Which came first; the Story or the Stats?

[fba827]

Either works for me, just depends on my mood at the time and what the situation is for the campaign, etc.

 

[questing gm]

Either works for me, just depends on my mood at the time and what the situation is for the campaign, etc.

Me too.
As a DM, I usually make conceptual NPCs (while my players make crunchy PCs and whopp them shortly after) .
As a player, I usually make crunchy PCs (so I can whopp my DMs NPCs)

 

[Hussar]

I've done both really.

My last PC was a cleric that had been bouncing around in my head for a long time. Very well developed from the get go. The next PC was a gnome binder that started as class/race first. Took a long time for him to develop.

Honestly, I think it's better to start with a concept.

 

[Ander00]

Both. Usually I just want to play a certain character concept, and at other times, I want to try out some piece of crunch. In either case, concept and build continually influence each other as they develop.


cheers

 

[Angel Tarragon]

It is my personal opinion that it is important to hammer out the stats first, that way you can get an accurate feel for how the story should be told/refereed.

 

[the Jester]

I make a concept first. You can make numbers work for you, and if they're really not correct THEN adjust the concept. throw in an extra flaw for why you have 8 strength or something.

Didn't Raistlin come from something like that?

To the best of my knowledge, Raistlin was a literary character first, and his stats were made to fit his intended role in the novels.

There is a story about how, during one of the rp sessions, his player suddenly came out with the raspy Raistlin voice, and suddenly his image solidified instantly.

 

[wayne62682]

Concept first, then stats. Always. This is why I refuse to roll for stats and always choose to use point buy (or standard array for 4e); there's no chance of random rolling screwing up my concept or forcing me to end up playing something I don't want to because of what I rolled.

 

[Glyfair]

Any, all and in combination.

I have used many sources as inspirations for characters. It was not too uncommon for our group to find a miniature we loved and designed a character to fit the miniature, in fact. Sometimes I have started with a character idea, came up with his stats, and then went back and cleaned up the story based on the stats.

I don't feel there is a "proper way." Whatever works for you and gives you the most satisfaction.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I prefer concept first, stats to follow. This is one of the reasons I usually like point buy systems more. With me as GM, this is how chargen is done.

But I'll go along with however things are being done. Just as, if I'm the GM and a player happens to prefer rolling stats (and maybe doing that first thing), said player will just have to deal. Some quite memorable characters have been born stats first, even if that process looks awkward and a bit 'wrong' to me, so yeah, whatever.

 

[Wormwood]

Concept first, then stats. Always. This is why I refuse to roll for stats and always choose to use point buy (or standard array for 4e); there's no chance of random rolling screwing up my concept or forcing me to end up playing something I don't want to because of what I rolled.

This. Every game, every system.