So… Character crisis.
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Since I've joined CoA, I've been having some major issues with sticking to one particular character. I'm sure many of you have seen them, and I hope it hasn't been too annoying. My character vault is HUGE, and it's really killing me, this problem I have. I was thinking of just making a new account so I don't keep switching, buuut…
What do you guys suggest? The character I've stuck around with the most is Rikkash DeLuth. He's by far the longest running and highest level character, I just don't know how to proceed with him. I don't want all that time to go to waste, but... I don't know how most of you stick with one character. It's something I've been trying to get a grip on.
Any suggestions? They are most welcome.
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truth be told, I have had a similar problem. I have found out that tying one of my characters to a plot seems to cause me to play them more. having a character that feels special and other players are getting something from it ya know?
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For me, Either plots or personal interaction and close ties to others. Eitehr one makes em alive.
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I find that people tend to swap characters often if they are more interested in instant gratification. Producing a story, or working towards a goal can take time, rather then moving onto that 'next neat thing'.
I have a friend who I've DM'ed for years who loved to swap P.Cs (To the table's chagrin) and what it came down to was him realizing that chasing after the next fun thing meant he often left behind existing stories too readily.
Honestly, just stick with a concept for a couple weeks and see if it grows on you. I know I as a player do prefer to talk to character I know are sticking around, rather then the flavor of the week that someone happens to be using at the time. You only get invested in your P.Cs through time spent, I think.
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I find the toughest for me is also the initial grind. Once I get chugging on something I can run with it. Not really a useful piece of advice, just saying I have a similar problem.
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Don't pick a character, pick a plot. Build your character around that plot.
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I get this a lot, and my advice is actually pretty much the opposite of Thune's. At least in how I PERSONALLY deal with it.
I make a character, with a very basic concept. Maybe a quirk or two. Maybe one or two long term goals. Someone who can really be part of anything, I then throw myself into the world and see what happens. To date this method has gotten me a werespider who was duke and sole survivor of the Plebian court (or is he…), and a Badass star cultist warlock.
Let the world happen around you, and take opportunities as they come. I find that if you set too many goals early on you get disheartened as you realize how long it will acctually take.
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My personal advice is this. Spend ten minutes forming you character's personality. Spend the rest of his career letting the environment form the rest.
React to major and minor events. Notice flaws in others (IC flaws) and strive to be not like that, or if bad enough, oppose them openly. Most importantly for me, separate my RL self and desires -entirely- from my PC. Be that little cartoon in his little cartoon world, and the rest comes naturally.
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I do agree more with Steve, especially on the point of the goals. I would say the app system isn't exactly perfect for that but for lack of better alternative it's what we've got. Focus more on a linear story rather than thinking about goals. The goals will be achieved as the story progresses.
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it's nice if you can get your character into a plot that is going places and doing stuff like the Dwarves of Thunderholm plot. however there a plots that just die because they are going no where and don't get enough attention. The latter I think is why people don't specifically go plot first character second. I personally think that A good plot is worth tying your character down with but there are other ways to get your character.
an interesting way of keeping a single character is running your own plot. work up to a goal that requires others to succeed, and then create an outline of how to get there. once you have done that explain how your character is going to do all those things and then, bring it to a DM to help work on it with you. -
I have honestly just made random characters and /ran/ with them. It's hard to not get involved in plots if you have any kind of desire for social interaction.
Tara - healer bard to test out Celestial Crescendo
Maria - paladin of the goddess of magic (to support WW Labelle, but he died and I kept running with her)
Syclya - ARCANE TRICKSTER DAMMIT
Valor - protodruid -
my most successful characters by my own definition have been those that had a personality and were dropped in the world with vague plans at best. The ones i have ended up applying for seem to have had less success as they are often more contrived and less real i think.
A character that reacts to the world rather than a concept that has preconceived ideas is often better imo.
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the only way to break out of a character rut is to rack up as many low level throwaways as you have time to make, until something sticks. That's always worked for me. The best way to make sure you -never- break a rut, is to find your highest level longest running PC and play it.
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Group concept ftw
Having others depending on you, in addition to always having folks to interact with can help
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A lot of the advice in this thread is good advice. I’ll throw in my two pence.
Manage your expectations. I particularly agree with the advice about building the character, first, and working on its personality, but be aware that the character is more or less its own reward. You created a character, and now you get to play it. People have fun in different ways, so try to pick a character that you think you’re going to have fun with, but understand that sometimes even the best characters can get stale and that it’s a normal part of the process of playing characters.
For me, when a character is getting stale, I look back at my character’s personality and find something that I can do that’s drastic or off the deep end. We’re playing heroes and villains, after all, and mediocrity doesn’t make it into books or movies, so it won’t make you feel like you’re really accomplishing anything if you’re not taking chances, sometimes huge ones. Find something BOLD to do, even if it’s a little (or a lot of) crazy. Even if you fail, chances are it’s going to be fun as hell, and having fun on a character is one of the main reasons we stick with them.
Nobody creates your fun but you, and so you can't expect other people to make your characters fun- rather, you should find fun things to do with your characters. Once you're doing fun things, the rest of it just clicks into place naturally.
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CoA takes patience to get the most out of it. I would echo some of what was said in this thread, and completely disagree with other things, but the reality is that there are many angles to approach the game from and none are more right then the next. The only universal thing that is important is doing something that is fun for you. If you are having fun, you will be more into it, and other people will be drawn to your character because of that.
But you do have to stick with it for a little if you want to get any where, that's where the patience comes in. I know as a player personally I would be less inclined to get involved with a player that I have seen on 4 different characters the past week, because often said involvement takes time that seems wasted when you show up with someone else the next day. It was never anything personal against the player, especially since most new players start that way and end up settling on one character at a time with coa experience, but hobby time is limited and I always wanted to feel like I was doing shit that would continue to matter 2 days later.
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As a DM, I am definitely less inclined to do anything for a player that I See playing a dozen diff pcs in a day as well.
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Putting my two cents in here as well.
i found whats been working for Asellus is the fact that I built the character not the plot. It may sound against the norm. But I really dont think of a plot until I get a feel for the character. To me what is more interesting then the plot is the person I am making itself. I play people that seem real. They have hopes and dreams. Wants and hates. I get to know this person before i play them. From there I have enjoyed letting people influence how my character grows from there. Because then others get invested in this person more then it would if you were just setting up a plot to shoot for.As for goals. I never set myself out for a goal until I have a feel for that person. How the are… How they act. from there I tailor goals that fit what that person would do and work from there. If you make a person rather then a character you are going to have a lot more fun. However opinions are like assholes everyone's got one and they all smell.
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I agree Rabbit, I don't know my PC too well until I have a chance to play them and get to know their quirks a bit better.
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@King-Dobby:
I agree Rabbit, I don't know my PC too well until I have a chance to play them and get to know their quirks a bit better.
The DMs have been really helpful with helping me flesh out my character more lately. It's definitely easier to think of things to do once you have a person to go with them.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I always get is "do what your character would do" instead of trying to fit them into a pre-scripted role.
