| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Brynweir |
Posted - 27 Jan 2008 : 13:15:00
I have no idea if this has been brought up before or not, but my friends and I were discussing how we sometimes become attached to our characters. It can seem like they are real people, and even though we know they are not real (we're not crazy after all), we still find ourselves wishing that they were. We still find ourselves hurt when they die or happy when they triumph. I was wondering if we are just freaks  or if other people experience this same sort of attachment. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Tyranthraxus |
Posted - 15 Aug 2008 : 19:07:01
quote:
I have a Level 55 Fighter that I have been playing for almost 29 years now. I staredt him in 1st. Ed. and have played him since.
As for backstory, I have around 10-12 or more pages for this paticular character.
Lol I can see why you're attached to that character, he's like your child or something. Damn he's older than I am  .
Anyway as DM I get really attached to the characters and hate to see them die, but that's the risk of being an adventurer.
One time I created an NPC, Al-Habib Kazef Muhammed, who was a merchant from Calimshan and had a strange taste of smoking black lotus. The players liked him so much because he reminded them of me . |
| Shottglazz |
Posted - 13 Aug 2008 : 14:52:06
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
An NPC actually died in one of my campaigns and everyone was mad at me because he was there since the beginning....Mission Accomplished
Alisttair - friend or foe?
Managed to do this once or twice (memory fails) in the last 10yrs or so...the best though was a long-time nemesis that the party actually felt sorry for when they beat her...so much so that they were ready to have her raised from the dead (and have incarcerated) rather than live with her death on their hands... |
| BlackDragonKarameikos |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 10:46:19
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
What was the longest you played a character?
and
How much personal time did you invest into the character?
One of my players wrote 8 or 9 pages of backstory for her character. If that character were to die, I know she would be really pissed...
It's all a matter of time investment.
I have a Level 55 Fighter that I have been playing for almost 29 years now. I staredt him in 1st. Ed. and have played him since.
As for backstory, I have around 10-12 or more pages for this paticular character. |
| QueenofShadows |
Posted - 14 Jun 2008 : 19:30:19
I have a character I have played for years, I am very attatched to her *lol* |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 11 Jun 2008 : 19:54:51
I'm one of those types who writes 10 page (or longer) backstories for most of my characters . . . particularly those I really like, and there have been quite a few, PCs and NPCs.
I build up relationships based on actions/personalities (not alignments, per se, unless my character can detect alignments, in which case it's a factor) with the other PCs and NPCs, then notes them all down. I also like to weave my backstory with those of others in a sort of LOST fashion . . . sometimes the characters don't find out about the connections they have until really, really late in the game.
Clearly, this is easier to do as the DM, but I've been known to do it as a player . . . and I email the DM occasionally with suggested plot-hooks incorporating my character's past. Not that the DM has to use them, of course. Usually, the DM cooks up some neat twist I hadn't thought of, and I really enjoy figuring my character's reaction to it. Those are my most memorable PCs.
As a DM, I get attached to NPCs all the time--either because I thought up an awesome backstory, or because they're part of a really cool scene, or because their powers are neat, or because the PCs like them. If I can get my players emotionally invested in the NPCs--which generally requires *me* being invested in them in the same way--then I've done my job.
It's kinda like writing, in that way.
Cheers |
| Nevar |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 07:30:08
I love all my characters! So long as they die a meaningful death (ie in the heat of battle) I'm satisfied they died well. If the DM poisons them in their sleep, I'll let the air out of all his tires LOL! |
| Dezmodu |
Posted - 11 Apr 2008 : 12:15:09
I have a rogue, he is realy keen on taking over some work from Ollidamara (in a friendly way, as an asistant or somthing) he has a tattoo of the Olli symbol (the mask) on his face. he fainted 6 times during tatooing :P he steals just about everything he can, buys what he needs and gives the rest to the tempel of...... Olli.
by the time he was lvl 10 he had comunicated directly with his beloved god 3 times and been granted 1 wish and 2 minor artifacts by Olli.
one time one of his Olli artifscts was stolen by an undead mindflayer, he went to get it back managed to steal it right from under his eeeeh tentacels, but got cought on his way out. to save himselfe he jumed tru a hole in the fore into a cavern but the bottm of the cavern was about 700 800 feet straight down.
my DM gave me some time to figure out my next move while he went on with the rest of the party for a bit. after he was done end I already a bit down becouse my character was about to die, all players and my DM sat down together to divise some verry skillful manuvres to save him (thats how attached everyone was to him(he was a verry likable halfling)) he managed to keep himself alive... bearley. lay oncountiouse in a cave for about half a day before the rest of the party could get to him.
|
| Tethir the dragonslayer |
Posted - 03 Apr 2008 : 22:11:16
Hell yes I'm attached to my character... he died once causing my never-ending hate towards dragons... |
| Aravine |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 16:10:43
You know, we(my IRL DM and me,) grew so attached to a certain half-orc(who by the way started as a moblin in a Zelda RP)) That there have been reincarnations of him in almost every campaign. |
| Baldwin Stonewood |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 00:02:47
I've grown attached to many characters that I've created, they are my creations. If one died needlessly that would stink. I have rogue in one of the games that I am in and I really like him. I've developed a neat BS and it certainly fits with the overall game.
In my current game that I GM there in one player who has a dwarf barbarian that I really like. If he died the bards would write fascinating lore on him. |
| GoCeraf |
Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 19:16:30
Well, there's a bit of a problem there, too.
Sometimes, the gods of the dice are ridiculously cruel. In a Star Wars game, for instance, I had a player who spent 2 hours building his new character while I ran the game a few feet away. When he was finally ready to jump in, the first attack roll against him rolled a natural 20 on the attack and a natural 20 on the confirmation. From here on, he could have been auto-killed.
Long story short, I saved him, but there's a danger of breaking the suspension of disbelief in games if you go out of your way to save an unlucky player. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 28 Mar 2008 : 13:36:26
quote:
Originally posted by GoCeraf
I go by a rule to take care of character attachment. If I feel that a person has played their character intelligently and understandably, I'll not send a save-or-die their way.
That's nice of you. |
| IngoDjan |
Posted - 28 Mar 2008 : 11:12:23
THIS IS RPG! |
| GoCeraf |
Posted - 28 Mar 2008 : 00:11:23
I go by a rule to take care of character attachment. If I feel that a person has played their character intelligently and understandably, I'll not send a save-or-die their way.
That in mind, I often get attached to the characters I create, be they my PCs or NPCs. Incidentally, when I DM, I spend a lot more time working on villains than I do allies or neutrals, at least statistically-wise, so I tend to like them more.
I've made a few PCs that I'd hate to lose, though. Unfortunately, my tendency to make slightly reckless characters often puts them in dangerous situations. There are, indeed, better ways to fight a dragon-riding wizard than jumping from a tower onto the dragon's back and proceeding to tackle the wizard off... |
| Rollo Ruttikin |
Posted - 21 Mar 2008 : 20:14:06
I think you should be attached to your characters. From a DM point of view, I think it's just fine to become attached to the PCs and NPCs as well.
We are dealing with heroes and villains of epic scale. These aren't the ordinary folks, but the stuff legends are made of!
They should be treated accordingly. That's not to say that you eliminate all risk of death, but letting someone take a saving throw where one wouldn't normally apply might be something to consider. Especially if the death of the PC or NPC would drastically effect the campaign.
It's really all about the story anyway.
Rollo |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 13 Feb 2008 : 08:34:25
Chess - bowling - bowling - chess? Aaaah! Whatever...........
WHat I tuned in for was the following I woul like to share with you:
Characer attachment does also happen with DMs, it seems as it happend to me. I grew attached to the players characters and some of my own NPCs over playing a campaign for about 7 (or even more, can't recall anymore) years.
Makes killing off the players characters or seeing your favorate NPC getting hacked to pieces quite tough on you!  |
| Lady Fellshot |
Posted - 13 Feb 2008 : 01:26:22
Well the pawns do look like pins ^.^
For my own part I was very surprised to write a back story to a ranger and realize that she loved embroidery for the winter months and long boring watches. |
| Mace Hammerhand |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 21:21:59
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Lady Fellshot
Here's another question to add to those two: Do you enjoy your characters when they are not adventuring?
Yes I do. It's fun to imagine how characters live out their daily lives.
I had loads of fun playing my Runequest minotaur, Brute, when he wasn't adventuring... he re-designed chess while in jail a whole silly story of its own, and he ended up with a new game called Bruling
I leave it to everyone's imagination how a game very similar to bowling can coome from chess  |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 21:16:35
quote:
Originally posted by Lady Fellshot
Here's another question to add to those two: Do you enjoy your characters when they are not adventuring?
Yes I do. It's fun to imagine how characters live out their daily lives. |
| Brynweir |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 14:28:04
quote:
Originally posted by Lady Fellshot
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
What was the longest you played a character?
and
How much personal time did you invest into the character?
Here's another question to add to those two: Do you enjoy your characters when they are not adventuring?
I know I do. What about anyone else?
I actually enjoy my character sometimes more when she is not adventuring (if that makes sense). In the campaign I am currently involved in, she has spent more time in general RP than actual adventure and I have seen a whole new side to her that I did not know existed. I am even more attached to her than ever.
That may eventually be a problem.... |
| Lady Fellshot |
Posted - 12 Feb 2008 : 07:05:39
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
What was the longest you played a character?
and
How much personal time did you invest into the character?
Here's another question to add to those two: Do you enjoy your characters when they are not adventuring?
I know I do. What about anyone else? |
| Slaygrim |
Posted - 02 Feb 2008 : 17:34:00
Mace, I am not trying to take away from or diminish anyones investment in a character. The question was asked about each of our attachments to a character we played and how deep of an attachment it is. My oldest played character I have had since the early-to-mid 90's. While there have been YEARS between playing him at times, he's still been around for a long long time with many hours put into him. The answer to the question for myself would be that if he died, it would suck, but that I would move on just fine. The next gaming adventure, or even immediately after, I would create a new character and have fun with that one too. This is how I would do it and I wouldn't presume to judge anyone how they would handle it. |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 02 Feb 2008 : 10:21:14
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Hell, I even let one of my characters commit suicide and take at least 2 characters with him because I saw that as what the character would do. I was sad, but the other players were majorly pissed...
Ouch! Group in-fighting! That's bad! I never had a game where such issues could be resolved smoothly. Always ruined the game for that session at least! And some were never resolved leading to long lasting personal grudges.
Remember, the time investment part you mentioned earlier? Now, its not the innocent poppy that wracks your Bismark but the resonable 'friend' across the kitchen table....! And you have to stand by and watch, too!
That's pain, right there! |
| Mace Hammerhand |
Posted - 02 Feb 2008 : 09:50:49
Hell, I even let one of my characters commit suicide and take at least 2 characters with him because I saw that as what the character would do. I was sad, but the other players were majorly pissed... |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 02 Feb 2008 : 09:21:05
quote:
Originally posted by Brynweir
My BG story started at over 25 pages, and now is novel length. If she ever dies, I'm gonna quit gaming. J/K.
I do think it matters how much time you invest in the character...It also matters how they go. If they die doing something noble it is a little easier to take.
Indeed some deaths are just 'fitting' for a certain Character. Than again others are just not.......... caused by your own stupidity e.g. Than you can't even blame the DM.  |
| Brynweir |
Posted - 02 Feb 2008 : 01:16:27
Of course, if they die for no reason, then I guess it would be rather annoying. I was involved in a campaign with great BG stories and all kinds of connections between the PCs, and many of us were attached to the characters. I have mentioned it before, but I just have to share this:
One of my characters was a rogue/mage.
The thief was actually CE, though nobody bothered to check...she was very charismatic...we went through an agonizing dungeon crawl, lots of treasure and injuries, and got the spell book we went after. When we finally came out, our little party of 7 was faced with 2 score elves with crossbows, and 4 wizards.
They wanted the book and her party said no. She pretended to try to negotiate with the elves - but secretly agreed with the elves to give them the book. She told her party that she was tricking the elves and was going to put them to sleep, pretended to cast at the elves, put her own party to sleep, gave the elves the book and then killed her party because she knew they'd come after her. She was VERY rich after that campaign
It was entirely something she would do, but of course my TT group wouldn't let me play for like a month and I had to be LG as punishment. I'll never be LG again - that's for damn sure. |
| Brynweir |
Posted - 02 Feb 2008 : 00:49:09
My BG story started at over 25 pages, and now is novel length. If she ever dies, I'm gonna quit gaming. J/K.
I do think it matters how much time you invest in the character...It also matters how they go. If they die doing something noble it is a little easier to take. |
| Mace Hammerhand |
Posted - 01 Feb 2008 : 23:33:29
What was the longest you played a character?
and
How much personal time did you invest into the character?
One of my players wrote 8 or 9 pages of backstory for her character. If that character were to die, I know she would be really pissed...
It's all a matter of time investment.
Imagine you build a platic-model of, say, the Bismarck...it would be a bitch to attach all those railing, guns etc. So you rebuilt the Bismarck for 7 months, taking your time, being extra careful so that everything is right. At least 2 hours every day. Then, because you had to look after your child, you forgot to put the almost finished model someplace safe and away from the dog. And the pooch thinks that the model is a great chewing toy...
2 hours per day, 30 days to a month (just for the math!), and 7 months work. 420 hours work invested, destroyed in 2 maybe 3 minutes... |
| Slaygrim |
Posted - 01 Feb 2008 : 23:15:33
I guess what I mean is that if they did die, I woudl be like, "Damn." But then I'd get up and go watch UFC or something. I wouldn't ever get upset. |
| Mace Hammerhand |
Posted - 01 Feb 2008 : 22:41:47
quote:
Originally posted by Slaygrim
Can't say I've ever had a real attachment. I mean, I have had characters that I was really fond of playing, would hate to have them killed, etc, but nothing more than that.
That is attachment
Since I GM most of the time it's kinda hard for me to grow attached to my own characters. But I do get attached to PCs in my longest running group, and it's sad to see one of them go...but it happens. It's a game
As for getting to know my own characters...the one I was most fond of and had a blast playing: Richard Darias, the most ruthless and opportunistic human male in the galaxy, and I mean he'd have screwed his pals over to make a deal and then kick them out of jail again when it was certain he'd look even more cool, the only problem was: he was dating a woman that was even more ruthless than he... Man, I was pissed when she put me in cryo and send my ship off with close to lightspeed.... |
