For a few years while I was playing DND, I came to the startling realization that despite the many names, faces, and histories of my characters, they were all basically me. They were cautious because I was cautious. They had goals that I favored and, in some respects, reflected goals that I would have if I were a hero. In effect, all of their personalities were rough offshoots or templates placed upon a core attitude that was basically me.
Then I looked around and I began to notice that the majority of my friends were the same. It takes shape in many different ways-- some play the same classes over and over because they're interesting, some characters are almost always antagonistic and attempt to establish some kind of dominance in any social situation regardless of the character's charisma (ie all have the same social demeanor), while a few all have nearly identical motivations (such as "Character's Name" the "Character's Class" who has his own mission, but always wants to be Rich, Long Lived, and destroy whatever the biggest obstacle appears to be in the campaign setting). Many will, regardless of their character's typical stance, be more than happy to potentially ruin a campaign's dramatic and dangerous climax by running away in order to preserve the precious pencil scratchings on their character sheet.
This original introspection (and its subsequent effect on my view of my mates) has sort of gotten to me over the last six months or so. On a positive note, I've begun to play new characters that act in different ways... I no longer demand to try and get the last word in like seems usual in my group (because hey, not doing so is "losing"), I no longer seek to be as absolutely infallable as I once did (Sometimes I know I'm doing something is wrong, choosing a faulty path, or standing on a shaky argument, but that miniature isn't me.. I'm not walking down that corridor, it's not actually me arguing). Unfortunately, its hit me in a negative way as well, as I'm sorta feeling that I'm playing with the same characters and have been since I began roleplaying. I know that eventually, acting in roughly the same way, wanting the same goals, and constantly having the same beliefs and attitudes (wrapped up in a perhap unsteady veneer of campaign flavor that tends to be ditched at the first sign of inner conflict) will probably be a source of burnout in a year or two in the group.
The question are first, has anyone else experienced thoughts like this and care to share?
And second, exactly how do you address this without it seeming like you're either punching a player in the face verbally (hey, I think your sucky roleplaying's going to make you hate the game and it's your fault!) or more importantly, is this even an issue to be addressed (perhaps instead a "so long fellas" thing) ? How? Is this just something to be dropped and accepted, even if the reprocussions are possibly as bad as letting it slide forever?
okay.. that last one was kind of three questions, but still- halp ^_^
Then I looked around and I began to notice that the majority of my friends were the same. It takes shape in many different ways-- some play the same classes over and over because they're interesting, some characters are almost always antagonistic and attempt to establish some kind of dominance in any social situation regardless of the character's charisma (ie all have the same social demeanor), while a few all have nearly identical motivations (such as "Character's Name" the "Character's Class" who has his own mission, but always wants to be Rich, Long Lived, and destroy whatever the biggest obstacle appears to be in the campaign setting). Many will, regardless of their character's typical stance, be more than happy to potentially ruin a campaign's dramatic and dangerous climax by running away in order to preserve the precious pencil scratchings on their character sheet.
This original introspection (and its subsequent effect on my view of my mates) has sort of gotten to me over the last six months or so. On a positive note, I've begun to play new characters that act in different ways... I no longer demand to try and get the last word in like seems usual in my group (because hey, not doing so is "losing"), I no longer seek to be as absolutely infallable as I once did (Sometimes I know I'm doing something is wrong, choosing a faulty path, or standing on a shaky argument, but that miniature isn't me.. I'm not walking down that corridor, it's not actually me arguing). Unfortunately, its hit me in a negative way as well, as I'm sorta feeling that I'm playing with the same characters and have been since I began roleplaying. I know that eventually, acting in roughly the same way, wanting the same goals, and constantly having the same beliefs and attitudes (wrapped up in a perhap unsteady veneer of campaign flavor that tends to be ditched at the first sign of inner conflict) will probably be a source of burnout in a year or two in the group.
The question are first, has anyone else experienced thoughts like this and care to share?
And second, exactly how do you address this without it seeming like you're either punching a player in the face verbally (hey, I think your sucky roleplaying's going to make you hate the game and it's your fault!) or more importantly, is this even an issue to be addressed (perhaps instead a "so long fellas" thing) ? How? Is this just something to be dropped and accepted, even if the reprocussions are possibly as bad as letting it slide forever?
okay.. that last one was kind of three questions, but still- halp ^_^
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