Players: Do you plan in advance for character progression?

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I know most of us here are DM's - So am I, but I am also a player in another Campaign.

Recently, I leveled up in my friends FR game ( I play a Monk4/PsiWarrior2 ) and I probably spent a good hour planning my characters future progression all the way up to 11th level where he will take a level of the Kensai Prestige Class
( from Complete Warrior) This wil be my first prestige class as a player, and I'm still at least 6 months away. ( Maybe there ARE too darn many of these in print! )

Why did I do this? He'll probably die well before then.

Am I a freak (read "DM") , or do most players give this much future thought to their characters progression? With many PrC's, it seems you really HAVE to do this in order to make sure you have the requisite skills, feats and ability scores.

Perhaps some GM's just let you switch around some skills etc... to help you through the process?

Please share your thoughts from either side of the screen...

 

[Crothian]

For me it depends on the character. My new character is a sorcerer and I am aiming him for a prestige class. So, I'll make sure I get the feats for the prestige class, but other then that I really don't plan ahead that much.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Yes, I always plan ahead. I like to roleplay my characters, but I also like to feel like my character is as capable as he can be. So I will usually try to optimize his progression several levels in advance. Of course, these plans are often re-written as the character develops.

 

[Trickstergod]

Yes, I plan ahead. Not every last detail, but if I have a character concept kicking around in my head, I want to know that it will work as I'd like it to from 1st to 20th level. Particularly if I intend on picking up a Prestige Class.

As I also prefer to have some bit of a character concept going on, not being much of a fan of just rolling up a character and going from there, I like for it to be able to work. That, while it doesn't have to be the strongest character around, whatever the concept, it should at least be able to hold its own and add something to the party without being overshadowed by everyone else. Not to mention what might look good at 3rd or 9th level, or whatever, may look a lot less appealing at 15th. So I like for that to be taken into account.

That, and it kills time. Hoo boy does it kill time. Heh.

 

[cats_claw]

I'm mostly a DM and haven't played in quite some time.

But.... I always have an NPC in the party. Sometimes that person is killed or becomes an enemy, most of the time they are a benevolent friend or henchman. And this is how I get to "play" and DM at the same time. I enjoy leveling up the NPC and absolutely plan their progression. And not just for campaign/DM/NPC plot sake.

I encourage the players to tell me where they see their characters going and what they want out of the next few "levels". I see this as a way to help shape the gaming experience and conversely, the campaign experience changes and shapes the path the player characters take.

It's all very fluid and dynamic, yet planned as well. I want the players to see beyond their immediate goals, but they can't get to caught up in them because they often change their mind over the course of the campaign.

cats_claw

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

I SOOOOO plan ahead as a player. I sometimes have the next level or two completely made out (even when I'm no where close to leveling).

Of course, I also like to create lots of "back up characters" when I'm bored.

Any wonder why I like to DM?

 

[Mortanis]

Never played, Always DM'd, but 2 of my players wouldn't choose a character until they'd spent hours scoping out the entire path it would take, weighing all the options before even getting out a clean character sheet. The others in the party choose what they want based on their first impulse.

 

[Oni]

I plan ahead. I enjoy planning ahead, it gives me something to tinker with when I'm bored. I often change my mind as I go though.

 

[DiFier]

I plan ahead. I enjoy planning ahead, it gives me something to tinker with when I'm bored. I often change my mind as I go though.

yup me too. of course I don't save my tinkerring so when I level I have to remember what my last great plan was.

 

[JoeBlank]

I plan far ahead.

And then change my plan based on events and character development.

And then change it again.

And again.

And then start over with a whole new plan.

And then change it.

In short, I plan ahead, but rarely stick to the original plan.