Questions tagged [player-characters]
For questions relating to characters controlled by players rather than by a game master.
115
questions
6
votes
3
answers
59
views
One of PCs backstabbed a powerful ally. How do I punish them without seeming like singling them out?
Followup to this question.
So, I'm running a Starfinder game, and we are 50 sessions into this campaign.
The campaign involves the fate of a small but strategically important settlement, which several ...
- 1,259
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
Can a creature with reach flank without being directly next to the enemy? [duplicate]
This is something one of my players asked me recently and I'm not 100% sure how to handle it. I'm leaning towards "no, this does not work" but I am not certain and don't want to be unfair to ...
- 8,098
-1
votes
2
answers
290
views
Can I have a Lawful Evil Paladin with his justification being its the word of his god? [closed]
I'm thinking of having a lawful evil Paladin whose reason for being evil is it is the word of his god.
Would this work?
Is this a good idea?
- 23
13
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How do I keep a party together when they have conflicting goals?
I'm running a Starfinder game, and we are 40 sessions into this campaign.
The campaign involves the fate of a small but strategically important settlement, which several factions are vying for control ...
- 1,259
7
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Can you play a vampire in the 5th Edition?
So I got this sudden thing to want to play a vampire. I tried to do some research on vampires in the 5th edition of D&D, but I couldn't find anything. Am I able to play a vampire in the 5th ...
- 1,242
6
votes
1
answer
996
views
Can a Doppelganger buy Changeling racial feats?
The Changeling race in D&D 3.5 has a history defined as
They evolved through the union of doppelgangers and humans, eventually becoming a separate race distinct from either ancestral tree.
In D&...
- 7,853
-4
votes
2
answers
252
views
Can the term "item" also apply to creatures?
The rules sometimes refer to items, for example bag of holding says: "Retrieving an item from the bag requires an action." The term item is not formally defined in the rules, so normally we ...
- 96.1k
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Game was fun for a year but suddenly is not? [closed]
So this may be a long story but my group and I have been playing “The Curse of Strahd” for a little over a year. It has been a really amazing and wonderful time. Everyone got a long so well and the ...
- 119
6
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What is the scope of the Charlatan background?
I am currently in talks with a player, who wants his character to have the Charlatan Background, while I as the DM am not sure that's what the character actually is.
The player describes his character ...
- 1,828
5
votes
2
answers
792
views
How to add negative healing to a character temporarily?
Beside Undeath's Blessing, is there a way to add temporary negative healing to a character?
A potion or a divine spell would be best, but any solution is welcome.
- 62.4k
6
votes
1
answer
446
views
(Path of the Ancesteral Guardian Barbarian) Can you use Spirit Shield without activating Vengeful Ancestors?
If I'm reducing the Area of Effect damage dealt to a friendly NPC by a PC, can I opt to not cause the damage blowback dealt by the Vengeful Ancestors?
Spirit Shield the guardian spirits that aid you ...
- 135
-1
votes
1
answer
405
views
What would be the 5e version of Willow Ufgood's background? [closed]
I have a character concept I'd like to develop which has similar ties for the background to the "main" character of the 1988 film Willow, in that they are both destined not to be a chosen ...
- 7,006
20
votes
7
answers
3k
views
How can we as players stop being murderhobos? [closed]
My group is the classic example of murderhobos. When we come upon a strange creature, rather than trying to understand what it is, we simply kill it and ask questions once it is dead. Or instead of ...
- 1,097
23
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Can a player replace their pre-generated character with a new character they create, partway through an adventure?
I'm a new DM playing Lost Mine of Phandelver with two other adults and our kids, two 11-year-olds. We started with the pre-generated characters; I'm playing the Dwarf cleric as an NPC.
One of the kids ...
- 381
-3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Playing a PC with lycanthrope abilities [closed]
I have a player who wants to play a Lycanthrope (werewolf). But that is technically against the rules.
Using only the 5e official rules form hardcover books, what is the best combination of race/...
- 10.9k
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What was the status of Half-Orcs as playable characters in 2e?
The AD&D 2e Player's Handbook did not list half-orc as a playable race, unlike 1e.
However, half-orcs in the Monstrous Compendium are listed under orcs with class and levels limits if players want ...
- 1,552
13
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How to pick a name for a Dungeons & Dragons character
I'm starting to create a character in Dungeons & Dragons. Is there a set of rules or standards, or any references or fashion, on creating a character's name?
For example, on D&D Beyond, it ...
- 169
28
votes
4
answers
5k
views
My characters, though different classes/races/etc., always seem to have similar personalities. Is this a problem, and, if so, how can I fix it?
This is a question about something I've noticed in my own play style, asked because I want to make sure that I and those I play with enjoy the game as much as possible.
I played AD&D and 2e ten ...
- 2,243
1
vote
0
answers
182
views
Question about a build; Paladin Monk or Fighter Monk? [closed]
I plan on making either a Paladin Monk or Fighter Monk, one that uses a Longsword/Battleaxe, depending on the race I choose (with my main two races being Mountain Dwarf and Human Variant for their ...
- 55
19
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Can I make a NPC just like a player character? [closed]
I’m DM in one of my D&D games and I want a NPC to be a Wood Elf, Ranger, is it possible to make that NPC on a character sheet? Just like a player would build their characters, so I can keep stats ...
- 1,242
31
votes
8
answers
8k
views
How do I deal with my group having issues with my character?
I am fairly newish to D&D. Our group plays every week and I have been a GM before. My character is fairly chill, chaotic neutral and will often get distracted for a few moments looking at ...
user68631
58
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Should I prohibit a player from having a character goal that makes me uncomfortable?
A few friends and I (as game master) are gearing up to start a Fate game set in a society inspired by ancient Greece, with a direct democratic political system.
One of my players wants to play a ...
- 689
3
votes
0
answers
105
views
In 5e, do the terms "creature" and "character" refer to different concepts? [duplicate]
Creatures in 5e is a general term covering all living entities, from NPCs to PCs, wolves to level 20 gnome wizards. Monsters, characters, and NPCs are all creatures.
Monsters are creatures with a stat ...
- 1,654
1
vote
0
answers
83
views
How do you become a lich and what happens when you become one? [duplicate]
So I was researching the Book of Vile Darkness. It says in it that it contains the information in which you could become a lich. How would you become one and what happens when you do?
- 638
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Should I allow my players to change their characters in the middle of my campaign?
Two of my players, asking if they can change their characters, mid game. Their reason being that they don't really like there characters anymore, and don't feel any energy towards being them anymore.
...
- 903
2
votes
0
answers
61
views
Outsider Type and Racial Traits [duplicate]
My PG is a Shade, so:
Racial Traits
As creatures of the Plane of Shadows, shades are considered to be of the outsider type.
So far so good. The problem is: if the Shade race is already a ...
- 1,097
1
vote
0
answers
62
views
What's a good resource to learn about advanced character and narrative development? [closed]
I've seen the "50 questions to ask yourself about your character" lists. Those are very helpful early on and I still use them after 10 years of roleplay.
I think I'd like to move into more advanced ...
- 121
1
vote
0
answers
80
views
Character development question for a god of Knowledge and Machines: How to make a god an interesting character? [closed]
System
We are playing a custom system, and in the system we are all gods that create a universe, having mortals with a primary planet. The mortals are in the early iron age.
There is a rotating GM, ...
- 121
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Have filled in my character sheet properly? [closed]
This is the second character I've ever made and I was hoping that I could get someone to check it over, to make sure it was done right.
It may not be what you'd choose as your class or race, but I ...
- 29
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How can I encourage a fellow player to develop a character a bit more?
As a player myself, I would like to encourage another player to add a little nuance to his dark and cringey character.
The player in question is young and quite enthusiastic, didn't derail anything in-...
- 1,192
3
votes
2
answers
206
views
How to deal with a non-force-sensitive character trying to harvest a saber crystal?
Three of my characters are close to lvl 7 and plan to enter the crystal cave on Mygeeto to harvest their own kyber crystal for their future weapons. This will be a standalone sidequest for them.
One ...
- 113
-3
votes
2
answers
225
views
How can I roleplay a character who's been lobotomized? [closed]
I am doing a Starfinder campaign playing a Ysoki technomancer who had a black market brain augmentation go wrong, resulting in a "unique type of emergency lobotomization."
I was lucky in my ability ...
47
votes
9
answers
13k
views
How to deal with a PC being played as homophobic?
I’m about to start a sci-fi campaign using Ultramodern5 (a modification of D&D 5e for non-fantasy settings). I’ve been working with players to help build their characters, and one player character ...
- 1,952
32
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Should my "average" PC be able to discern the potential of encountering a gelatinous cube from subtle clues?
Relatively new to DnD/TTRPGs. Playing a Barb with +0 to INT and -1 to WIS. I just realized that my party might be walking right into a gelatinous cube. What is considered "average" intelligence and ...
- 323
1
vote
1
answer
931
views
Can Blindsight see through walls? [duplicate]
The reason I'm asking this (when it's been asked before) is because I'm playing an Animated Armor, which technically HAS no senses. It's just magic in a shell. (Ghost in the shell, anyone?) So that ...
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Can I have a nameless character?
I am planning on running a High Elf Far Traveler Sorcerer, whose "far traveler" motifs are due to a loss of memory early in life. He lacks an upbringing to draw motivation from - he is self-motivated ...
- 499
45
votes
11
answers
9k
views
I'm feeling like my character doesn't fit the campaign
My boyfriend is DMing a D&D 5e game for a good friend of mine and I. It's a pirate themed campaign, which I was excited about, and takes place in a universe where magic is not believed in by most (...
- 453
5
votes
2
answers
193
views
How do I develop my character's story without spoiling myself on what's about to happen? [closed]
Today, at the table, we reached a point where we have no more goals in sight, and need to think of how we continue the game from this point onward. We are all level 6.
The problem I'm facing here is ...
- 71
10
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is using the same theme over and over again a sign of being too attached to a concept? [closed]
I have been playing in several roleplay groups taking place in different systems. I have noticed that while the personality of my character can vary to a degree, I always end up playing with a nature ...
- 20.4k
27
votes
9
answers
5k
views
How can I roleplay a follower-type character when I as a player have a leader-type personality?
Background
When I started playing RPGs, I made characters with high intelligence and problem-solving skills. As an engineer, these kinds of characters were similar to myself in real life and suited my ...
- 30.6k
3
votes
0
answers
95
views
If I'm playing a game where one of my characters died and then that character is revived how would that be handled/what do I do? [closed]
So I was playing dnd and I was on my second character it was heading toward the end of the game and then an my first characters wife got a wish and wished my first character back to life and that was ...
- 31
0
votes
2
answers
184
views
Gameplay-to-cutscene ratio: how interactive should I make the introduction to the campaign? [closed]
I'm planning a campaign with a specific backdrop-the characters are employees of a certain organization and this is their first day on the job. The organization and the job will no longer actually ...
- 733
4
votes
0
answers
188
views
What is a good storytelling way to change a characters class? [closed]
So let's say I am playing a bard.
But now my bard is level 7 and I would like to change the class because I'm just not feeling it anymore. Now I want to play the same character. I still want the ...
- 191
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How can my new character avoid being a role-playing handicap to the party? [closed]
I play D&D-5e online on Roll 20 with a friend and some of his friends.
Background
Recently in the campaign, a member of our party (neutral alignment) (ab)used his position of power among ...
- 153
0
votes
2
answers
121
views
Which check would be best for deciding which personality of a multiple-personality character is in control? [closed]
My brother wants to play a character with multiple personalities but we're unsure how to actually go about switching which personality is in control.
The system he currently has is this:
Every ...
-1
votes
1
answer
556
views
Can you enchant player characters' prosthetics permanently? [closed]
I understand that there's a huge difference between people and magical items, but the focus of this is on creating permanent magical enhancement on prosthetics itself and seeing how far you can push ...
- 7,006
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Should I allow one of my players to change characters mid-campaign? [closed]
I found myself in a predicament. One of my players told me that he wants to change his PC to play a different one mid-campaign. I would generally just say yes if there's a good reason, but that's the ...
- 928
17
votes
7
answers
2k
views
How do I make my single-minded character more interested in the main story?
Currently, I'm playing a campaign with a couple of friends and we're about 5 sessions in. My character has a single purpose, which is saving his mother who has disappeared. For that reason my ...
- 173
5
votes
0
answers
609
views
What can I do to roleplay better in DnD? [closed]
I have been playing D&D for nearly 2 years with the same character, a female elven monk who is a sage librarian. I was previously in a party where role playing wasn't pushed as much as it is in ...
- 51
3
votes
3
answers
307
views
How do I make a player feel important when their skills don't affect the campaign? [closed]
You know how sometimes a character takes Dwarvish as their second language but you have no dwarves in your campaign? Or a Cleric specializes in killing undead when your campaign revolves around ...
- 1,438