So not to long ago I became the new DM for my group and for the first 6 games we've had in the story I created things have been going well, recently tho I have one of my players looking into other classes and races, some original and some home brewed. The stuff he finds time to time is interesting and does create some possibilities for stuff in the future but now he's at the point where he wants to switch out his character for another character he made but at the same time wishes to return to his original character later. He's at the point now where he's been making all sorts of characters for later and brings them up time to time with new findings for new races and classes he wants to try.
I honestly don't know what to say to him since I feel like if I tell him, 'Sure go for it.' it might just motivate him to do it again later with another new character, but at the same time if I tell him, 'No just stick with the character you have for now.' He might try and get his character killed on purpose just to switch into his new character.
Any thoughts on what I should do? I'm honestly still new to being a DM but this is sort of got me stumped on what actions I should take.
The absolute best thing you can do for your players is to let them try things out. The point of the game is to have fun, and a player's main avenue to that fun is their character, so the player should always be allowed to switch away from a character that their fun/interest in is waning.
It might be tricky to smooth over the story to accommodate this, but the alternative is to intentionally leave a player unsatisfied which can lead to that player's exit from your table (and even potentially the hobby at large if they get the impression that other DMs would similarly prevent them from satisfying their curiosity).
Making characters is a lot of fun for many players. I would encourage it as it shows your player's interest is high and you're doing well as a DM. As AaronOfBarbaria said, it's good to let your players try things out. I would say even more so if they are new to the game system. If you can find a transition, then I say go for it. An alternative would be running occasional one-off Battle Royales a la Critical Role and let players try out other characters.
you might start playing 2 different story/group with different character for everyone, also ... that give the chance to every players to try something different ... but yeah you have to run 2 story side by side you can even get them meet each other at the inn so they can decide to form a different group for different quest etc... so everyone is happy ;)
So it should be fine for him to swap out his character if he wishes as long as he's enjoying himself in the game? Alright, I honestly thought this was sort of a bad thing personally but after reading everyone's comments it sounds perfectly normal.
This should be encouraged within reason. Make it clear they can't be a different character every week. Put part of the onus on them for figuring out what happens to the old character (e.g., they retire, or they stick around a village to help long term) as well as how to integrate their new character. Players tend to be overly focused on their own character and less on how they fit into the party, which becomes a real problem with new additions. They need to be able to answer: "Why does my character want to join this party?" and "Why would the party want my character around?"
Just make sure they've thought about more than just optimizing during character creation, and that they're not going to tire immediately in favour of the next shiny class.
It is just as important that you have fun and enjoy running the game.
This is very much true, and I feel like my earlier post might lead someone to think I don't feel the same, so I wanted to clarify.
At the same time, I caution any DM who feels they can't have their fun without strict limits being applied to other people's sole method of contribution and participation in the game. I.e. if you can't have fun unless your players don't change characters mid-campaign, or if you can't enjoy characters of certain races or classes, these are the kind of things that you need to bring up before anyone commits to participating in a campaign with you... and they are things which you'd probably find it worth learning to have fun with (or even despite).
It is, in my experience at least, a lot more enjoyable for me to allow my players to play gnomes than to insist that they can't, because I don't have to play any gnomes as the DM and I don't have to ever engage directly with their PC's gnomishness - I can just do exactly as I would if they were a halfling (or human, or whatever) instead and yet let them have their gnome like they want. The end result being that I'm happy enough, and the player is happy too - versus banning gnomes where I would be happy, and the player wouldn't.
I consider it a lot like I do food; If I don't like the taste or smell of something, I'm not going to eat it... but I won't insist you throw yours away too.
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So not to long ago I became the new DM for my group and for the first 6 games we've had in the story I created things have been going well, recently tho I have one of my players looking into other classes and races, some original and some home brewed. The stuff he finds time to time is interesting and does create some possibilities for stuff in the future but now he's at the point where he wants to switch out his character for another character he made but at the same time wishes to return to his original character later. He's at the point now where he's been making all sorts of characters for later and brings them up time to time with new findings for new races and classes he wants to try.
I honestly don't know what to say to him since I feel like if I tell him, 'Sure go for it.' it might just motivate him to do it again later with another new character, but at the same time if I tell him, 'No just stick with the character you have for now.' He might try and get his character killed on purpose just to switch into his new character.
Any thoughts on what I should do? I'm honestly still new to being a DM but this is sort of got me stumped on what actions I should take.
The absolute best thing you can do for your players is to let them try things out. The point of the game is to have fun, and a player's main avenue to that fun is their character, so the player should always be allowed to switch away from a character that their fun/interest in is waning.
It might be tricky to smooth over the story to accommodate this, but the alternative is to intentionally leave a player unsatisfied which can lead to that player's exit from your table (and even potentially the hobby at large if they get the impression that other DMs would similarly prevent them from satisfying their curiosity).
Making characters is a lot of fun for many players. I would encourage it as it shows your player's interest is high and you're doing well as a DM. As AaronOfBarbaria said, it's good to let your players try things out. I would say even more so if they are new to the game system. If you can find a transition, then I say go for it. An alternative would be running occasional one-off Battle Royales a la Critical Role and let players try out other characters.
you might start playing 2 different story/group with different character for everyone, also ... that give the chance to every players to try something different ... but yeah you have to run 2 story side by side you can even get them meet each other at the inn so they can decide to form a different group for different quest etc... so everyone is happy ;)
So it should be fine for him to swap out his character if he wishes as long as he's enjoying himself in the game? Alright, I honestly thought this was sort of a bad thing personally but after reading everyone's comments it sounds perfectly normal.
Thanks for the help everyone.
This should be encouraged within reason. Make it clear they can't be a different character every week. Put part of the onus on them for figuring out what happens to the old character (e.g., they retire, or they stick around a village to help long term) as well as how to integrate their new character. Players tend to be overly focused on their own character and less on how they fit into the party, which becomes a real problem with new additions. They need to be able to answer: "Why does my character want to join this party?" and "Why would the party want my character around?"
Just make sure they've thought about more than just optimizing during character creation, and that they're not going to tire immediately in favour of the next shiny class.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
I would let him experiment but at the same time I feel it is OK to set limitations for your own sanity. Things like:
You can try one new character.
You can't switch back and forth constantly.
You can only use sources I approve to make your character.
And so on.
It is just as important that you have fun and enjoy running the game. Good luck and I home you and your group continue to have fun.