D&D 5E (2014) Anybody ever want to change characters a lot? How do you prevent that?

[TerraDave]

You should DM

 

[Warpiglet]

Link to said thread? I’m interested!

Thank you! And I agree about post 2e.

Read at your own risk. Its long and maybe too much shoegazing for fun! But it speaks to my challenge.

I have had a lot of fun with a warlock prior to this one---took acolyte background. He acts like the D&D version of a puritan. He preaches about the evil of the world (I try to use some thees and thous appropriately) meanwhile he has been deceived! He thinks he is the follower of an angel, but is actually visited by a FALLEN angel and has the fiend pact. He is not evil per se, but mistaken and deluded.

In this thread, I am starting a new characters. Similar in some ways but theme is going to be important...

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...nder-optimized-in-between-Aka-is-this-typical

 

[iserith]

This might help me, but it isn’t always the builds that get to me. I really can’t place a finger on it, just that I get kinda bored.

I think @Warmaster Horus' idea is good: Have a plan for character advancement. This gives you a goal toward which to orient yourself along with built-in steps you have to take to get there. That's good in both D&D and in life.

The question then remains whether your rate of advancement is sufficient that you don't stagnate. Could that be it? That's both on the DM (in how he or she sets up the means of advancement) and on you (in how you pursue the things that allow you to advance).

 

[abirdcall]

This might help me, but it isn’t always the builds that get to me. I really can’t place a finger on it, just that I get kinda bored.

Is it possible that the problem is not the character you are playing but the player count in the game?

6 players means little spotlight time for each character. Maybe the group should be split into 2.

 

[WarpedAcorn]

Hey all, I have a problem. I usually start a game, have fun for a session or two, and then want to switch characters.

Out of curiosity, do you want to switch characters because of mechanically how they play or because of how the character itself has evolved? Basically, do you want to switch from a Bard to a Paladin or from a free-spirited smart-assed loudmouth to a by-the-book law-abiding do-gooder? Or is it a combination of both?


I had a situation somewhat recently. I alternate DMing with someone else at the table, so I only have 1 character. I definitely also get the Alt-itis when it comes to characters and want to reroll. I'm playing a Fighter/Cleric and after reading about these cool builds with Sorcadins and Sorlocks I really wanted to try them out. So I bugged the DM until he finally agreed...but then I did not want to get rid of my Fighter/Cleric. Ultimately I stuck with him and haven't really had the bug to "reroll" in that campaign. Some has to do with the realization that I already have a pretty good Gish, and some has to do with me really liking the "character" I came up with and how he has evolved over the sessions.

Another thing that helped is super dorky. Basically I rolled up all the Alts I wanted and made them under similar rules (all same Stat points rearranged as needed, same level, same wealth of gear). Then I got out my battle mat and I had a tournament at my kitchen table. Yes, I spent hours simulating combat with these characters. Best 3 out of 5 rounds would advance. That little experiment, though super dorky, tore away a lot of the mystery and wonder of these specialized builds and I was able to see their limitations. I was also able to "materialize" these characters instead of "fantasizing" about them, which I think helps. So something similar might help in your case too.

 

[jgsugden]

D&D is a role playing game. Characters play a role in a story. Most problems arise from not focusing on the story.

Talk to the DM about giving you a storyline to pull your character deeper into the game. This feeling usually means you're not connecting to the story - get a connection. That will help a lot.

 

[Stalker0]

You could also go 180 on this. Instead of fighting it, embrace it in the story.

for example, maybe you are playing several characters mystically tied together. Only one is there at a time, and at random times (aka determined by the DM) another character pops in.

This gives you the ability to play multiple characters, but letting the switches be under DM control gives them the ability to work it into their story more easily.

 

[Sunseeker]

I've found it take at least 3 characters for me to get the "right" character for a game.

The first character is often creative and interesting, but ineffectual.
The second character is often highly effectual, but boring.
The third character is typically creative and effective.

Sometimes it takes more characters, but yes I understand the feeling of often wanting to switch out. It's usually a result of a poorly created character...somewhere, either its not creative, it's not effective, it's not interesting or it is those things but in practice doesn't hold up to the concept on paper. Or maybe it just isn't striking your fancy today.

I usually find my worst characters result from trying to fill a niche and thus, having something useful but totally uninteresting, or having total freedom to go crazy.

One solution I've found is journaling. After the session, do a little write up on how your character feels about what happened, and how they intend to go forward. It can be great for developing the character further and also for coming prepared knowing what you what to do next session. When your character feels like they have a goal that is important to them, even in the short term of "next session" it can really help with investment and sticking to a character, since you now want to see if that character will achieve their goals!

 

[BookBarbarian]

I am admittedly a terrible role-player. If my character is too unlike myself in personality I'll get bored in the long term.

So I tend to stick with Personality traits, bonds, flaws and ideals that fit my own personality. It keeps me more interested.

Of course YMMV.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Hey all, I have a problem. I usually start a game, have fun for a session or two, and then want to switch characters.

How can I get myself to want to stick with a character?

What are those game sessions like? Is there a lot of combat?

If you're playing in a game with a lot of combat, such that the main difference between characters is in their round-to-round action declaration, then you may become bored with a character once the novelty wears off. This is easier to address from the DM side, with rules that penalize new characters, or by controlling the available character options such that there's less mechanical variation between characters. (Advancement through wealth and magic items, rather than character options, can help here.) As a player, you may consider playing a jack-of-all-trades type of character; if you can change your options by using a different weapon or memorizing different spells, then there's less incentive to make a new character.

If you're playing in a game with complex relationship drama, such that the main difference between characters is in their personal priorities and how they deal with people, then you may benefit from playing a character that is more similar to your natural way of thinking. Role-playing takes effort, and the further the target mind is from your baseline, the more effort it requires to maintain that persona. As fun as it may be to play a character with unique quirks, you're likely to burn out on it within a few sessions.