Creating PC's with Personality

[SLOTHmaster]

I'm not sure if I have the right book in mind, but see if you can find a copy of the Hero Builder's Guidebook.

Edit: indeed it is what I was thinking of. The section I had in mind starts on page 38.

 

[UselessTriviaMan]

I'm about to kick off a new campaign. I informed my hack 'n slash players that anyone who gives me a backstory that includes - at a minimum - a list of five people who are important to their PC (and why), I'll give them a bonus. Friends, family, mentors, rivals, or enemies are fair game.

Several have already stepped up to the challenge with excellent hooks for me to use.


Oh, and I think the bonus'll be a free +1 to one of their stats.

 

[SLOTHmaster]

I actually did something similar last campaign they started; I told them they'd start with bonus xp based on how good their back stories were. Two of my players practically wrote novels on their characters.

 

[UselessTriviaMan]

Excellent! One of my players (the one who is infamous for really just playing himself, regardless of PC class, race or alignment) has really upped the stakes though. I allow them to play anything from the PF Core Rulebook; the only limitation I've always had was that nobody plays an evil-aligned PC.

He asked if I was going to put that limitation on them again. We both already knew there was going to be a paladin in the party, so I told him that if and only if between them they could come up with a genuinely believable backstory reason why those two PCs would willingly adventure together, I'd allow it.

They say they've got it figured out. I can't wait to see how this plays out - I think it's gonna be role-playing gold.

 

[SLOTHmaster]

I'd never thought of doing that. Usually I flat out ban invompatible builds when I want good role-playing, I'll have to try that sometime.

LordGraz'zt, do your players want to RP or are you the one spearheading the push for more of it at your table? If they want to do it then you'll probabl want to find things to spark their imagination and make them less shy. If you're the one pushing for it, that's a whole other ballpark.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Excellent! One of my players (the one who is infamous for really just playing himself, regardless of PC class, race or alignment) has really upped the stakes though. I allow them to play anything from the PF Core Rulebook; the only limitation I've always had was that nobody plays an evil-aligned PC.

He asked if I was going to put that limitation on them again. We both already knew there was going to be a paladin in the party, so I told him that if and only if between them they could come up with a genuinely believable backstory reason why those two PCs would willingly adventure together, I'd allow it.

They say they've got it figured out. I can't wait to see how this plays out - I think it's gonna be role-playing gold.

I'm betting on close relatives- siblings or first cousins. Bonus points if they're a divorced couple.

 

[Cor Azer]

I'm betting on close relatives- siblings or first cousins. Bonus points if they're a divorced couple.

Twins.

There's a reason it's classic.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

"Siblings" covers twins, and even half-siblings like Heironeous and Hextor, or...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRdcL2qKt6k&feature=youtube_gdata_player]Twins (1988): Trailer HQ - YouTube[/ame]

 

[hemera]

Back stories can be helpful but what is better is personality traits. A small questionnaire asking them what your character do in this situation some examples death of a friend, being falsely accused of a crime, being presented with what looks like a no win scenario.

I use alignments and I ask the player what their alignment means to them. For example if you are lawful good why and what is more important law or good.

This is exactly what I do at the beginning of a campaign, or whenever a new pc is introduced. It helps them get into the head of their character a bit more. I use them as well to help flesh out more important npc's to give myself a bit more of an idea of how they might react when the pc's inevitably do something wacko.

 

[Living Legend]

If I were you I would play the game Fiasco once with your PC's as the characters and I can pretty much garauntee you will get all the personality you need. If no one in your group is into roleplaying it might be a little flat, but it should still get everyone thinking in the right direction. I play this every year at GenCon, and its the roleplaying equivalent of oral : totally makes my day every time.