Confessions of a Lame Player

[Pants]

I'm the same way... somewhat.

But really... is it such a bad thing?

 

[Mallus]

As others have said, have fun. It seems like you've found out what kind of personality you like to play, so more power to you. As long the people playing with you also get some enjoyment out of your antics, there's no problem. D&D isn't like an acting career; no need to worry about typecasting yourself...

By the way, my current Greyhawk character is a really more of a standup comedian than anything else [though it says monk/cleric on my/his sheet]. He's Grenache Shiraz --travelling holy man and liquor salesman-- and he speaks in a voice that has elements of gangster, old chainsmoking Jewish woman, Harvery Firestein and when he's trying to use deductive reasoning, Columbo.

He frequently takes St. Cuthbert's name in vain; as in "St. Cuthbert on a crutch! That's some fine booze..." or "Cuthbert H. Cudgel! What were thinking, kidnapping a guild thief?"

Needless to say, he's a blast to play.

 

[The_Gneech]

Seems like the "tall dark silent type" doesn't let you do enough verbal role-playing. What would happen if you played a character who wasn't so taciturn, but wasn't a wise guy either? Like, say, a paladin?

For this particular game, I was actually planning to play a paladin, but another player scooped me on it. It's a good thought, tho ... maybe I should try a monk. (Of course, knowing me, I'd end up with a drunken master type...)

As others have said, have fun. It seems like you've found out what kind of personality you like to play, so more power to you. As long the people playing with you also get some enjoyment out of your antics, there's no problem. D&D isn't like an acting career; no need to worry about typecasting yourself...

Well that's the thing, I don't want to just play the same character over and over again. No matter what different sorts of characters I try to create, I end up playing that same wisecracking bard I started with, just with a different class/race/set of stats.

-The Gneech

 

[Mallus]

Well that's the thing, I don't want to just play the same character over and over again.

You could try a tried and true technique from fiction writing: give your next character a limp. That is; start with a single defining trait, or at least a small number of them, and approach everything in the game from that angle. Work at being one-dimensional. Then gradually expand on that, rounding out the role as you go.

The trick is to quickly establish a fictional persona; to yourself as well as the wider audience.

 

[Matafuego]

That happens to me whenever I get a smaaaall chance of playing. I think it is because I have so much time behind the screen and so little time "on the other side" that when I get the chance I act like I would act myself and forget about the character. =\

 

[I'm A Banana]

It's probably useful to go with acting tricks.

Try over-analyzing your character. Develop their history in intimate detail, ponder why they are an adventuring this day, this time, at this point in their life. Who was their family? What was their dog's name? What lead you to throw your life away in dungeon after dungeon for a living?

 

[Henry]

Try over-analyzing your character. Develop their history in intimate detail, ponder why they are an adventuring this day, this time, at this point in their life. Who was their family? What was their dog's name? What lead you to throw your life away in dungeon after dungeon for a living?

Another suggestion:

Make a "cheat sheet" with what in general would be the character's response to an in-game event. Not every word and deed, mind you, but his overall approach to a situation.

What would he do if surprised in a fight?
What if he were betrayed by a friend?
What if a townsfolk snubbed him?
What if he were welcomed warmly by a platonic male? (fatherly type, brother?)
What if he were welcomed warmly by a platonic female? (the old town grandma?)
What if he were fighting a bar fight, and the only weapon in reach were a pie tin full of whipped creme? (fight it, c'mon Gneech, FIGHT IT! Don't DO it!)

By knowing the general idea of how he would react before you do your reacting for him, you can kind of "get into his mind."

 

[takyris]

Maybe your backstory could be that as a promising young pig farmer, he was bitten by a radioactive adventurer and gained the disregard for life and proportional strength of a dungeon delver.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Currently I play an Psionic Elven Ass. I try to play him assured of his race's superiority, and confident on top of that.

Elven Ass? Polymorph accident or Reincarnate gone wrong? And what race's superiority do you speak of? Although I did notice that many donkeys look down on mules.

Or did you mean something else (something that you wouldn't say to Eric's own dear grandmother? )


Hm... I'm often like that with my characters, too. Can't help it. Similar problem as with the Gneech. My current Sorcerer (CN Star Elf, high Cha) is supposed to be like that - and the rest of the party does a great job as well. We have only played for a handful of sessions, but are already infamous for ridiculing the big adversaries

I'll be playing a LE Monk/Psion soon - with 8 Cha. He's supposed to be evil-tempered and surly. I wonder if I can actually play that one properly.

 

[random user]

Before I go any further I want to reinterate what others have said that if everyone is having fun, then there is no problem.

If you want to try and broaden the characters, here's something that may or may not help... Instead of trying to invent a character from scratch and think of everything he would do, try picking someone you know, either in person or an on screen personality (though probably not one who is super famous), and try playing that person.

Maybe you had a teacher in high school that was cool, mean, aloof etc. Or maybe one of your co-workers is always doing crazy stuff you would never do.

Or perhaps envision yourself as umm whoever that annoying brother of either the main character or the main character's wife/girlfriend (whatever, it's been a while, hopefully you remember who I'm talking about) in The Mummy / The Mummy Returns.

Or envision yourself as Teal'c (sic I'm sure) from Stargate-1 (asuming this is a D&D campaign).

I would advise againt portraying yourself as Indiana Jones or Luke Skywalker (whhhhyyyyyy... omg that would get annoying too) or someone that everyone knows immediately, as that stereotypes you in others' minds as well. Famous people outside your social circle is probably fine (like if someone acted like Martha Stewert in my campaign I doubt anyone would place it).

Using someone else as a template for your character allows some people to more easily envision what they would do and keep focus. For others it may just serve as a distraction, so your results may vary.

At least that's my 2cp.