advice for re-entry [Archive] - Wizards Community

advice for re-entry [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
OlderThanMTV
10-09-06, 12:59 AM I was wondering if any of you guys have some good tips for quickly introducing new characters into a party when the player's old character dies? Characters don't die that often in my campaigns, but, when they do, I find it awkward introducing the new character into the campaign. I am always torn between getting the new character in quickly so that the player isn't sitting around twiddling their thumbs forever while I'm waiting for a good moment to introduce them and making the introduction somewhat natural. Also, no matter how hard I work making an entry point for the new character, it always seems weird when all of the other characters have well earned, interesting back-stories and the new guy has your basic first-level character's back-story even though he is the same general level as everyone else.

Anyway, how do you guys handle introducing the new character to your campaign, and what has worked and what hasn't?
DrkAnbs
10-09-06, 01:05 AM The game Im currently in is simple. Me and the DM created a back story, put me in town, and depending on the given class, make them have a reason why he was there. In my case I was a mercenary just doing work when the "leader" of the party found me in a well "merc bar" and hired me on. As time passed I grew accustomed to the people in the party and went on with..life. Merc would work with fighter classes, rogue classes, even bard, as far as if they are a cleric, well thats an obvious choice, make a campaign hook, party leader thinks its about time we get a healer (or another one), similarly with a druid..or if your in need of a rogues talents..(non merc stuff) Etc..or like a rogue recently joined our party, we found her in one of those hanging jails out on some desolate road and took her in. Shes VERY useful..that halfling..lol Hope that helps..

PS thats pretty much what I do to..stick the person in the town with a quick backstory you two agree on and run with it..history of the character comes out as you quest..
Mitchell
10-09-06, 02:01 AM I just wait for a good time.
I'm not going to throw someone in just to throw them in, but I don't want a palyer sitting on the sidelines forever either.
I just consider it motivation for living. Many, if not most, deaths are due in some part to the player doing something, shall we say, stupid.
If the party is in the middle of another plane, the chances of them finding a new party member are quite small. I like to keep things believable when I can (when I was DMing while my regular DM was in Iraq, I let him take the part of a dwarf from a group of dwarves that were serving as guides to the PCs, but this was after, in the previous adventure, I told the players that none of the dwarves were willing to go with them all the way, as they weren't being paid for it. This is a guy that was in Iraq, and our regular DM, just looking to get in a little gaming before he had to go back, and the group seemed to have a problem with the fact that I had told them none of the dwarves would help).
Seraphine_Harmonium
10-09-06, 02:40 AM The PC's could have a funeral for their fallen friend. Attending the funeral is the fallen hero's brother or sister, intent on avenging the death of their sibling. A bit cliché, but it works.
Escef
10-09-06, 05:11 AM The new PC could be a rescued captive. It means his gear won't be on him when they find him, but it is likely to be nearby (since he was recently captured). Or they could find him wandering the dungeon corridors, the last member of another group that got slaughtered, with a little info on what's ahead. He could be an old friend or a sibling that they reunite with by accident, or the PCs could contact him to call in a favor when they realize they're undermanned.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
OlderThanMTV 10-09-06, 12:59 AM	I was wondering if any of you guys have some good tips for quickly introducing new characters into a party when the player's old character dies? Characters don't die that often in my campaigns, but, when they do, I find it awkward introducing the new character into the campaign. I am always torn between getting the new character in quickly so that the player isn't sitting around twiddling their thumbs forever while I'm waiting for a good moment to introduce them and making the introduction somewhat natural. Also, no matter how hard I work making an entry point for the new character, it always seems weird when all of the other characters have well earned, interesting back-stories and the new guy has your basic first-level character's back-story even though he is the same general level as everyone else. Anyway, how do you guys handle introducing the new character to your campaign, and what has worked and what hasn't?
DrkAnbs 10-09-06, 01:05 AM	The game Im currently in is simple. Me and the DM created a back story, put me in town, and depending on the given class, make them have a reason why he was there. In my case I was a mercenary just doing work when the "leader" of the party found me in a well "merc bar" and hired me on. As time passed I grew accustomed to the people in the party and went on with..life. Merc would work with fighter classes, rogue classes, even bard, as far as if they are a cleric, well thats an obvious choice, make a campaign hook, party leader thinks its about time we get a healer (or another one), similarly with a druid..or if your in need of a rogues talents..(non merc stuff) Etc..or like a rogue recently joined our party, we found her in one of those hanging jails out on some desolate road and took her in. Shes VERY useful..that halfling..lol Hope that helps.. PS thats pretty much what I do to..stick the person in the town with a quick backstory you two agree on and run with it..history of the character comes out as you quest..
Mitchell 10-09-06, 02:01 AM	I just wait for a good time. I'm not going to throw someone in just to throw them in, but I don't want a palyer sitting on the sidelines forever either. I just consider it motivation for living. Many, if not most, deaths are due in some part to the player doing something, shall we say, stupid. If the party is in the middle of another plane, the chances of them finding a new party member are quite small. I like to keep things believable when I can (when I was DMing while my regular DM was in Iraq, I let him take the part of a dwarf from a group of dwarves that were serving as guides to the PCs, but this was after, in the previous adventure, I told the players that none of the dwarves were willing to go with them all the way, as they weren't being paid for it. This is a guy that was in Iraq, and our regular DM, just looking to get in a little gaming before he had to go back, and the group seemed to have a problem with the fact that I had told them none of the dwarves would help).
Seraphine_Harmonium 10-09-06, 02:40 AM	The PC's could have a funeral for their fallen friend. Attending the funeral is the fallen hero's brother or sister, intent on avenging the death of their sibling. A bit cliché, but it works.
Escef 10-09-06, 05:11 AM	The new PC could be a rescued captive. It means his gear won't be on him when they find him, but it is likely to be nearby (since he was recently captured). Or they could find him wandering the dungeon corridors, the last member of another group that got slaughtered, with a little info on what's ahead. He could be an old friend or a sibling that they reunite with by accident, or the PCs could contact him to call in a favor when they realize they're undermanned.