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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hawkeyefan" data-source="post: 6901151" data-attributes="member: 6785785">What kind of character is he playing? Class, race, background, alignment, etc?I've always found that the best way to get a new player into the RPG mindset is to start simple. Don't ask for a detailed background ahead of time, let him play a simpler character such as a fighter or barbarian. Go with Neutral as an alignment so that he's not really expected to act in a specific way. At certain points in the game, maybe ask for a detail about his past or his homeland or family. Let him decide on the spot.Depending on the player and how familiar he is with tropes, let him play a dwarf or elf...sure, it's basically going to be Gimli or Legolas, but that's just fine. Having an archetype like that to lean on for roleplaying is something we've all done. Let him get the basics and feel comfortable. His involvement in the more roleplaying elements of the game can be less then the other players, that's fine. Whatever amount it is should be what he is comfortable with. The best way to engage him more is to start small and simple. Simple characters are not bad characters. And characters with elaborate backstories and tons of story elements tacked on are not necessarily good ones.</blockquote>