[All RPGs] If you had to make a new character, what would it be?

[litanyofthieves]

I agree with that wholeheartedly, some new players don't play stereotypes, and rarely ever does anyone play a 100% stereotype, and I encourage players to branch out from their original vision.

However, if my new player sees the "Example characters" in the book and goes "Man, Tordek is cool! I wanna be a brash, loud, brawling Dwarven Fighter with a greataxe", at the character building stage, I'm not going to say "No, that's too stereotypical, why don't we build you a nice half-elf Warden with a guilt complex", because then I'm taking ownership of the character away at the first instance of my player trying to make the character her own. Certainly, developing a character afterwards, like say we decide that the Dwarf is loud and brash because he's highly insecure, and that he brawls because he was picked on as the runt of his family and fighting was the only way he could prove his superiority. He is still a bit of a stereotype, but now he has a realistic background and motivations that explain those "stereotypical" behaviors.

Some people come to the table with the experience to make their characters work right away, others figure it out as they play.

It also depends on the nature of your campaign. If you just want to do a beer & pretzels game where you're all just having fun and goofing off, sometimes playing those stereotypical characters is fine. But they don't always translate to epic, story-driven campaigns, it's true.

[Navarre]

Also, stereotypes have some basis somewhere or they wouldn't have existed in the first place. We can think of stereotypes for, say, black people or Asian people and think of people that fit the stereotype. But we'd be ignorant fools to think everyone fits a stereotype.

So having your dwarves all be beach-combing surfers in sandals and flowery shirts might be a little too weird. Probably, many of them are grumbly bearded dudes with a Scottish accent who live in mines and wield axes and hammers. Fair enough.

If your dwarf is like that, then he's believable and playable even if not terribly original. If he does happen to be the "dwarven surfer" I guess that works too as long as you can explain that origin for the character.

[Web.Metz]

I could imagine it now. Blonde hair, deeply tanned (possibly black) skin. Exiled from the mines.

[Navarre]

Surfer-Dwarf still has the Scottish accent but uses words like "Dude" and "Gnarly".

[SpiderLover]

Since this fits in do any of you that have run games have a player that wants to play the same class/character over and over? Like Bob only wants to play a Priest that is out to cure the world of false gods? How would you approach this? Would you ask them to play something different?

[Navarre]

I run into it frequently. I would discuss the class choice with them to get a feel of why they are motivated to play that class. They may not even realize they are making the same choice but it is more likely there is something about that class that appeals to the player.

As the point of the game is to have fun and indulge in a bit of fantasy, I don't see any harm in the player staying with the same class. It may not be very diverse but there is little value in expecting a player to play a class they wouldn't enjoy.

I have been playing D&D for 31 years. I have never played a Barbarian or anything close to it. It simply wouldn't appeal to me regardless of how I tweak the character or work with his background.

There's no reason to force me to play Barbarian if I don't want to. I think the better value is in learning more about your player's perspective and getting a feel for what about the cleric, for example, appeals to him. That allows you to craft a game you both enjoy...even if Bob's Cleric seems vaguely familiar.

[Gaumer]

OMFG

Can we retcon Shadow War?

Surfer dwarf is about the coolest char. background EVAR!!!!



And I'd say it would be ok for a DM to force a class on a player. If they have been playing together for a while there's a challenge in forcing the player to play a class they don't like. This of course would only be for an experienced who has tried out a few classes, starting a new campaign, and willing to take on the challenge.

On the other hand, if a player wants to play the same character over and over I would see a problem, but a DM could allow them to be whatever class they want, in this instance the same class they played before, but force a different alignment on them or, if your campaign includes it, force them to choose a different god with a totally different set of rules, spells blah blah blah.

I understand what your player is doing with playing the EXACT same character over and over, but I am under the mindset that one could play any class and not play the same character. I mean, I could play a rogue 100 times and never have the same character even if he had the same class, race, alignment whatever.

If the player is RPing it the same way every time then maybe the player just has a bad imagination. That's not a bad thing because it can be fixed over time if he breaks out of that shell.

Having him play one of the deemed almost naughty stereotypes discussed previously may help that.

[Web.Metz]

I think Rodrigo did good when he did 'How the other side lives'. I think that is a good method to get them to try something new.

[Navarre]

OMFG

Can we retcon Shadow War?

Surfer dwarf is about the coolest char. background EVAR!!!!

You will find the surfer dwarves soon enough. don't spoil the anticipation.   

[litanyofthieves]

Since this fits in do any of you that have run games have a player that wants to play the same class/character over and over? Like Bob only wants to play a Priest that is out to cure the world of false gods? How would you approach this? Would you ask them to play something different?

I've done campaigns where I set up parameters for characters beforehand - Like "You are all going to be part of a gladiator-style arena" or "You all have to be dwarven, but you can be any class you want", or even "There are very few Arcanists and Psionics in this world, so unless you write me a REALLY good character background, you have to play a Martial, Divine or Primal Class." Often I will work this in as a key plot element to the story. Sometimes I find this is good for either new or old players, as experienced players like a challenge, and the parameters give the new player something as a starting point and keep them from being paralyzed by choices. Of course, it's never "This is the ultimate hard and fast rule", I always give them a bit of a choice.

I've also run specific one-shots in which I've given everyone pre-made character sheets I did myself (Your Mileage May Vary on that one, though, I know some people don't like it, but my groups have) and often with those I'll specifically mix it up; give whoever is normally the Defender a Striker or Leader position etc...

As always, it depends on your group, etc...

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

Since this fits in do any of you that have run games have a player that wants to play the same class/character over and over? Like Bob only wants to play a Priest that is out to cure the world of false gods? How would you approach this? Would you ask them to play something different?

It really depends on the player, but yes, usually I don't let people play characters from previous games in my games, because I want the gaming experience to be totally unique.

[Navarre]

When I was discussing a player seeming redundant, I was referring to them preferring to always play the same class. I too would be against a player always playing the same character. ... And, granted, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference unless both characters are wearing name tags.

[TorontoFrog]

I actually did create a new character last weekend. It's an Eladrin Avenger. I love the concept of this crazy cultist and it's the first time in a long time that I got to play a striker type PC. I named him Vuvuzela.

Regarding the question of having player redoing always the same type of character, as a DM, I usually don't allow it. It's easy sometimes to convince them by saying that they will miss a whole new and exciting experience if they redo the same thing over and over.

By the way, this is my first post here... so greetings everyone.

[Navarre]

Hello, TorontoFrog!!   

[Gaumer]

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Vuvuzuela

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is an

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awesome name

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