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CharGen: How Many Steps?

Started by One Horse Town, January 26, 2012, 09:42:15 AM

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One Horse Town

Quote from: TristramEvans;509445Here's the steps I use:

1. Player comes up with premise for character based on the campaign pitch.
2. Player writes up a 1 to 3 paragraph description of the character or fills out a questionnaire.
3. GM reads said premise, identifies keywords, and translates the character into game terms. Negotiations, if any, may take place.

Is that in every game you play?

TristramEvans

Quote from: One Horse Town;509451Is that in every game you play?

Just the ones I run, unless I'm "trying out" a new system. "Character modeling" has been my preferred form of chargen since I first started playing FASERIP in the late 80's.

If the players know the system well enough then I usually would simply replace step 2 with player models character as they see them and then step 3 would be me, as GM, revising it for campaign appropriateness and negotiating on stats, if necessary.

I keep random roll as an option for players who can't think of a premise, but it's pretty rare that it comes up in my groups. Usually I pitch the game well ahead of time and provide a bunch of media references to establish the themes, tone and genre I'm going for, so by the time we get to playing everyone has an idea for what kind of character they'd like to play.

crkrueger

I'm very much a "character personality emerges during play" type of person and there's no better place to start the "play" then in chargen, which is why I far and away prefer a lifepath system to anything else out there.

I don't really care how detailed it is, as long as it flows logically and makes sense as a real lifepath.
Even the the "cutting edge" storygamers for all their talk of narrative, plot, and drama are fucking obsessed with the god damned rules they use. - Estar

Yes, Sean Connery\'s thumb does indeed do megadamage. - Spinachcat

Isuldur is a badass because he stopped Sauron with a broken sword, but Iluvatar is the badass because he stopped Sauron with a hobbit. -Malleus Arianorum

"Tangency Edition" D&D would have no classes or races, but 17 genders to choose from. -TristramEvans

Ancientgamer1970

I do not use steps to create characters.

One Horse Town


TristramEvans

Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;509514I do not use steps to create characters.


Right, just like you play OD&D "by the book".

misterguignol

Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;509514I do not use steps to create characters.

Never change, Commando Cohen.

Rincewind1

Quote from: misterguignol;509544Never change, Commando Cohen.

I don't get it. Care to explain?
Furthermore, I consider that  This is Why We Don\'t Like You thread should be closed

flyingmice

Quote from: One Horse Town;509359So, how many steps is your optimum number when creating a character. What becomes too much?

More than most.

-clash
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RPGPundit

Well let's see:

1. ROLL attributes
2. choose race and/or class and derive bonuses and abilities thereof.
3. equip.

There can be an optional step of "choose skills", or of some kind of random rolls for background details, etc.

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