Player Questionaire
This is from the old DM's Netbook:
20 Questions for Any Character’s Creation
Author unknown
Players should try to consider these questions when designing a new character. The answers that one come up with will go a long way in defining the character as a person that is more than the collective sum of his or her statistics.
After all other parts of character generation are completed, sit down and answer the questions one at a time, considering their impact on the way the character will behave and view his or her world. When you have finished you will have created a character with a little character, ready for play.
1. Who were the character’s parents? Did they raise the character? If not, why? If not them, who?
2. Did the character have any childhood friends? Any siblings? Where are they now? Does the character stay in touch with them or have they become separated? If they are separated, why?
3. What was childhood like for the character? Calm and peaceful or turbulent and traumatic?
4. Does the character have any or did the character have any role models? Describe them.
5. What did the character do before s/he entered the story? Who trained the character to do what s/he does now? What is the character’s relationship with his teacher(s)?
6. What are the character’s moral, ethical and religious beliefs? What lengths will the character go through to defend those beliefs? Who or what taught those beliefs to the character? Remember that a character’s moral and ethical beliefs, not necessarily his/her behaviors, define his/her alignment. What is his/her alignment?
7. Does the character have any unusual habits or physical traits? What are they? What do they stem from? How do others tend to react to them?
8. What is the general reaction to the character by other characters? Why, in the character’s opinion, do they act that way?
9. Can the character kill? When did s/he decide (or learn) that s/he could? Why would the character kill? Does s/he have any enemies at all? Would or could the character kill them?
10. What kind of relationships does the character currently have? Does s/he have any close friends or bitter enemies? If so, who? What are they like? What is the history of the character and this person’s relationship?
11. Does the character have any mental problems or phobias? If so, what are they and from what do they stem?
12. How does the character generally treat others? Does /she trust easily? How does the character relate to other people? Is s/he shy or withdrawn or outgoing and friendly?
13. What does the character look like? Does s/he have any scars or tattoos? If so how did s/he get them? Obviously this includes hair and eye color, but an unusual gait or accent comes into play here as well.
14. What is the character’s normal daily routine? How does s/he feel when it is interrupted for whatever reason?
15. Was the character present for any key events in the history of the campaign world? How did that event affect the character?
16. Does the character have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? What did s/he do? What do people assume about the character when his/her ancestry is known? Does the character try to live up to the reputation, try to dispel it, or try to ignore it?
17. Where is the character’s homeland? What is its history and what are its people like? Is the character patriotic, or a social outcast? What is the character’s opinion of home?
18. What are the character’s dreams, ambitions and or goals?
19. How does s/he seek to obtain them? How does adventuring fit into this dream, or does it at all?
20. Does the character ever want to have a family of his/her own? If so, who with or with what type of person?
Well done, a character is born!
PS: I bet these tabs look ugly when I post...
20 Questions for Any Character’s Creation
Author unknown
Players should try to consider these questions when designing a new character. The answers that one come up with will go a long way in defining the character as a person that is more than the collective sum of his or her statistics.
After all other parts of character generation are completed, sit down and answer the questions one at a time, considering their impact on the way the character will behave and view his or her world. When you have finished you will have created a character with a little character, ready for play.
1. Who were the character’s parents? Did they raise the character? If not, why? If not them, who?
2. Did the character have any childhood friends? Any siblings? Where are they now? Does the character stay in touch with them or have they become separated? If they are separated, why?
3. What was childhood like for the character? Calm and peaceful or turbulent and traumatic?
4. Does the character have any or did the character have any role models? Describe them.
5. What did the character do before s/he entered the story? Who trained the character to do what s/he does now? What is the character’s relationship with his teacher(s)?
6. What are the character’s moral, ethical and religious beliefs? What lengths will the character go through to defend those beliefs? Who or what taught those beliefs to the character? Remember that a character’s moral and ethical beliefs, not necessarily his/her behaviors, define his/her alignment. What is his/her alignment?
7. Does the character have any unusual habits or physical traits? What are they? What do they stem from? How do others tend to react to them?
8. What is the general reaction to the character by other characters? Why, in the character’s opinion, do they act that way?
9. Can the character kill? When did s/he decide (or learn) that s/he could? Why would the character kill? Does s/he have any enemies at all? Would or could the character kill them?
10. What kind of relationships does the character currently have? Does s/he have any close friends or bitter enemies? If so, who? What are they like? What is the history of the character and this person’s relationship?
11. Does the character have any mental problems or phobias? If so, what are they and from what do they stem?
12. How does the character generally treat others? Does /she trust easily? How does the character relate to other people? Is s/he shy or withdrawn or outgoing and friendly?
13. What does the character look like? Does s/he have any scars or tattoos? If so how did s/he get them? Obviously this includes hair and eye color, but an unusual gait or accent comes into play here as well.
14. What is the character’s normal daily routine? How does s/he feel when it is interrupted for whatever reason?
15. Was the character present for any key events in the history of the campaign world? How did that event affect the character?
16. Does the character have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? What did s/he do? What do people assume about the character when his/her ancestry is known? Does the character try to live up to the reputation, try to dispel it, or try to ignore it?
17. Where is the character’s homeland? What is its history and what are its people like? Is the character patriotic, or a social outcast? What is the character’s opinion of home?
18. What are the character’s dreams, ambitions and or goals?
19. How does s/he seek to obtain them? How does adventuring fit into this dream, or does it at all?
20. Does the character ever want to have a family of his/her own? If so, who with or with what type of person?
Well done, a character is born!
PS: I bet these tabs look ugly when I post...
Wombat
First Post
Okay, here's a set of question I used for one campaign (everyone started the campaign at 3rd level, thus the questions about switching classes):
Questions Regarding
(fill in character name)
Who is your family?
Traditionally what does your family do?
Do you have siblings? How many?
Do you like the family in general and/or specific members? Why or why not?
Why did you join the character class that you did? Give at least three reasons.
Did you switch classes? If so, why? Give at least three reasons.
What significant events happened between 1st and 2nd level for your character?
What significant events happened between 2nd and 3rd level for your character?
Do you have any significant objects? How did you acquire them?
Which god to you follow? Why?
Did you switch worship from one god to another? Why?
Questions Regarding
(fill in character name)
Who is your family?
Traditionally what does your family do?
Do you have siblings? How many?
Do you like the family in general and/or specific members? Why or why not?
Why did you join the character class that you did? Give at least three reasons.
Did you switch classes? If so, why? Give at least three reasons.
What significant events happened between 1st and 2nd level for your character?
What significant events happened between 2nd and 3rd level for your character?
Do you have any significant objects? How did you acquire them?
Which god to you follow? Why?
Did you switch worship from one god to another? Why?
arwink
Clockwork Golem
1. Who is the most important person in your life?
2. Where do you want to be in 20 years time?
3. What are you most scared of?
4. What makes you happy?
5. What is your idea of a good evenings entertainment?
6. If you were not an adventurer, what would you be?
7. What item would you not live without?
8. When was the last time you cried?
9. When do you want to have children?
10. If you were an animal, what would you be?
11. What is your favorite bard song?
12. Do you prefer the town or the country? Why?
13. What was the last thing that made you laugh?
14. If made to decide, would you rather be deaf or blind? Why?
15. What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?
16. If you had to describe yourself in five adjectives, what would they be?
17. How do you want to die?
18. What is the worst thing someone has done to you?
19. Who do you admire?
20. How much is a pint of mead?
2. Where do you want to be in 20 years time?
3. What are you most scared of?
4. What makes you happy?
5. What is your idea of a good evenings entertainment?
6. If you were not an adventurer, what would you be?
7. What item would you not live without?
8. When was the last time you cried?
9. When do you want to have children?
10. If you were an animal, what would you be?
11. What is your favorite bard song?
12. Do you prefer the town or the country? Why?
13. What was the last thing that made you laugh?
14. If made to decide, would you rather be deaf or blind? Why?
15. What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?
16. If you had to describe yourself in five adjectives, what would they be?
17. How do you want to die?
18. What is the worst thing someone has done to you?
19. Who do you admire?
20. How much is a pint of mead?
Psion
Adventurer
I used to have 20 questions (which I derived from a similar questionaire in the Dusk campaign setting material back in the 2e days and that looks a lot like Harlock's list), but found that it was a bit more than most players were willing to complete, so I condensed it to 10 questions:
http://members.tripod.com/~hawk_wind/trinalia/Tenquest.html
http://members.tripod.com/~hawk_wind/trinalia/Tenquest.html
Last edited:
Djeta Thernadier
First Post
There was a good thread on this a month or so ago? I can't find it now because I'm at work...does anyone remember where it was?
Doppleganger
First Post
Here's one from a recent campaign. It's a bit tongue and cheek, but the idea was to make it fun for the players to read & answer instead of a long task that had to be slaved over. And, the players had a blast responding with an "in-character" reply.
der_kluge
Adventurer
*spoof*
1. Who killed your parents?
2. Which do you hate more:
----a. orcs
----b. goblins
----c. dragons
----d. undead
3. When you find the people that killed your parents, describe what you will do to them.
4. When you were abandoned as an orphan, did you have any unique possessions on you?
5. Describe why you are such a loner.
6. If they are still alive, what are your foster parents doing now?
7. List the people here that you mistrust, and/or were betrayed by in your past:
8. Describe all the strange, magical occurrences that the village elders could not explain that happened to you as a child:
9. Where there any events in your past (villages being razed, etc.) that caused hundreds to die, and left you as the sole survivor?
10. Were there any unusual circumstances to your birth (found under a cabbage leaf, washed up on shore, etc.)?
1. Who killed your parents?
2. Which do you hate more:
----a. orcs
----b. goblins
----c. dragons
----d. undead
3. When you find the people that killed your parents, describe what you will do to them.
4. When you were abandoned as an orphan, did you have any unique possessions on you?
5. Describe why you are such a loner.
6. If they are still alive, what are your foster parents doing now?
7. List the people here that you mistrust, and/or were betrayed by in your past:
8. Describe all the strange, magical occurrences that the village elders could not explain that happened to you as a child:
9. Where there any events in your past (villages being razed, etc.) that caused hundreds to die, and left you as the sole survivor?
10. Were there any unusual circumstances to your birth (found under a cabbage leaf, washed up on shore, etc.)?
Magic Slim
First Post
I had this old thing...
Name:
What is the character's full name? Nicknames?
What is the colour of the character's hair, eyes, and skin?
What is the character's general appearance?
Where was the character born?
What is the character's age?
What was the character's family?
Has the character begun his/her own family?
When or how was the character educated?
Has the character ever done anything else for a living?
What about the character's political and religious beliefs?
What is the character's moral code?
What might someone seeing the character for the first time think?
Does the character have any goals?
What is the character's personality?
Any reoccurring mannerisms?
What special qualities does the character possess? This doesn't necessarily refer to skills, but to what the character can do well. Does he get along well with other people? Is he skilled at taking care of business? Prioritizing tasks? Planning ahead?
Are there certain things the character just cannot do? Get close to people? Perceive himself realistically?
What does the character hate?
What does the character love?
How does the character perceive government? Those who are opposed to the government?
How did the character gain his abilities? What was his first reaction? What motivates him to act as a hero now?
What does your character hope to accomplish by adventuring?
Why is this goal more important than his/her safety?
What would be the ultimate magic item for this character?
What would be the worst curse this character could ever receive?
List the 5 most important people in the character's life.
Who is the one person your character trusts the most?
Does your character have any prejudices?
How would your character handle an insubordinate servant?
How would your characters parents describe him?
What was the best moment of the characters life? Worst?
How did his peers treat the character as a child? His elders?
What flaws does the character have? Is he quick to judge people? A slob?
What advice would you give your character?
What is the characters secret, and what will happen if it is discovered?
What would the character die for? What would they be willing to sacrifice the lives of their friends for?
What is the character’s kryptonite? What is their weakness or what will paralyze them with fear?
What does the character do to relax?
Describe the characters ideal mate.
How will the character die?
Note any other details of or give an outline of the character’s history:
Name:
What is the character's full name? Nicknames?
What is the colour of the character's hair, eyes, and skin?
What is the character's general appearance?
Where was the character born?
What is the character's age?
What was the character's family?
Has the character begun his/her own family?
When or how was the character educated?
Has the character ever done anything else for a living?
What about the character's political and religious beliefs?
What is the character's moral code?
What might someone seeing the character for the first time think?
Does the character have any goals?
What is the character's personality?
Any reoccurring mannerisms?
What special qualities does the character possess? This doesn't necessarily refer to skills, but to what the character can do well. Does he get along well with other people? Is he skilled at taking care of business? Prioritizing tasks? Planning ahead?
Are there certain things the character just cannot do? Get close to people? Perceive himself realistically?
What does the character hate?
What does the character love?
How does the character perceive government? Those who are opposed to the government?
How did the character gain his abilities? What was his first reaction? What motivates him to act as a hero now?
What does your character hope to accomplish by adventuring?
Why is this goal more important than his/her safety?
What would be the ultimate magic item for this character?
What would be the worst curse this character could ever receive?
List the 5 most important people in the character's life.
Who is the one person your character trusts the most?
Does your character have any prejudices?
How would your character handle an insubordinate servant?
How would your characters parents describe him?
What was the best moment of the characters life? Worst?
How did his peers treat the character as a child? His elders?
What flaws does the character have? Is he quick to judge people? A slob?
What advice would you give your character?
What is the characters secret, and what will happen if it is discovered?
What would the character die for? What would they be willing to sacrifice the lives of their friends for?
What is the character’s kryptonite? What is their weakness or what will paralyze them with fear?
What does the character do to relax?
Describe the characters ideal mate.
How will the character die?
Note any other details of or give an outline of the character’s history:
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