Question for the day: when you're making a character, do you prefer to start with the mechanics of the build and then move on to RP elements like personality and backstory? Or do you start with a character concept you'd like to roleplay, and then find the mechanics (subclasses, feats etc.) that best fit the concept? Or do you not have a preference?
I'm asking because I think I've proved conclusively to myself I'm in the 'RP elements first' camp. I found One Weird Trick mechanically I wanted to try out, but then once I came up with a backstory I liked to make sense of the mechanics, I liked it so much I've actually considered ditching the original fighter/sorc build that sparked it just to get a chance to play the character who's now camped out in my head. (Fortunately, it doesn't look like I'll have to, as a friend says she's going to start an Exandria campaign he'd be a near-perfect fit for.)
That's tough, as I tend to do both. Sometimes I'll find a subclass/multiclass I want to try and build a character around it. I think my best characters are the ones where I have a character idea first with a backstory and personality before I build the character. It allows for the most growth throughout a campaign. Unfortunately, I don't get to be a player too much anymore, but I enjoy being the DM.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
Social group interaction with friends.
For me, being with friends and experiencing a developing story together (or just doing a s**tton of jokes) is the most important, however, as I am also a tabletop wargamer by heart, a solid set of rules is also something I need to really have a good time. I, myself, can go with a lot of crunch and complexity, however, a lot of my friends are just casual TTRPG enjoyers, not really bothering to go deep into rules. So, easy to use more or less straight forward rules work best at my table.
As some of my friends from my in-person campaign will move 600ish km to another federal district in Germany, I will be forced to try discord/owlbear rodeo in order to continue that particular campaign, first time online play for me, that is...
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D?
Seeing how people interact with the game, DM, and other players, and how all those elements come together to make a singular story. In D&D, you have the option of doing anything - guy you know could kill you monologuing and being an ass? A video game might allow you to attack the NPC (if you are not stuck in a cutscene), but only D&D gives you the option to say “he is wearing tights, right? I do a stealth roll” *sorcerer interrupts* “I don’t know what our rogue is doing, but I cast Invisibility on them, spending a sorcery point for subtle spellcasting.” *other party members purposefully step back and don’t intervene.* “Okay, 24 to stealth and 31 slight of hand to give the BBEG a wedgie.”
From the ridiculous, to the corny, to the heartfelt, to the incredibly stupid (and sometimes all of the above at once), D&D provides a way a group of friends to sit around, roll some dice, and play off one another to create something they all share.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
Dice. Clickety clack math rocks. Shiny funny-looking number clackers. Clickety clack clack.
In seriousness, my favourite part of D&D as a DM is the stories you can create and the awesome (and oftentimes ridiculous) moments that can emerge as a result of the players' actions.
As a player, my favourite part is probably being forced into a situation where you need to make critical decisions, whether it be when/where to sleep for the night, if the party should take a short rest and risk getting attacked, or what spells I (usually the party wizard) should prepare. I love getting into a dangerous combat encounter and barely making it out alive, and exploring deadly crypts and deciding where to go next.
Regardless of whether the adventure is deadly or heroic (or even what system you're playing), the best part is hanging out with friends and making sure everyone is having a good time.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
I'm a storyteller at heart -- I wrote my first short story when I was, like, four or something -- so for me it's all about the stories the group comes up with communally. Not just the main arc of the campaign, but also all the little side stories you create within the group: the evolving relationships between characters, the goofy interaction with an NPC that becomes a call-back, the heist that goes off with a thousand hitches but still somehow works out in the end
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
At one point I would have said combat, particularly the strategizing when you have multiple options. But I think now that I've been playing with my online group for a while, it's ultimately the shared creativity and fun we have as people. I love delivering a good RP line and seeing/hearing the other players get hyped, or cheering on a great turn in combat from our Bard, or whatever cool moments we get to share each session. The game itself is one thing, but having the right group of people elevates it to something else entirely.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
My favorite part of playing D&D is the lifetime of memories it has given me, and sharing those memories with my friends.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
100% the social aspect of it. Five of us sitting around the table, cracking jokes and such while also being engaged in the story and in advancing the various plots in play. It's the same reason I've been shifting increasingly from video gaming to board gaming in recent years.
CR seems to do exceptionally well on Amazon Prime...
I can only assume they had some money tucked away in that kickstarter drawer. Not to mention it's just quality storytelling, which has been so sorely been missing in many a series in recent years.
CR seems to do exceptionally well on Amazon Prime...
Can't wait for Jester Voice to become the new Borat Voice
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
CR seems to do exceptionally well on Amazon Prime...
Nice! I initially wasn't a big fan of CR, but at some point it seems to have clicked with me. I've watched most of the main arcs from Campaign 2 and am...14?... episodes into 3 now.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
I addition to the social component, I like the idea of world-building and story-building, and I particularly like designing encounters and maps, and being a DM lets me exercise all of those at once. I don't necessarily like doing the voices (because the only ones I can consistently manage are surly russian, coked up Elmo, and terrible posh brit), but i have fun with the roleplay as well.
CR seems to do exceptionally well on Amazon Prime...
That’s exciting. I am not super fond of CR’s livestream - I think they seem like (mostly) fun players, I rather enjoy their characters (again, mostly), and the stories are fun, but sitting around watching someone else play D&D for a couple hundred hours just isn’t my cup of tea. I usually find something else to do while my SO watches, so only about half pay attention (we’re in the middle of Campaign 2).
I thought first season of the animated show was delightful though - did a great job capturing campaign one and the feeling of playing D&D, without taking six hours for them to come up with a bad plan. I don’t like the Mighty Nein as much as Vox (I find three of their seven characters to be incredibly boring), but Jester and Nott alone should make the show worthwhile.
CR seems to do exceptionally well on Amazon Prime...
Haven't watched it but heard that it's really, really good. Isn't it the only show to get a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes?
I don't watch Critical Role at all, I've seen the first episodes from campaign 2 and 3, and it's super fun to watch, but I just can't consistently watch a 3-4 hour episode every week. I definitely plan to watch the Amazon show, however.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D?
Sitting around the table with friends, laughing, and joking around with friends is always the best part of D&D for me. I can spend hours and hours preparing an adventure, yet the players will still constantly find new ways to surprise and delight me.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D?
My favorite part, above all else, is getting to hang out with awesome people while making incredible things with them that you couldn't have ever dreamt up on your own. You create these characters, with unique personalities and backstories, and you fill entire worlds with these kinds of people, making these worlds rich in opportunities and wonder. The things you can just do in D&D are pretty much limitless. Memories will be brought into your mind over and over throughout your life, reminding you of the exciting, funny, sad, and scary experiences you had with your best friends. The challenges you overcame, together. Everyone plays a part in the writing of these stories, and you can cherish them forever.
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⌜╔═════════════The Board══════════════╗⌝
...and started me on my way into my next chapter in life...
That's tough, as I tend to do both. Sometimes I'll find a subclass/multiclass I want to try and build a character around it. I think my best characters are the ones where I have a character idea first with a backstory and personality before I build the character. It allows for the most growth throughout a campaign. Unfortunately, I don't get to be a player too much anymore, but I enjoy being the DM.
Question of the day: What’s your favorite part about playing D&D? For me, it’s partially the social engagement with my friends; partially because I just love playing games in general, I like operating within a set of rules and seeing what I can do within the restrictions; but my favorite part is getting to be someone else, or when I’m DMing lots of someone elses. I like doing voices, like the spontaneity of RP. That’s the most fun part for me.
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Social group interaction with friends.
For me, being with friends and experiencing a developing story together (or just doing a s**tton of jokes) is the most important, however, as I am also a tabletop wargamer by heart, a solid set of rules is also something I need to really have a good time. I, myself, can go with a lot of crunch and complexity, however, a lot of my friends are just casual TTRPG enjoyers, not really bothering to go deep into rules. So, easy to use more or less straight forward rules work best at my table.
As some of my friends from my in-person campaign will move 600ish km to another federal district in Germany, I will be forced to try discord/owlbear rodeo in order to continue that particular campaign, first time online play for me, that is...
Seeing how people interact with the game, DM, and other players, and how all those elements come together to make a singular story. In D&D, you have the option of doing anything - guy you know could kill you monologuing and being an ass? A video game might allow you to attack the NPC (if you are not stuck in a cutscene), but only D&D gives you the option to say “he is wearing tights, right? I do a stealth roll” *sorcerer interrupts* “I don’t know what our rogue is doing, but I cast Invisibility on them, spending a sorcery point for subtle spellcasting.” *other party members purposefully step back and don’t intervene.* “Okay, 24 to stealth and 31 slight of hand to give the BBEG a wedgie.”
From the ridiculous, to the corny, to the heartfelt, to the incredibly stupid (and sometimes all of the above at once), D&D provides a way a group of friends to sit around, roll some dice, and play off one another to create something they all share.
Dice. Clickety clack math rocks. Shiny funny-looking number clackers. Clickety clack clack.
In seriousness, my favourite part of D&D as a DM is the stories you can create and the awesome (and oftentimes ridiculous) moments that can emerge as a result of the players' actions.
As a player, my favourite part is probably being forced into a situation where you need to make critical decisions, whether it be when/where to sleep for the night, if the party should take a short rest and risk getting attacked, or what spells I (usually the party wizard) should prepare. I love getting into a dangerous combat encounter and barely making it out alive, and exploring deadly crypts and deciding where to go next.
Regardless of whether the adventure is deadly or heroic (or even what system you're playing), the best part is hanging out with friends and making sure everyone is having a good time.
[REDACTED]
I'm a storyteller at heart -- I wrote my first short story when I was, like, four or something -- so for me it's all about the stories the group comes up with communally. Not just the main arc of the campaign, but also all the little side stories you create within the group: the evolving relationships between characters, the goofy interaction with an NPC that becomes a call-back, the heist that goes off with a thousand hitches but still somehow works out in the end
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
At one point I would have said combat, particularly the strategizing when you have multiple options. But I think now that I've been playing with my online group for a while, it's ultimately the shared creativity and fun we have as people. I love delivering a good RP line and seeing/hearing the other players get hyped, or cheering on a great turn in combat from our Bard, or whatever cool moments we get to share each session. The game itself is one thing, but having the right group of people elevates it to something else entirely.
My favorite part of playing D&D is the lifetime of memories it has given me, and sharing those memories with my friends.
100% the social aspect of it. Five of us sitting around the table, cracking jokes and such while also being engaged in the story and in advancing the various plots in play. It's the same reason I've been shifting increasingly from video gaming to board gaming in recent years.
That's in direct contest to what OP wants. Good job.
Off topic, but I am totally in for it: https://youtu.be/mUZv9PdfpzE
CR seems to do exceptionally well on Amazon Prime...
I can only assume they had some money tucked away in that kickstarter drawer. Not to mention it's just quality storytelling, which has been so sorely been missing in many a series in recent years.
Can't wait for Jester Voice to become the new Borat Voice
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Nice! I initially wasn't a big fan of CR, but at some point it seems to have clicked with me. I've watched most of the main arcs from Campaign 2 and am...14?... episodes into 3 now.
I addition to the social component, I like the idea of world-building and story-building, and I particularly like designing encounters and maps, and being a DM lets me exercise all of those at once. I don't necessarily like doing the voices (because the only ones I can consistently manage are surly russian, coked up Elmo, and terrible posh brit), but i have fun with the roleplay as well.
That’s exciting. I am not super fond of CR’s livestream - I think they seem like (mostly) fun players, I rather enjoy their characters (again, mostly), and the stories are fun, but sitting around watching someone else play D&D for a couple hundred hours just isn’t my cup of tea. I usually find something else to do while my SO watches, so only about half pay attention (we’re in the middle of Campaign 2).
I thought first season of the animated show was delightful though - did a great job capturing campaign one and the feeling of playing D&D, without taking six hours for them to come up with a bad plan. I don’t like the Mighty Nein as much as Vox (I find three of their seven characters to be incredibly boring), but Jester and Nott alone should make the show worthwhile.
Haven't watched it but heard that it's really, really good. Isn't it the only show to get a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes?
I don't watch Critical Role at all, I've seen the first episodes from campaign 2 and 3, and it's super fun to watch, but I just can't consistently watch a 3-4 hour episode every week. I definitely plan to watch the Amazon show, however.
[REDACTED]
Sitting around the table with friends, laughing, and joking around with friends is always the best part of D&D for me. I can spend hours and hours preparing an adventure, yet the players will still constantly find new ways to surprise and delight me.
Tbh, I don't really like Critical Role. I tried watching C3 for 20 or so episodes, but I ended up losing interest and resumed binging Aerois.
BoringBard's long and tedious posts somehow manage to enrapture audiences. How? Because he used Charm Person, the #1 bard spell!
He/him pronouns. Call me Bard. PROUD NERD!
Ever wanted to talk about your parties' worst mistakes? Do so HERE. What's your favorite class, why? Share & explain
HERE.For me is to be with friends, and create something together
My favorite part, above all else, is getting to hang out with awesome people while making incredible things with them that you couldn't have ever dreamt up on your own. You create these characters, with unique personalities and backstories, and you fill entire worlds with these kinds of people, making these worlds rich in opportunities and wonder. The things you can just do in D&D are pretty much limitless. Memories will be brought into your mind over and over throughout your life, reminding you of the exciting, funny, sad, and scary experiences you had with your best friends. The challenges you overcame, together. Everyone plays a part in the writing of these stories, and you can cherish them forever.
⌜╔═════════════ The Board ══════════════╗⌝
...and started me on my way into my next chapter in life...
⌞╚════════════ Extended Signature ════════════╝⌟