Getting Attaached to Your Character

[Diamond Cross]

How long does it take for you to get attached to your character? By this, I mean, being fond of a character you created and don't want to see him die as well as wanted to stick with him for a long time, like seeing him all the way to level twenty or in a game like the World Of Darkness, gain a hundred and fifty experience points or so.

For me, I generally don't really become fond of a character until after I've gained a level or two. I might like a concept during character creation, but I generally don't really become attached to my characters until I've run them and seen them improve.

So, what is it that makes you become attached and fond of your character?

 

[Kzach]

How long does it take for you to get attached to your character?

I've never been attached to any of my characters but as a DM I've attached many PC's to players. Usually takes a good half an hour depending on blood-loss and player resistance.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It depends on the PC. Some I never bond with, some I get attached to during PC creation. Usually, though, it takes a little playing...I'd guess a few levels worth.

However, since I'm always creating PCs, I always have one waiting to be played. Sometimes, this means that I'd rather be playing the other one than the one I'm playing. That happened in one of our more recent 3.5 campaigns. I liked my original PC, but then came up with something I felt was über-nifty. Because it was a divine caster, though, I thought I'd never get to play him. But then both of the guys playing divine casters left the group- one left the country- so I retired my first PC and stepped up with the second guy. Instant hit.

 

[Elf Witch]

I tend to get attached pretty quickly. Since I like to delve into the background of my characters it can happen before we start playing. Sometimes that attachment doesn't last.

Other times it takes a little awhile of playing for me to really care about a character.

 

[Wycen]

The longer the character's story gets told, the more likely I'll get attached. 1st level characters don't matter so much.

But sometimes events in the game make a character stand out. I played a CoC game at KublaCon and even though it was a one shot, I'd play that character again if I was invited again because of the fun we had with circus animals.

And other times, like my Apoc World Angel character I liked immediately, but an NPC died that I was interacting with heavily and after that I was kinda, "huh, what do I do now? Don't really care so much, I better find a reason to like my character".

So, mostly the time and experience (not XP) with a character will determine if I get attached but sometimes things are different.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Blackleaf! Noooooooo!!!!

 

[jonesy]

Something special has to happen. A funny conversation, surprising combat results, roleplaying gone right (or wrong, oh so wrong), interesting plot developments.

 

[Hussar]

It really depends. I've made characters that I thought were going to be excellent that totally bombed. I've made 12 minute characters that I immediately fell in love with.

I think Jonesy has the right of it. Circumstances surrounding the character make them stick more than anything else.

 

[Gentlegamer]

Once upon a time, I rolled up a new 3e character. The DM asked 'do you want me to give you a backstory?' I replied, 'naw, if he survives to 5th level, then we'll come up with something.'

Generally speaking, the 'plays the thing' with me, so adventures I get in determines how 'attached' to a character I become. A brand new PC (in D&D) is pretty much a peon . . . I'm not likely to be too attached.

 

[The Shaman]

Generally speaking, the 'plays the thing' with me, so adventures I get in determines how 'attached' to a character I become.

This.