Can't love my characters for long...help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can't love my characters for long...help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Trolbri
03-14-07, 04:30 AM I am having trouble my character over a longer period of time, which have resulted in me playing a couple of different character in the same game.

I have not been playing for so long, so naturaly, I have not been playing all the different classes. I cannot find a way to keep loving my characters, and in my group we write a nice background story. It works in the beginning but over the time it fades out.
When I look in different books I get alot of cool ideas of what to play and then my current character becomes a little boring, which I offcause do not like.

So is it normal and/or how do I learn to love my character? Advise anyone?
ToxicWiz
03-14-07, 04:00 PM Well... I must first point out, My entire group is in the same boat as you. we've never got above 13th level, and we have come to terms with the cast changing every 3-4 sessions.

So, yes it's perfectly normal from my standpoint.

my advice is to focus on your character alone. Don't flick through the new shiny book, and ignore the 'uber class' found within. Instead of looking for new characters to play, try and find ways to breathe life into your current one. Give your heartless Necromancer a change of heart, or work with your DM to give your character a strange twist as often as you feel neccessary. I find In-character chats inside the party a good way to find quirks lurking in a character.

the other option is to keep changing, eventually, one will try to stick. you just have to be prepared to hold onto it once you find it.

My advice, nothing more...
SKAMBANKT
03-14-07, 08:44 PM I share the same problem, but have kind of learned to live with it. I tend to wright down all my character-ideas somewhere handy, and continue to play on with the current character.

It helps that the mortality-rate in my parties tend to be very high. Our DM likes to kill the PC´s if he can get away with it, but he tries to save the ones he likes (the ones that are played well).
If I get sick of my character, it usually effects my roleplaying, and I start making mistakes. Mistakes makes my DM grin, and I usually die quite brutally. Next character please.

Note: I don´t reccomend scrapping a character every time you get a "better idea" for a PC. It can ruin the flow of the game, and makes it hard for GM´s to plan ahead more than a couple of sessions. Try to think on why you wanted to play your character in the first place, and suck it up for a while.
It allmost allways gets better.;)
Lorki
04-09-07, 06:56 PM Hope this helps you.

I used to have this problem, and what I found out in my case was I was giving the characters too much of a background to begin with. This is assuming you are beginning with 'young' or first level characters, but you may be defining them too much. They are only just beginning in the world, and the experiences they have already had are nothing to what they will be experiencing.

What I do now with characters, is make a very general background, and have a very general idea of the personality of the character, then as I play them, see how things go, how I have them react in situations, and build on the character that way. Each one turns out different, and the fun you can have with them is ever changing. It is like a reading a great story for the first time, you think you know how the character will react in a given situation, but until that situation arises you are not certain. Do what feels right for them in those situations, and then be consistent in that as you move forward. Every session you will learn something new about your character.

by having them a living, growing person, you may not get bored of them as fast.

Hope this helps you out, and good luck in the future
Westbound
04-10-07, 12:03 AM If you've got a background you generally like, and now you're finding your character boring (if I'm reading you right), there is only one thing to do.

STEAL THE SCENE.

And don't be wishy-washy about it. You've got to assert your character boldly into the game in a way that defies convention. Stop playing to form. Stop playing what people expect you to play and go for the gusto. Try not to get the party killed, but make'em sweat a little. Don't forget your role in a party, though, if you have one.

To give you an example, I was playing a Elf Wizard (named Myrow) and we were infiltrating an old dwarven fortress that was taken over by a hobgoblin warlord and his army. We were doing well, but we were moving at a snail's pace, and I played my wizard as impatient. At every door, we would run down a checklist: Check for traps in the area, approach the door, check the door for traps, check to see if it's locked, pick the lock, open the door slowly as we're ready for anything behind the door, then check for traps in the room beyond, and so on. It occured to me, and a few others, that our DM rarely ever trapped a door in a place where the living was expecting to use it frequently. And so far, we hadn't found a single solitary trap on or near a door. At this rate, it was taking days to search this stronghold, having to rest to recoup spells because our cleric didn't understand proper spell storage and use - she was casting healing spells as though they were going out of style, and she never took Scribe Scrolls, Brew Potion, and Craft Wand.

When we approached a door leading into another chamber, I had cast Detect Traps. I found none, but the Rogue was checking anyway. I then produced my Wand of Knock and opened the door very suddenly. To everyone's shock, I drew my sword, cast Mage Armor and Shield, and ventured boldly into the room. Before anyone could stop me, I killed two hobgoblins with Magic Missile and was readying Fear.

They gave me heat for that, but I just nodded in acknowledgement. On the next encounter, I did the same thing, using my Wand of Knock, provoking a fight. Once, I even cast Bull Strength on myself and kicked down a door. In that session, we zipped through more than half the complex, more than we ever had in a single session before (we had already spent two sessions in this place, and my elf was already stir crazy).

The point is, start taking control of your character and be daring. Stop playing it safe, because that's rarely fun. If you're a Rogue (playing the party Burglar), venture out in front of the party, scouting for traps and threats. When it's the Rogue's watch while the party's resting, go exploring by yourself. If you're the party Cleric, start blackmailing the party by converting them to your deity in return for healing. If you're the Barbarian, be BARBARIC!

Now, don't be a spoiler. Don't try to hog all the limelight, but in the beginning, go nuts. After awhile, everyone will want to play the game you're playing because they'll see how much fun you're having.

You're craving excitement, so start making some. Don't be boring, be interesting.

And if you should happen to find a damsel in distress in said hobgoblin fort, do what Myrow the Great does - he approaches with boldness, give the pretty lady a dip, and says, "Hail to the King, Baby!" And then kisses her passionately.

CARPE DIEM!!!
Prom
04-11-07, 04:06 AM Hi Trolbri,

Westbound makes a good point, play the role and have fun. I find that as a player I have to do homework just like a DM, research your skills and feats. Ask more detailed questions about your character. Let your character have a crisis point in their life.

Otherwise you could always give your character a multiple personality disorder, that could be wild and fun. :crazy:

Prom
warlock_devilkill
04-11-07, 11:19 AM I play a warlock and my party is in a simmilar situation, large area thats taking forever to get through. Our rogue is to big a coward to scout ahead, so now i'm thinking why dosn't my charecter just say forget this and take charge, we have no real leader so why not the cg warlock!
Terjon of the Blue Rose
04-12-07, 12:39 AM Love Westbound's idea. I had to give him up to become DM but until recently my warlock was just about the only person who spoke in rp situations. The others would wonder about what to say, who had the highest dip score (me), etc. I sat back and talked a whole village into believing I was an angel (I am aasimar) who was sent to bring them to the nearby city thus avoiding a goblin invasion (was truthfully coming but they didn't know). Its hard to give up a character you are having fun with so do just that.

Have fun with 'em.:cool:
Terjon of the Blue Rose
04-12-07, 12:44 AM Almost forgot one other point. As a DM I'll include character background into the story. If yours will too (check as it is a lot of work) then you may find it easier to stick with a character who has a personal reason to be part of the game rather than a random adventurer.
Westbound
04-13-07, 02:37 PM I play a warlock and my party is in a simmilar situation, large area thats taking forever to get through. Our rogue is to big a coward to scout ahead, so now i'm thinking why dosn't my charecter just say forget this and take charge, we have no real leader so why not the cg warlock!

This is good. If no one takes charge, you'll all die anyway. And if the Rogue's a coward, tell him you'll change him into a slug and keep him there until he develops a backbone.

Here's another point - don't just accept everything the DM gives you. What I mean is play your characters as though they're not completely gulliable. If the DM presents your party with a quest to some far away locale from a mysterious stranger who you just meet in a tavern on a rainy night, you don't have to take it if you don't want to. Why should you? Even if he introduces himself and appears friendly, look to your own interests first. After all, it's your neck on the line.

When you come across treasure, don't be afraid to assert yourself for what you want from it. Even if the wizard wants that Ring of Wizardry, be greedy and insist you want it. It'll be amusing, even if you don't get the ring. I say this because I had to train my players to be greedy and selfish. There were too many players at my table who felt dissatisfied because they didn't get a magic item from a treasure horde. I realize that being a good team player is ideal, but would your characters behave that way, all the time? They've got their own interests to look to. If they don't think they're getting their fair share out of a quest, start asserting yourself.
RikuKupo
04-13-07, 02:53 PM There was a Save My Game article on this kind of problem a while back, wish I had the link to it. Anyways, it basically said that each player could have 2 or 3 different characters, but could only bring one per adventure. If you want to be a rogue today, OK. Wanna be the wizard, ok, leave Lidda behind and take Merlin. I personally like this way to play. It is more work, but it allows more room to be indecicive, plus the characters can be more specialized. You now have enough people to have your vampire hunter without losing out whenever you arent fighting undead. In game, this can be explained as all the characters being a part of a mercenary group or something similar, where different guys get sent on different missions. Or all of them could be buddies, they just dont want to spend every day with each other like other adventurers.
Hideous Phidias
04-13-07, 11:15 PM There are two ways to make a character for a player that wants to try different class.

First take a goblin have him take a level in every class, so at first level you can cast 1/13 of a sleep spell (joke from goblins comic)

Ok first you can multiclass so that you are a spell casting rogue that can buff your self up to the level of a fighter.

The better way is to go human changling or doppligaer and go in to the chamileon prestige class out of races of destiny.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Trolbri 03-14-07, 04:30 AM	I am having trouble my character over a longer period of time, which have resulted in me playing a couple of different character in the same game. I have not been playing for so long, so naturaly, I have not been playing all the different classes. I cannot find a way to keep loving my characters, and in my group we write a nice background story. It works in the beginning but over the time it fades out. When I look in different books I get alot of cool ideas of what to play and then my current character becomes a little boring, which I offcause do not like. So is it normal and/or how do I learn to love my character? Advise anyone?
ToxicWiz 03-14-07, 04:00 PM	Well... I must first point out, My entire group is in the same boat as you. we've never got above 13th level, and we have come to terms with the cast changing every 3-4 sessions. So, yes it's perfectly normal from my standpoint. my advice is to focus on your character alone. Don't flick through the new shiny book, and ignore the 'uber class' found within. Instead of looking for new characters to play, try and find ways to breathe life into your current one. Give your heartless Necromancer a change of heart, or work with your DM to give your character a strange twist as often as you feel neccessary. I find In-character chats inside the party a good way to find quirks lurking in a character. the other option is to keep changing, eventually, one will try to stick. you just have to be prepared to hold onto it once you find it. My advice, nothing more...
SKAMBANKT 03-14-07, 08:44 PM	I share the same problem, but have kind of learned to live with it. I tend to wright down all my character-ideas somewhere handy, and continue to play on with the current character. It helps that the mortality-rate in my parties tend to be very high. Our DM likes to kill the PC´s if he can get away with it, but he tries to save the ones he likes (the ones that are played well). If I get sick of my character, it usually effects my roleplaying, and I start making mistakes. Mistakes makes my DM grin, and I usually die quite brutally. Next character please. Note: I don´t reccomend scrapping a character every time you get a "better idea" for a PC. It can ruin the flow of the game, and makes it hard for GM´s to plan ahead more than a couple of sessions. Try to think on why you wanted to play your character in the first place, and suck it up for a while. It allmost allways gets better.;)
Lorki 04-09-07, 06:56 PM	Hope this helps you. I used to have this problem, and what I found out in my case was I was giving the characters too much of a background to begin with. This is assuming you are beginning with 'young' or first level characters, but you may be defining them too much. They are only just beginning in the world, and the experiences they have already had are nothing to what they will be experiencing. What I do now with characters, is make a very general background, and have a very general idea of the personality of the character, then as I play them, see how things go, how I have them react in situations, and build on the character that way. Each one turns out different, and the fun you can have with them is ever changing. It is like a reading a great story for the first time, you think you know how the character will react in a given situation, but until that situation arises you are not certain. Do what feels right for them in those situations, and then be consistent in that as you move forward. Every session you will learn something new about your character. by having them a living, growing person, you may not get bored of them as fast. Hope this helps you out, and good luck in the future
Westbound 04-10-07, 12:03 AM	If you've got a background you generally like, and now you're finding your character boring (if I'm reading you right), there is only one thing to do. STEAL THE SCENE. And don't be wishy-washy about it. You've got to assert your character boldly into the game in a way that defies convention. Stop playing to form. Stop playing what people expect you to play and go for the gusto. Try not to get the party killed, but make'em sweat a little. Don't forget your role in a party, though, if you have one. To give you an example, I was playing a Elf Wizard (named Myrow) and we were infiltrating an old dwarven fortress that was taken over by a hobgoblin warlord and his army. We were doing well, but we were moving at a snail's pace, and I played my wizard as impatient. At every door, we would run down a checklist: Check for traps in the area, approach the door, check the door for traps, check to see if it's locked, pick the lock, open the door slowly as we're ready for anything behind the door, then check for traps in the room beyond, and so on. It occured to me, and a few others, that our DM rarely ever trapped a door in a place where the living was expecting to use it frequently. And so far, we hadn't found a single solitary trap on or near a door. At this rate, it was taking days to search this stronghold, having to rest to recoup spells because our cleric didn't understand proper spell storage and use - she was casting healing spells as though they were going out of style, and she never took Scribe Scrolls, Brew Potion, and Craft Wand. When we approached a door leading into another chamber, I had cast Detect Traps. I found none, but the Rogue was checking anyway. I then produced my Wand of Knock and opened the door very suddenly. To everyone's shock, I drew my sword, cast Mage Armor and Shield, and ventured boldly into the room. Before anyone could stop me, I killed two hobgoblins with Magic Missile and was readying Fear. They gave me heat for that, but I just nodded in acknowledgement. On the next encounter, I did the same thing, using my Wand of Knock, provoking a fight. Once, I even cast Bull Strength on myself and kicked down a door. In that session, we zipped through more than half the complex, more than we ever had in a single session before (we had already spent two sessions in this place, and my elf was already stir crazy). The point is, start taking control of your character and be daring. Stop playing it safe, because that's rarely fun. If you're a Rogue (playing the party Burglar), venture out in front of the party, scouting for traps and threats. When it's the Rogue's watch while the party's resting, go exploring by yourself. If you're the party Cleric, start blackmailing the party by converting them to your deity in return for healing. If you're the Barbarian, be BARBARIC! Now, don't be a spoiler. Don't try to hog all the limelight, but in the beginning, go nuts. After awhile, everyone will want to play the game you're playing because they'll see how much fun you're having. You're craving excitement, so start making some. Don't be boring, be interesting. And if you should happen to find a damsel in distress in said hobgoblin fort, do what Myrow the Great does - he approaches with boldness, give the pretty lady a dip, and says, "Hail to the King, Baby!" And then kisses her passionately. CARPE DIEM!!!
Prom 04-11-07, 04:06 AM	Hi Trolbri, Westbound makes a good point, play the role and have fun. I find that as a player I have to do homework just like a DM, research your skills and feats. Ask more detailed questions about your character. Let your character have a crisis point in their life. Otherwise you could always give your character a multiple personality disorder, that could be wild and fun. :crazy: Prom
warlock_devilkill 04-11-07, 11:19 AM	I play a warlock and my party is in a simmilar situation, large area thats taking forever to get through. Our rogue is to big a coward to scout ahead, so now i'm thinking why dosn't my charecter just say forget this and take charge, we have no real leader so why not the cg warlock!
Terjon of the Blue Rose 04-12-07, 12:39 AM	Love Westbound's idea. I had to give him up to become DM but until recently my warlock was just about the only person who spoke in rp situations. The others would wonder about what to say, who had the highest dip score (me), etc. I sat back and talked a whole village into believing I was an angel (I am aasimar) who was sent to bring them to the nearby city thus avoiding a goblin invasion (was truthfully coming but they didn't know). Its hard to give up a character you are having fun with so do just that. Have fun with 'em.:cool:
Terjon of the Blue Rose 04-12-07, 12:44 AM	Almost forgot one other point. As a DM I'll include character background into the story. If yours will too (check as it is a lot of work) then you may find it easier to stick with a character who has a personal reason to be part of the game rather than a random adventurer.
Westbound 04-13-07, 02:37 PM	I play a warlock and my party is in a simmilar situation, large area thats taking forever to get through. Our rogue is to big a coward to scout ahead, so now i'm thinking why dosn't my charecter just say forget this and take charge, we have no real leader so why not the cg warlock! This is good. If no one takes charge, you'll all die anyway. And if the Rogue's a coward, tell him you'll change him into a slug and keep him there until he develops a backbone. Here's another point - don't just accept everything the DM gives you. What I mean is play your characters as though they're not completely gulliable. If the DM presents your party with a quest to some far away locale from a mysterious stranger who you just meet in a tavern on a rainy night, you don't have to take it if you don't want to. Why should you? Even if he introduces himself and appears friendly, look to your own interests first. After all, it's your neck on the line. When you come across treasure, don't be afraid to assert yourself for what you want from it. Even if the wizard wants that Ring of Wizardry, be greedy and insist you want it. It'll be amusing, even if you don't get the ring. I say this because I had to train my players to be greedy and selfish. There were too many players at my table who felt dissatisfied because they didn't get a magic item from a treasure horde. I realize that being a good team player is ideal, but would your characters behave that way, all the time? They've got their own interests to look to. If they don't think they're getting their fair share out of a quest, start asserting yourself.
RikuKupo 04-13-07, 02:53 PM	There was a Save My Game article on this kind of problem a while back, wish I had the link to it. Anyways, it basically said that each player could have 2 or 3 different characters, but could only bring one per adventure. If you want to be a rogue today, OK. Wanna be the wizard, ok, leave Lidda behind and take Merlin. I personally like this way to play. It is more work, but it allows more room to be indecicive, plus the characters can be more specialized. You now have enough people to have your vampire hunter without losing out whenever you arent fighting undead. In game, this can be explained as all the characters being a part of a mercenary group or something similar, where different guys get sent on different missions. Or all of them could be buddies, they just dont want to spend every day with each other like other adventurers.
Hideous Phidias 04-13-07, 11:15 PM	There are two ways to make a character for a player that wants to try different class. First take a goblin have him take a level in every class, so at first level you can cast 1/13 of a sleep spell (joke from goblins comic) Ok first you can multiclass so that you are a spell casting rogue that can buff your self up to the level of a fighter. The better way is to go human changling or doppligaer and go in to the chamileon prestige class out of races of destiny.