What really makes a character in any given RPG awesome? Sure, high stats help but they guarantee neither success nor that they will be interesting in any way. Maybe six years from now, you and your friends will be sitting around the table talking about how a character was incredibly strong. But that’s only if they did something with it in the game which really was worth remembering.
After running decades of games, the characters who stand out were run by players who ran them extraordinarily well. But what makes a character an “A-lister” who will be weaved into the lore of both the stories of both you and your friends in years to come? To answer this we have created a list of the seven things which will make your characters the most memorable.
1. Solid Roleplay Right From the Start
In the first game, even the most experienced players are still working on how their new character is going to be roleplayed. In these fledgling moments, leaning into simple givens, like what their backstory is, can be extremely helpful. Just touch base with the person who is running your game to see how much they are willing to incorporate into the story. And while not everyone needs or should write an essay during character creation, the more you put in the more you will have to work with later.
Then couple that for whatever passes for morality in the system you happen to be playing and you will be headed in the right direction. Granted if you put ten DMs in a room and asked them how they recommend roleplaying a Lawful Neutral character, you will get some wildly different answers. While oddly funny it also means your starting point is broadly defined and left to your creativity. As this will get you thinking about how your character will react in different situations, how they view their new party members, and the very world around them.
2. Determine What Their Motivations Are and Chase Them
A seasoned veteran during one of my games was getting to know his party several sessions in and asked each of them what their goals were. Some of which really didn’t have any, stating that they “were just along for the ride.” This is not a terrible answer but can create two very similar problems.
The first being, if a player isn’t sure what they want out of their adventuring life, it could be more difficult to roleplay from an undetermined position. Unless they are playing a character who just got pulled into things against their will. Secondly, the DM inherently will want to feed their players things which should motivate them throughout the game. Which is now going to be challenging for them as now they are now going to provide plot hooks and rewards which may not interest the player.
If you as a player are not in sync with the DM, then delivering your best performance may be an uphill battle.
3. Play off the other Characters
There is something to be said by a character-driven plot in a story. Because even the greatest of stories are only as good as the characters within it. To help make the game chemistry more interesting, try starting with asking questions about the other characters in your party as if you were actually trying to get to know them. Then use these details to start conversations in places where there are opportunities in the story such as when you are in a tavern or on watch together.
If a character has a quirky tendency, lean into it with them and have fun with it. Likewise, if they happen to have plans, goals or dreams, and if it’s something which your character would go along with, then try and support them. You’re in a party for a reason and hopefully all of the characters at the table feel like the others have both their back and best interests in mind.
4. Be the One Who Knows What’s Going On
While this sounds like a no brainer, by the time you get even six sessions in, a lot has probably happened. If that doesn’t sound like the case, then try giving a fast concise recap of your last six games. As when you’re recounting twenty hours of game play, either your answer will turn into a ten minute speech or details will get skipped. So make your life easier and get in the habit of jotting some notes down during the game so you can look at them after the fact.
Some players over the years have actually transcribed entire games. But unless that campaign is actually taking place in a courtroom, it feels like overkill. Instead just have something handy during the game which allows you to write down names and places as needed. And while it can become easy to get lost in the lore, try to capture key details which pertain to the story or information the DM has placed emphasis on. To which sometimes you could be barking up the wrong tree and others you might have picked up on a game changing clue.
5. Make The Most Of Your Time
No matter how you slice things, you are only going to get so much screen time in any game. Or at least you should, because you don’t want to be that person who is the reason why the DM needs to hand out the talking stick. To make the most effective use of the time you have to contribute to the game, it’s worth considering having a loose plan going into the session. Now don’t go Ocean’s Eleven with your idea, because just like with character creation, how you see things in your head is probably not how everything is going to shake out once the dice start rolling.
The same applies to when combat starts as you should be clear on how your new character abilities operate, especially if you just got a new level. Character’s who cast spells should likewise have a pretty decent idea about how their spells work before the start of the game. This will allow you to make faster and more tactically sound decisions during combat.
6. There Is No Substitution For Personality
While mentioned last, it’s definitely not the least. As if all of the above six qualities were puzzle pieces this one would be at the center of the picture. Is your character brave even in situations where it’s hardly rational? Or is your character the coward who finds their courage during the course of the adventure? Are they compassionate, passionate, selfless, reckless, or that person that always seems to have a wisecrack for any occasion?
Just keep in mind that, like in real life, people change and so can a character. Or at least they can if the story and the events of the game take them down that path. And character development can be just as much as a journey for the individual in question as the quest they are on.
Final Thoughts
Some of the best players keep in mind that even with their carefully woven backstory and plans within plans that their characters are still operating in a cooperative game. Which can be a challenge at times as even with your closest friends, you may have entirely different play styles. And it also can be extremely tempting to keep chasing your individual cool moments. But a truly great player will make sure that their character has their time to shine and helps the others have the kinds of moments which brings them back to the table as well.
And what does any memorable character need? DICE! Make sure to stop by our affiliate link at FanRoll dice for 10% off your entire order!
IMHO, too much emphasis is placed on backstory today. Too much time is spent looking back for inspiration instead of forward.
I see this more and more. Players come to the table with some thing, usually an event, that provides thier characters motivation. But as these backstory arcs get resolved, there can become this sense of “now what?” I feel this is one of the factors that lead campaigns to peter out around 12th level or so. In my experience, it only takes one disinterested player to sideline a campaign.
And that’s when the game used to get good. Your character’s arc was expanding not concluding. When your beginnings are more humble, they’re easier to leave behind. More like finishing a chapter rather than finishing the book.