Changing Characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Changing Characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Knucklehead
05-14-05, 07:27 PM We have a cycling "round robin" DMing schedule for my group. One guy will DM for 6 weeks, then the next guy, etc. When it's time to play again, I've lost interest in the previous PC and want to incorperate another.

IMO this shouldn't be a big deal, however one particular DM thinks I should be more intested in a long-term "developed" PC. I disagree. I would prefer to build a PC run him for a while then try something else. This same DM also prefers high-level campaigns, so right out of the gate we start at 15+ level. There is no character development, however I'd be the first to admit that even if we started at a lower level I may still want to change PC's.

What would you do to convince the DM to let you play what you want? For the record, it's not like we're down in the middle of the dungeon and poof "switch-a-roo." We always get back to town or complete the current mission. Is it that big of a deal to have the previous PC walk off and a new upstart jump in?
TheraerTheWanderingBard
05-14-05, 07:36 PM bribe the DM with food...if that doesnt work, money

if that still doesnt work buy an ax carve "Murder with Ax" in the handle, bring it with you to the games, say its for chopping down trees, and whenever someone dissagrees with you tap the end of the ax and grin...eventually they will get your point :evillaugh
DM Zoc
05-14-05, 08:01 PM To some DMs, this is a big deal. You're implying that there's a level 15 character out there who nobody in the party (and none of the villains) had ever heard of. I mean sure, if it's an epic campaign then nobody will know about anyone in the teens. You're going around casting 8th level spells, though, so in most campaigns that means that you'll get noticed. It also means that your old character is out of the story, implying that there's a fairly powerful character out there who is choosing to just ignore whatever plot is in place.
Knucklehead
05-14-05, 09:01 PM To some DMs, this is a big deal. You're implying that there's a level 15 character out there who nobody in the party (and none of the villains) had ever heard of. I mean sure, if it's an epic campaign then nobody will know about anyone in the teens. You're going around casting 8th level spells, though, so in most campaigns that means that you'll get noticed. It also means that your old character is out of the story, implying that there's a fairly powerful character out there who is choosing to just ignore whatever plot is in place.
I would expect someone to know of me whether I'm any level. What does fame have to do with it? And who's to say the discarded PC is still not interested in the plot? If a DM designs a LotR campaign, what difference does it make if I'm playing Aragorn or Legolas? There are more 15th level PC's than just the two in the party.
The only apparent reason I could see where a DM would get upset would be if the DM incorperated the PC's life and struggles into the campaign. This is not an issue. Could it be viewed as an insult? Perhaps the DM thinks my lack of character interest is his fault.

If you were the DM in this scenario, would you be insulted? Would you take issue with revolving characters?

In this campaign I've had 4 PC's. The first one was killed, the second was discarded (after returning to town), the third discarded (after the final battle), and the forth is current. The DM is developing specific interests for the PC's which has kept my interest for now, but it's only a matter of time before I fall off the wagon.
DM Zoc
05-14-05, 09:27 PM If there's no issue with extraneous high-level characters floating around, and there are no personal issues incorporated with the plot (if your character was a mercenary, for example) then it shouldn't be much of an issue.

Your analogy to LotR is not appropriate, however. We knew who all of those characters were for the entire story. That example would be more similar to if you had wanted to trade characters with another player (or keep that character as a DMPC as you take control of a DMPC that's already with the party).

Switching characters seems contrived. It usually means that the party should have to start all at the beginning in learning to trust everyone (the new character will be an outsider from the established group), unless the new character is conveniently someone's brother.
Knucklehead
05-14-05, 09:50 PM If there's no issue with extraneous high-level characters floating around, and there are no personal issues incorporated with the plot (if your character was a mercenary, for example) then it shouldn't be much of an issue.
You hit the nail on the head. I still can't reason why extraneous high-level characters floating around would be a problem. Not every high level PC/NPC has to be involved in every plot.

Your analogy to LotR is not appropriate, however. We knew who all of those characters were for the entire story. That example would be more similar to if you had wanted to trade characters with another player (or keep that character as a DMPC as you take control of a DMPC that's already with the party).
The analogy was meant to represent a different high level PC, though I can see the confusion. Perhaps I should have said what's the difference between playing the 15th level archer on the south wall or the 15th level wizard on the north wall?

Switching characters seems contrived. It usually means that the party should have to start all at the beginning in learning to trust everyone (the new character will be an outsider from the established group), unless the new character is conveniently someone's brother.
Agreed. The new PC should be an outcast to some degree. That being said, since the PC's begin at 15th level, there is no roleplay of bonding. It is one of those "you've know him for a long time" deals. That same spiel could be applied to the new guy too.

I do want to point out that the character change is not done to pick up a certain bonus towards the next adventure (i.e. making a cleric to face undead).

Thanks for your opinion and advice. :D
Pain The Unbeliever
05-14-05, 09:51 PM Im ok with switching characters. There is no point to playing a pc that you dont like. Eventually you'll find a concept you love and all will be right in the world. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Knucklehead 05-14-05, 07:27 PM	We have a cycling "round robin" DMing schedule for my group. One guy will DM for 6 weeks, then the next guy, etc. When it's time to play again, I've lost interest in the previous PC and want to incorperate another. IMO this shouldn't be a big deal, however one particular DM thinks I should be more intested in a long-term "developed" PC. I disagree. I would prefer to build a PC run him for a while then try something else. This same DM also prefers high-level campaigns, so right out of the gate we start at 15+ level. There is no character development, however I'd be the first to admit that even if we started at a lower level I may still want to change PC's. What would you do to convince the DM to let you play what you want? For the record, it's not like we're down in the middle of the dungeon and poof "switch-a-roo." We always get back to town or complete the current mission. Is it that big of a deal to have the previous PC walk off and a new upstart jump in?
TheraerTheWanderingBard 05-14-05, 07:36 PM	bribe the DM with food...if that doesnt work, money if that still doesnt work buy an ax carve "Murder with Ax" in the handle, bring it with you to the games, say its for chopping down trees, and whenever someone dissagrees with you tap the end of the ax and grin...eventually they will get your point :evillaugh
DM Zoc 05-14-05, 08:01 PM	To some DMs, this is a big deal. You're implying that there's a level 15 character out there who nobody in the party (and none of the villains) had ever heard of. I mean sure, if it's an epic campaign then nobody will know about anyone in the teens. You're going around casting 8th level spells, though, so in most campaigns that means that you'll get noticed. It also means that your old character is out of the story, implying that there's a fairly powerful character out there who is choosing to just ignore whatever plot is in place.
Knucklehead 05-14-05, 09:01 PM	To some DMs, this is a big deal. You're implying that there's a level 15 character out there who nobody in the party (and none of the villains) had ever heard of. I mean sure, if it's an epic campaign then nobody will know about anyone in the teens. You're going around casting 8th level spells, though, so in most campaigns that means that you'll get noticed. It also means that your old character is out of the story, implying that there's a fairly powerful character out there who is choosing to just ignore whatever plot is in place. I would expect someone to know of me whether I'm any level. What does fame have to do with it? And who's to say the discarded PC is still not interested in the plot? If a DM designs a LotR campaign, what difference does it make if I'm playing Aragorn or Legolas? There are more 15th level PC's than just the two in the party. The only apparent reason I could see where a DM would get upset would be if the DM incorperated the PC's life and struggles into the campaign. This is not an issue. Could it be viewed as an insult? Perhaps the DM thinks my lack of character interest is his fault. If you were the DM in this scenario, would you be insulted? Would you take issue with revolving characters? In this campaign I've had 4 PC's. The first one was killed, the second was discarded (after returning to town), the third discarded (after the final battle), and the forth is current. The DM is developing specific interests for the PC's which has kept my interest for now, but it's only a matter of time before I fall off the wagon.
DM Zoc 05-14-05, 09:27 PM	If there's no issue with extraneous high-level characters floating around, and there are no personal issues incorporated with the plot (if your character was a mercenary, for example) then it shouldn't be much of an issue. Your analogy to LotR is not appropriate, however. We knew who all of those characters were for the entire story. That example would be more similar to if you had wanted to trade characters with another player (or keep that character as a DMPC as you take control of a DMPC that's already with the party). Switching characters seems contrived. It usually means that the party should have to start all at the beginning in learning to trust everyone (the new character will be an outsider from the established group), unless the new character is conveniently someone's brother.
Knucklehead 05-14-05, 09:50 PM	If there's no issue with extraneous high-level characters floating around, and there are no personal issues incorporated with the plot (if your character was a mercenary, for example) then it shouldn't be much of an issue. You hit the nail on the head. I still can't reason why extraneous high-level characters floating around would be a problem. Not every high level PC/NPC has to be involved in every plot. Your analogy to LotR is not appropriate, however. We knew who all of those characters were for the entire story. That example would be more similar to if you had wanted to trade characters with another player (or keep that character as a DMPC as you take control of a DMPC that's already with the party). The analogy was meant to represent a different high level PC, though I can see the confusion. Perhaps I should have said what's the difference between playing the 15th level archer on the south wall or the 15th level wizard on the north wall? Switching characters seems contrived. It usually means that the party should have to start all at the beginning in learning to trust everyone (the new character will be an outsider from the established group), unless the new character is conveniently someone's brother. Agreed. The new PC should be an outcast to some degree. That being said, since the PC's begin at 15th level, there is no roleplay of bonding. It is one of those "you've know him for a long time" deals. That same spiel could be applied to the new guy too. I do want to point out that the character change is not done to pick up a certain bonus towards the next adventure (i.e. making a cleric to face undead). Thanks for your opinion and advice. :D
Pain The Unbeliever 05-14-05, 09:51 PM	Im ok with switching characters. There is no point to playing a pc that you dont like. Eventually you'll find a concept you love and all will be right in the world. :)