So I was reflecting about the kinds of characters I tend to want to play and often get too and that made me connect a couple of things in my head and it made me realize something about myself.
So I was wondering if you reflect on your choice of the kinds of characters you play what do you realize about yourself?
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This won't be a comfortable answer.
I'm an egotistical, insane, uncharismatic, attention-seeking, massively-destructive jerk. That's typically what they say.
So, pretty much, an accurate portrayal.
Edit: Corrected to add in a trait I forgot, which is in bold.
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So, you play Alain, then.was that an obscure South Park reference?
Alain is the iconic cavalier. He's an egotistical, self destructive, arrogant, difficult to like, jerkface. That is, if I remember correct.
Anyways, I'd look deep into my characters but you know what they say about looking into the abyss.
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I learned alot about myself by examining the characters I played over the years, it's a bit like journaling really.
For one, I noticed a tendency to play controller type characters, which led to me to become aware of a more dominant side to my personality that I generally don't openly express in other parts of my life.
I also noticed that a dark secret from my past had influenced nearly every character backstory I've ever written.
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I think the only unifying thing across all my characters is compassion, or even a warped sense of empathy when it comes to the rare evil character. Mostly prefer playing good anyway, but I can't play an evil character without at least some bit of compassion. Just can't play callous, entirely heartless types.
My good characters also tend to give a lot of money away to those who need it more, which has not gone over well with certain groups...
I think the only unifying thing across all my characters is compassion, or even a warped sense of empathy when it comes to the rare evil character. Mostly prefer playing good anyway, but I can't play an evil character without at least some bit of compassion. Just can't play callous, entirely heartless types.
My good characters also tend to give a lot of money away to those who need it more, which has not gone over well with certain groups...
*Said like Sigmund Freud* What about all those crack pairings you like? Do those influence characters hmmm?
I tackle playing an evil character really easily. Almost second nature. I also play more than a few "seducers", even if you don't count the "son of a sex wizard" character that arose from a joke on the spot. I'm sure these things say something about me.
Gaming habits? I GM much more than I play.
I like to do a LOT of preparation ahead of time, which means that I tend to run games that have a strong plotline and well-defined rails. I prefer not to run sandbox-style games. I can certainly wing it if the players lose the path. In that case I'll either nudge the PCs back to the plot or re-write the plot according to their actions.
I tend to run prepared modules, but I'm rarely completely satisfied with them, so I usually tinker with them a bit. I also like to grab bits and pieces of different published modules and rearrange them into something new. (I've never run the Shattered Star AP, but I've cannibalized it extensively for parts!)
I also like props, but I don't go too overboard.
What does this tell about me? Mainly that I'm a control freak and like to put my own mark on everything I do.
Almost every character i ever played (and when i didn't, i was making a conscious effort not to) was some form of power hungry and a bit manipulative good guy who usually aimed at protecting his loved ones from everything, including themselves. I can't deny that this tells a lot about me...
My first character was an anti-paladin. Since then I've played bounty hunters, assassins, rangers, wizards, paladins, inquisitors, fighters, and more. I guess they're all facets of people inside me, or people I'd like to be at some point or another.
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*Said like Sigmund Freud* What about all those crack pairings you like? Do those influence characters hmmm?I think the only unifying thing across all my characters is compassion, or even a warped sense of empathy when it comes to the rare evil character. Mostly prefer playing good anyway, but I can't play an evil character without at least some bit of compassion. Just can't play callous, entirely heartless types.
My good characters also tend to give a lot of money away to those who need it more, which has not gone over well with certain groups...
"Unrepentant xenophile" isn't really something that can be revealed about me.
That cat's been out of the bag for a while now. ;)
*Said like Sigmund Freud* What about all those crack pairings you like? Do those influence characters hmmm?I think the only unifying thing across all my characters is compassion, or even a warped sense of empathy when it comes to the rare evil character. Mostly prefer playing good anyway, but I can't play an evil character without at least some bit of compassion. Just can't play callous, entirely heartless types.
My good characters also tend to give a lot of money away to those who need it more, which has not gone over well with certain groups...
"Unrepentant xenophile" isn't really something that can be revealed about me.
That cat's been out of the bag for a while now. ;)
That's part of what makes reading your posts fun ;)
And, it would be amusing to see you talk your way past some of the encounters that Paizo comes up with :P
"Unrepentant xenophile" isn't really something that can be revealed about me.
That cat's been out of the bag for a while now. ;)
Speaking of Xenophilia hows that plan for hot hot interplanetary peace coming along? ;)
Regardless of race or class, I always end up playing the quick-witted trickster. I always end up being the one that solves all of the puzzles that get presented.
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And, it would be amusing to see you talk your way past some of the encounters that Paizo comes up with :P
Boring honest answer: A lot of roleplayed diplomacy when possible. :)
Speaking of Xenophilia hows that plan for hot hot interplanetary peace coming along? ;)"Unrepentant xenophile" isn't really something that can be revealed about me.
That cat's been out of the bag for a while now. ;)
SETI keeps rejecting my dating profile.
I am terrible at playing the bad guy.
I like to play the beta, the advisor, the talker.
I cannot play the silent type.
I would say it probably doesn't reveal anything terribly significant.
I put weeks of thought into virtually every character I play. But a large part of that time is effort to make them very clearly different from every other character I've played in recent memory. Both in build and personality.
I suppose there are a few common facets.
- Rarely do I play any build that doesn't have at least some magical ability. What's the point of playing a game with magic if I don't have magic? Does that reveal anything?
- I can, but don't enjoy playing characters that are prejudiced in any significant way. (I once played a PC that hated the color blue. So he would get snarky with anyone described as wearing blue clothing.) Not gender, race, nationality, etc... No I have never been noticeably the victim of prejudice. I was raised to have reasonable respect for everyone, at least until they give me a reason to not respect them. (Well, ok I do have a life oracle that is prejudiced against undead. But come on, who isn't.) I don't think that really reveals anything about me. I think pretty much everyone that knows me knows that.
- I rarely play female characters. Not because I have anything against them or because I am embarrassed. I just don't usually feel I can do a good job of it. Does that reveal anything about me? My wife already knows I find much of what she says, does, feels to be incomprehensible.
- I rarely play evil characters. But that's really just because I don't think most of the groups I've been in handle it well. Too many people think "Evil = Jack Hole to Friends" and/or can't seem to separate player from character personality. I've seen a few groups and even friendships fall apart because of evil characters in an RPG. The few times when I've been in a group that can handle it, I have had no problem playing an evil character. Does that reveal anything? Not that I can tell.
I don't see my gaming as shining a light on any hidden facets of my soul. But really I suppose you would have to ask the people that game with me if they think it revealed anything about me.
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There are some things about my personality that, no matter how hard I try, I can't roleplay myself out of.
I'm a prep GM, not a wing it GM. I can be flexible when dealing with the unexpected, but my preferred way is to prep thoroughly and adjust when needed.
As a player, I'm always the guy with the plan. Usually, a simple, violent plan that makes optimal use of party capabilities. I find this is the case whether I am playing a precise-AoE-placing wizard, a party-buffing bard, or a samurai whose solution to most problems is "liberally apply katana." I usually wind up as de facto party leader, whether I want to or not.
In real life, I'm a military planner.
I think the only unifying thing across all my characters is compassion, or even a warped sense of empathy when it comes to the rare evil character. Mostly prefer playing good anyway, but I can't play an evil character without at least some bit of compassion. Just can't play callous, entirely heartless types.
My good characters also tend to give a lot of money away to those who need it more, which has not gone over well with certain groups...
I assure you Mikazemas is a huge hit in the real world.
So I was reflecting about the kinds of characters I tend to want to play and often get too and that made me connect a couple of things in my head and it made me realize something about myself.
So I was wondering if you reflect on your choice of the kinds of characters you play what do you realize about yourself?
My gaming habits reveal that I like games, of many different types.
I think the only unifying thing across all my characters is compassion, or even a warped sense of empathy when it comes to the rare evil character. Mostly prefer playing good anyway, but I can't play an evil character without at least some bit of compassion. Just can't play callous, entirely heartless types.
My good characters also tend to give a lot of money away to those who need it more, which has not gone over well with certain groups...
Yeah I remember a player that had a warped sense of empathy towards evil creatures. His good cleric ended up helping Chuuls overwhelm a good lizardfolk city and feeding upon the inhabitants. Prior to that he lived amongst the chuuls and used his spells to nourish their young (yes he was a part of chuul daycare).
I would say it probably doesn't reveal anything terribly significant.
I put weeks of thought into virtually every character I play. But a large part of that time is effort to make them very clearly different from every other character I've played in recent memory. Both in build and personality.
I suppose there are a few common facets.
- Rarely do I play any build that doesn't have at least some magical ability. What's the point of playing a game with magic if I don't have magic? Does that reveal anything?
- I can, but don't enjoy playing characters that are prejudiced in any significant way. (I once played a PC that hated the color blue. So he would get snarky with anyone described as wearing blue clothing.) Not gender, race, nationality, etc... No I have never been noticeably the victim of prejudice. I was raised to have reasonable respect for everyone, at least until they give me a reason to not respect them. (Well, ok I do have a life oracle that is prejudiced against undead. But come on, who isn't.) I don't think that really reveals anything about me. I think pretty much everyone that knows me knows that.
- I rarely play female characters. Not because I have anything against them or because I am embarrassed. I just don't usually feel I can do a good job of it. Does that reveal anything about me? My wife already knows I find much of what she says, does, feels to be incomprehensible.
- I rarely play evil characters. But that's really just because I don't think most of the groups I've been in handle it well. Too many people think "Evil = Jack Hole to Friends" and/or can't seem to separate player from character personality. I've seen a few groups and even friendships fall apart because of evil characters in an RPG. The few times when I've been in a group that can handle it, I have had no problem playing an evil character. Does that reveal anything? Not that I can tell.
I don't see my gaming as shining a light on any hidden facets of my soul. But really I suppose you would...
Yeah, where someone is playing the same character over and over, that is saying something, they just have to show that side of them. Where a player is running many different characters over the years, they are following their fancy, what they prepped for and they are only partial facets of their being.
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I like to hop around and try lots of different things. I've never played the same class twice and have only played one race more than once (human of course.)
No matter what class or race (or even game) I play I tend to think like a rogue. I always suggest ambushes, traps, byzantine plans to twist situations to my benefit, etc.
As I've mentioned in other threads, I can play women and non-straight people but I am still afraid to be non-white.
Give it a go man, do your reading for the setting because the white, black, reds and other of our world aren't always the same as the setting. If you know what they are and where they are coming from, the character will be easy.
Another thing that I overlooked about my gaming is that I never play support. I'm always one of the guys that is blasting and slashing. It's probably due to my own somewhat confrontational and aggressive nature.
I am obssessed with control. And survival. Even if I start with a happy go-lucky type, they will always finish with ungodly defenses SOMEHOW! And I hate dice...
I also tend to make most of my characters as very defensive to begin with. Take that as you may.
Well, looking back, things have changed. When I was between the ages of 17 and 24, I would play the CN douche. I was one of those people who would play CN as evil in all but name, much to my great shame.
Once played a CN cleric who, after coming upon an injured person, said to pay up if he wanted healing. He refused, so (for some idiot reason) smacks the guy with his morningstar.
But as for more recent:
-I go for characters of Good alignment, with NG being my usual choice, with a LG thrown in here and there.
-I prefer more martially oriented characters, and go more for heavier armored, typically 1-hander + shield.
-If I do play an arcane caster, they are usually blasters, though I typically make them transmuters with a bit of blasty-ness.
-If I play a divine caster, I usually lean towards being a healer.
-Whenever possible, if needing to deal damage, I go for nonlethal, and then take my foes captive.
-I almost always have to have darkvision. Typical racial choices are aasimar (when available), dwarf, or half-orc.
-My all time favorite race (that I never get to play) is the gnoll. And the character concept I have always been wanting to play is a gnoll paladin who has a hyenadon for a bonded mount.
-I despise having a score below 10, and will even (if point buy) place points in a race's -2 to get that 10, even if it means a lower score in a class's preferred abilities.
-I always try to go for a high Con score.
-I also go more for defense than offense. I don't really care how much damage I can do to something. I also play as tank characters in any MMORPG I have played, leveling up in the tank specialization instead of the one more focused on damage.
-As for personalities... My characters usually have a great respect for nature, and consider themselves protectors, especially of those they are with. Usually hate to see people hurt, and always try to help out.
What does all this say about me? Well, I was a douche when I was younger. That's for sure. As for what I play now? *shrugs*
My tendency to go LN revealed an underlying need for order, organization, laws, etc. I like structure.
My recent gaming tendencies reveal that I'm burnt out on gaming in general, and need a serious reboot. Outside of the immediate game session, I give ZERO thought to gaming anymore(aside from posting here while I'm at work). Zero. Nadda. I have no ideas for new characters, and I couldn't care less what happens to my current one. When the DM threatens a dangerous encounter, I just tell him to "bring it already."
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I don't deal in subtlety. I give people 2 maybe 3 chances to say what they want and if they haven't by then I tell them to grow a spine and then I might consider talking to them again.
So I'm an ass to anyone I consider spineless.
I'm never defenseless and don't bank on relying on others. My AC, HP, and saves are always above the norm and more than a 15% chance of failure on anything I'm good at is deemed unacceptable.
Aka, i'm paranoid as all hell, I don't leave weak spots.
I refuse to lower my game for anyone. Anyone I intend to play to a given level is tested multiple times along the way against a variety of opponents in multiple situations.
I don't accept arbitrary social contracts where I'm forced to lower my standards to play with others. I'm bad at getting along with others, and I don't really recognize or show a great level of disdain for a lot of the rules that society has laid down.
I'm bad at getting along with others as well, but I at least make the effort. And I have a medical reason as to why. If I can make the effort and actually be somewhat reasonable to game with, you have no excuse.
I realize I haven't shared yet.
I tend to prefer characters that are individually powerful and not gear dependent. Thus they are never or less likely to be vulnerable should a Baldur's Gate II opening happen.
Hah, I was actually contemplating this the other day :) I wonder if character preference is a combination of traits we find desirable, mixed in with traits we can relate to.
I generally play high intellect characters, and avoid charisma-based casters (something about being able to shoot magic from your fingers with absolutely no training puts me off). Also, my characters almost always have a longstanding passion or goal, or at least a large sense of purpose.
... really excited to see the final version of the investigator.
Actually, I'm going to clarify: I dislike charisma-based full casters. I do enjoy playing Paladins as well.
Oddly enough, I have about 3 groups that ask me to come back on a regular basis and I have a habit of turning them down because I find it inherently frustrating trying to deal with people who have been playing longer than me and still don't realize...I don't deal in subtlety. I give people 2 maybe 3 chances to say what they want and if they haven't by then I tell them to grow a spine and then I might consider talking to them again.
So I'm an ass to anyone I consider spineless.
I'm never defenseless and don't bank on relying on others. My AC, HP, and saves are always above the norm and more than a 15% chance of failure on anything I'm good at is deemed unacceptable.
Aka, i'm paranoid as all hell, I don't leave weak spots.
I refuse to lower my game for anyone. Anyone I intend to play to a given level is tested multiple times along the way against a variety of opponents in multiple situations.
I don't accept arbitrary social contracts where I'm forced to lower my standards to play with others. I'm bad at getting along with others, and I don't really recognize or show a great level of disdain for a lot of the rules that society has laid down.
It's amazing you can find anyone to play with. I sure as hell wouldn't want to play with you.
My characters tend to be a lot braver (or foolhardy, if you wish) than I - you'd never find me doing anything as stupid as adventuring IRL, even if it were possible.
I'm trying to think about things my characters have in common, but I've played such a wide variety that it's hard to pinpoint something apart from 'were alive at some point in the game' and 'were mammalian humanoid', and even that goes out the window when I consider my TOON character zzzzzzDONK (sentient, mobile photocopier).
Tendencies: they are decent people (by my standards) that generally follow the law and help people in need and are generous in giving aid, but there have been several characters where this is not the case.
Yeah, but why be so hostile about it? It's a game, man. All this talk of "growing spines," disdain, etc just come off as really petty and unnecessary. I realize some people find number-crunching fun, but all this talk of "Refusing to lower your standards to others" is just really bleak.
This game is a group activity. In my opinion, any person who refuses to attempt to get along with others in a group, or find middle ground the group, etc have no business playing in a group. If I'm not feeling particularly social, or feel like success rates of numbers are more important than group fun, I'll just play a video game. I recommend the same.
Which, if you bothered to read it, is exactly what I did. I turned down playing with them.Yeah, but why be so hostile about it? It's a game, man. All this talk of "growing spines," disdain, etc just come off as really petty and unnecessary. I realize some people find number-crunching fun, but all this talk of "Refusing to lower your standards to others" is just really bleak.
This game is a group activity. In my opinion, any person who refuses to attempt to get along with others in a group, or find middle ground the group, etc have no business playing in a group. If I'm not feeling particularly social, or feel like success rates of numbers are more important than group fun, I'll just play a video game. I recommend the same.
Well, I did "bother"(said in Winnie the Pooh's voice) to read and you came off like you just had a waiting list of fans to relish in your imaginary awesomeness. Ok, so I embellished a little, but yeah. I read it.
I've turned down plenty of groups myself. Doesn't make either one of us rock stars.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your own time, but just in my opinion, it doesn't sound like playing in a group is really your thing at all.
Well, I did "bother"(said in Winnie the Pooh's voice) to read and you came off like you just had a waiting list of fans to relish in your imaginary awesomeness. Ok, so I embellished a little, but yeah. I read it.
I've turned down plenty of groups myself. Doesn't make either one of us rock stars.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your own time, but just in my opinion, it doesn't sound like playing in a group is really your thing at all.
While I could counter that might be because I'm sick of babysitting people after 2 months of pathfinder society where I flat out know they wouldn't have even survived the session (best to hit was +2 or 3, mediocre HP and AC nearly across the bored, bad saves, very little damage if they did hit, almost always MY BARBARIAN WAS THE ONLY GODDANG SOURCE OF FREAKING HEALING IN THE GROUP. HOW IN GODS NAME DOES A BARBARIAN PLAY WITH A GROUP OF 6 LEVEL 4'S AND BE THE ONLY PERSON WITH EVEN A SINGLE RANK IN UMD. I LITERALLY SAT THERE AND SOLO'D THE BOSS ENCOUNTER LAST TIME BECAUSE THE FIGHTER WAS TOO G!$$&+N AFRAID TO GO INTO THE ROOM BECAUSE "it requires a will save." EVERY OTHER PERSON WAS PLINKING AWAY FOR 1D4 DAMAGE OR ELSE NOT EVEN BOTHERING TO FIGHT.
Oh he's engaging a hierosphynx over there? I'm gonna wander over here and look at these runes some more! Agh I got hurt by a trap! barbarian can you please heal me? Crap I decided to run screaming down a hallway and ran into a band of skeletons and a mummy! Help!
Sorry but if putting up with THAT is being a team player then I'm more than willing to let the team drown on its own. Heck, I will put MY GODDANG BOOT ON THE HEAD AND PUSH DOWN UNTIL BUBBLES STOP COMING UP ON THAT TEAM.
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And to couple with that pathfinder society is the group that cancels half the time and when it does get together I have to make a support caster every time because anyone who can do their job is OP. Have to keep alive all the people who can't do basic addition and can't even remember half of the...
Dude... You have my sympathies. Holy heck that sounds like a terrible lot of people to have to deal with. I just... Sheesh. Your Barbarian was the only source of healing? Holy hell.
I have not had such bad luck. My main group is mostly made up of lifelong friends who've played together since 2ed. I wouldn't last one session with the groups you detailed above.
Well, I did "bother"(said in Winnie the Pooh's voice) to read and you came off like you just had a waiting list of fans to relish in your imaginary awesomeness. Ok, so I embellished a little, but yeah. I read it.
I've turned down plenty of groups myself. Doesn't make either one of us rock stars.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your own time, but just in my opinion, it doesn't sound like playing in a group is really your thing at all.
While I could counter that might be because I'm sick of babysitting people after 2 months of pathfinder society where I flat out know they wouldn't have even survived the session (best to hit was +2 or 3, mediocre HP and AC nearly across the bored, bad saves, very little damage if they did hit, almost always MY BARBARIAN WAS THE ONLY GODDANG SOURCE OF FREAKING HEALING IN THE GROUP. HOW IN GODS NAME DOES A BARBARIAN PLAY WITH A GROUP OF 6 LEVEL 4'S AND BE THE ONLY PERSON WITH EVEN A SINGLE RANK IN UMD. I LITERALLY SAT THERE AND SOLO'D THE BOSS ENCOUNTER LAST TIME BECAUSE THE FIGHTER WAS TOO G$~*%~N AFRAID TO GO INTO THE ROOM BECAUSE "it requires a will save." EVERY OTHER PERSON WAS PLINKING AWAY FOR 1D4 DAMAGE OR ELSE NOT EVEN BOTHERING TO FIGHT.
Oh he's engaging a hierosphynx over there? I'm gonna wander over here and look at these runes some more! Agh I got hurt by a trap! barbarian can you please heal me? Crap I decided to run screaming down a hallway and ran into a band of skeletons and a mummy! Help!
Sorry but if putting up with THAT is being a team player then I'm more than willing to let the team drown on its own. Heck, I will put MY GODDANG BOOT ON THE HEAD AND PUSH DOWN UNTIL BUBBLES STOP COMING UP ON THAT TEAM.
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And to couple with that pathfinder society is the group that cancels half the time and when it does get together I have to make a support caster every time because anyone who can do their job is OP. Have to keep alive all the people who can't do basic addition and can't even remember half of the...
You have my sympathies.
There are good groups out there, and people willing to play well. If you get a group that is playing that badly, find another. And another. The group I have now is primarily comprised of the remains of three prior groups I was with, so I understand the frustration of having group after group fall apart. You just have to be proactive about finding them.
Many of my PCs are tricksters of some kind, resourceful to a fault, and endlessly slippery. They all end up doing the right thing, and always protect others--but not from themselves, like TittoPaolo210, since I trust people to do what they want and who am I to say otherwise?
Yes, I've been described as Chaotic Good on many an occasion.
Oh, and as you might expect for a guy who makes "Wrong" his first name, I tend to rebel against anyone who deal strictly in absolutes.
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For me, its risk-adverse lawful neutral types who tend to regard everything on a strict risk-vs-reward axis and weigh the benefits with drawbacks. "Folks, why are we going to the dungeon? We can manage a much better pricing option if we use the summoned creatures to run a courier network across the city and we won't get shot.'
Or
Rampaging CG lunatics. Notably a quasi-senile barbarian in a Super Robot Wars game, who had to earn his way into the warrior's paradise but kept surviving despite his literally suicidal behavior.
If I play the former, I usually get shoved back behind the DM Screen.