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<blockquote data-quote="GMMichael" data-source="post: 8955395" data-attributes="member: 6685730">Ah, character creation: it takes the whole first session, there are too many options, how to multiclass, how to optimize, what should my backstory be, I just died so now I can't play again until I make a new character . . . Free character creation isn't always easy on GMs either: how do you write a (good) campaign and plot hooks without knowing who are the stars of the show?&nbsp; Or: I was very happy with myself for killing off Fred's annoying-frickin'-bard, but I still have a session to run and he won't stop asking me questions about his starting spell book!What if we just threw it out?&nbsp; What if your RPG had 10 (20?) characters to choose from, and when a PC dies and there's no replacement, the game's over?&nbsp; Each character has built-in backstory, level progression, a starting kit.&nbsp; Or, the Final Fantasy method: you can be Cecil, Kain, Rosa, Rydia, Edge, Cid, Tellah, Yang, Palom, or Porom.That would eliminate:<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">the character creation session</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">characters without relationships or motivations</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">chapters on skills, spells, or dare I say...universal combat rules?&nbsp; (You can do what's on your sheet.)</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">players without backup characters</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">min-maxing, dump stats, dead levels</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">&quot;useless&quot; characters</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">death cones (because there's a new character at the bottom of the cone, making it a...um...death turnip?)</li>
</ul>...but critically:- some player freedom.&nbsp; The horror!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="GMMichael, post: 8955395, member: 6685730"] Ah, character creation: it takes the whole first session, there are too many options, how to multiclass, how to optimize, what should my backstory be, I just died so now I can't play again until I make a new character . . . Free character creation isn't always easy on GMs either: how do you write a (good) campaign and plot hooks without knowing who are the stars of the show? Or: I was very happy with myself for killing off Fred's annoying-frickin'-bard, but I still have a session to run and he won't stop asking me questions about his starting spell book! What if we just threw it out? What if your RPG had 10 (20?) characters to choose from, and when a PC dies and there's no replacement, the game's over? Each character has built-in backstory, level progression, a starting kit. Or, the Final Fantasy method: you can be Cecil, Kain, Rosa, Rydia, Edge, Cid, Tellah, Yang, Palom, or Porom. That would eliminate: [LIST] [*]the character creation session [*]characters without relationships or motivations [*]chapters on skills, spells, or dare I say...universal combat rules? (You can do what's on your sheet.) [*]players without backup characters [*]min-maxing, dump stats, dead levels [*]"useless" characters [*]death cones (because there's a new character at the bottom of the cone, making it a...um...death turnip?) [/LIST] ...but critically: - some player freedom. The horror! [/QUOTE]

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