Roleplaying a child character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Roleplaying a child character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Black_Kaioshin
08-31-03, 03:28 PM I'm amking a new character. The thing is, he is between 8 and 12 years old (I haven't decided yet). The basic story is that this kid is a prodigy. He is a 6th level magic user. Now, my question is, how do you roleplay someone that young who is that high of a level? His stats are extremely high, being 18, 17, 17, 16, 15, 12. Any ideas?
Shaun O'Braun
08-31-03, 05:09 PM Just like any adult. He can be "wise" or he can be "childish". I would say that he would surprise others around him with his intelligent comments and observations on the situation, as both his intelligence and wisdom are quite high.
Lord Lothar
09-04-03, 11:43 PM yes, make him speak with high intelligence but still have him moments of childish acts....have him cry sometimes in a corner when he didnt complete a task, or have him cower behind the huge fighter when encountered by a beholder for the first time.
Miles
09-05-03, 01:16 AM If I were you, I'd voluntarily lower a few stats, to make him seem more childlike. I'd lower str and con, definately. Maybe to 6s or 7s. Make him smaller and underdeveloped.

Miles.
Morka
09-05-03, 09:57 AM Originally posted by Miles
If I were you, I'd voluntarily lower a few stats, to make him seem more childlike. I'd lower str and con, definately. Maybe to 6s or 7s. Make him smaller and underdeveloped.

Miles.

Indeed, reduce his size to SMALL. Have him never laugh. Since he is genious, he understand all jokes in a fraction of second, and the next minute he is already bored of this joke.
Miles
09-06-03, 01:25 AM You could even make him something of an idiot savant, if you wanted to. Watch Mercury Rising, I think it is...with Bruce Willis and a genius kid who unravelled a code.

Miles.
BenjCano
09-06-03, 09:51 AM Miles,

I'm not sure how he should be meant to turn to that movie as a source of inspiration, considering that the child was autistic, and as such, has certain problems that preclude his usefulness to roleplayers.

Stupid, stupid movie, by the way. Die, Mercury Rising. :headexplo :hoppingma :censored:
Miles
09-06-03, 09:19 PM You saying that you can't properly roleplay a child like that? Um...how about the kid from "Pass it Forward" instead?

Miles.
JoAT
09-10-03, 03:48 AM Originally posted by Lord Lothar
yes, make him speak with high intelligence but still have him moments of childish acts....have him cry sometimes in a corner when he didnt complete a task, or have him cower behind the huge fighter when encountered by a beholder for the first time.

I agree with this, though, if he's a part of a standard adventureing group, You might want to modify it slightly. Have him spend alot of his time actting 'grwon-up'. THis kid's got alot of responsibility on his shoulders, after all, so he might well act like a resobonsible, grown-up type, much of time time. However, somethings might well come out as being very childish-his reasons for wanting a certain spell or item, the occasional temper tantrum (scary, with a full-fledged mage...), a fear of this that are 'big' and 'scary', but also with a sense of childlike joy and innocent wonderment, if he runs into anything that some adventurers would normally take fro granted; A dragon, a Dyrad encountred near her tree, a bard's musical talents, etc.

Place all his lowest stats into str and con, then apply modifers as if he went down a size; from being medium( if human), to small, as mentioned above (I think it's a further -4/-4, so when he grows up, he has something to grow into...). Also, you might want to think about how he interacts with other kids of the same age- the priest in our party is a twelve year old girl, going on thirteen, and she occasionally trys to talk with others her age. Almost all of the time, she's strucken with saddness (and alittle pity) at how shallow thier lives seem, while at the same time wishing she was like that.

Oh.. and girls. He might have a few problems interacting with girls... (espcially at 8-12)... That's always a good trait to play up.
inci
09-10-03, 10:33 AM i think one of the most interesting parts is how to handle violence.
I doubt that a child is prepared to see people and monsters slaughtered by the other PC's. (and, when we check statistics what happens to kids who participated in or watched acts of violence... i guess you know what im on about)
I dont know how serious your party is, but if you are up to some really disturbing stuff - try to read logs from former childsoldiers. This is some sad ****, but maybe worth a try.

If you are more up to a fun approach (what i would suggest - its a game after all) check out 'Garion' from those David Eddings novels. He is kinda a miracle, has some scary powers and doesnt really know much about the world.
Leap
09-10-03, 11:09 AM Maybe make the character blessed with an 18 con, a 17 int and a pretty good dex, but make the rest of his stats lower than average (maybe str 10, wis 7 and cha 8?)?

Or are you intending him to be a bit like the resurrected Dunklezahn from Shadowrun?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Black_Kaioshin 08-31-03, 03:28 PM	I'm amking a new character. The thing is, he is between 8 and 12 years old (I haven't decided yet). The basic story is that this kid is a prodigy. He is a 6th level magic user. Now, my question is, how do you roleplay someone that young who is that high of a level? His stats are extremely high, being 18, 17, 17, 16, 15, 12. Any ideas?
Shaun O'Braun 08-31-03, 05:09 PM	Just like any adult. He can be "wise" or he can be "childish". I would say that he would surprise others around him with his intelligent comments and observations on the situation, as both his intelligence and wisdom are quite high.
Lord Lothar 09-04-03, 11:43 PM	yes, make him speak with high intelligence but still have him moments of childish acts....have him cry sometimes in a corner when he didnt complete a task, or have him cower behind the huge fighter when encountered by a beholder for the first time.
Miles 09-05-03, 01:16 AM	If I were you, I'd voluntarily lower a few stats, to make him seem more childlike. I'd lower str and con, definately. Maybe to 6s or 7s. Make him smaller and underdeveloped. Miles.
Morka 09-05-03, 09:57 AM	Originally posted by Miles If I were you, I'd voluntarily lower a few stats, to make him seem more childlike. I'd lower str and con, definately. Maybe to 6s or 7s. Make him smaller and underdeveloped. Miles. Indeed, reduce his size to SMALL. Have him never laugh. Since he is genious, he understand all jokes in a fraction of second, and the next minute he is already bored of this joke.
Miles 09-06-03, 01:25 AM	You could even make him something of an idiot savant, if you wanted to. Watch Mercury Rising, I think it is...with Bruce Willis and a genius kid who unravelled a code. Miles.
BenjCano 09-06-03, 09:51 AM	Miles, I'm not sure how he should be meant to turn to that movie as a source of inspiration, considering that the child was autistic, and as such, has certain problems that preclude his usefulness to roleplayers. Stupid, stupid movie, by the way. Die, Mercury Rising. :headexplo :hoppingma :censored:
Miles 09-06-03, 09:19 PM	You saying that you can't properly roleplay a child like that? Um...how about the kid from "Pass it Forward" instead? Miles.
JoAT 09-10-03, 03:48 AM	Originally posted by Lord Lothar yes, make him speak with high intelligence but still have him moments of childish acts....have him cry sometimes in a corner when he didnt complete a task, or have him cower behind the huge fighter when encountered by a beholder for the first time. I agree with this, though, if he's a part of a standard adventureing group, You might want to modify it slightly. Have him spend alot of his time actting 'grwon-up'. THis kid's got alot of responsibility on his shoulders, after all, so he might well act like a resobonsible, grown-up type, much of time time. However, somethings might well come out as being very childish-his reasons for wanting a certain spell or item, the occasional temper tantrum (scary, with a full-fledged mage...), a fear of this that are 'big' and 'scary', but also with a sense of childlike joy and innocent wonderment, if he runs into anything that some adventurers would normally take fro granted; A dragon, a Dyrad encountred near her tree, a bard's musical talents, etc. Place all his lowest stats into str and con, then apply modifers as if he went down a size; from being medium( if human), to small, as mentioned above (I think it's a further -4/-4, so when he grows up, he has something to grow into...). Also, you might want to think about how he interacts with other kids of the same age- the priest in our party is a twelve year old girl, going on thirteen, and she occasionally trys to talk with others her age. Almost all of the time, she's strucken with saddness (and alittle pity) at how shallow thier lives seem, while at the same time wishing she was like that. Oh.. and girls. He might have a few problems interacting with girls... (espcially at 8-12)... That's always a good trait to play up.
inci 09-10-03, 10:33 AM	i think one of the most interesting parts is how to handle violence. I doubt that a child is prepared to see people and monsters slaughtered by the other PC's. (and, when we check statistics what happens to kids who participated in or watched acts of violence... i guess you know what im on about) I dont know how serious your party is, but if you are up to some really disturbing stuff - try to read logs from former childsoldiers. This is some sad ****, but maybe worth a try. If you are more up to a fun approach (what i would suggest - its a game after all) check out 'Garion' from those David Eddings novels. He is kinda a miracle, has some scary powers and doesnt really know much about the world.
Leap 09-10-03, 11:09 AM	Maybe make the character blessed with an 18 con, a 17 int and a pretty good dex, but make the rest of his stats lower than average (maybe str 10, wis 7 and cha 8?)? Or are you intending him to be a bit like the resurrected Dunklezahn from Shadowrun?