Interesting Dilemma

[Morpheus]

An interesting dilemma has cropped up in our Dawnforge campaign. After 5 adventures together, the PCs have found out that they have no common purpose. The recent death of PC-turned-NPC was the only reason that they had stayed together and now that the he is dead, they are finding it difficult to come up with reasons why they should stay together. It's an interesting dilemma because it means the PCs are really involved with their characters and development.
I have come up with a few ideas with the help of the players. They are:
1) I provide a railroad that keeps them together;
2) We start a 'character tree' and have different stories all over the
Dawnforge world; and
3) A couple of the PCs expressed some interest in changing characters to
better fit the group.

Of the three, I like the 'character tree' idea the most. Does anyone have any experience with them? If yes, can you give some advice how to best use them in play and still have a sense of continuity (to some degree)? Thanks in advance...

 

[Crothian]

I'm not a fan of character trees. IT seems to hinder the developement of characters and when the player divides his time between them. Personally, I'm having the PCs work together to find common purposes.

 

[thundershot]

I've had a character tree (more like a character SHRUB) for many many years... Sometimes players get tired of the same character over and over, but still enjoy the character overall. Hence we have several different groups running around the same world (actually, right now, the same lands!). It's fun having completely different reactions to the same NPC depending on the party. Heck, the last session had the evil party go to the city where the retired wizard father of one of the other party's members lived, and they had to seek out a bard, and one of the PC's from the other group (who has been off camera for over a year) turned out to be the bard they found for info... I love continuity.


Chris

 

[Morpheus]

I've had a character tree (more like a character SHRUB) for many many years... Sometimes players get tired of the same character over and over, but still enjoy the character overall. Hence we have several different groups running around the same world (actually, right now, the same lands!). It's fun having completely different reactions to the same NPC depending on the party. Heck, the last session had the evil party go to the city where the retired wizard father of one of the other party's members lived, and they had to seek out a bard, and one of the PC's from the other group (who has been off camera for over a year) turned out to be the bard they found for info... I love continuity.


Chris

This is the way that I am leaning towards. How often do you switch characters? I was thinking maybe every level or two.

 

[thundershot]

It depends. Usually we'll switch off after a particular adventure is over, but sometimes when we're on a roll with a particular group (i.e. they can't wait to find out what happens next), we'll just keep going.

Right now we've got

Sharpclaw, Breanna, Sprite, Little Willy (heroic group levels 12-14)
Zel, Will, Contessa Isabel, Bleskin (evil group levels 13-15)
Rozella, Dram, Lance, and Bluestreak (heroic group levels 7-9)
Gafrle, Jesibelle, and Beyla (heroic group levels 5-7)

Then there's bunches of scattered PC's that have taken a leave from one of the groups, and they're currently NPC's until they're ready to be taken in again and switched out with someone else. One of the best subplots is Ariel, an Avariel in 2E, who ended up losing her soul and getting turned into an Erinyes. She returned in 3E, kicked some ass, and ended up shedding her evil-ness and coming out as a half-celestial elf (and discovered her true heritage). Just recently, though, she appeared in the evil group's adventure, and the players have no clue that she's actually the other "half" of Ariel... a half-fiend elf... (I thought the black wings would be a giveaway, though I didn't use bat wings because it didn't serve the flavor) The players want to know why she's helping the bad guys. The evil group doesn't really question her, because they don't KNOW her.. It's great!



Chris (sorry for rambling..)

 

[Azure Trance]

I've had a character tree (more like a character SHRUB) for many many years... Sometimes players get tired of the same character over and over, but still enjoy the character overall. Hence we have several different groups running around the same world (actually, right now, the same lands!). It's fun having completely different reactions to the same NPC depending on the party. Heck, the last session had the evil party go to the city where the retired wizard father of one of the other party's members lived, and they had to seek out a bard, and one of the PC's from the other group (who has been off camera for over a year) turned out to be the bard they found for info... I love continuity.


Chris

Interesting. I never even considered the idea of character trees before (other then Dark Suns required multiple lives feature during 2nd Edition). It's as if I can squeeze more varied adventure out of the same players.

 

[MEG Hal]

My only concern for the players is the cost of getting new mini's for each tree----- .

I like my PC and would not know what to even play if we do a tree, but I will do whatever makes the group happy.

Except pay for their meals

 

[Morpheus]

My only concern for the players is the cost of getting new mini's for each tree----- .

I like my PC and would not know what to even play if we do a tree, but I will do whatever makes the group happy.

Except pay for their meals

2 engineers, 1 IT tech, 1 probation officer and 1 college student living at home. Minis are the least of my concerns...

 

[hong]

If the players want to change characters, let them. Of course, just because the new PCs may like each other more than the old ones did doesn't necessarily mean they have a good reason to stay together. Therefore, if they're conducive to being given a plot hook that gives them an in-character reason to remain as a group, then by all means use it. It's only "railroading" if the players resent what they have to do.

 

[Conaill]

Might be time to have an OOG "character development" discussion with your players. Have *them* come up with some ideas on why these PCs should stick together. Some of the players might decide to weave their backgrounds together. For example, they might discover they're long-lost brothers. Cheesy, but it works. Others might try and find some points of common ground, and decide to develop those further. For example, the cleric might convert one of the other PCs to his religion. Have them set up some scenarios to play through to develop those character changes. Can make for a great roleplaying challenge!

Switching out characters is also an option of course. But even that will work a lot smoother if you can first hash out OOG how the new characters will fit into the rest of the party. If only to avoid situations where the new PC happens to be the same race as one of the Ranger's favorite enemies...