This was not my idea. I'll link to the original thread once I've explained this. This is a questionnaire someone came up with for DM's to give to their players to help get them into character. The first part is concerned with backstory and character development, while the second half ties into alignment and morality. He also requested that people not quote Monty Python, or else the entire thing would devolve into a NI-fest. What most people have been doing is filling out the questionnaire for themselves, either out of character, or in character for their 'trademark' character, I'm not sure which.
The original thread can be located on the Wizards of the Coast board, here (Caution, it's located on the mature board, so unless you have an account with them, you won't be able to read it there).
(btw, Age isn't on the one I linked, but I think it's appropriate for the idea)
NAME:
AGE:
RACE:
GENDER:
PROFESSION:
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION:
1) We begin with some questions from your character's formative years. Describe the standard scene at dinnertime for you when you were a child.
2) You and a friend have been given a whole gold piece each - a veritable fortune for a kid - and set loose in the city. You have all day to do whatever you want, and your friend isn't especially imaginative. What do you do?
3) Moving to late adolescence: You are assisting the old master you've been apprenticed to. He asks you, for the third time this evening, to climb a rickety ladder to get him a book from fairly high up on his shelves. You are starting to get the distinct impression that he's just using it as a device to look up your robes. What do you do?
4) You decide to try your hand at gardening, with a small patch of tubers. One of them looks absolutely gigantic, breaching the soil. When the day comes to harvest it, you pull it up... and find a mole, teeth still latched into the stub that's left of your prize veggie. What is your reaction?
5) Okay, last adolescence question. A kid you played with often when you were younger died yesterday, drowned in six inches of water. No one's sure how. He was a bit of a pain in the rear, but not a bad guy. What is your reaction?
6) Moving on... Let's say something happened to prevent you from advancing in your chosen career - say, a Geas spell from a ******-off mage that can't be removed. What do you shift your focus to, and why?
7) Have you ever considered what you want to do after you retire from adventuring? If so, what do you see yourself doing?
8) If you were to ask your adventuring companions, what would they say your most annoying habit is? Not worst, just most annoying.
9) Congratulations - you've died! You weren't in the middle of an important quest or anything, you were just killed in a bar brawl. Do you want to be raised?
10) Treasure time! You have first pick of the loot this time. Which do you lay claim to - a ring that deflects incoming attacks, a hovering lantern that can produce light as bright as midday, a small knife that can be unfolded into almost any mundane tool, or a double share of the gold?
11) You have been captured by a demon lord that ascends to godhood as you watch helplessly. Using his newfound powers, he decides to lay claim to the title of "God of Genocide" by wiping out one mortal race - and he's making you choose. If you don't, he's promised to wipe out FIVE races, including your own! What do you do?
12) You are present at a trial as plaintiff. The defendant is a half-elf in his early teens who was told to kill you as part of initiation for the local thieves' guild. He's found guilty immediately - the evidence is overwhelming. His life is now yours, by local law. You can choose to send him to prison for life, kill him, take him as a slave, or even free him. What do you choose?
13) The party rogue and you have been stranded together several times, and the rest of the group has taken to joking that you're just trying to get some "alone time". You laugh it off, but that night the rogue admits that he/she does have feelings for you... and that repeatedly saving your life and vice versa has strengthened those feelings a bit. You really had no idea. How do you react? (Assume the rogue is of the gender you favor, if applicable
14) As part of a debt, the local nobility gives you the deed to a small keep to the west. When you arrive, you find that it's in excellent condition, as promised... except for the fact that something's blown up the entire eastern wall. The grounds are still in immaculate condition, and except for some water damage on the rooms without the wall, the interior of the keep is untouched. What do you do?
15) You and a blind man are stuck in a hobgoblin stockade with enough food for one of you. You're both very hungry - this is the first time in two days you've been fed. He suggests you flip a coin to see who gets it. You flip, he calls "tails", and the coin comes up heads. He asks what side came up. What do you do?
16) You have just saved an orcish kingdom from ruin at the hand of an insane mage. The chieftain gives you your reward... and then adds a traditional reward you didn't know about. You are now bethroed to his son/daughter (Again, assume the gender you favor). For an orc, she/he is exceptionally intelligent and good-looking. What is your reaction?
17) As above... but substitute an elven kingdom, and a son/daughter of the opposite gender as above.
18) As above... but substitute a very demented wizard and a very, VERY confused, intelligent, genderless golem.
19) Your deity (or a wizard of godly power levels, should you venerate no god) has found favor with you, and offers you one gift of your choice. What do you do?
20) You have found victory on the battlefield. As you look out on the slain, what is your immediate reaction?
The original thread can be located on the Wizards of the Coast board, here (Caution, it's located on the mature board, so unless you have an account with them, you won't be able to read it there).
(btw, Age isn't on the one I linked, but I think it's appropriate for the idea)
NAME:
AGE:
RACE:
GENDER:
PROFESSION:
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION:
1) We begin with some questions from your character's formative years. Describe the standard scene at dinnertime for you when you were a child.
2) You and a friend have been given a whole gold piece each - a veritable fortune for a kid - and set loose in the city. You have all day to do whatever you want, and your friend isn't especially imaginative. What do you do?
3) Moving to late adolescence: You are assisting the old master you've been apprenticed to. He asks you, for the third time this evening, to climb a rickety ladder to get him a book from fairly high up on his shelves. You are starting to get the distinct impression that he's just using it as a device to look up your robes. What do you do?
4) You decide to try your hand at gardening, with a small patch of tubers. One of them looks absolutely gigantic, breaching the soil. When the day comes to harvest it, you pull it up... and find a mole, teeth still latched into the stub that's left of your prize veggie. What is your reaction?
5) Okay, last adolescence question. A kid you played with often when you were younger died yesterday, drowned in six inches of water. No one's sure how. He was a bit of a pain in the rear, but not a bad guy. What is your reaction?
6) Moving on... Let's say something happened to prevent you from advancing in your chosen career - say, a Geas spell from a ******-off mage that can't be removed. What do you shift your focus to, and why?
7) Have you ever considered what you want to do after you retire from adventuring? If so, what do you see yourself doing?
8) If you were to ask your adventuring companions, what would they say your most annoying habit is? Not worst, just most annoying.
9) Congratulations - you've died! You weren't in the middle of an important quest or anything, you were just killed in a bar brawl. Do you want to be raised?
10) Treasure time! You have first pick of the loot this time. Which do you lay claim to - a ring that deflects incoming attacks, a hovering lantern that can produce light as bright as midday, a small knife that can be unfolded into almost any mundane tool, or a double share of the gold?
11) You have been captured by a demon lord that ascends to godhood as you watch helplessly. Using his newfound powers, he decides to lay claim to the title of "God of Genocide" by wiping out one mortal race - and he's making you choose. If you don't, he's promised to wipe out FIVE races, including your own! What do you do?
12) You are present at a trial as plaintiff. The defendant is a half-elf in his early teens who was told to kill you as part of initiation for the local thieves' guild. He's found guilty immediately - the evidence is overwhelming. His life is now yours, by local law. You can choose to send him to prison for life, kill him, take him as a slave, or even free him. What do you choose?
13) The party rogue and you have been stranded together several times, and the rest of the group has taken to joking that you're just trying to get some "alone time". You laugh it off, but that night the rogue admits that he/she does have feelings for you... and that repeatedly saving your life and vice versa has strengthened those feelings a bit. You really had no idea. How do you react? (Assume the rogue is of the gender you favor, if applicable
14) As part of a debt, the local nobility gives you the deed to a small keep to the west. When you arrive, you find that it's in excellent condition, as promised... except for the fact that something's blown up the entire eastern wall. The grounds are still in immaculate condition, and except for some water damage on the rooms without the wall, the interior of the keep is untouched. What do you do?
15) You and a blind man are stuck in a hobgoblin stockade with enough food for one of you. You're both very hungry - this is the first time in two days you've been fed. He suggests you flip a coin to see who gets it. You flip, he calls "tails", and the coin comes up heads. He asks what side came up. What do you do?
16) You have just saved an orcish kingdom from ruin at the hand of an insane mage. The chieftain gives you your reward... and then adds a traditional reward you didn't know about. You are now bethroed to his son/daughter (Again, assume the gender you favor). For an orc, she/he is exceptionally intelligent and good-looking. What is your reaction?
17) As above... but substitute an elven kingdom, and a son/daughter of the opposite gender as above.
18) As above... but substitute a very demented wizard and a very, VERY confused, intelligent, genderless golem.
19) Your deity (or a wizard of godly power levels, should you venerate no god) has found favor with you, and offers you one gift of your choice. What do you do?
20) You have found victory on the battlefield. As you look out on the slain, what is your immediate reaction?
