure, and so she made a mask. She hid behind this mask and became a performer. She learned to play the accordion, learned to do silly little tricks that weren't really magic. She found fun little magic items to make her happy and take her mind off things. She would not fight. In fact she was so good at not fighting she would outrun even horses to escape her problems. But she always had that mask. Deep down inside the shame of a failed career hides, and so the mask will never come off. And that my friends, is Noiry, the performer illusionist with a mask on her face.
I hope you enjoyed this story, and that it may have given you ideas to make stories of your own.
The timing and subject of this video were perfect for giving this idea for community review. I will admit she is already a character of mine, but it is always good to get more opinions, even after she has risen to the mighty level 7 (that is a joke I promise). So comments on my own story are also welcome. Don't be shy everyone!
Cool character. Why do they want to go on adventures with the other PCs? Why do the other PCs want to bring her along?
@@nickwilliams8302 Spoiler... they wouldn't.
@@nickwilliams8302 Haha! Any sane party wouldn't want her for a fight because she's a bit on the very annoying side, but a wise player would appreciate the utility her character can bring to the party.
@@chaosmastermind maybe a Party of rollplayers wouldn't want her. But it is such an interesting Story waiting to be written, that everypony wanting to roleplay some time would have their fun with it. Ye, maybe she wouldn't fight for herself, but what if she Not only gets along with the other PCs, but becomes Close Friends with them? Would she fight for her Friends? Maybe she's the little bit of distraction with her illusions that they need to Kill the evil Cleric of Vecna because he Turns around to fight the ogre suddenly approaching him with a Big Club? Even non-fighting characters can turn the Tide of a battle, and she's more likely to turn the events of a non-battle encounter. Maybe she's not made for a campaign of dungeon-crawling up to Level 20, but of diplomatic intrigues, stealthy operations and sometimes trying to defeat the Guards of the nobles they just robbed without killing them. I'd surely like to play alongside a character like this.
But Hey, to each their own. Nothing Bad about wanting to slaughter your way through masses of living experience points trying to Kill you. Sometimes that's everything you need after a hard week.
@@CrystalTeacup Yes! Perfect! Creativity is the name of this game friend. She is a very unique and quirky character, and though she may not fight I'm only limited by my imagination in other situations!
I don't want to see Esmeralda when she's angry. I did hit the Like and Sub buttons.
Gosh... Got another cool idea for a/some character/s!
Jimothy was having fun in the woods when he fell in a deep pit and found a dying fire elemental. Jimothy's leg was broken and his head was bleeding. The elemental (Timbo) made a deal with Jimothy: That if they binds thier life forces Timbo will follow Jimothy's orders entirely until Jimothy is dead. Also Timbo fave Jimothy the power to get out of the pit. Every point of damage Jimothy takes is unhealable, and increases Timbo's hp and firepower. Jimothy started adventuring because having a fire elemental around you all the time isn't great when working in silos...
Jimothy wants to belong with people/weirdos who don't get burnt easily... He also wants to earn enough money to live comfortably until he's fully absorbed by Timbo. He wants to live life to the fullest because he's very weak. Timbo's backstory ain't too special- but he's a cool hungry firedude. Jimothy's story can be a little bleak.
Yamir was a respected lone fisherwoman in a bustling fishing village. One day she discovered a glowing crystal skull named Enlil that "convinced" Yamir telepathically to search for the other twelve skulls. Enlil has weak magic and psionic abilities. Yamir is very well built because if her time being a fisherwoman. She uses a thin single-edged blade for gutting fish, and a large rope-attacted fishhook. Every time she uncoves a new crystal skull she becomes more enamored by them until she is just an extension of the their will. The party could try to save her, but in the end she has aligned with the skulls and would become immediately brainwashed again anyway. The skulls such as Enlil are VERY tough, but if they were somehow broken then Yamir would abandon the party. I'll think of what the skulls (Anunnaki) want to do (return to space in peace, vengeance on the one who made them so, world domination) later.
Oh, and Yamir's troubles would be about the choice to remove choice from your life and having faith. A lighter story than Jimothy's, since Yamir is completely at peace. Enlil's wisdom cannot be denied. They will surely do the right thing *wink*.
Well, I’m starting a campaign...
One person is playing as a demon.
I’m playing a warlock who’s patron forced me into a pact with it to save a village I’d lived in for most of my life. I did it. Then, he still destroyed the village with demons.
So I hate demons.
And a party member is a demon.
Problems...
It might not end well.
Three months later... How did it end?
As long as the common goal is enough that the characters can get over it for long enough it should work out fine. I’m about to DM a game with a gay tiefling who was in a cult and an adopted Dragonborn paladin who doesn’t know anything about social encounters or intimacy.
GOOD IDEA FOR INTRODUCING DRUID. (If there is a ranger in the party)
(New player isn’t at table yet.)
So you see a nice looking pet/possible familiar (wolf, lion, tiger, etc.)
Ranger’s pet “died off”
Ranger is sad.
Ranger sees animal
“OMG WE GOTTA KEEP IT”
Ranger gets “pet” with a name tag, with the Druid’s name on it.
Ranger asks “u wanna join my party?”
(The ranger hears a voice say ‘yes’)
Animal transforms in a blinding flash o light)
Dm/You: HEYYYY (PLAYER’s name) COME OUT (was hiding from the rest of the players)
Druid: Sorry I’m a (race) but I found this cool animal if you want a pet/familiar.
(Druid hands Ranger’s pet back)
Profit.
Still playing my first PC which my DM premade for me; sad I couldn’t make a barbarian like that, but everyone loves Velma Bloodthirst III, the bloodthirsty barbarian with the most common sense (except when in rage).
Wow that impression of me was spot on... have you been practicing?
“Hey guys my goal at the table is to explore character uselessness, to create and then dive into a pit of despair with my character, who is sad because he can do literally nothing and must be carried by the team”
This guy’s goal is trolling, unless the group wants it to, in which case their shared goal is satisfaction of their masochism.
I am playing a barbarian in a game, his main goal is to die in battle against the largest foe he can find. All this because of a great crime he committed years ago which saw him exiled from his clan and hold. The other players can't figure out why and it frustrates them a little as he drives onward into more dangerous situations.
Typically I describe the appearance of my character and some stuff that they are carrying. So Rothe my current character. Pale Skin ,Jet Black hair, black leather armor, 5ft 8 140 lbs, slender elven like face with human ears. Has a necklace with a spider on it and a black gem. Has a bow, rapier and two daggers on him.
Right now in my party there has to be character growth, or we'll end up killing each other. I'm an Areni Hugh Elf Druid, well a character I had no idea was coming in is a Wood Elf Paladin, and a Dragonborn Cleric...that's a recipe for disaster, but at the moment neither have a choice and has to work together or we'll all die. However, my Elf went off into the wilderness very young before it was beaten into him why he should hate Wood Elves, also he's a Druid so he would avoid towns as much as possible. I could see this turning into a Legolas and Gimli situation, as long as there isn't another Wood Elf in the party...that will end bad for everyone.
What really strikes me first with barbarians is most often their axe.
When he started talking about alignment, I immediately thought of Gimli and Legolas. They he mentioned Sam and Frodo first and I was a little disheartened XD
I once played as a dwarf barbarian who was a veteran soldier of his nation. It lead to a really fun interaction,
PC, in character: You're a barbarian.
Me, in character: ...Excuse you?? Was that supposed to be a racism thing?
PC: What?
Me: I'm a citizen of Thaylon! You think I'm a barbarian just because I'm a dwarf?
PC: No? Because you rage in battle and don't wear armor.
Me: Didn't realize it was a crime to get angry while fighting.
I usually introduce my characters by roleplaying their first meeting with the party.
That intro 😂😂
The Frodo/Sam relationship, in the books at least, was more of a "beloved master/loyal servant" kind of thing. Which was a bit of an archaic concept by the time the movies were made, but a much stronger character motivation than "nosy gardener who got caught eavesdropping and only came along because the wizard made him."
I'd say that makes much sense due to when Lotr was written ;)
I was playing a Shifter tiger in a Murder mistery, and my friend was introducing her character to mine for the first time. In the moment her character was ready to shake my character's hand, I made him puke a fur ball.
17:10 is he talking about gladiator there , lol
The film? The Film?! Surely you meant the book.
(also, great video, thanks)
Eating carbohydrates is a noble goal indeed.