How do you deal with "RPlayer's block?

[Gnome Berzerker]

Kind of like "writer's block," but for people who role-play.

I'm with a fairly new group, and I've gone through two characters already. I don't know what to do to "get into" my character better. I'm considering bringing in a different character, but I'm not really sure this will make any difference.

TIA

 

[Thanee]

How do you do characters? I suppose you roll attributes (or point buy them) decide upon a race and class, stat them and then think up a background?

Do it the other way around!

Start with the background, this way you think more about your character while building him up. Your choices become reflections of your thoughts instead of your thoughts trying to find a decent explanation for your choices.

Of course, this is totally based on my above assumption, which might very well be wrong!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Mercule]

Try this:

Roll 4d6, drop lowest, but keep the stats in order. Then base a personality upon the stats. Then choose class.

If you use a point buy, roll 1d6 for which stat to put each point into. Or 1d6 for each stat, then 1d6 for how many points. Repeat as needed. Then do the above (after the dice part, of course).

If you use the standard array (or some such), put a chit with each number in a hat and draw, in order.

If you're feeling really daring, roll for race, class, and alignment (and anything else you can think of), too. Discard impossible results, like a Wizard with an Int of 5 who, thus, can't cast spells -- but start from whole cloth if you have to do this. Also, keep sub-optimal results, like the Half-Orc Wizard with a 12 Int and 16 Strength.

If you want, I've still got the old Unearthed Arcana around and can roll for your social class and birth order.

After that, let the character develop normally. That half-orc wizard might multiclass into a Fighter, or not. Just give it a couple of levels and see what happens.

I've actually thought about doing this a couple of times, but there has always been a hole in the group's make-up, so I've let that determine my last couple of characters.

 

[Desdichado]

Is there something wrong with the way you're RPing now? Are you playing a gnome barbarian?

 

[Halivar]

I see this a lot when people play characters that are too much unlike themselves. They sort of get cynical about it because they, as players, don't really care about their character's agenda. Thus, they really don't care about their characters.

Take a break from playing strange or interesting race/class/align combos and try something that reflects your RL values. That way you can, as a player, have more of an investment in your character's aims. Try an iconic human paladin or a drow cleric of Elistraee; somebody who has relatively simple and straightforward motives for adventuring and doing good things. Make a simple character that you can slip into easily.

Eventually you'll get your RP legs back, multiclass into something funky and introduce latent feelings of angst and introspection to your character.

FUN!!!

 

[heimdall]

If I see a player going through this, I usually try and talk with that player one-on-one. In a lot of cases there's something I can do as a DM to make that character more enjoyable to play. Usually talking together helps the player come up with goals, a plan for advancement, etc. This happened with one character for a player who was new to D&D (but not new to role-playing). All in all, I think the character is now an integral part of the campaign with a definite role.

As a player I'll sit down and look at how the character sits with the other players. I had this problem a few months ago with the bard I was playing. When I looked at the relationships the bard should have been building, I came up with some inspiration that helped me keep playing him. Then an opportunity broke in the campaign that I could bite my teeth into. I caused some consternation for the DM, but the rest of the players had a good laugh as the phrase "Business Opportunity" took on new meaning. Never give a bard mushrooms that are a) plentiful, b) fetch a really good price at market, c) have a ready source of farmers who happen to be dumb, and d) a seller already established in the market looking for a supplier. It may mean your dungeon crawl gets thrown for a huge loop!

 

[AeroDm]

A really important question is what you other two characters were like and how long you played them. Often times people develop character ideas that they really love, and then have them cut short because of death, end of campaign, having to leave a game, whatever. It is possible that the reason you cannot come up with a new character is that you are hung up on an old one. Not that it is a good idea to play the same thing again and again, but maybe you need to spend some more time on an old character idea before you will be satisfied with moving on.

If that is the case, try playing something similar to your old characters with a new spin. Make the unique enough to be seperate, but similar enough to fulfill the character.

 

[Delemental]

The problem may not be you, it may be everyone else.

I know I've made characters in the past who I thought would be fun and interesting to play, but when introduced to the group they just didn't work because the makeup of the existing party just wouldn't support the type of roleplaying I wanted to do with that character. I just recently made a wizardess who was rather timid and withdrawn; I was going to have fun developing her over time into a strong personality, but in the first session she was so bowled over by the other party members she wouldn't have had a chance. Thus when she fell victim to a blade barrier, I chose not to have her raised, and instead introduced a new character who was much more assertive. You've heard the expression 'no plan survives contact with the enemy?' This is more like 'no character concept survives contact with the other PC's'.

The other players aren't necessarily bad role-players, they may just be playing a group of adventurers that you aren't meshing with well. The trick is to see if you can come up with a new concept that would fit better, or modify your current character. If the overall style of this group is a different direction that what you prefer or enjoy, then there could be serious problems.

This same problem can result if the campaign itself does not lend itself to the type of roleplaying you want to do. In this case the best tactic is to discuss with your DM their goals and your goals, and see if they can be integrated.

Since you compare this experience to writer's block, it may be best to treat it the same way. The worst thing is to try to force your way through it.

 

[Darklone]

If you're just tired of playing your last few builds, try something traditional. Dwarven fighter. Elven ranger. Halfling rogue. Halforc barbarian. Gnome.... forget the gnome.

 

[diaglo]

how well do you work with teams?

how often do you let others shine?

how much do you care if the group succeeds even if your character is hurt?


you need to ask yourself why you are playing and build a character for the campaign. if the goals in the campaign are different from the ones you are seeking it is no wonder you are stumbling.