Character hooks

[MatthewJHanon]

I’m starting a new campaign when I get back to college, and one of the things I’m hoping to provide for my players is a list of character hooks that could add individuality to there characters, but that would require minimal effort. Below are a few that I’ve come up with:

Catch phrases: These are things that the character says often, and can include battle cries, mottos, or just things they say often. Examples: “If you have not made peace with your gods do so quickly.” “It is the duty of the strong to protect the weak.” “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Religious Fanatic: These characters follow the teachings of their faith strongly and are even more vocal about it than most. They may attribute everything good that happens to them to the grace or make every decisions based on religious texts.

Special Moves: This involves naming a particularly shtick that the character does, and refer to it by that name in game. Monks are the most obvious class to use this ability, such as by referring to stunning fist as “Thundering Iron Strike.” Other ways to use it include a wizard referring to a magic missile, as a “Zammo attack,” or a barbarian referring to rage as “clobbering time.”

Thoughts, additions?

 

[Xarlen]

Signature spell like. All the characters' spells have a paticular style, like all darkness themed, all looking like fire (Even other element spells), all made of screaming skulls, or whatever. Yes, I Know there's metamagic to do this, but this just seems appropriate for sorcerors. Like letting the plaper's Magic Missiles look like what he wants (mini-fireballs, eyeballs, so forth).

 

[William Ronald]

Here are some other hooks:

Pets, familiars, or animal companions: A character interacts a lot with a pet, a familiar, or animal companion. The character may be identified with his animal companion, and may be accused of acting like it at times.

A party name; A group may have a name that signifies something about theme. A party of lycanthrope hunters may be called the Silver Daggers, and all members may carry one.

Clothing: Possibly the party or a single character has a distinctive style of dress.

Rivalries: Some of the characters may have a friendly or not so friendly rivalry with others. This can range from bickering to outright animosity. This can change over time. (See Londo Molari and G'Kar on Babylon 5 for an example of this.)

I hope this helps.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Take a few moments and work with the player to build backgrond. Ask questions about the character!

Does the character have living family? They are? What do they do? If, no what happened?
Who was their best friend growing up? Are they still around?
What does the character like to eat/drink?
Favorite color?
What do they feel about love (in game)?
Does the character hate anything?
Does the character fear anything?
Does the character have any habits?

Modify your questions on their answers, get details. The more details you get the easier it is to attach hooks.