D&D 5E Topics for a camp

[Ezequielramone]

I have a group playing hotdq and they love to interpretate their characters and to talk each other.
I'm thinking in introduce, once per session, a roleplayed conversation between them.
The thing goes like this:
"OK, the ranger sets up a campfire, the wizard is checking his components, etc. When it's time to eat the next topic show up: how did each one learn his abilities? "

They love to create their backgrounds. So I think they will like this.
I want you to comment what do you think and to recommend me good topics for my adventurers.
So far I got:
- how do they learn to fight
- first love history
- how was their childhood

I need interesting topics.
thanks for your time.

 

[iserith]

I have a group playing hotdq and they love to interpretate their characters and to talk each other.
I'm thinking in introduce, once per session, a roleplayed conversation between them.
The thing goes like this:
"OK, the ranger sets up a campfire, the wizard is checking his components, etc. When it's time to eat the next topic show up: how did each one learn his abilities? "

They love to create their backgrounds. So I think they will like this.
I want you to comment what do you think and to recommend me good topics for my adventurers.
So far I got:
- how do they learn to fight
- first love history
- how was their childhood

I need interesting topics.
thanks for your time.

I do this in my games. I refer to them as "transition scenes." By establishing a topic to discuss, you're essentially focusing the roleplay to a specific end which is key to knowing when the scene is done. Once everyone has sufficiently discussed the topic, it's time for the next scene (usually action) to begin.

I think that whatever topics you end up choosing, it's important to ask how what they say is somehow relevant or connected to the events of play (stuff that will or has already happened). This way, you everything stays pointed toward the conflicts at hand without spinning off in multiple directions, establishing context that isn't very useful.

With that in mind, here are some topics:

• How did you come by your best skill? How do you intend to use it to thwart the Cult of the Dragon's plans?
• Who taught you to use magic? If you don't use magic, what are your thoughts about its use? What role will magic play in stopping the Cult?
• Who do you think is the most capable in the party? What did that person do in Greenest to reinforce that belief?

 

[bedir than]

Why did you leave your simple life?
Ever thought "Maybe I should have been a X instead of Y?"
Is there a legendary monster you'd be afraid to face?
Do you like movies about gladiators?

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

"Where did you learn [skill used in that days encounters]?"
"How did you come to learn Goblin?"
"That spell was awesome! How can we develop tactics to make best use of it?"
"Got a sweetheart at home? Family?"
"Aren't you cold without a shirt on, Conan?"
And of course, "Is it true that a real Wizard doesn't wear anything under his robes?"

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Why did you leave your simple life?
Ever thought "Maybe I should have been a X instead of Y?"
Is there a legendary monster you'd be afraid to face?
Do you like movies about gladiators?

Do you like Piña Coladas?
Getting caught in the rain?

 

[SirAntoine]

It's nice to have a chat around the campfire. I have invited my players to have these many times, and it always went well.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It's nice to have a chat around the campfire. I have invited my players to have these many times, and it always went well.

[video=youtube;VPIP9KXdmO0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPIP9KXdmO0&sns=em[/video]

 

[JWO]

Unless your players are brand new to RPing, there's a risk that this will feel too much like you're telling them what to do. It might work if one of your NPCs starts up a conversation but otherwise I think it'll feel a bit like you're telling them how to RP.

I think it's a good point that players have a tendency not to talk to each other an awful lot (at least in the games I've been involved with), so it's probably worth attempting to get these sorts of conversations out of them.

I guess you could try to coax it out of them by saying something like 'Ok, you've set up your campsite, you're all sat around the campfire, apart from the tiefling who wants to go and lurk in the woods feeling moody, are any of you talking to each other?/What do you talk about?'

 

[neobolts]

Unless your players are brand new to RPing, there's a risk that this will feel too much like you're telling them what to do. It might work if one of your NPCs starts up a conversation but otherwise I think it'll feel a bit like you're telling them how to RP.

I think it's a good point that players have a tendency not to talk to each other an awful lot (at least in the games I've been involved with), so it's probably worth attempting to get these sorts of conversations out of them.

I guess you could try to coax it out of them by saying something like 'Ok, you've set up your campsite, you're all sat around the campfire, apart from the tiefling who wants to go and lurk in the woods feeling moody, are any of you talking to each other?/What do you talk about?'

Or you could use an NPC to kick off the campfire conversation. Have them ask the direct questions you'd like to see discussed. In-game, more organic, same results.

Caveat: They could say "Stuff it, NPC. Nobody cares about your touchy feely discussion topics." Which is still roleplaying.