OK, since I got hold of my Critical Hits-deck, I've been obsessed with using cards in D&D. I was about to create my own Critical Miss-deck, but held it off when I saw the announcement from Paizo.
Anyway, drawing some inspiration by some local, Norwegian games, I have come up with the idea to create a deck with roleplaying opportunites. My players are average at best at actual roleplaying, and I thought this could be a fun excercise in roleplaying.
The concept is as follows:
I use a standard deck of playing cards, but tape over a written note on each cards. A roleplaying opportunity is written on each card. I'm not sure if I will hand out one each session (maybe too much), or X number of cards at the start of a campaign, which the character can use whenever he wants. Right now we're playing Red Hand of Doom, so I was thinking of 5 cards each. I will probably grant a bonus according to their level for roleplaying that occurence (e.g. level x 50 or level x 100 for a really good one). Another idea is that I won't divulge what can be on the cards, so when a character starts playing as directed on the card, the other players really don't know that he's doing so. The cards are of course optional to use, and you won't get penalised for not using them.
I have some examples of cards, but would like more, if you have them.
"Ex": One of the NPCs you meet is an ex. You decide how the relationship ended, and if either one of you is pissed at the other.
"You Lose It": The cruelty and evil you have experienced so far causes you to completely lose it in an encounter with bad guys. It's mostly up to you, but examples might be killing surrendered enemies, charging headlessly into melee or slashing continously at dead foes.
"Binge": You go on a serious binge one night. While you are wasted, you could do a number of things that can come back and haunt you, including hitting on members of the opposite sex, endangering yourself or others, saying a lot of stupid things etc.
"Argument": Being with the same people for an extended period can really get on ones nerves. One day, you've finally had enough and start an argument with one or more fellow party members. Maybe it even comes to a fistfight?
"Moral conundrum": You regard an offer made by an evil NPC as very tempting, to the point that the other players really start to question you. Whether or not you actually go over to the dark side is up to you, but it practically spells the end of your character.
"Strong feelings": You fall in love with one of the other PCs or an NPC. (Maybe the XP-bonus for falling in love with a PC should be higher.. most groups really don't like playing this)
"Jaded": You suffer from a lack of motivation. Everything is useless, and you really don't see the point of doing what you do.
If any of the cards contradicts a player's alignment, he can of course refuse to do it... or he could play it anyway as an added excerise, and possibly a bonus as well.
Any thoughts?
This sounds terribly familiar...
I think there was something like this before... Although, for the life of me, I can't remember where I saw it before...
An intriguing idea, but still seems rather arbitrary to me. May I suggest some links I have found helpful?
6 Ideas To Encourage Roleplaying
Use "In-Character" Feedback To Encourage Roleplaying
I like your idea but some of these could pose a problem such as
"Ex": One of the NPCs you meet is an ex. You decide how the relationship ended, and if either one of you is pissed at the other.What happens if a PC chooses a NPC who is destined to play a very large role who has a character background that would be incompatible with the card.
In this case I would specify something like "When you walk into a bar, you see Arien (or Arias) Ardemont. You decide how the relationship ended, and if either one of you is pissed at the other. "
Didn't think about that. "By DM-approval" maybe? So that you have some choice of who it is.
An intriguing idea, but still seems rather arbitrary to me. May I suggest some links I have found helpful?
6 Ideas To Encourage Roleplaying
Use "In-Character" Feedback To Encourage Roleplaying
Yeah, it is a little arbitrary, but I thought it might help with a group that still sees roleplaying as a little embarrassing. This way, they can "blame" the cards. I'll check those links, thanks!
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6 Ideas To Encourage Roleplaying
Use "In-Character" Feedback To Encourage Roleplaying
Thanks, these are great! I'm always looking to improve this with my group. It's currently somewhat like herding cats ;)
You will have to forgive me because I am a bit of a 'roleplay' advocate. The truth of the matter is that it is a matter of taste so no one is really 'wrong'. It is best to find people that want the same thing out of the game. Short of that, it is good to find people that are willing to compromise.
I suggest having a talk with your fellow gamers and find out what everyone wants out of the game. Then find out how everyone can add all of those elements. I am also of the camp that this is not the sole responsibility of the GM. Everyone contributes to the game.
You will have to forgive me because I am a bit of a 'roleplay' advocate. The truth of the matter is that it is a matter of taste so no one is really 'wrong'. It is best to find people that want the same thing out of the game. Short of that, it is good to find people that are willing to compromise.
I suggest having a talk with your fellow gamers and find out what everyone wants out of the game. Then find out how everyone can add all of those elements. I am also of the camp that this is not the sole responsibility of the GM. Everyone contributes to the game.
I'll probably not put in any more work in this if the players are totally against it. I just thought this could be a cool excericse.. it's like theater sports where an actor gets a line of what he is to play, and improvs it. Except now you can use it whenever you like.
In that case, how about this one…
The character thinks it would be amusing to prank his buddies. He pretends as if he is under a Charm, some form of possession or a Doppleganer. Extra points if someone attempts to Detect Magic, True Sight and/or 'cure' him. Extra xp for each additional attempt made by a party member.
I like it! My group tends to have RPing problems so this could help. Do you have any other cards thought up? If so please email me at wraith6@raresteeds.com. Good stuff.
I like it! My group tends to have RPing problems so this could help. Do you have any other cards thought up? If so please email me at wraith6@raresteeds.com. Good stuff.
I'll mail you whatever else I come up with.
To the rest of the board.. I know this might be a strange approach to "forcing" my players to roleplay.. but if you have any other ideas of a card.. let me know!
Thanks, I'll post any I come up with.
In that case, how about this one…
The character thinks it would be amusing to prank his buddies. He pretends as if he is under a Charm, some form of possession or a Doppleganer. Extra points if someone attempts to Detect Magic, True Sight and/or 'cure' him. Extra xp for each additional attempt made by a party member.
That's one hell of a prank. I remember a character in one of my 2nd edition campaigns.. he was a ranger that always pulled pranks on the others PCs, including putting bugs in their food, smearing shit (no kidding) on their armor while they were sleeping and so forth. The paladin finally lost it when the ranger "accidentally" loosened a rope the paladin was climbing, causing him to fall 20 feet.