Character Creation Process
From Cynefrith
Contents |
Overview
This page describes the (somewhat involved) character creation process for the campaign. It will be a cooperative effort between the DM and the player, each providing input into the backstory, the same way that each provides part of the story during play.
Genesis of the Process
Some games rely on the players to generate the backstory all on their own. Often players lack the inspiration or the time to put a lot of meat into the character history, often including even the character's name. This can make the game less satisfying, as the characters tend to be flat.
Some generic tools have been created to help players create richer characters, such as background generators or hero profile workbooks. These can be very helpful, but often they focus on aspects which are not important to, or are indeed contrary to, the particular campaign or setting.
Characters who are developed independently often have a hard time forming a cohesive party. Sometimes the party not only has to overlook the fact that they have no reason to be together, but may have to actively work to keep party members from each other's throats (or purses.)
Pregenerated characters or character backgrounds are great for conventions and other one-time games, but players often have a difficult time bonding with their character. This kind of party usually works well together, but players may feel like they are playing someone else's character.
So, how can a game get deep characters that the players have strong attachments to (and are thus more likely to role-play) while giving them built-in motivations to form and maintain a party without a bunch of duct tape and looking the other way? This is an attempt to do just that. Yes, it will be a lot more work than just rolling some dice, choosing a weapon, and contemplating which feat to take before the first encounter, but hopefully players will feel that the reward of a much more satisfying play experience is worth the effort. And by no means should anyone whose game I (Sean) have played in take this personally, I really do appreciate any time someone steps up to DM a game.
Step 1: Character Concept
The campaign will begin in 998 YK, following the timeline in the Eberron sourcebook. Think of the kind of character you would like to play. Consider interesting details of your character, but do not get too tied to them - your initial charachter concept may vary somewhat from the final result of the process. If you feel strongly about a particular aspect of your character's background it will be incorporated, but try to keep an open mind. You may want to think about several character concepts that you would enjoy playing, rather than just one.
The character will be somewhere around 10th level. Decide upon an appropriate birth date and place, which will vary based on race as well as the character's choices. Remember that elves and dwarves in Eberron rarely wait as long to begin their adventuring careers as those in Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms, especially since the Last War (which just recently ended) has been going on as long as anyone can remember.
Write a brief description of your character concepts and email them to the DM. Is he a Dragonmarked heir who is suddenly confronted with familial duties, but whose poor choices in the arena of underground trade negotiations had him packing his bags for a long "vacation"? Is she a Cyran expatriate who is attempting to establish a new homeland for her people? The DM can suggest which character concept would work best in the campaign.
Step 2: Initial Creation
After consulting with the DM, work up a 1st level character and backstory. This does not have to be super-detailed, but should outline birth place and date, significant events before 1st level, family, friends, enemies, and some feel for the character's personality and motivations. Remember that these things may change over time, so even if you plan for your character to become a jaded treasure hunter, he may have begun his career as a glory seeking explorer.
A template (and instructions on how to use it) will be provided sometime in the future to record a snapshot of the character at each level. This will be kept in an "under development" section of the wiki, and will be used to communicate the status of the character's progress to the DM. Until this is in place you may either make your own wiki page, email the information to the DM, or even learn about wiki templates and make them for everyone else to share.
The DM does not intend to check your math, or make sure every feat prerequisite is met - you can do that on your own - but the DM does intend to look for character traits that would be a problem for the game as well as plot elements that might be used to weave the characters and various NPCs together.
The DM has a story arc in mind, but will also remain open-minded to the players' input. If a certain character concept simply will not work in the story arc that is planned, an attempt will be made to alter both the plot and the character to see if something new and just as interesting can fit.
Step 3: Rapid Advancement
Your character will gain levels up to the starting level of the campaign (around 10th level) in a series of single-level advancements. The DM will provide a choice or series of choices for your character at each level. You will decide upon your characters choices and provide any other input you wish to the character's intended path. The DM will provide an outline of or statement about what happens to your character during that level. You will fill in the details of the events and update your character to the new level.
An example of events may be: She travels to a reported Cyran refugee camp to find that the peasants have become little more than slaves to a local war hero, who is forcing them to operate his mine. She frees the refugees, who end up running the mine on their own. She kills the vetran (you decide the circumstances,) but his son vows revenge and escapes/flees.
More when Sean gets time!--Sum1els 09:52, 30 October 2007 (IST)
Miscellaneous
If there is something else that you expected to see on this page, please discuss it with the DM.
