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To Find a King (updated 06/26)
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<blockquote data-quote="Mortepierre" data-source="post: 1853702" data-attributes="member: 9765"><p>Thank you both! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite9" alt=":eek:" title="Eek! :eek:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":eek:" /> </p><p></p><p>To be fair, though, I have to give credit where credit is due. My toughest job here is to act as a translator. I am sure that, by now, it’s obvious English isn’t our group’s mother language.</p><p></p><p>The “Preludes” series is made up primarily of the backgrounds my players developed, so I consider it more as a tribute to their own imagination than as an introduction to my campaign.</p><p></p><p>I must say, it’s the first time in a long while that creating characters was so enjoyable to me as a DM. Since my world is quite complex, a majority of my players chose to involve me in the process early on (probably to reap the “background integrates elements and/or events requested by the DM” reward <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> ).</p><p></p><p>Eirak’s player had planned his whole background based on where he wanted his character to go (stat-wise). He surprised me though by requesting to play a part in the death of the two princes, an event he had spotted in my History file. He got what he wished for.. and a bit more in the bargain (DM’s prerogative). He actually had to role-play the whole trial (mainly because I wanted at least one of the players to have met Saladar before the campaign began).</p><p></p><p>Kalveig and Pelrind’s players had great character’s concepts but weren’t too concerned about game-mechanics as long as it allowed them to role-play what they had in mind.</p><p></p><p>Pelrind’s use of both druidic and sorcerous powers posed an intriguing problem given how both classes are treated by natives. So, I took his basic idea about an elementalist and built on it to create a semi-secret society concerned by the World’s "elemental balance".</p><p></p><p>Originally, Kalveig had chosen to play a Holy Warrior of Darmon (god of joy, merchants, messengers, and thieves) but when he heard of my problems with Siubhan’s player, he shifted to Morwyn and rewrote his entire background to incorporate her. Since then, he has acted as her “role-play councilor” during gaming sessions. What can I say? The guy is a paladin at heart... <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite6" alt=":cool:" title="Cool :cool:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":cool:" /> </p><p></p><p>Musadoc is played by a total newbie, both to role-play and game-mechanics. What he lacks in experience though, he more than makes up in sheer enthusiasm. Simply put, he’ll try anything as long as you give him a chance to prove himself. That was very refreshing to me <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>The only problem I had with him was that he had browsed the info I had given them about the Holy Warrior class and desperately wanted to play one with access to the Fire domain. Of course, he had picked the only one that wasn’t available (you’ll understand why when you read his background). It required a bit of creative thinking but IMHO the solution allowed him to have what he requested <em>and</em> to contribute something “special” to the team.</p><p></p><p>Siubhan.. that was something else entirely. She is played by a veteran powergamer that had just joined our group. She could optimize a character faster than you can say “fireball!” but was relatively new to the concept of role-play <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /> </p><p></p><p>I can still remember her remark when she learnt that there were only two gods available if you wanted a cleric able to cast Cure spells:</p><p></p><p><em>Are you saying that my only choice is to play either a farmer or a pacifist?!</em> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite5" alt=":confused:" title="Confused :confused:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":confused:" /> </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately for her, my campaigns have always been more about “role-play” than “roll-play”.</p><p></p><p>Note that I am not saying this to disparage her in any way. She is really a nice person, and there is nothing wrong with knowing the rules inside out. It’s just that she didn’t understand - at first - why role-play was so important to the rest of us. Fortunately, Kalveig’s player stepped in at this point and, since she didn’t want to spend time on a background, offered to include her in his.</p><p></p><p>Incidentally, that explains why her character might look more proactive during fights than during talks in the first few chapters.</p><p></p><p>I’ve got to give her this though: in the (almost) two years we have played together, she has come a long way. She’s still a powergamer first and foremost but methink she has grown to recognize the value of role-play as well.</p><p></p><p>When you think about it, it all depends on the DM. If role-play gets you nowhere, you’re not exactly motivated to try it out.</p><p></p><p>For her, the turning point was during our second gaming session when - SPOILER! - creative role-play allowed the team to avoid a TPK. I could almost picture the wheels turning in her head as she pondered what had happened. Oh, and Kalveig’s player has been a great teacher too.</p><p></p><p>Well, enough chat. Back to work! <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious :]" data-shortname=":]" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mortepierre, post: 1853702, member: 9765"] Thank you both! :o To be fair, though, I have to give credit where credit is due. My toughest job here is to act as a translator. I am sure that, by now, it’s obvious English isn’t our group’s mother language. The “Preludes” series is made up primarily of the backgrounds my players developed, so I consider it more as a tribute to their own imagination than as an introduction to my campaign. I must say, it’s the first time in a long while that creating characters was so enjoyable to me as a DM. Since my world is quite complex, a majority of my players chose to involve me in the process early on (probably to reap the “background integrates elements and/or events requested by the DM” reward :p ). Eirak’s player had planned his whole background based on where he wanted his character to go (stat-wise). He surprised me though by requesting to play a part in the death of the two princes, an event he had spotted in my History file. He got what he wished for.. and a bit more in the bargain (DM’s prerogative). He actually had to role-play the whole trial (mainly because I wanted at least one of the players to have met Saladar before the campaign began). Kalveig and Pelrind’s players had great character’s concepts but weren’t too concerned about game-mechanics as long as it allowed them to role-play what they had in mind. Pelrind’s use of both druidic and sorcerous powers posed an intriguing problem given how both classes are treated by natives. So, I took his basic idea about an elementalist and built on it to create a semi-secret society concerned by the World’s "elemental balance". Originally, Kalveig had chosen to play a Holy Warrior of Darmon (god of joy, merchants, messengers, and thieves) but when he heard of my problems with Siubhan’s player, he shifted to Morwyn and rewrote his entire background to incorporate her. Since then, he has acted as her “role-play councilor” during gaming sessions. What can I say? The guy is a paladin at heart... :cool: Musadoc is played by a total newbie, both to role-play and game-mechanics. What he lacks in experience though, he more than makes up in sheer enthusiasm. Simply put, he’ll try anything as long as you give him a chance to prove himself. That was very refreshing to me :) The only problem I had with him was that he had browsed the info I had given them about the Holy Warrior class and desperately wanted to play one with access to the Fire domain. Of course, he had picked the only one that wasn’t available (you’ll understand why when you read his background). It required a bit of creative thinking but IMHO the solution allowed him to have what he requested [I]and[/I] to contribute something “special” to the team. Siubhan.. that was something else entirely. She is played by a veteran powergamer that had just joined our group. She could optimize a character faster than you can say “fireball!” but was relatively new to the concept of role-play :( I can still remember her remark when she learnt that there were only two gods available if you wanted a cleric able to cast Cure spells: [I]Are you saying that my only choice is to play either a farmer or a pacifist?![/I] :confused: Unfortunately for her, my campaigns have always been more about “role-play” than “roll-play”. Note that I am not saying this to disparage her in any way. She is really a nice person, and there is nothing wrong with knowing the rules inside out. It’s just that she didn’t understand - at first - why role-play was so important to the rest of us. Fortunately, Kalveig’s player stepped in at this point and, since she didn’t want to spend time on a background, offered to include her in his. Incidentally, that explains why her character might look more proactive during fights than during talks in the first few chapters. I’ve got to give her this though: in the (almost) two years we have played together, she has come a long way. She’s still a powergamer first and foremost but methink she has grown to recognize the value of role-play as well. When you think about it, it all depends on the DM. If role-play gets you nowhere, you’re not exactly motivated to try it out. For her, the turning point was during our second gaming session when - SPOILER! - creative role-play allowed the team to avoid a TPK. I could almost picture the wheels turning in her head as she pondered what had happened. Oh, and Kalveig’s player has been a great teacher too. Well, enough chat. Back to work! :] [/QUOTE]
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