Character Hopping

[Kzach]

I am suffering an unusual, for me, problem. Normally I'm the type of dependable player who turns up on time, has his character ready, did his background and personality write-ups, read all the DM's campaign history and module information, and I've made a character that works well and fits into the party.

But most of all, I usually stick with the character until it either dies or the game stops. I've never had a problem with character hopping or even remotely had the desire to switch characters after I've joined a group. Yet in this one particular group I've just joined, I'm finding I'm continuously dissatisfied with the characters I create.

Part of this is being unfamiliar with the role of leader. Normally I play defenders or strikers and I seem to have a solid grasp of the role. But as a leader I just can't find my stride and keep finding a character build that I would prefer to play after I've found the one I just played to be unsatisfying.

I've only switched characters once so far in this game and although the DM is leaving it open for me to switch again, I feel like I'm pushing my luck. And even if I'm not, I find myself being annoyed at myself for being so wishy-washy. I'm sure the group isn't too impressed with the whole thing either. Plus there's no guarantee that even if I did switch again, that I'd be happy with the character after playing it, so I've decided the best idea is to just stick to what I'm playing.

Have you ever had this problem? What did you do about it? Have you had players in your groups do this? As a DM or player, how'd you react?

 

[JamesonCourage]

I have an old friend, roommate, and player who does this. He'll usually last 1-2 months before thinking up another concept to play. He did stick with one character for a long time, and probably played him better than my other players, though. He's a good player, he is just enticed to try new things, and the game I created is based around character options, so...

At any rate, though I find it mildly annoying, two things really help. One, we all realize this is for fun, and so if he's not satisfied, we let him swap it out. Two, he knows that his is for our fun, too, and he'll try to make it work out before swapping. In case it doesn't work out, he'll work to make a smooth transition. These two things really help us when it comes up with him.

My other players will occasionally swap other characters if they feel like they aren't clicking with it, but not as often. If your GM is okay to let you swap, I'd suggest following the two things I mentioned, above. One, try to remember that this is for fun, so don't play something you don't like. Two, try to make it fun, and if it doesn't work, try to keep other players in mind when swapping characters, so it doesn't ruin their fun (by pushing suspension of disbelief, breaking immersion, messing up the flow of the game, etc.). I think it's fine if you want to swap out as long as those two criteria are observed.

I do understand you being annoyed at yourself. This situation happens, sometimes, and you have to chalk it up a loss and move on. Maybe you could play out some mock battles or some basic RP between sessions with another player or the DM using the character you're looking at using instead. If you feel like you can really click with the personality and abilities (and you're not just excited to use some new character combination), then go for it. I've seen a lot of instances of players itching to try a new concept because of one particular combination, and while they really enjoy that combination in play, not much else clicks with them. So, I'd advise watching out for that.

At any rate, I hope this helps. The game is about having a good time, so try to work something out where everyone is having a good time. As always, play what you like

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Have you ever had this problem? What did you do about it? Have you had players in your groups do this? As a DM or player, how'd you react?

What I'd suggest is that you write the ideas up.

I've only really done character hopping in 2 campaigns...but in each case it was due to campaign reasons. in one, it was because EVERYONE in the campaign ran different PCs at different XP levels depending on what storyline the DM wanted to tell.

In the other the 2 people playing healers left the group, so I stepped up and retired my PC in order to play a healer. (But I did it myyyyyyyyyy waaaaaaaayyyy!)

However, I always feel the urge. I design PCs in about 4 different systems all the time, and a few beyond that as circumstances arise. As a result, I have a stable of thousands waiting to be played.

For instance, we only started playing 4Ed in 2010 when a new guy joined the group and volunteered to run it. I'm still playing my original PC in that group: a Dwarven Starlock multiclassed into Psion. I've got a tentative plan for him out to 20th level.

And if you looked at my postings in the 4Ed forum, you might have noticed I have used ENWorld to design at least 3 other PCs...all fleshed out and ready to run.

It serves 3 functions:

1) it improves your system mastery

2) it gets the PC into a relatively fixed format, which means its not bouncing around your head demanding attention and distracting you.

3) it gives you a PC you're intimately familiar with and you can run if you need to

 

[Kzach]

I've seen a lot of instances of players itching to try a new concept because of one particular combination, and while they really enjoy that combination in play, not much else clicks with them. So, I'd advise watching out for that.

Nah it's not that. It's that as a leader player, I feel a responsibility towards the group to fulfill that role well, and I just don't feel like I'm up to par. The two characters I've played so far I've liked well enough and both had their schticks which are effective enough, but neither of them really do their job as leader very well. So I keep feeling like I'm not pulling my weight.

This isn't due to anything the other players have said or done, just my own personal feelings on the matter. When I play a defender or striker, I know what I'm doing and how to fulfill the role well but the leader role is new to me so I'm still feeling it all out.

 

[S'mon]

I'm no good at playing roles I don't like playing, including healer/leader. In your shoes I'd probably play a defender with a bit of healing, if there's no leader PC and it looks like we need one (DM is running a meatgrinder published module, say) then I'd ask the DM if the group can hire/acquire a DMG2 Companion Leader type NPC.

Edit: On swapping - if I find my (DM-approved) PC concept is actually inappropriate for the campaign, I may ask the DM if I can swap and bring in a new character with a more suitable concept. In practice though I usually drop that campaign. Typically I feel enthusiastic over my PC concept, then if it doesn't work in the campaign I lose enthusiasm for the campaign.

 

[S'mon]

Nah it's not that. It's that as a leader player, I feel a responsibility towards the group to fulfill that role well, and I just don't feel like I'm up to par.

This is why I don't like playing Leaders - Leaders are responsible for keeping the group alive. I have a lot of responsibility IRL and play D&D for escapism, I don't want that sense of responsibility in-game. Although I'm fine with playing Defenders, who arguably have a similar responsibility. Hmm. Maybe it's because Defenders are mixing it up in the front rank, choke-pointing the enemy, whereas Leaders need to maintain awareness of the whole battlefield and how all their allies are doing, and have a lot of resource management with their minor-action heals.

 

[Pentius]

Nah it's not that. It's that as a leader player, I feel a responsibility towards the group to fulfill that role well, and I just don't feel like I'm up to par. The two characters I've played so far I've liked well enough and both had their schticks which are effective enough, but neither of them really do their job as leader very well. So I keep feeling like I'm not pulling my weight.

This isn't due to anything the other players have said or done, just my own personal feelings on the matter. When I play a defender or striker, I know what I'm doing and how to fulfill the role well but the leader role is new to me so I'm still feeling it all out.

The problem with Leaders is that your performance is hard to measure. Your real impact is on how much better you make the other characters. I'd suggest you ask them how they think your character is doing, Leader-y wise. They might be feeling a lot more satisfied about it than you do.

 

[onedtwelve]

I like to swap characters out a lot in the games I've played and the way we've done it every time is to have my current character die in some way and my new character show up in a plot hook. It was an easy-to-do and streamlined method.

In the question of why you're wanting to swap out so much, I can speak for 4E D&D and say that I've had this discussion with a friend of mine. In that edition, neither of us really liked playing leaders and neither did most of our friends and we tried to figure out why, when we realized that it has a lot to do with the fact that you don't do very much damage in combat if you focus on healing. You can be a wonderful healer, but when it comes to fighting, you won't be doing much directly. This means you don't really get to feel your impact as much. You get to see the striker take down npcs left and right and the defender absorb blows while the controller moves the pawns or deals out just as much damage and you're sitting around making enemies easier to hit or letting other players get extra attacks and that's your turn which is basically making their turns easier or giving them an extra turn.

I'd go with playing a defender that can heal or really any other class with some healing. That way you can have some impact and still maintain a good supply of heals.

 

[Wik]

I have two players who are known to do this, and who did it twice each in my 4e game that ended last month. They just hit a point where they want to make new characters, and then will show up at the session and say "hey, here's my new Fighter! Can we write him into the plot?"

To counteract this, I have my new, upcoming e6 Pathfinder Dark Sun game built to allow multiple PCs - and if you bring in a new PC, he starts at 1st. Since there's only a 6 level gap between top level and first level (and 1st level PCs start with more hp in my homebrew), I'm hoping this means that low level PCs can adventure with their bigger brothers.

4e has one problem I've found with adding in new PCs - namely, magic items. This was also a problem with 3e. If Joe the Barbarian goes from 1st to 10th level, the magic items he accumulates will tend to be a bit random - his sword might not be perfect, his armour might be old, but he couldh ave a really cool Helm of Telepathy or something. However, if Joe The Barbarian is created at 10th level, to join a 10th level party, he will often have magic items picked by the player. These items are tailored for the PC, meaning Joe the Barbarian will have that perfect greataxe, that perfect armour, and, well, no fun magic items.

 

[Wik]

Also, just thinking out loud here, could you maybe remechanic your character, but keep the fluff? For example, say you were a shaman in 4th Ed, and don't like how the class works. Could you remake your character as a warlord (or cleric, or artificer, or whatever) and explain the change away in your game world?

This way, you're not swapping out your character, but just changing mechanics, which would probably keep everyone happy.