Same Character, New Sexiness
- Thread starter I'm A Banana
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Merkuri
Explorer
To go with what Skallgrim and TwinBahamut said, I once read an article (I think it may have been on the pre-Dragon/Dungeon WotC site - I can't find it now) that described a scenario where the players played two or three parties of characters. Each player had two or three characters, and these characters were organized into "squads" or groups within a larger organization. They are often different levels, so a playing group might have one party of 10th level characters, one party of 4th level characters, and one party just starting out at 1st level. From session-to-session the group can decide which party they want to pull out for the given adventure.
The in-character explanation of this is that all the characters of all the parties are in the same organization, but just have different teams. The highest level group of PCs will probably be the leaders of this org, and they can send the lower-level groups on missions that are too easy for them (we don't want to waste our time on this) or that they can't do for some reason (we can't attend that party, the countess knows us and wants us dead).
The benefits of this setup are that players probably won't get as tired of playing the same race/class over a long period of time if their characters are significantly different. Also, if a PC dies you can "promote" a PC from lower levels into the higher-level party, if you want, which can help maintain group cohesion since the characters all know each other and you're not just pulling a random person off of the street and tossing him into a high-level party.
I don't think it's quite what you were looking for, but having each player create multiple PCs of differing levels may achieve your end goal (keeping players from getting bored with their race/class choices).
I really wish I could find that article because it had a lot of nice explanations of this playstyle. If anybody else knows where it is I'd appreciate the link.
The in-character explanation of this is that all the characters of all the parties are in the same organization, but just have different teams. The highest level group of PCs will probably be the leaders of this org, and they can send the lower-level groups on missions that are too easy for them (we don't want to waste our time on this) or that they can't do for some reason (we can't attend that party, the countess knows us and wants us dead).
The benefits of this setup are that players probably won't get as tired of playing the same race/class over a long period of time if their characters are significantly different. Also, if a PC dies you can "promote" a PC from lower levels into the higher-level party, if you want, which can help maintain group cohesion since the characters all know each other and you're not just pulling a random person off of the street and tossing him into a high-level party.
I don't think it's quite what you were looking for, but having each player create multiple PCs of differing levels may achieve your end goal (keeping players from getting bored with their race/class choices).
I really wish I could find that article because it had a lot of nice explanations of this playstyle. If anybody else knows where it is I'd appreciate the link.
RyvenCedrylle
First Post
Oni already brought up the concept of equipping Espers, Materia, Guardian Forces or whatever, so I'll second it.
You could have a party composed entirely of Dr. Who-types, though you would probably only switch over when someone dies. It would be more difficult to do so just 'overnight.'
Another idea would be to just switch the characters over with no explanation and then lampshade it by having the PCs occasionally hear tales or be asked questions about themselves as their former class/race combos - all of which are now wrong. Sometimes you just need a little continuity nod as opposed to a full backstory to keep the versimilitude.
Also mine here or here for ideas.
You could have a party composed entirely of Dr. Who-types, though you would probably only switch over when someone dies. It would be more difficult to do so just 'overnight.'
Another idea would be to just switch the characters over with no explanation and then lampshade it by having the PCs occasionally hear tales or be asked questions about themselves as their former class/race combos - all of which are now wrong. Sometimes you just need a little continuity nod as opposed to a full backstory to keep the versimilitude.
Also mine here or here for ideas.
The Green Adam
First Post
I ran a very successful series of games (D&D, Traveller, M&M) where the player characters are members of some kind of large organization, guild, team, corporation, etc. that employs and deploys numerous agents for different missions. The concept was larger inspired the the Legion of Superheroes comics of the 70's and 80's and the animated series Justice Leage Unlimited.
I describe some kind of mission board postings and the players sign their character up for which mission interests and is appropriate to their character. We then go on that mission/adventure.
One great side effect of this style of play (other then getting a chance to play a different character every once in a while) is the players don't feel railroaded down one path but instead have total say in which character their going to play today and what kind of scenario.
For example, the PCs enter the Guild Hall of their Adventuring Guild and discover numerous NPCs discussing the Quests on the board today. After dropping some juicy rumors the PCs walk to take a look at the board. On it they see several wanted posters, scrolls and other parchment notices each describing different missions/quests. The players write the name of the character they want to use on each of the missions (use index cards, scrap paper, whatever). Then gather the 'sign-up sheets' and see which adventure got the most votes. Don't worry about the other two, you can alwats have them go there later (or say another team went and they only paritially solved the problem and a PC team is still needed).
AD
Barking Alien
I describe some kind of mission board postings and the players sign their character up for which mission interests and is appropriate to their character. We then go on that mission/adventure.
One great side effect of this style of play (other then getting a chance to play a different character every once in a while) is the players don't feel railroaded down one path but instead have total say in which character their going to play today and what kind of scenario.
For example, the PCs enter the Guild Hall of their Adventuring Guild and discover numerous NPCs discussing the Quests on the board today. After dropping some juicy rumors the PCs walk to take a look at the board. On it they see several wanted posters, scrolls and other parchment notices each describing different missions/quests. The players write the name of the character they want to use on each of the missions (use index cards, scrap paper, whatever). Then gather the 'sign-up sheets' and see which adventure got the most votes. Don't worry about the other two, you can alwats have them go there later (or say another team went and they only paritially solved the problem and a PC team is still needed).
AD
Barking Alien
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