Roleplaying Advice

[The Amazing Dingo]

The best advice that I can give you is something that was already mentioned by kigmatzomat: use a role model.

And when I say "use a role model", I mean keep a picture of this role model at the gaming table with you. Whenever something comes up, just ask yourself, "What would Forrest Gump do?" Sure, it is just copying an existing character, because we all know that has never been done before.

Just pick a chaotic character (since you always mention playing a LG or NG character) in a movie or book, etc. and play him in the game in everything but name. Hopefully, it'll be a decent start for you to explore your other role-playing faces and you can build from there. Also, you can play a Neutral character while still being one of the 'good guys'.

I would, however, not recommend Forrest Gump

 

[Wraith Form]

Formless
Wraiths

Cool, I'm famous. Sorta. And plural.

 

[Raduin711]

Well, don't play a goody-goody wizard.

Go for something significantly different with a role model you can always fall back on. A barbarian (Conan), a swashbuckler (Errol Flynn's Robin Hood), a not-so-trustworthy rogue (Alex Krychek - XFiles), etc.

Whatever it is, not a wizard. Better, not even a caster.

I'll have to keep an eye out for concepts that intrigue me. I picked up the greyhawk gazeteer and was flipping through faiths and pantheons looking for character concepts. I was thinking of a bard follower of Olidammara, maybe even CN, though I'm afraid of causing too much friction in what is supposed to be a heroic campaign. One question about Olidammara, though is how do you get a follower of a deity whose philosophy is "make life a playground" into someone willing to endure the hardships of adventuring?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Swap races around. You sound like you'd be comfortable with being a dwarf. Now, wizards aren't common among the dwarves, but really, their personalities seem complimentary. Set out to play the most dwarvish wizard ever -- there's a lot of potential there, and it's walking you towards something different without straying from what you obviously enjoy.

 

[Raduin711]

Well, if you like spellcasters try a Warlock (CN fighting of that E) as a new twist. Dark and driven doesn't sound like you so far, so this could be a new path. Your PC wants to be good, he is just have trouble sometimes destinguishing between what is Good and what is Good For Me. A little too "Ends Justify the Means" kinda guy. But he can get the job done.

I played, in one shot, a zealous Cleric of a God of Adventurers who was alwasy going on about "The Forging of Our Souls" - a path to enlightenment and ascendence that occured through the testing of your abilites and spirit in difficult persuits. The Cleric carried a big hammer and would wave it at enemies, NPCs, and fellow PCs and ask "Are you ready for the testing of your sould and the forging of your destiny?" or the like. Ranks in Perform(oratory) and i might have enentually taken levels in Marshal or Bard. Very fun. Think of it as an evangelical Thor.

Are you starting at 1st level? If not how about a Goblin Rogue/Paladin who has seen the error of his ways and has turned to good. Of course, using SA + smite is perfectly allowable if you follow someone like Cuthbert, as long as its against the badguys. A feat in COmplete Adventurer might allow you to advence in both classes, as an outcaste paladin of the streets -not fitting in anywhere but determined to make the world a better place with his trusty riding dog at his side.

I think most people either tend to play themselves or play their altar ego. I am always the high CHA leader (like real life) where as my wife, the careful and meticulous editor, always wants to be the fighter. While it can be one diminsional, try and take a character from fiction and apply it to your PC. Play at being that character and not you and over time the result will be somewhere in between. Batman as an Urban Ranger or Rogue/Monk. Angel and a teifling (or vampire)Paladin. Merry or Pippin as halfling rogue/bard. Van Helsing as the quentisential Cleric/Ranger. Sherlock Holmes as a Rogue/Investigator.

Warlocks are forbiddin'. Good idea though. We are starting out as 1st level. Having played this current wizard up to 17th level I kind of look forward to going back to being a fledgling. A LN Cleric of St. Cuthbert is another idea, but aside from that I dont have much else.

 

[Raduin711]

The best advice that I can give you is something that was already mentioned by kigmatzomat: use a role model.

And when I say "use a role model", I mean keep a picture of this role model at the gaming table with you. Whenever something comes up, just ask yourself, "What would Forrest Gump do?" Sure, it is just copying an existing character, because we all know that has never been done before.

Just pick a chaotic character (since you always mention playing a LG or NG character) in a movie or book, etc. and play him in the game in everything but name. Hopefully, it'll be a decent start for you to explore your other role-playing faces and you can build from there. Also, you can play a Neutral character while still being one of the 'good guys'.

I would, however, not recommend Forrest Gump

Mah matron always said... lahf is lahk a rod of wondah... you never know whatcher gunna get...

 

[Raduin711]

Swap races around. You sound like you'd be comfortable with being a dwarf. Now, wizards aren't common among the dwarves, but really, their personalities seem complimentary. Set out to play the most dwarvish wizard ever -- there's a lot of potential there, and it's walking you towards something different without straying from what you obviously enjoy.

LOL Oddly enough I've never played one... though again... wizard. I would like to play that, though. maybe Sorcerer would be better in my group's eyes, but maybe not.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If you put the focus on dwarf, not wizard, and play against their expectations -- "there aren't any dwarf wizards!" -- you can make the character quite unique.

How would a dwarf wizard differ from a human or elf wizard? How would their spell choices differ? How about their feats and skills? (Maybe burn a feat on letting your dwarf wizard use the dwarven waraxe.) How about long-term goals? An axe-toting dwarf wizard heading towards the elemental savant prestige class (earth flavor, of course) would be a lot different from the standard kindly human wizard type.

 

[Dalprin]

Often, I play a character based on what I see on TV or at the movies.

One of my favorite characters is Irid, a sorceror played with the personality and voice of Raven from the Teen Titans cartoon.

You can even choose a favorite actor and ask how would he/she portray this character. This technique frees you from any self-consciousness that may be hampering your role playing. My group has had characters played using Bruce Campbell, Orlando Bloom, and Madeline Kahn. Remember you are not required to put in a Shakespearian level performance to have a good time.

 

[Agback]

I think my biggest problem is that my characters, no matter how I originally imagine them, seem to adapt my personality over time. Maybe its because my characters aren't that far removed from me in the first place.

If you consider this a problem (it isn't necessarily bad) I suggest that you try settling on a simple, prominent character trait that your character is going to have that you (or your usually character) do not. It is hard not to forget or get lost among the characteristics of a complicated character. It is easier to be consistent with a simple character. If your character idea takes half a page to describe you will surely forget details. If it can be written across the topof the character sheet in one line of inch-high capitals it will be harder to forget.

Another thing that I suggest (not for this problem in particular, but simply because you seem a bit jaded with ringing the changes on D&D class-and-race combinations) is that you try taking a break from fantasy, and kick off an espionage or private-detective campaign in a contemporary or historical setting. Just for a change.