Bringing In New Characters... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bringing In New Characters... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Buffetassassin
02-23-04, 09:15 PM Ok so hears my dilemma. I have been running a new campaign for the past few weeks. It was small, due to lack of work schedule continuity on my players’ parts. I was only running a game with 2 characters. Now we have 3 new characters joining the campaign... all on the same day!!!

How do I bring in 3 NEW characters to the fold seamlessly without making a crappy ( you already know each other) scenario?
Eldren
02-23-04, 09:21 PM Put the onus on the players to come up with a viable reason why their PCs would be in the same area as the party, and let them role play their introductions.

We frequently make a joke in the campaign where I'm a player that new characters arrive in the party as PCs (when we get a new player, or when an existing player switches to a different character) as a result of having been hit with Prismatic Spray and jettisoned to another plane by the violet beam (#7) because we had one character show up that way.

Frequently, our DM just arranges something that doesn't require too much suspension of disbelief, and lets us role play it. Our newest player decided he was dying to play a frey, a cat-like race from the third-party d20 book "Oathbound". So he made a frey Rogue, and we wound up literally meeting him in a bar. We'd never seen someone of his race before, and since we're adventuring on the Material Plane (although we're currently on an expedition to Acheron...), our characters decided to introduce him.

Well, actually, our Psychic Warrior declared that we needed a mascot, the frey overheard, and my Paladin decided to use her maxed out Diplomacy skill to smooth things over and let the conversation happen organically from there.

Details... :angel:
Buffetassassin
02-23-04, 09:33 PM :tiphat: Thanks for replying so quickly. I usually let the PCs introduce themselves...however the real problem lies in the numbers... When you introduce 1 player its pretty easy. But I want to get 3 into the game quickly. I hate letting certain players just sit around a mess with their dice while everyone else plays. Anything specific to get multiple PCs in at once?

I think that the party I am running should get a mascot...LOL:D
Hyperion
02-23-04, 09:54 PM Where are the PC's currently? If they're in a dungeon you can use the old ham handed these Characters were sitting in prison cells in the dungeon. If they're in a different scenario and a NPC is going to give them a mission he can say and take these warriors with you. But lastly you can have an advertisement for the Light Warriors in town and all the characters happen to show up for the adventure. (Just don't let squaresoft find out you used this one or you'll be up on a class action lawsuit.)

Hyperion
Peter Bergholtz
02-23-04, 10:10 PM Ask your players how they would like their PCs to be introduced. Try to make their first apperance into a turningpoint in the adventure. Maybe with a fight or some other chapter-ending that make the moment stand out.

And if You are bored just let them sit and talk in a tavern.. :D
Donnavin Snowolf
02-23-04, 10:28 PM you could always play it as 2 seperate parties merging into one.

"Wait wait wait, you're going to Acheron!"
"Yeah! You too?"
"Yeah!"
"Wanna carpool?"
"Great!"

:P

Naturally thats a little simplified...
Nom
02-23-04, 10:49 PM I think there are two different questions here...

Introducing multiple new characters to a party is really no more difficult than introducing one.

Running a larger party is a different issue, and one I can't really help with since I've never run a game for more than 5 players.
Buffetassassin
02-23-04, 11:11 PM Running larger parties isn't a big deal. I'm just trying to get them introduced quick so that no one is sitting around doing nothing while the others play...
Felonious Monk
02-24-04, 12:04 AM In real life, you're introducing three new players... in the game, it would probably make more sense if you introduced the two to the three... maybe one of them has something useful (information, a magic item) to the current adventure, the two original characters hear about it, and go seek them out.
TheGogmagog
02-24-04, 04:44 AM I like the twist with introducing the two to the three(if it matters). They are likely on some quest whether assigned or stumbled upon. There usually isn't anything preventing a second group from taking up the same mission. Perhaps the nearest town or employer hasn't heard from the first group in a while and presumed them dead.
Twisted Puppy
02-24-04, 09:32 AM I just brought a new character into my campaign. The commander of the guard knew the characters, and knew that one of the party members had been killed. In light of that, perhaps they might help him with a problem. There was a fellow in the gaol for murder. The commander of the guard was of the opinion that his actions were justified, but since this fellow is not adept at winning friends and influencing people (charisma = 6) the witnesses had said he initiated the fight. Now, if the characters could help him out with this - take him on some excursions, and let him prove himself - then, with their favorable endorsement, he (the commander) would have justification to dismiss the charges.

It's always fun to start new characters in the gaol. :D
Kobold Paladin
02-24-04, 09:42 AM Where is the party? if they are in a dungeon whats wrong with the group of 3 other people are another party exploring the same dungeon. If they are in town looking for a job have them show up to try and get the same job and work together.
Kialindo
02-24-04, 09:48 AM Myself and a buddy of mine were recently introduced into a party....

It was actually quite convienient that we were playing Dwarven Thundertwins (check out Embrio's thread in the art gallery for pics) and they were on their way to investigate a dwarven ruin....

But anyway back to your issue ..... If I knew more about what you were doing with your campaign and your current players and new players I would better be able to help....

Ideas....

1) this is gonna be a tough one guys ... lets get some help ... introduce new characters....
2) reverse of 1, the new characters hire the current characters...
3) The party meets in a fairly large battle and happen to be going in the same direction, let the introductions happen from there...
4) BAR FIGHT!!! The PC's are the only ones left standing....
5) The enemy of my enemy is my friend.... common enemy brings them all together....
Capn Charlie
02-24-04, 10:04 AM I actually used the 'ole "prisoner" gambit a couple of weeks ago. However I did it a bit differently. I had the new players each start out independently, then run afoul of some cultists in individual sessions. Then it just so happens that the disturbance that allows them to try to make a break for it is the rest of the players raiding the dungeon the cultists are lairing in.

A bit ham handed, sure, but it is oft used for a reason.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Buffetassassin 02-23-04, 09:15 PM	Ok so hears my dilemma. I have been running a new campaign for the past few weeks. It was small, due to lack of work schedule continuity on my players’ parts. I was only running a game with 2 characters. Now we have 3 new characters joining the campaign... all on the same day!!! How do I bring in 3 NEW characters to the fold seamlessly without making a crappy ( you already know each other) scenario?
Eldren 02-23-04, 09:21 PM	Put the onus on the players to come up with a viable reason why their PCs would be in the same area as the party, and let them role play their introductions. We frequently make a joke in the campaign where I'm a player that new characters arrive in the party as PCs (when we get a new player, or when an existing player switches to a different character) as a result of having been hit with Prismatic Spray and jettisoned to another plane by the violet beam (#7) because we had one character show up that way. Frequently, our DM just arranges something that doesn't require too much suspension of disbelief, and lets us role play it. Our newest player decided he was dying to play a frey, a cat-like race from the third-party d20 book "Oathbound". So he made a frey Rogue, and we wound up literally meeting him in a bar. We'd never seen someone of his race before, and since we're adventuring on the Material Plane (although we're currently on an expedition to Acheron...), our characters decided to introduce him. Well, actually, our Psychic Warrior declared that we needed a mascot, the frey overheard, and my Paladin decided to use her maxed out Diplomacy skill to smooth things over and let the conversation happen organically from there. Details... :angel:
Buffetassassin 02-23-04, 09:33 PM	:tiphat: Thanks for replying so quickly. I usually let the PCs introduce themselves...however the real problem lies in the numbers... When you introduce 1 player its pretty easy. But I want to get 3 into the game quickly. I hate letting certain players just sit around a mess with their dice while everyone else plays. Anything specific to get multiple PCs in at once? I think that the party I am running should get a mascot...LOL:D
Hyperion 02-23-04, 09:54 PM	Where are the PC's currently? If they're in a dungeon you can use the old ham handed these Characters were sitting in prison cells in the dungeon. If they're in a different scenario and a NPC is going to give them a mission he can say and take these warriors with you. But lastly you can have an advertisement for the Light Warriors in town and all the characters happen to show up for the adventure. (Just don't let squaresoft find out you used this one or you'll be up on a class action lawsuit.) Hyperion
Peter Bergholtz 02-23-04, 10:10 PM	Ask your players how they would like their PCs to be introduced. Try to make their first apperance into a turningpoint in the adventure. Maybe with a fight or some other chapter-ending that make the moment stand out. And if You are bored just let them sit and talk in a tavern.. :D
Donnavin Snowolf 02-23-04, 10:28 PM	you could always play it as 2 seperate parties merging into one. "Wait wait wait, you're going to Acheron!" "Yeah! You too?" "Yeah!" "Wanna carpool?" "Great!" :P Naturally thats a little simplified...
Nom 02-23-04, 10:49 PM	I think there are two different questions here... Introducing multiple new characters to a party is really no more difficult than introducing one. Running a larger party is a different issue, and one I can't really help with since I've never run a game for more than 5 players.
Buffetassassin 02-23-04, 11:11 PM	Running larger parties isn't a big deal. I'm just trying to get them introduced quick so that no one is sitting around doing nothing while the others play...
Felonious Monk 02-24-04, 12:04 AM	In real life, you're introducing three new players... in the game, it would probably make more sense if you introduced the two to the three... maybe one of them has something useful (information, a magic item) to the current adventure, the two original characters hear about it, and go seek them out.
TheGogmagog 02-24-04, 04:44 AM	I like the twist with introducing the two to the three(if it matters). They are likely on some quest whether assigned or stumbled upon. There usually isn't anything preventing a second group from taking up the same mission. Perhaps the nearest town or employer hasn't heard from the first group in a while and presumed them dead.
Twisted Puppy 02-24-04, 09:32 AM	I just brought a new character into my campaign. The commander of the guard knew the characters, and knew that one of the party members had been killed. In light of that, perhaps they might help him with a problem. There was a fellow in the gaol for murder. The commander of the guard was of the opinion that his actions were justified, but since this fellow is not adept at winning friends and influencing people (charisma = 6) the witnesses had said he initiated the fight. Now, if the characters could help him out with this - take him on some excursions, and let him prove himself - then, with their favorable endorsement, he (the commander) would have justification to dismiss the charges. It's always fun to start new characters in the gaol. :D
Kobold Paladin 02-24-04, 09:42 AM	Where is the party? if they are in a dungeon whats wrong with the group of 3 other people are another party exploring the same dungeon. If they are in town looking for a job have them show up to try and get the same job and work together.
Kialindo 02-24-04, 09:48 AM	Myself and a buddy of mine were recently introduced into a party.... It was actually quite convienient that we were playing Dwarven Thundertwins (check out Embrio's thread in the art gallery for pics) and they were on their way to investigate a dwarven ruin.... But anyway back to your issue ..... If I knew more about what you were doing with your campaign and your current players and new players I would better be able to help.... Ideas.... 1) this is gonna be a tough one guys ... lets get some help ... introduce new characters.... 2) reverse of 1, the new characters hire the current characters... 3) The party meets in a fairly large battle and happen to be going in the same direction, let the introductions happen from there... 4) BAR FIGHT!!! The PC's are the only ones left standing.... 5) The enemy of my enemy is my friend.... common enemy brings them all together....
Capn Charlie 02-24-04, 10:04 AM	I actually used the 'ole "prisoner" gambit a couple of weeks ago. However I did it a bit differently. I had the new players each start out independently, then run afoul of some cultists in individual sessions. Then it just so happens that the disturbance that allows them to try to make a break for it is the rest of the players raiding the dungeon the cultists are lairing in. A bit ham handed, sure, but it is oft used for a reason.