Can't get "into" characters...

[Asmor]

For a long time, I've had a problem with switching characters. On the few occasions in which I've gotten a chance to play for an extended period, it hasn't taken long for me to get a bad reputation for always wanting to play a different character. The longest I've ever played a single character was a 3e dragonborn I played from 10th to 17th level. But even then, halfway through I got really bored with the character as a fighter and multiclassed into paladin-- not a major change to the character, but definitely a noticeable change.

It's not that I want to play different characters. Not specifically, at least. Rather, I just get bored with the same character after a while and want to go try some other new shiny. I have character ADD, I guess.

I've recently come to realize that this isn't really a problem, per se. In particular, I don't care about it except for the fact that it annoys others and I also don't get to play (as opposed to DMing) very often so it doesn't come up very often.

So really, the only problem is that this proclivity is annoying to those I play with. I think that's for two reasons.

1. There are certain expectations that a player's goal should be to have their PC last as long as possible, and so the DM and other players plan with that in mind.

2. There's really little, if any, precedent for someone bucking that trend.

So I think what I may try doing is making an arrangement with my DM where I might play whatever character he would need in any particular game-- sort of a PC-NPC. He tells me he needs a guide to lead the players through the mountains for a couple games, so I roll up a dwarven ranger. After they finish up that, he needs a priestess for whatever reason and I roll up a cleric.

This way, it's all right up front and everyone's expectations are set correctly.

The only sticking point is how the DM might take it. Would it be seen as a welcome way to integrate a plot-important NPC into the party, or as a burden where he's got to keep coming up with ways for me to introduce a PC?

Does anyone else have the same problem with me? Anyone ever try anything similar to this?

 

[fba827]

My name is fba827, and I too have character ADD.

No matter how much i like my current PC, after about 2-3 levels of the same PC, I start thinking about tinkering with other ideas/concepts/etc. (hmm... i hope that's not saying something about me and long term relationships )

In my previous game groups, this was not much of a problem because I was almost always a DM and only got to play one-shots here and there. In my current game group, I am more often a player so I am just trying really really really hard to stick with a single PC and control my character add.


As for your suggested idea, it sounds feasible. As you said though, the only "hurdle" is the DM liking the idea enough to be able to come up with feasible concepts for you. You'd also have to be careful that it didn't annoy the other players ("why does asmor get to switch all the time? how come i can't do that too?") - so you may want some obvious deficit (such as always a level lower than everyone, or something like that). So rather than calling yourself a "Player", it might be best to have yourself playing under the title of "assistant to the DM" for the purpose of running some of the NPCs.

Another option would be something like the same character/body but with multiple personalities or several reincarnated spirits. Though this means keeping the same race/physical description/equipment/stats , just swapping in different classes and personalities.. though that may not always work wonderfully depending on the stats you start with.


I have never had the opportunity to try either of these ideas. So everything is all just theoretical.

 

[Particle_Man]

Sounds like you might like the Chameleon prestige class in Races of Destiny.

Previews: See What's "In the Works" for December and Beyond

 

[tmatk]

I recommend you propose this as an option for everyone in your group, each player gets a turn at switching to a new class if they want to.

You won't get to play new PCs as often as you would like, but it would be fair to the rest of the players.

 

[steenan]

If you are willing to play whoever is needed in the plot at given time (as opposed to creating characters based on your own ideas), then being a GM helper seems a perfect idea. I have done such thing a few times, with me being the GM and my friend playing various "PC-NPCs". He had much fun, being able to switch between various characters and personalities, and it also made my work considerably easier.

 

[ExploderWizard]

There is a way to put an end to the character burnout blues but it would require cooperation from all the other players and the DM.

Try playing an old school style campaign where each player has several active characters at the same time. The DM could have several connected story threads running at the same time. Just keep an account of where each character is in game world time. If the original party needs to make a long journey, then perhaps the other adventurers can go do things while the travel takes place.

The alternate groups of characters could be higher or lower level so that players could experience different classes at varying levels of play all during the same campaign. If everyone has several different characters then the campaign can rotate between them so everyone can have a chance experience variety without having to retire the old character.

We are planning to implement something like this in our campaign. It provides a great way to do stuff like letting the party get captured and be the heroes coming to the rescue.

 

[Orryn Emrys]

It's not that I want to play different characters. Not specifically, at least. Rather, I just get bored with the same character after a while and want to go try some other new shiny. I have character ADD, I guess.

<snip>

So I think what I may try doing is making an arrangement with my DM where I might play whatever character he would need in any particular game-- sort of a PC-NPC. He tells me he needs a guide to lead the players through the mountains for a couple games, so I roll up a dwarven ranger. After they finish up that, he needs a priestess for whatever reason and I roll up a cleric.

I've had players with this kinda "character ADD" before... one in particular leaps to mind, and he has actual ADD, so I guess that makes sense.

I think this is a very cool idea, and I'm the kind of DM who would be happy to implement this kind of scheme under most circumstances. It could certainly be fun.

That being said, I agree that character longevity is an expectation built into the game, as reflected by a system that rewards characters for their experience. I am not overly fond of frequent higher-level entrants into a game, as I prefer to see a PC earn their stripes, and I prefer to see a player have to work for the reward of experiencing a high-level character's cool powers. Exceptions abound, of course, and sometimes the situation demands it... but that's my general feeling on the matter.

Then there's the fact that my games are very story-oriented and extremely character-driven. The idea you propose actually works quite well in a story-driven game, where it allows the DM to implement yet another tool to influence the flow of events. But in a character-driven game, where the relationships between PCs (and NPCs) becomes a vital aspect of play, musical characters can be jarring. As our PCs grow and develop together, they form a complex rapport that immerses the players more and more in their characters and the game. It's bad enough when someone dies, but at least a deep in-game reason for losing a character doesn't damage suspension of disbelief. PCs whose players are clearly expecting a replacement seem more capable of adjusting to the idea....

Still... I think it's a cool idea.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

So I think what I may try doing is making an arrangement with my DM where I might play whatever character he would need in any particular game-- sort of a PC-NPC. He tells me he needs a guide to lead the players through the mountains for a couple games, so I roll up a dwarven ranger. After they finish up that, he needs a priestess for whatever reason and I roll up a cleric.

This way, it's all right up front and everyone's expectations are set correctly.

The only sticking point is how the DM might take it. Would it be seen as a welcome way to integrate a plot-important NPC into the party, or as a burden where he's got to keep coming up with ways for me to introduce a PC?

I think if a player came to me with this idea, and faithfully promised to follow the suggestions I made to them about what their character is doing and why they're there - I'd be totally fine with it.

It sounds like a fantastic idea for helping the rest of the group keep doing what they're doing, but also helping you out as a player towards your own fun.

 

[Asmor]

Thanks for the responses...

A couple people have mentioned ways of keeping it fair for all the other players...

And I'm wondering if that's really necessary? I can only think of one person I've played with off the top of my head who ever expressed interest in playing a different character while his current character was still alive and relevant.

So my impression is that I'm fairly unusual in this regard (well, me, fba and Steenan's friend, I guess ) and that most people would actively want not to change characters frequently.

 

[Storminator]

I think the idea of leaving NPCs that your group has adventured with all over the game world is great. Then when you return the dwarven mountains you know a ranger there, you've met one of the priestesses of the temple, etc. I think it makes those places a little more real.

I like it a lot more than 'suiciding' your PC every few levels, which I've seen happen when a player gets bored.

PS