PC backgrounds
PC backgrounds
I while ago my group did character gen for Dresden Files. In it have you to write this little stories (about a paragraph or two) and then exchange the stories and write your character into that story. I've done this twice.and while it sounds great on paper, honestly, I don't like it. Everyone sits around struggling with what to write and it sucks the energy out of room.
However, it does tie the characters together fairly well and that might help roleplaying. So, I was curious what techniques might be fun before a game starts that helps tie the characters together, but more importantly gets the PCs roleplaying with each other?
However, it does tie the characters together fairly well and that might help roleplaying. So, I was curious what techniques might be fun before a game starts that helps tie the characters together, but more importantly gets the PCs roleplaying with each other?
- devlin1
- Adroit Pirate
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I have no concrete ideas for this, but I'd love to work up some sort of randomizer for PC connections -- either a table or cards. I have no idea how it'd work, but I find that being forced to make sense of a random background element like that really inspires creativity.
F'rinstance, in Sigils, my sword-and-sorcery hack of Icons, everything about a character is randomly determined (as it is in Icons too, but in Sigils I think it goes a little deeper). I've enjoyed rolling characters up and trying to figure out how the Hell they were, say, a thief, a city guardsman, and a noble. So it seems to me like something similar for character connections could be just as fruitful.
F'rinstance, in Sigils, my sword-and-sorcery hack of Icons, everything about a character is randomly determined (as it is in Icons too, but in Sigils I think it goes a little deeper). I've enjoyed rolling characters up and trying to figure out how the Hell they were, say, a thief, a city guardsman, and a noble. So it seems to me like something similar for character connections could be just as fruitful.
Mike Olson
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
- Uber_snotling
- One-Armed Skeleton
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I think Devlin's idea is a good one. While I also like the idea of writing connections based on background story, it always tends to get people stuck and slow things down too much.
It would be better to have a set of 6 or 12 common background elements and either roll dice or choose from the table if they get stuck. Having a cheat sheet can help to spur ideas and get things moving. Alternately, don't wait on the connections and figure those things out during play. Just get going and let the stats and background work themselves out later.
Off the top of my head, here's some stuff.
It would be better to have a set of 6 or 12 common background elements and either roll dice or choose from the table if they get stuck. Having a cheat sheet can help to spur ideas and get things moving. Alternately, don't wait on the connections and figure those things out during play. Just get going and let the stats and background work themselves out later.
Off the top of my head, here's some stuff.
- Relatives
- Organization
- Childhood friends
- Competitors
- Lovers
- Common goal
- Common enemy
- McGuffin
- Fiscal ties
- devlin1
- Adroit Pirate
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[quote="cczernia"]Any ideas on how to bring the relationship into play... mechanically?[/quote]
The/A big difference, though, is that in
Mike Olson
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
[quote="devlin1"][i]Smallville[/i] does a good job of this, IMO. Your relationships with other PCs are created organically during chargen and rated in dice. By complete coincidence (seriously),[i]Leftovers[/i] works similarly.[/quote]
I really like the idea of relationships (PCs or NPCs) as mechanics. Unfortunately, I've never seen it used well in game. A lot of times it gets over-looked.
I'm looking forward to trying Smallville because the relationships are the core mechanic and hard to ignore.
- devlin1
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[quote="cczernia"]I'm looking forward to trying Smallville because the relationships are the core mechanic and hard to ignore.[/quote]
On a related note, I may run
Mike Olson
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
- devlin1
- Adroit Pirate
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[quote="cczernia"]Sweet, just don't run it on a Friday.:confused: [/quote]
Okay.
Mike Olson
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
- jimmy corrigan
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- devlin1
- Adroit Pirate
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[quote="cczernia"]Good call. PC initiated flashbacks that involve other players have worked well for me in a number of games.[/quote]
Isn't that a central feature of
Mike Olson
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
"In this economy, it's not easy to feed a growing family. So we eat Haunkkah gelt for dinner and look at a picture of broccoli." --Paul F. Tompkins
Spirit of the Blank: A blog.
Roll Some Dice: Another blog.
[quote="devlin1"]Isn't that a central feature of[i]Leverage[/i] ?[/quote]
It's a central feature of Lady Blackbird, that's for sure! I had the impression that the flashback mechanic in Leverage was something to allow players to set up something for a heist/con/job (ala Ocean's Eleven).
Hey man, I'm slinging volume and fat stacking benjies, you know what I mean? I can't be all about spelling and shit!