The Shaman
First Post
It's an intriguing idea that I'm sure many gamers would enjoy.
I am not one of those gamers, however.
I am not one of those gamers, however.
Triggered flashbacks
- Thread starter Sir Robilar
- Start date
Sir Robilar
First Post
In my mind it doesn´t really matter if the player misses the trigger. The trigger shouldn´t be too specific, so if the player misses it, the DM can reuse it again at a later point in the campaign. For example "Blind wolf" could be the name that a farmer´s wife uses when she talks about her husband, the name of a tavern the characters visit, a famous dwarven ale or it could be an actual blind wolf they encounter in the wild.
I´ve used flashbacks as described above (without triggers though) and it worked really well. The players were really into the roleplaying and they found it fleshed out their character´s backstory. In fact they had no premade backstory and were allowed to create it as the campaign was running, sometimes using the events of the flashbacks and giving them meaning in the context of their later life. (one player, after having failed a challenge: "so that explained why I became an alcoholic").
Some were into it so much that they kept me asking when their flashback would happen. Also they enjoyed the little favors they got. Sometimes it was met with humor though as some silly situations arose - "geez, how could I forget this Greataxe I´ve been carrying around for a decade, how dumb of me"
However, every flashback we played was either very short (max. 10 minutes) or if not, gave the other players the chance to contribute, although in a limited way (as an example, during one character´s flashback all other players were horribly drunk and wouldn´t be much good in helping with the conflict resolution in any way).
I´ve used flashbacks as described above (without triggers though) and it worked really well. The players were really into the roleplaying and they found it fleshed out their character´s backstory. In fact they had no premade backstory and were allowed to create it as the campaign was running, sometimes using the events of the flashbacks and giving them meaning in the context of their later life. (one player, after having failed a challenge: "so that explained why I became an alcoholic").
Some were into it so much that they kept me asking when their flashback would happen. Also they enjoyed the little favors they got. Sometimes it was met with humor though as some silly situations arose - "geez, how could I forget this Greataxe I´ve been carrying around for a decade, how dumb of me"
However, every flashback we played was either very short (max. 10 minutes) or if not, gave the other players the chance to contribute, although in a limited way (as an example, during one character´s flashback all other players were horribly drunk and wouldn´t be much good in helping with the conflict resolution in any way).
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Hussar
Legend
Sir Robilar - check out 3:16 Carnage Beyond the Stars for something that looks a LOT like this. It's a bit different though. In 3:16, the player has 2 Flashback slot2 (he can gain more later) one is a Strength and one is a Weakness. At any point in time, the player can declare a flashback, either as a Strength or a Weakness. If he declares a Strength, he wins the current encounter on his terms. The player gives a short description of the flashback and how it relates to the current situation. He then wins the encounter on his terms.
A weakness works the same way, but, this time you lose on your terms. So, instead of the orc killing you, he captures you.
Once you declare a strength or a weakness, you keep that for the rest of the game, although it has no more mechanical effects. But, that descriptor, whether strength or weakness, remains with the character and adds to the personality of the character.
It's a really excellent way to build on a character's personality in game.
A weakness works the same way, but, this time you lose on your terms. So, instead of the orc killing you, he captures you.
Once you declare a strength or a weakness, you keep that for the rest of the game, although it has no more mechanical effects. But, that descriptor, whether strength or weakness, remains with the character and adds to the personality of the character.
It's a really excellent way to build on a character's personality in game.
Sir Robilar
First Post
Sounds very nice, an approach that puts the flashback into the player´s hands. Thanks for the recommendation, will check it out soon!
with the core idea, I'd find it less plausible to use on my character if I played my PC from 1st to whatever because presumably I'd seen everything that ever happened to my PC, and before 1st, very litttle of consequence would have happened (to the equivalent of an 18 year old).
This technique would be plausible for PCs started above 1st level. It allows the DM to hook in events the player wasn't privvy to. It may even be a way to plug in backstory for those PCs.
With this mentality, the technique might be good for a convention game/one-shot with pre-gen PCs.
This technique would be plausible for PCs started above 1st level. It allows the DM to hook in events the player wasn't privvy to. It may even be a way to plug in backstory for those PCs.
With this mentality, the technique might be good for a convention game/one-shot with pre-gen PCs.
Hussar
Legend
Janx - well, what you say is true to a degree. But, OTOH, things that happen in your childhood and young adult years can certainly shape the adult you become. Having 18 years of history to draw from does give you a fair bit of wiggle room.
Granted, it's a bit unlikely that you're going to be defeating dragons in your flashback.
Granted, it's a bit unlikely that you're going to be defeating dragons in your flashback.
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