Bringing Player Character Together
Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 8:45 pm
Someone in another section of the message boards wanted to know how other people brought their characters together ---beyond the standard "okay, you met in a tavern or bar..."
Here's how I bring mine together in a BTS campaign... Keep in mind, that this is for long-term games, not just one nighters, although it works for them as well...
I generally have my players write down a background for their character which includes occupation, family, etc. This usually gives me time to piece together a "novel-like" story arc that weaves everyone together.
Using this kind of separate introduction for each player's character adds SO MUCH depth, that I think it really lets the players get to know each other. Many times, players who don't happen to be playing at the time (because with this kind of intro, they have to wait for a tid bit until their scene is up again) simply sit and watch, enthralled... as if watching scenes from movie that skips from one story to another (like how Independence Day starts out).
Example: I have 4 players characters...
1. Wedding Videographer
2. Deputy Sheriff
3. Fast Food Employee
4. Truck Driver
Okay, how do you get these people into a story... TOGETHER?!!
Think spooky. Say there's a werewolf...
1. The truck driver is on a lonely interstate highway; a large dog (werewolf) jumps out in front of him; the truck crashes dramatically; gas leaks all over...
2. The deputy sheriff is eating a burrito on a lonely stretch of country road; he/she spills salsa on his/her uniform; looking down, away from the radar gun, he/she might see a form (werewolf) run across the road; as he/she opens door and draws gun to investigate, the police band CB blares that a terrible accident just happend; being the closest, he/she responds first...
3. The car behind the truck witnesses the accident; the wedding videographer just left a gig and is tired, maybe had a little to drink; he stops to assist the driver, to SAVE him; as he's pulling the incoherent trucker from the wreckage, a werewolf snarls a gumline of teeth at them, preparing to attack!
4. The deputy shows up just in time to pump rounds into the beast, which turns to attack him; the sheriff may or may not get bitten (try not to kill him at this early stage if possible, but hey if it happens then oh well); the werewolf might get knocked back, slipping on the gasoline; it rolls, HATING the smell...
5. Either the trucker or videographer flicks a cigarette at the beast, which lights up (yeah, the players probably WILL think of that trick; if not, then you tell them the truck sparks and... POOF!)
6. ALL players have a chance to run to the woods, for cover, while the werewolf struggles with the fire... and once to safety, the entire scene BLOWS UP!!!
7. A fast food restaurant crew is having a hard time with a smelly customer who wants his burgers RAW; the manager tries to soothe the man, but the man attacks him! There's a fight in the kitchen involving the crew (and the one fast food character) who beats the man off with a deep fat fryer French-frie scoop loaded with hot oil; the man struggles to the floor, laughing... and passes out, the stench of booze on his breath; just then, the other 3 PCs make it to the restaurant
8. They meet, they talk, they call for help... just when the ragged customer snaps eyes open... glowing werewolf yellow... and changes right there, in front of them. The werewolf jumps drunkenly to the countertop... eyeing them dangerously...
...and then you finish it from there. Keep in mind that killing the characters right now would NOT help your story. The purpose of this INITIAL encounter is NOT to play PRECISELY by the rules; the purpose is to weave the characters into a single story from very different beginnings. Usually their occupations dictate how you'd do this. If you get stumped, simply try making them relatives. Use your imagination. It might mean skipping here and there (at the beginning only) and segueing a bit, but man, it really comes together. And use adventure/horror/sci-fi music if you can.
Chai
Here's how I bring mine together in a BTS campaign... Keep in mind, that this is for long-term games, not just one nighters, although it works for them as well...
I generally have my players write down a background for their character which includes occupation, family, etc. This usually gives me time to piece together a "novel-like" story arc that weaves everyone together.
Using this kind of separate introduction for each player's character adds SO MUCH depth, that I think it really lets the players get to know each other. Many times, players who don't happen to be playing at the time (because with this kind of intro, they have to wait for a tid bit until their scene is up again) simply sit and watch, enthralled... as if watching scenes from movie that skips from one story to another (like how Independence Day starts out).
Example: I have 4 players characters...
1. Wedding Videographer
2. Deputy Sheriff
3. Fast Food Employee
4. Truck Driver
Okay, how do you get these people into a story... TOGETHER?!!
Think spooky. Say there's a werewolf...
1. The truck driver is on a lonely interstate highway; a large dog (werewolf) jumps out in front of him; the truck crashes dramatically; gas leaks all over...
2. The deputy sheriff is eating a burrito on a lonely stretch of country road; he/she spills salsa on his/her uniform; looking down, away from the radar gun, he/she might see a form (werewolf) run across the road; as he/she opens door and draws gun to investigate, the police band CB blares that a terrible accident just happend; being the closest, he/she responds first...
3. The car behind the truck witnesses the accident; the wedding videographer just left a gig and is tired, maybe had a little to drink; he stops to assist the driver, to SAVE him; as he's pulling the incoherent trucker from the wreckage, a werewolf snarls a gumline of teeth at them, preparing to attack!
4. The deputy shows up just in time to pump rounds into the beast, which turns to attack him; the sheriff may or may not get bitten (try not to kill him at this early stage if possible, but hey if it happens then oh well); the werewolf might get knocked back, slipping on the gasoline; it rolls, HATING the smell...
5. Either the trucker or videographer flicks a cigarette at the beast, which lights up (yeah, the players probably WILL think of that trick; if not, then you tell them the truck sparks and... POOF!)
6. ALL players have a chance to run to the woods, for cover, while the werewolf struggles with the fire... and once to safety, the entire scene BLOWS UP!!!
7. A fast food restaurant crew is having a hard time with a smelly customer who wants his burgers RAW; the manager tries to soothe the man, but the man attacks him! There's a fight in the kitchen involving the crew (and the one fast food character) who beats the man off with a deep fat fryer French-frie scoop loaded with hot oil; the man struggles to the floor, laughing... and passes out, the stench of booze on his breath; just then, the other 3 PCs make it to the restaurant
8. They meet, they talk, they call for help... just when the ragged customer snaps eyes open... glowing werewolf yellow... and changes right there, in front of them. The werewolf jumps drunkenly to the countertop... eyeing them dangerously...
...and then you finish it from there. Keep in mind that killing the characters right now would NOT help your story. The purpose of this INITIAL encounter is NOT to play PRECISELY by the rules; the purpose is to weave the characters into a single story from very different beginnings. Usually their occupations dictate how you'd do this. If you get stumped, simply try making them relatives. Use your imagination. It might mean skipping here and there (at the beginning only) and segueing a bit, but man, it really comes together. And use adventure/horror/sci-fi music if you can.
Chai
