One of the best ways to improve your roleplaying skills in D...D is by creating a better character background. Creating a better D...D character background will give you, and your Dungeon Master, more opportunities and character hooks for roleplaying. Here are a few tips on how to create a better D...D character background by using easy to create plots hooks and personality traits.
Choose one thing that your character will die for. This is a focal point to the character. It could be any attack on a religious member of his church causes him to go into a blind rage against the attacker. Or maybe he is fighting to save his people from an evil overlord. Anything that will help his people or hurt the evil overlord is good enough for him to die for.
Decide on three things that your D...D character will always fight over. Maybe he has an unrelenting hatred for trolls and whenever he is near them he must find them and attack them. Or, maybe whenever he encounters citizens from a small, secluded town he feels compelled to fight them over past wrong-doings. Choose three possible situations or trigger mechanisms that your character will fight for.
Choose one thing that your character absolutely fears. This fear is something that will drastically alter how you play the character when he encounters this fear. It could be that the character has a fear of the open sea and will absolutely not travel on boats. Or, maybe he has a fear of fighting in high areas, like on a large bridge or in an open tower.
Choose one characteristic that defines your character to other people. Perhaps the primary characteristic you choose is benevolent. This character gives money to the poor when he can. He also lets defeated enemies leave the battlefield without dying if they fought honorably. A character with a vengeful characteristic would be more inclined to remember those that have defeated him and plot their demise for a later date. A vengeful character rarely ever lets acts of transgression towards him pass.
Pick one additional character that is important to your character. This character could be another person in the party, or it could be an NPC. Then you need to define the relationship between your character and the other character. This could be a good connection, someone who has always been there to help you in your time of need. Or, it could be someone that always has a negative influence in your life. Maybe when you're at your worst, this person seems to always show up and makes things even more miserable.
With these seven different characteristics, one thing that you will die for, the three things you will always fight for, and one thing that you are afraid of, and one characteristic that defines your personality, and one character that is important to you, you've instantly created a small amount of background, personality, and a play style for the characters. Answering these questions for your character dramatically increases the chance for fun and dramatic roleplaying opportunities in your game, as well as starting the foundation for your D...D character background.
Choose one thing that your character will die for. This is a focal point to the character. It could be any attack on a religious member of his church causes him to go into a blind rage against the attacker. Or maybe he is fighting to save his people from an evil overlord. Anything that will help his people or hurt the evil overlord is good enough for him to die for.
Decide on three things that your D...D character will always fight over. Maybe he has an unrelenting hatred for trolls and whenever he is near them he must find them and attack them. Or, maybe whenever he encounters citizens from a small, secluded town he feels compelled to fight them over past wrong-doings. Choose three possible situations or trigger mechanisms that your character will fight for.
Choose one thing that your character absolutely fears. This fear is something that will drastically alter how you play the character when he encounters this fear. It could be that the character has a fear of the open sea and will absolutely not travel on boats. Or, maybe he has a fear of fighting in high areas, like on a large bridge or in an open tower.
Choose one characteristic that defines your character to other people. Perhaps the primary characteristic you choose is benevolent. This character gives money to the poor when he can. He also lets defeated enemies leave the battlefield without dying if they fought honorably. A character with a vengeful characteristic would be more inclined to remember those that have defeated him and plot their demise for a later date. A vengeful character rarely ever lets acts of transgression towards him pass.
Pick one additional character that is important to your character. This character could be another person in the party, or it could be an NPC. Then you need to define the relationship between your character and the other character. This could be a good connection, someone who has always been there to help you in your time of need. Or, it could be someone that always has a negative influence in your life. Maybe when you're at your worst, this person seems to always show up and makes things even more miserable.
With these seven different characteristics, one thing that you will die for, the three things you will always fight for, and one thing that you are afraid of, and one characteristic that defines your personality, and one character that is important to you, you've instantly created a small amount of background, personality, and a play style for the characters. Answering these questions for your character dramatically increases the chance for fun and dramatic roleplaying opportunities in your game, as well as starting the foundation for your D...D character background.
About the Author:
Espen writes articles about Roleplaying Games and Dungeons and Dragons Character information.
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