Hello All,
I've been reading the message boards to get some information on how to run my own SCAP campaign. I have to say, there's a lot of things that I've read that I would have never thought up. This is especially useful for a first time DM like myself!
Unfortunately, all the information is scattered across the message board. I am hoping that you will join in giving a summary of the posts in one convenient location.
Post any type of comment that is associated with the subject. For ease of use, a "mini-subject" (ex, "Subject: Character Generation, Pre-created or PC Created?") at the top of the post will help to keep the board "clean". Also, instead of repeating information, please use links to different message posts and websites.
I appreciate any help!
Todd
SUBJECT: Pregenerated or PC Created?
What is your take on Pregenerated characters? In our group, we tend to let the Charisma and related skills go by the wayside.
Since this campaign relies on Charisma, Diplomacy and Knowledge skills so heavily, I was thinking of pregenerating the characters. This will give them a framework to work from, but allow them to descide the future (of course, based slightly off of the pregen character).
We also tend to lack on back history, so I thought I'd come up with something to start them off.
My plan was to make up about 3 characters for each player. This will give them a choice, plus a reserve in the envent of character death. Of course, after the initial framework is done, I would entertain the players creating their own.
Thoughts?
Todd
PS, I like the post I saw about having the players level up the PC before the event. This could allow the player to focus on roleplaying multi-classing instead of just "Oh, he wants to be a rogue now".
If your players have any experience, both of those seem like really bad ideas. Players like to make their own characters. Having the DM assign you a character is a sure recipe for players not caring.
Instead, I'd tell the players up front that "this campaign features lots of diplomacy and NPC interaction. Charisma will be important stat in this campaign as compared to some of our previous games." Spend a game session working on characters. If everyone is dumping charisma, give them a subtle warning. Work on history's together to get those done.
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Let each player choose what he wants to play, but remind them, that the difficulty of the campaign needs to have all 4 standard roles covered (tank, thief, priest, mage). I have then started an email exchange with each player to play out some detail from his background story and tying the character histories together and leading to the meeting of the group.
(at one point 3 players were in the same castle at the same time, and each got a glimpse of the other, but nothing more... but their stories became entwined in the same event, each from a different angle. That way the characters shared a bond that they found out during their meeting, one was assassinating an evil wizard as an act of vengeance, the other was called to help the dying spellcaster, the third was staking out the wizard's mansion to gain access to the library, the fourth was a hired hand of the spellcaster in obtaining some goods, which led to the vengeance motive of character no. 1, and so on).
I had a separate email dialogue with each player, and the reaction of the players when they realized how entwined their backstories were, were a wonderful reward...