Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Each of my questionnaires was totally different. The first thing I did was decide in what ways I needed to steer each character. For instance, let's take the middle-aged son. Here's each question I asked, and why I asked it.Crothian said:Having loaded questions is part of the Questionnaire according to the game. And not everyone should have the same questions now will players know what each others questions are.
1. You are over 40. Why do you still live with your mother? A loaded question. I wanted to establish that other people might see him as a mama's boy, even if he doesn't see himself that way. Just asking this question says a ton about the character.
2. What first triggered your interest in photography? The adventure has a cool payoff for someone taking and developing photographs. I wanted to open this possibility, as well as establish a hobby in the classic British eccentric mode. Like trainspotting, only different. It's up to the player how important this becomes.
3. Have you ever experienced true love? The first non-loaded question. This fills out his romantic past, especially considering that he now lives with his mother.
4. Why didn’t you enlist during the Great War? Another non-loaded question. Maybe he's sickly, or a coward, but answering this defines personality. It also does something even more important -- it reminds the player that the game happens just after WW1, and that other PCs may be veterans who resent his non-enlisting.
5. What’s your worst habit? It never hurts to list weaknesses that the GM can then prey on.
6. Why do those people hate you? A totally random question. Is he racist? Classist? This establishes that at least one group of people doesn't like him for some reason.
7. Do you like your relatives? This particular scenario is all about family relationships, so knowing whether he likes or hates his family is important. this makes the player consider this issue.
8. How do you spend your days? character-defining fluff.
9. Have you considered hospitalizing your mother? This relationship is an important one, since the mother is a PC. This establishes whether he's resentful of her or not.
10. Do you believe in spirits? The game is a ghost story in part, and his mom believes in spirits. Does he share her interests?
11. What scares you the most? Fodder for the GM.
12. What are you looking forward to? Character-defining, once again.
13. Is it worth having a go at Camille, your mother’s French maid? Another Pc. This establishes Camille's existence, and possibly sets up some tension. It also suggests that the PC may have lust as a secret sin.
So, about half and half on focused vs general questions.2. What first triggered your interest in photography? The adventure has a cool payoff for someone taking and developing photographs. I wanted to open this possibility, as well as establish a hobby in the classic British eccentric mode. Like trainspotting, only different. It's up to the player how important this becomes.
3. Have you ever experienced true love? The first non-loaded question. This fills out his romantic past, especially considering that he now lives with his mother.
4. Why didn’t you enlist during the Great War? Another non-loaded question. Maybe he's sickly, or a coward, but answering this defines personality. It also does something even more important -- it reminds the player that the game happens just after WW1, and that other PCs may be veterans who resent his non-enlisting.
5. What’s your worst habit? It never hurts to list weaknesses that the GM can then prey on.
6. Why do those people hate you? A totally random question. Is he racist? Classist? This establishes that at least one group of people doesn't like him for some reason.
7. Do you like your relatives? This particular scenario is all about family relationships, so knowing whether he likes or hates his family is important. this makes the player consider this issue.
8. How do you spend your days? character-defining fluff.
9. Have you considered hospitalizing your mother? This relationship is an important one, since the mother is a PC. This establishes whether he's resentful of her or not.
10. Do you believe in spirits? The game is a ghost story in part, and his mom believes in spirits. Does he share her interests?
11. What scares you the most? Fodder for the GM.
12. What are you looking forward to? Character-defining, once again.
13. Is it worth having a go at Camille, your mother’s French maid? Another Pc. This establishes Camille's existence, and possibly sets up some tension. It also suggests that the PC may have lust as a secret sin.
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