Does anybody have any cool ideas how to insert new PCs into an existing campagin and what to do with the characters of ex-players? (provided the new players won't simply take the old players' character as is...)
Thanks in advance.
Removing old characters can be done pretty much however you wish -- it could be anything from a divine quest that takes them in another direction to the stray crossbow bolt that kills them without warning. A "Rip Van Winkle" type incident could remove the old character while allowing for him to return at a later date, or for the silly among us, a lovestruck monster might come out of nowhere and kidnap the former PC, spawning quests in its wake.
Bringing new characters in is trickier, particularly if your PCs are prone to paranoia regarding newcomers. In an urban environment a new PC might be a relevant contact (formerly an NPC whom you had glossed over) who shows her mettle when the party's enemies try to make a ruckus. I may be bringing in a character through methods along those lines later, as my "backup" PC in a game I'm playing in has ranks in Profession (Barrister) and the majority of the party has disagreements with the law.
In the traditional "isolated dungeon crawl" you're more likely to run into fellow adventurers, or captives.
Of course, if the players are willing to work to give the new character ties to the old ones, you have more room to bring them in at strange places -- especially if the new character has the skills to follow people in the relevant terrain. The paladin's childhood friend might leave a trail of befuddled taverngoers throughout the city before she shows up in the middle of the party demanding to know what that rapscallion has been up to, while the rogue's long-forgotten cousin might have left the wilderness and tracked him even into the cave they were forced into to take refuge from the storm.
For that matter, whatever will get the PC into the party with a minimum of fuss and bother will work. The rest of the fluff and drama is optional, but certainly pleasant if those present will have fun with it.
Other ex-player character ideas.
1) Character "retires" and uses current "wealth" from adventuring career to set him/herself up in a profession of some sort. Usually, one frequently used or highly scored or of particular PC interest during the game. Character then becomes an NPC contact for the group, who all know what he/she's capable of and how much trust to give.
2) Character becomes annoyed/disaffected with party. Past problems get elevated to a critical level. Character leaves group, preferably in the most trouble possible, makes his/her way back to civilization ahead of the group and begins bad-mouthing them, bearing false witness to authorities, buying hit contarcts or whatever is appropriate for the level of animosity.
3) Character is killed "in the line of duty". Depending on group relationship, the character's shade/ghost can tag along with the group. This could become either a help or hinderance. The ghost pops up to truly haunt one or more currend PC's, helping the monsters locate them, causing bad luck, or becoming a general overall pain. The ghost could also, if really friendly, become a "guardian angel" along the lines of Conan's girlfriend. "Do you wanna live forever?" I would personally limit this to one intervention per PC, but that call would be your.
4) Character is removed from party by being "Majic Jarred" by real Ghost or some other hostile mind-controlling creature and/or spell and becomes a minion of the enemy. Extra element here is that the part gets/has to kill him/her later in the adventure.
5) Character is hired away. a) Offered job as King's Ranger, a military commission, prestigious teaching position at local academy (mage/clerical/or even secular). As per #1 above, the PC can then become an NPC contact, just not as accessible or as ready to commit to doing things that would risk his/her own position if found out.
Thanks!
4) Character is removed from party by being "Majic Jarred" by real Ghost or some other hostile mind-controlling creature and/or spell and becomes a minion of the enemy. Extra element here is that the part gets/has to kill him/her later in the adventure.
One ploy I thought particularly fun was in a WotC free mini-adventure (the ghosts of Aniel or something), in one possible conclusion is a ghost attempting to possess a PC, and then using a gem that allowed a one-time wish to make the body his and become that PC, in a way. I don't remember if the ghost assumed the PC's physical form, or if the character's body basically reverted to the ghost's form in life, effectively true ressurecting him. Just a cool thought.
4) Character is removed from party by being "Majic Jarred" by real Ghost or some other hostile mind-controlling creature and/or spell and becomes a minion of the enemy. Extra element here is that the part gets/has to kill him/her later in the adventure.One ploy I thought particularly fun was in a WotC free mini-adventure (the ghosts of Aniel or something), in one possible conclusion is a ghost attempting to possess a PC, and then using a gem that allowed a one-time wish to make the body his and become that PC, in a way. I don't remember if the ghost assumed the PC's physical form, or if the character's body basically reverted to the ghost's form in life, effectively true ressurecting him. Just a cool thought.
I like this one but can't use it, my world is too low magic...
Try this scenario, just thought of it while reading the posts.
the old pc has to stop to either take care of a family member or a guild brother or sister or someone from a group they belong to, let your imagination do all the hard work, i'm being lazy today :P
the new pc belongs to either the old pc's family or guild who just would happily join in for their compadres place.
sometimes i'm so simple it scares me :)
To add verisimillitude to your game, think back to a time when someone left your life and use the details of that time to enrich your description. Mark Rein Hagen stole: "creativity is hiding your sources"
A teacher left your school, a coworker left the office...
A seldom used tactic is to have the character simply disappear. The characters may get very spooked if you provide several possibilities but no clear indication of his or her fate. Disappearing on a misty night while it is his or her turn to keep watch. The party wakes to the mist lifting...
About ten years ago, I had this girl player that played with us for about half a year, then started to miss a few games, then came only once in a while. We (the rest of the group and I) were getting a bit annoyed with this 'lack of interest' on her part.
So imagine one day when she did show up to play, about an hour and a half into the game my doorbell rings... It was her supposedly new-ex-boyfriend and some of his friends that wanted to talk to her. So she goes outside while we wait... and wait... and wait.
Finally I get pissed and go outside myself and ask her if she either wants to come in and play or leave with her friends. She said she would rather go with her friends. I say "Fine, have a good time." and I go back inside to my group.
The PCs were sitting next to a campfire preparing for guard duty when I mention that the girl's PC just explodes for no apparent reason. Pow!. I described how blood and guts are everywhere around them and how their PCs are just looking at each other wondering what just happened.
We (the real folks) laughed for about fifteen minutes and just continued playing without her. In fact, we still laugh about it to this day and consider it as one of the most memorable moments in our D&D history...
Ultradan