Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Regular_K 01-04-07, 04:57 PM	So, You've all been a really big help with my last x-ty posts, and you've done a great job. But, I'm still getting more and more ideas in my head that I'd like some comments on, so here it goes. I'm really into acting, so roleplaying comes easily to me. Whenever I'm in a school play, our director makes us fill out a character analysis to get us into the character more. Now I'm also an avid DM that really wants to get my players more into roleplaying their characters, and less rollplaying. So, I was thinking of doing the same thing, assigning them maybe 15 questions on their character to help them get into who there character really is. But I'm not sure if they'd like that, because it's supposed to be a fun game, and they'll think this sounds like alot of work. So my question is simple. Should I take time and create a character analysis sheet, or just let roleplaying continue to die?
orionm42 01-04-07, 05:06 PM	IMO, trying to force someone to roleplay never works. You either like it or you don't. I personally don't and, if I was a player in your group, I think I would find your questionnaire a little over the top. It is great that your background allows you to derive great enjoyment out of roleplaying, but you probably should not try to force players with different backgrounds into that aspect of the game if they prefer a different style of play.
dmjacques 01-04-07, 05:10 PM	Sorry to say this but roleplaying in my opinion is already dead ( props to anyone who still roleplays...well) But in my opinion I would say yes you should make on and if they dont like it then well they wont play ( only do this if you got ALOT of people lined up to join your game) hope any of this helps. Also I disagree with your sig ( I love to lick zombies)
Black_Puffin 01-04-07, 05:50 PM	My bro did the 20 question thing with a "commoner campaign". The adventure was to have as much fun as you can with a regular class only with the commoner. He did it to gauge the characters abilities. It took place in a modern high school, so he needed to know the "classes" the PCs take, as well as hobbies, and extraciricular activities. He also asked questions about the personality of the character. It helped create the NPCs, students and faculty. He also rewards roleplaying using a system I found on the boards; award creative roleplaying with a d4 that you can add to any roll. It works wonders. I personally find roleplaying fun...especially when one of your characters has a 6 in Wis and didn't qualify for a re-roll. I'll see if he'll post here, he'll know more than I would.
DarkRhystar 01-04-07, 06:12 PM	Should I take time and create a character analysis sheet, or just let roleplaying continue to die? False dilemma much? ;) Some groups prefer the war-game half of D&D more than the roleplaying half and that's not a bad thing. Perhaps it's not what you're interested in, but that doesn't mean it's fair for you to try and change their interests to match yours forcefully. If they're not into roleplaying before the sheet, I can almost guarantee you they'll be even less into it afterwards as you're just associating it with more work on their part. Really, your best option is simply trying to show them that roleplaying can be a lot of fun. If you can't do that then maybe you really should reconsider roleplaying entirely as it may fall into the "If it isn't fun, stop doing it" methodology.
Sanmateo 01-04-07, 08:01 PM	I have to agree. Being a DM is like being a cook. If the customers don't like what you're serving then you're either a bad cook or they're eating at the wrong restaurant. If you're not a bad cook then you have to decide whether to cook for your customers or refer them to the fast food joint down the road. If you are a bad cook...well...get lessons. Or something. I dunno.:P [EDIT]: I have a bunch of these little fill-in-the-blank sheet scratch sheet on the gaming shelf and my players use them all the time to flesh out their character concept - I am: Some people say I am: I need: I like: I wish I had not: I wish I could forget: My family often: I don't want: The worse thing a person can do is: I get angry when: It makes me nervous: I used to daydream about: I am most afraid: The thing about my home: It is wrong to: I hate: I don't trust: I am ashamed of: My good points are: My weaknesses are: One should never: Of course that probably seems a little over the top even to fellow roleplayers but they like. So, whatever. They don't usually even keep the sheets. They just fill it out and toss it. By the time they get to last question they've already got their character fully conceptualized.
CryoSilver 01-04-07, 08:14 PM	I'm sure your friends have filled out a dozen of those surveys on Myspace; asking them to do one for their character is not a big deal. I say go for it.
Regular_K 01-04-07, 09:32 PM	I'm sure your friends have filled out a dozen of those surveys on Myspace; asking them to do one for their character is not a big deal. I say go for it. Unfortunatly, I don't think any of them have a Myspace.
Babson99 01-05-07, 03:29 AM	I do these all the time, both as a player and as a DM. There are two reasons to do it. First, it helps the player roleplay better by thinking more about the character's background. Second, it helps the DM prepare play sessions, encounters, and campaign that are to the player's liking. However, it does take time for a player to do it. I used to give a 1000 XP bonus for a player who filled out a background. Other DMs are not as generous, but an XP bonus of some sort is typical and reasonable.
Anaxander 01-05-07, 10:09 AM	For my next campaign I intent handing out a character questionnaire. The players may choose if they answer any of the thirty questions. For each question they answer they get 10xp extra. I give it both as an incentive and an aid to flesh out characters.
Morka 01-05-07, 12:52 PM	Check the links in my sig, especially the 100 Questions, they should help players to "know" their characters! It's a good thing to strongly suggest, but not to require. This is a game, it's about having fun, it's not a theater school... ;)
TheKraken 01-06-07, 01:39 AM	Here is something I did that my players really loved! I know some of the DMs on here might disagree with the tactic One of my players created a very intricate backstory, including a family tree going back 4 generations and some 2 dozen NPCs for me to use (no stats, just general classes and info) I made a joke that perhaps I should give him extra experience and one of the other players said "Why don't we have a competition". I asked them of they would like to and they said they would jump at the chance. So, I drafted up a format for the competition and assigned the following awards: 1st Place- 250xp 2nd Place- 125xp 3rd Place- 65xp 4th Place- 35xp They love the idea. I am just waiting on the submissions. Maybe you could give that a try. I'll post the format if you like.
Tiarn 01-06-07, 09:10 AM	They love the idea. I am just waiting on the submissions. Maybe you could give that a try. I'll post the format if you like. I think I'd be interested in that. On the topic at hand: I've done this a lot. I've found that if the players of a game can fill out and answer some questions then they have a deeper connection to their characters, and it helps me run my game. On the other hand, my players and I love role-playing and see that as the most important part of the game, so I guess that doesn't help a whole lot other than to say it does work when people like it. :rolleyes: