Trying to recall

[KahlessNestor]

Back on the WOTC forum someone posted an idea they do every Session 0 that involved every player giving them 3 background NPCs. Something like a friend, an enemy, and ???

I was wondering if anyone could recall that. I don't remember if it was isterith or bawlie or who, but I'm getting geared up to DM again and thought it was a great idea and wanted to incorporate it.

Thanks for the help!

 

[RealAlHazred]

It sounds very like an [MENTION=97077]iserith[/MENTION] or [MENTION=6776133]Bawylie[/MENTION] idea.

I frequently have them do an ALLY, an ENEMY, and a CONTACT:

• The ALLY is a background character who pushes them to the life of an adventurer: a mentor, an advisor, a relative, whatever. The ALLY might be dead, or they might be active, but they are not currently a daily part of the player character's life.
• The ENEMY is another background character, but one who pulls them to the life of an adventurer: a rival in youth, a dissatisfied relative, someone the character inadvertently (or purposefully) wronged, etc. The ENEMY can be a former ALLY, but I require the player to still come up with a current ALLY.
• The CONTACT is a character the PC has daily contact with, who is not as dependable as the ALLY, but still useful. Guild Masters, senior priests, government functionaries, or rich dilettantes are all good CONTACTS.

Since I got Backstory Cards, I tie them in with that.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Thanks! Yes, that sounds about what I remember. Great ideas. Those Backstory Cards look cool too.

 

[iserith]

I think it's a @Bawylie idea. I do make an effort to connect the characters to each other and elements of the adventure by having the players establish ties. For character ties, I use variations of the Dungeon World bonds. For the adventure ties, I suggest things like NPCs, locations, treasures, or the like with which the characters have a connection of the player's choosing.