2 years ago

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Today we look at tips I would give new players to JUMP START a D&D 5E (and other TTRPGs) player character's life at the table and in the world.

#1 - Roleplay against type
This can be by far the easiest thing to do! Think of the thief with the heart of gold or vulgar paladin. Don't lock yourself into thinking that all rogues are brooding lone wolves, some are James Bond!

#2 - Adapt real world archetypes
Talking about Bond, bring real world archetypes in game. Think of what would make a spy, and what make spies cool, and craft a character around that concept. Have your stats tell the story of your character and assist you in roleplaying!

#3 - Have an incomplete backstory
The one that annoys me the most is when players have complete backstories with no holes to fill in. If you ever wonder why your DM doesn't integrate your backstory into the world or game, or does so seldomly, this might be a reason. Your characters aren't gods, and couldn't possibly know every single detail that they don't see from their perspective.

#4 - Have your backstory told from your character's perspective
As mentioned above, let your characters tell the story from what they see. They can only be at one place at one time, so let them tell you in their own way what they experience. This should be focused on why they became adventurers, and not their whole life stories. Check out Matt and Talesin from Critical Role talk about creating Percy's backstory below.

#5 - Characters should have 2 relationships with other PCs or NPCs
This goes with tip #3. If you have a backstory, but have no one from your backstory alive to interact with, how do we do anything with your backstory? Many players don't have any NPCs alive from their backstories, like their parents, because they don't want the DM to mess with them or use them against the player. Why not? They are fictional characters! Have fun with it! Go on crazy adventures trying to save them or help them!

#6 - Large plot holes in your backstory is fine!
And to bring it all in, have large holes in the plot in your backstories, or large chunks of time that your character doesn't know about. These things give the DM the ability to fill them in for you, and help with the collaboration aspect of D&D. It assists your DM making the story, so take a load off your DM and give him room, literally, to work with your character!

Bonus: Don't be an annoying character archetype
Briefly mentioned before, but don't be the annoying character! Rogues are the typical punching bags for this; don't play a rogue that is a lone wolf, or that steals from the party. For newer players, this can create weird circumstances that are hard to navigate unless you're a skilled roleplayer. Really, the "lone wolf" archetype only works if you work with another member of the party, even though, yes, that does defeat the purpose of the lone wolf.

Matt & Talesin talk backstories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT3FR5ujQBw

Video Title: THE BEST PC Backstory tips to JUMP START great characters for D&D 5E

#dnd #5e #pcbackstories

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