Players should work together during character generation (and after that, too).
e.g.
[sblock]Party 1:
Enfenial, apprentice wizard, on the run and questing to find out who killed her master and surrogate father, Aldron, Mage of the Western County. (Human Wiz1)
Krandon, city watchman, elite brigade, and estranged son of the mage Aldron. Krandon seeks to have his father raised, proving his filial piety and martial prowess. (Human Ftr1)
Benefram, acolyte in the service of Grendalm, Provider of Peace and Community. Normally, a more experienced priest would investigate a murder of such import, but the abbess has entrusted this sensitve and important case into Benefram's hands. (Human Clr1)
Nadziram, apprenice locksmith. Nadziram's father, Kaevir Bin Yachram, made the locks on Alron's home. As foriegners, the whole family could be exilde from the Western County is Aldon's killer is not found. Moreover, Kaevir and Aldon were friends, and the Michraeli never leave a harm to a friend unanswered. (Human Rog1)
Tactics: Acquainted since early childhood, Nadziram and Krandon work closely together in combat, flanking strong opponents or defending Enfenial against mobs of smaller creatures. Seeing himself as the party's leader and spokesman, Benefram takes a back seat in combat, making liberal use of sanctuary and healing spells, or using the full-defense action to protect Enfenial, who, for her part, sees this quest as her own, and tries to protect her companions with buff spells, artillery-type attacks, and clear-headed thinking to avoid combat. Benefram wants to investigate the Apothecary with whom Aldon was negotiating a deal, but Nadziram is secretly keeping an ear out for rumors about Benefram's superior, who Nadziram believes either doesn't want this murder solved, or wants her acolyte to end up dead as well. Though dedicated to finding justice for the man that was a father to both of them, Krandon and Enfenial are learning to grieve and move on to a new life - perhaps one they can share.[/sblock][sblock]Party 2:
Bob the stufkiller. Bob, a bloodthirsty pitfighter by profession, is determined to be the strongest fighter in the whole land, as soon as he gets over that dang +2 Level Adjustment. (NG Minotaur Bar1)
Emirtionel Al' Garcia Von Kanderschnopp, Crown Prince. Emirtionel Al' Garcia Von Kanderschnopp, Crown Pince of Africa, as he demands to be addressed, or Emma, as the other PCs and all campaign NPC call him, will cast down fire on the infidels and miscreants that plague his kingdom and get the riches from old tombs and stuff. (CN Elf Warlock9)
Emirkol the Dwarf, Defender of the Dwarven Nation. Emirkol is a hard-drinking, hard-fighting dwarf who travels through different lands finding kobolds and dragons to fight. His special, custom prestige class gives him a bonus to attack and damage equal to his current hit points any time he's facing due north underground or in a treetop anywhere on the second layer of Ysgard during the 16 days before or after Yule. He likes spongecake with dogmeat. (CE Duergar Ftr1,Rgr1,Barb1,Azimuthal Tunnel Killer 3, Dwarf Defender 2)
Charlemagne, The Paladin Freedom Fighter. Charlemagne wants to overthrow the evil government that rules the country of Africa and put in a social democracy type government where everybody gets a vote and always gets their way and where there is no racial prejudice so gnomes don't get made fun of, and also, he wants to wipe out orcs and half-breeds, 'cause they're all bad, and to collect more powerful magical items than anybody else. (LG Half-Doppleganger Mimic Paladin 2)
Tactics: Kill monsters and bad guys and get their stuff before the rest of the party sees what they had.[/sblock][sblock]Party 3:
Saetani: (CN Elf Rog 13)
Nadir: (LE Halfling Rog7,Assasin 6)
Tarfoot Kressin: (NE Human Rog3, Clr10 [Vecna])
Tactics: kill the other two before they kill me.[/sblock]
I actually only like one of the above parties. The other two seem more typical of what my players like to generate.