Character Creation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character Creation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Magi_D
05-08-07, 11:18 AM It's my friends turn to DM in our group. And he's come up with the idea of making player design the character for the other players, ie someone else makes your character for you to play. The max level of involvement you are aloud in your own character creation is something along the lines of "I want a charismatic rogue", after that it's up to the other player to make your character for you.
Just curious what everyone else thinks of this and whether it will work or not.
Thanks.
Puca
05-08-07, 11:31 AM No.

I like to make my own characters. Some people might find this a fun, new, interesting challenge. Im not one of them.
Magi_D
05-08-07, 11:53 AM Yeah, I started off quite liking the idea, but the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure. I can't really see how you can really role-play, or get a proper feel for your character, if someone else made it for you. Kind of makes it less person, and more 'just another character in a game that you might want to play as.'
Puca
05-08-07, 11:57 AM I think at one time or another, all of us have "filled in," taken over an existing character because its creator was gone or quit, or it was an NPC or something.

Its ok, sometimes, but never quite as fulfilling, and at worst, you never "bond" with the character at all.
Ack
05-08-07, 12:10 PM V true.

At most I would allow someone to build the basic framework; stats, feats, maybe skills. Then I'd fill the rest in myself.
Aelstrom
05-08-07, 12:58 PM After our group finished a 2.5 year long 2nd edition Night Below campaign, we decided to give our primary DM a rest. We all took a turn DMing a short 2 or 3 session campaign where the DM not only wrote the adventure, but also created the characters. We all had a good time, and it was interesting to play a character you normally wouldn't.

I don't know if it's a good idea for a lengthy campaign, but it's an interesting way to mix things up for a few sessions.
green_yawgmoth
05-08-07, 06:29 PM I would never do that as anything other than a one-shot. I tend to get attached to my characters, and that happens during creation. Once I make the background/description/personality, it is my character. Someone else might get to play it sometime (especially if it's an online game), but it is still my character. This just screams "horrible idea" to me.

Also, rogue is the character class. Rouge is makeup.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Xavorin
05-08-07, 07:57 PM Personally I'd hate the idea...

The people I game with would make me the worst character ever... Just for kicks.
Zoycitenega
05-08-07, 11:39 PM Yes and no. For a short stint, it might be a lot of fun. However, for a campaign that I regularly go to once a week for an entire semester, no way. I like playing my character, I like writing backstory, picking feats, and choosing spells. I might want to do it the other way around - they tell you the basic outline, and you fill in the details.
loaba
05-09-07, 12:26 AM I would politely say no, this sounds like a fabulous idea, but no. Then I would run to the bathroom and barf.

Seriously, the best part of D&D is the making your character. If you're not new to the game, why then would let someone else do it for you? I'm all for soliciting advice (my Wizard thread comes to mind), but in the end the character needs to be your creation.
Magi_D
05-09-07, 03:02 AM Thanks for all your thoughts guys, I'll talk to our DM today.
Thanks.
Nathreet
05-09-07, 03:13 AM I'd do it for a one-shot... where the players are supposed to screw with eachother's characters. Whoever survives to the end of the adventure wins. If other players fail, that doesn't make your win any better. But backstabbing will still happen if it benefits the backstabber in some way.

But for a serious campaign? Nah.
Optimized_Commoner
05-09-07, 04:49 AM This sort of idea is best, not to do for it's own sake, but as a tool for a particular kind of game. You should do this kind of exotic character creation in a game that has some sort of link to this idea.

For example if the beginning of the game was the characters being mind-switched into eachother's bodies and the campaign is about putting their souls back where they belong, then this would make sense.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Magi_D 05-08-07, 11:18 AM	It's my friends turn to DM in our group. And he's come up with the idea of making player design the character for the other players, ie someone else makes your character for you to play. The max level of involvement you are aloud in your own character creation is something along the lines of "I want a charismatic rogue", after that it's up to the other player to make your character for you. Just curious what everyone else thinks of this and whether it will work or not. Thanks.
Puca 05-08-07, 11:31 AM	No. I like to make my own characters. Some people might find this a fun, new, interesting challenge. Im not one of them.
Magi_D 05-08-07, 11:53 AM	Yeah, I started off quite liking the idea, but the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure. I can't really see how you can really role-play, or get a proper feel for your character, if someone else made it for you. Kind of makes it less person, and more 'just another character in a game that you might want to play as.'
Puca 05-08-07, 11:57 AM	I think at one time or another, all of us have "filled in," taken over an existing character because its creator was gone or quit, or it was an NPC or something. Its ok, sometimes, but never quite as fulfilling, and at worst, you never "bond" with the character at all.
Ack 05-08-07, 12:10 PM	V true. At most I would allow someone to build the basic framework; stats, feats, maybe skills. Then I'd fill the rest in myself.
Aelstrom 05-08-07, 12:58 PM	After our group finished a 2.5 year long 2nd edition Night Below campaign, we decided to give our primary DM a rest. We all took a turn DMing a short 2 or 3 session campaign where the DM not only wrote the adventure, but also created the characters. We all had a good time, and it was interesting to play a character you normally wouldn't. I don't know if it's a good idea for a lengthy campaign, but it's an interesting way to mix things up for a few sessions.
green_yawgmoth 05-08-07, 06:29 PM	I would never do that as anything other than a one-shot. I tend to get attached to my characters, and that happens during creation. Once I make the background/description/personality, it is my character. Someone else might get to play it sometime (especially if it's an online game), but it is still my character. This just screams "horrible idea" to me. Also, rogue is the character class. Rouge is makeup. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Xavorin 05-08-07, 07:57 PM	Personally I'd hate the idea... The people I game with would make me the worst character ever... Just for kicks.
Zoycitenega 05-08-07, 11:39 PM	Yes and no. For a short stint, it might be a lot of fun. However, for a campaign that I regularly go to once a week for an entire semester, no way. I like playing my character, I like writing backstory, picking feats, and choosing spells. I might want to do it the other way around - they tell you the basic outline, and you fill in the details.
loaba 05-09-07, 12:26 AM	I would politely say no, this sounds like a fabulous idea, but no. Then I would run to the bathroom and barf. Seriously, the best part of D&D is the making your character. If you're not new to the game, why then would let someone else do it for you? I'm all for soliciting advice (my Wizard thread comes to mind), but in the end the character needs to be your creation.
Magi_D 05-09-07, 03:02 AM	Thanks for all your thoughts guys, I'll talk to our DM today. Thanks.
Nathreet 05-09-07, 03:13 AM	I'd do it for a one-shot... where the players are supposed to screw with eachother's characters. Whoever survives to the end of the adventure wins. If other players fail, that doesn't make your win any better. But backstabbing will still happen if it benefits the backstabber in some way. But for a serious campaign? Nah.
Optimized_Commoner 05-09-07, 04:49 AM	This sort of idea is best, not to do for it's own sake, but as a tool for a particular kind of game. You should do this kind of exotic character creation in a game that has some sort of link to this idea. For example if the beginning of the game was the characters being mind-switched into eachother's bodies and the campaign is about putting their souls back where they belong, then this would make sense.