RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I usually don't think to do an intro unless asked, unfortunately. I'm busy digging out all my crap and picking my list of prepared spells. :/
If asked, then I'll give a concise physical description ("Tien man with a breastplate and a couple of swords, a spell component pouch, and a look of stern focus") and a quick OOC idea of what I'm providing ("Eldritch Knight, 9th level, can't be ambushed").
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those table tents are COOL! or you can cheat and do what some of us do... google for pictures and shamelessly borrow someone elses work.
I will shamelessly admit to this... I use guts-n-glory's lady luljetta for my tiefling bloatmage.
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I rarely have to introduce myself as most of my gaming is with people I've known for a bit. Though if I get a chance I always try and introduce my bard. Its a long drawn out speech with many titles and exploits which I wont bother you with now. Perhaps you end up at my table 1 day.hope so.
I play with LOTS of different people...
Come on out to Detroit sometime then.
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Since PBP gives me a chance for a physical description as well as character RP, I can go in depth. At a meat-space table I keep it short. I Start with something like "the dwarf brushes his beard to show off his many fine rings." But also try to give an in character version of my class, "though I have a hammer you are more likely to see me bringing arcane allies to a fight." I kind of use a tag-line (Ha ha ho! Well met "X") to respond to other introductions though.
When I finish painting my mini -I will photoshop a picture of them into a table tent. :)
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I remember reading a post good long while ago that suggested giving players an introduction template (with blanks to fill in name, race, visible gear, etc) for them to read from if they didn't have their own introduction ready.
Seems like it could be useful, except the author was apparently an uber drama queen: the template, with the intent of multiple PCs at the same table using it, started with "As [name] steps into the light..."
Really? If someone introduced their PC with a melodramatic emo-noir entrance like that, I'd have to bite my tongue not to make an in-character response of something like "Hey! So Farabellus finally passed you, eh? Glad you could make it to the briefing, but you might consider skipping the dramatic entrance next time - it's about as impressive now as it was every morning in Scrollmaster Zey's class."
I'm glad to hear most people use more reasonable introductions! ;)
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I think character introductions are very important. I have asked for a character introduction 99% of the games I have GM'd. I have heard some great introductions. I have seen great character concept art. Great use of custom Table Tents, as well as great back stories.
I have seen a couple, "Gruff level 6 dwarf". So tell me a little more about Gruff. "2 handed power attacker ac 19". Which is fine. Though some really clever introductions can get fellow players in a good mood or laughing. Some players like the couple minutes to really ham it up... bards...
I usually refrain from asking about classes or + modifiers. Depending on the scenario I may pass out an index card for this info as well as faction's.
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I really want to see someone use this as their character pic.
That is now how I will see every character with a 7 charisma. I can't unsee it.
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The last time I GMed a scenario I forwent the boxed text briefing. Instead I asked each player where their character would be found if they were off-duty & hanging out in Magnimar, where the adventure began. After some discussion I had the most responsible-looking PC, a Hellknight, summoned to Heidmarch Manor and given the mission. The Venture Captain explained that this was very short notice, and handed him a list of the known Pathfinders currently in the city who could be called upon. The player then decided how to go about contacting his teammates, learning about them as he sought them out via Gather Information. This gave the players the opportunity not only to introduce their characters, but to describe their character's interests and environment. The players have to interact in order to learn about their mission instead of listening to the GM struggle over boxed text that never seems to be written with the intent of being read aloud. This is something new that I am trying and certainly can be refined. In a time-intense event slot it is not advised since it can eat up a lot of time. It also really depends on your players and how much they have imagined their PC versus just building a tactical model.
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The last time I GMed a scenario I forwent the boxed text briefing. Instead I asked each player where their character would be found if they were off-duty & hanging out in Magnimar, where the adventure began. After some discussion I had the most responsible-looking PC, a Hellknight, summoned to Heidmarch Manor and given the mission. The Venture Captain explained that this was very short notice, and handed him a list of the known Pathfinders currently in the city who could be called upon. The player then decided how to go about contacting his teammates, learning about them as he sought them out via Gather Information. This gave the players the opportunity not only to introduce their characters, but to describe their character's interests and environment. The players have to interact in order to learn about their mission instead of listening to the GM struggle over boxed text that never seems to be written with the intent of being read aloud. This is something new that I am trying and certainly can be refined. In a time-intense event slot it is not advised since it can eat up a lot of time. It also really depends on your players and how much they have imagined their PC versus just building a tactical model.
For the local society chapter we just started, we aren't stuck in a limited time slot. I'll *definitely* have to keep that idea in mind for the future. Absolutely brilliant!
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I usually describe my character's physical appearance and bearing. And then sigh when the guy next to me says "Fighter 3, Barbarian 4, AC 28."...
Some people have a psychological hurdle saying "I do..." as their character rather than saying "<Character Name> does..." or, "My character does..."
One minor difficulty with the Character Intro is that for a random group of player characters, you can run into cognitive mismatches. The number of people whose idea of "My character looks like Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer!" and is The Most Badassed Character You've Ever Seen(tm) is about one in 15 at a given con. It's kind of entertaining when three of them get assigned to the same table together.
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We could all name a dozen movies where this sort of thing happens, usually in a montage. For some reason I was thinking of that MacGuyver spoof movie MacGruber... But I think it lends a cinematic feel to character introductions that you don't get from a table tent.
Indeed, I will have to integrate it into future sessions.
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Here's a couple introductions from my two highest-level characters.
"I am Master Xanatos Grey of the Lantern Lodge. I have been trained in the Tian arts of spell and sword by the shadowy Wayang of Minata and will strive to bring honor to our fellowship while defending the each of you to the best of my ability. I merely ask that you do the same."
"Allow me to introduce myself. Name's Jiece Dragonius, rogue first class in association with the Pathfinder Society and agent for the Shadow Lodge Alliance. There's nothing I can't steal and no one I can't kill. I have the power to take everything from people --- including their lives."
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From the GM perspective, I really like having a table tent with your name, your character's name, saves, and your perception. From that point, I treat it like the old school Mission: Impossible introduction. I ask what you bring to the table and then, as the NPC giving the "go do this" spiel, I explain why you have all been selected for this mission:
"We've asked for the best and brightest of the Pathfinder Society to complete this mission. None of them showed up. Busy fightin' monsters, fixing broken bones, or attending funerals. Nasty business. You'll have to do. There might be traps. ______________, you deal with them. There will definitely be fighting. _______________, keep the party alive. Somebody needs to be there for last rites. Hopefully it won't be your own. ______________, see to the party's *ahem* spiritual needs. Don't forget to take a mage. Never know what kind of spellcraft you'll need to pull out of that pointy hat to stay alive. Besides, you need somebody to write all this down..."
*mission briefing*
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As a GM and as a player, I always bring extra Table Tents and give them away. I buy/make ten a month and we usually have enough new players that they are all used up. When I go to a convention I try and bring 10 new ones. Thank goodness for Fed-ex Discount card or it would cost a ton more.
As a GM, I give everyone the opportunity to introduce their character.
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They also work for Buff markers for when I have a Buff spell up. Write it one time and drop it in the sheet protector for my spell list...
This. One of our local players made up a tent for when he casts Haste, which prompted me to make a set for my Dragon Cavalier / Bard. On a good day I have five tents in front of me, and all my teammates looking at them as they calculate their bonuses.
I do like the idea of a tent with key things the GM will be asking for, like Perception and Sense Motive.
Contributor
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I found this podcast through something Liz Courts had posted once upon a time, and in one of their episodes they posted this:
I've been using them since before GenCon this year and 100% of my players *love* them (to the point where other GMs in the area are starting to use them too). I usually just ask my players to put their names on both sides and their perception modifiers on the "backside" (so I can sometimes make secret perception rolls for them). Based on the conversation above, I may also ask for Sense Motive from now on too.
I'm starting to like rolling in the open more than behind a DM screen, but I still keep a screen on the table mainly for these screen-tents (which make initiative order easy, and keeps players interested because they can see in front of them who's next and the order and etc), and for hiding minis, keeping my notes/scenario, etc.
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One of our local players made up a tent for when he casts Haste, which prompted me to make a set for my Dragon Cavalier / Bard. On a good day I have five tents in front of me, and all my teammates looking at them as they calculate their bonuses.
We use these sorts of tents in our home games quite often. We even have a local nickname for them: "Hot Donuts Sign" (named for the "Hot Donuts" sign that Krispy Kreme restaurants would turn on when they have fresh donuts for sale).
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Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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I print off custom table tents for my characters. Apart from the basic information for the GM (My name, character name, PFS#) and class(es), I include a picture of the miniature I'm using. That makes it easier for other players at the table to keep track of where the character is (or which player is responsible for the thoughtless monk who just got in the line of their charge attack ...).
I don't include information which changes frequently (AC, HP, saves, &c.), or which isn't public knowledge. I considered not listing the ooc class information either, but eventually decided it was better to put it there, rather than a make room for a sentence or two of descriptive text.
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I think its a very good idea. It provides a precursor to the game. I generally find some of the shyer gamers have very little to say when they introduce their character ( I used to be one of these). This can tend to flow over in the game to the bard who is very quiet when they really do have the social skills to kill it. Its not a thing that is easily rectified. It takes game time.. sometimes a lot of game time.
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My characters tend to be loud with plenty of self-love. I usually don't need much prodding to announce them. Name, profession (not necessarily class), some grandiose title, and follow with a physical description. It usually gets other players to try and out do my into.
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My characters tend to be loud with plenty of self-love. I usually don't need much prodding to announce them. Name, profession (not necessarily class), some grandiose title, and follow with a physical description. It usually gets other players to try and out do my into.
How grandiose is grandiose?
Some people wonder how my character can remember his name: "Alexander Damocles, the Holy Risen Librarian of Abadar".
(And I do love my a character with a long, title strewn name)
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All of my character's have table tents with Player name, Character name and titles. I rather like seeing how the adventure starts before doing character introductions because I improv it (but it usually includes a short physical description of obvious items carried and then an in character introduction). I don't think on any of my characters I actually tell you the class I am playing but from the introduction you can usually figure it out. Roleplaying is the most important part of the game for me so I like to have fun with it.
If GMs want to know any mechanical things about my character for 'secret' rolls, they usually pass out little notecards to write information down on.
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As a player, it always bothers me when the GM doesn't trigger character introductions - I actually *do* put some thought into their background and personae!
As a GM, I always try to give the players a few minutes to do so. I really like Doug's approach (which is a bit of a Shadowrun approach, since the "philosophy" of running that game is to spend about the first hour getting characters to the meet with Johnson, interacting with each other, and so on), though I'd probably never do it in a convention setting, where every minute is precious.
As a player, I really like a placard with a picture and some "visible" stats, though I get lazy about it because I tend to play within a narrow circle of folks, and we tend to know each others' characters.
At the minimum, though, the GM should allow the players to go round and introduce each character' it should be a PFS (well, actually, an organized play) standard.
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Contributor
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Y'know, I've never seen it done and I haven't pushed on it myself, but by my typically unflexible Lawful Neutral GM reading of the Guide, there's actually a component of character introductions that's "required."
Under Step 11 of the Character Creation chapter, I find this:
"Appearance: Work up a short description of your character's appearance that you can read to other players during introductions before each scenario begins."
I'm working locally to have players invest more in backgrounds and game world knowledge as aids to role-playing. Maybe I should start insisting on character introductions, which I never have done to this point.
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It is sad to admit, but perhaps if there was an incentive for players to develop a good character introduction then more players would do it. Has anyone tried this?
One of my favorite pastimes during LG was making custom table tents for my PCs on Excel. I'd include:
- my real name
- my RPGA#
- my character's name
- his portrait (usually something filched from the 'net)
- his region
- the coat-of-arms for his region
- class, level, sex, race
- holy symbol of the deity he followed
- languages spoken
In LG, it seemed like this information mattered a lot more. Then again, the party wasn't always working for a common organization.