My GM has asked that everyone attending our session zero come prepared with ideas for how their characters might already know one or more other characters in the group. The goal is to establish pre-existing relationships that kick off the campaign naturally—without resorting to the typical "we all met at the bar" scenario.
For context, our adventure is set in Wildemount, starting in a town created by the GM. I'm playing a druid who has recently decided to venture beyond the borders of the forest she grew up in to explore the world on her pilgrimage which is a right of passage for her people.
I'm having trouble coming up with compelling ideas on my own, so I'd love your input. What pre-established relationships have your characters had before starting a campaign? Please share what has worked well for you and what you found fun to explore through roleplay.
Your character has a difficulty baked into her story - if she's not really ventured outside of her forest before, how would she know a bunch of what are presumably city folk?
Perhaps if you share some of the rough backstories of the other characters, we could suggest some ideas. The obvious one that jumps out to me is that one or more of them would occasionally venture into her forest, and encountered you. You struck up a friendship over time. That friendship is playing a role in your decision to leave the forest and go on an adventure.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Your character has a difficulty baked into her story - if she's not really ventured outside of her forest before, how would she know a bunch of what are presumably city folk?
Perhaps if you share some of the rough backstories of the other characters, we could suggest some ideas. The obvious one that jumps out to me is that one or more of them would occasionally venture into her forest, and encountered you. You struck up a friendship over time. That friendship is playing a role in your decision to leave the forest and go on an adventure.
I do get that. I should have clarified that my character has been on her pilgrimage for around a year and spent roughly 3-4 months in this city. So they've likely come across the other PCs
Another player could have been a bodyguard for you while you are on your pilgrimage. Or a fan of you and is a very encouraging person of you and wants you to complete it. Maybe they are doing something of a pilgrimage themselves and you guys are helping each other. Or they are a creep and has been hiding in your forest stalking you because they are trying to sell you their products like chocolate or an extended warranty for their weapons/armor. It really depends on the other player that will have a friendship with you.
My GM has asked that everyone attending our session zero come prepared with ideas for how their characters might already know one or more other characters in the group. The goal is to establish pre-existing relationships that kick off the campaign naturally—without resorting to the typical "we all met at the bar" scenario.
I'm not sure how you "prepare" for that, really, without talking to the other players and finding out more about the characters they are playing
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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)
I agree with Anton, by it's very nature it's not something you can do in isolation it needs a conversation with other players to find out their back stories and see where they could overlap. However some suggestions in addition to the ones above would be to consider not just what you needed as part of the pilgrimage (a guide to the larger world, a bodyguard, information etc) but what you might offer to others. Were you hired by one because of your skill with herbs? Did another player die in a prior adventure and you were the one that brought them back? Did you work with one of the others on a job that required wildshape? Also consider negative connections, one of the others beat you in a game of cards and you followed them to get your money back, you suspect one of them of being involved in a crime against your people (whether they are guilty or not is to be agreed on with that players) or one of them worked for a logging company that destroyed a section of your home forest
As an exemple in one of my last campaign in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden some characters arrived togheter in the Savage North, a Cormyrian noble Purple Dragon Knight who was secretly a fan of Drizzt, with his retenues, along with a Cleric of Lathander on a pilgrimage to the temple of Amaunator in Bryn Shander, actually an Harper spy there to investigate Zhentarim activities in the area.
Other character was a Human Swashbuckler from Luskan, sole survivor of a shipwreck in the Sea of Moving Ice who was found and rescued in the tundra half buried in snow by a Goliath Ranger after an encounter with Yeti.
The Goliath saved his life, healed him up from hyppothermia and befriended the pirate. En route to Ten Towns, they cross the path of the Knight and his retenues lost in a blizzard...
My GM has asked that everyone attending our session zero come prepared with ideas for how their characters might already know one or more other characters in the group. The goal is to establish pre-existing relationships that kick off the campaign naturally—without resorting to the typical "we all met at the bar" scenario.
I'm not sure how you "prepare" for that, really, without talking to the other players and finding out more about the characters they are playing
My GM asked us to come up with potential character connections to bring to session zero for discussion with the other players. I know these relationships can't be decided alone, but I want to have some solid ideas ready to explore and develop at the table.
My GM has asked that everyone attending our session zero come prepared with ideas for how their characters might already know one or more other characters in the group. The goal is to establish pre-existing relationships that kick off the campaign naturally—without resorting to the typical "we all met at the bar" scenario.
I'm not sure how you "prepare" for that, really, without talking to the other players and finding out more about the characters they are playing
My GM asked us to come up with potential character connections to bring to session zero for discussion with the other players. I know these relationships can't be decided alone, but I want to have some solid ideas ready to explore and develop at the table.
No offense to your GM, but that seems like throwing darts blindfolded to me
If the campaign is starting in this city you've been in for a few months though, I'd focus on what you've been up to that might have given you the opportunity to meet other adventurers. Have you made friends/acquaintances who might have introduced you? Frequented shops other adventurers might go to? Gotten into any escapades that might have been more than one lone druid could handle? Figure out what your life in the city has been like, and you should find spots that it makes sense to plug someone in (if it also makes sense for them)
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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)
I think the best advice I can give is to really keep an open mind. If someone else mentions their character is doing something your character might be involved in, talk the idea through with them and see what you can come up with together. And be willing to reciprocate that sort of attitude. It’s fairly easy to do this, and still maintain the core of your character, if you’re willing to make some small adjustments around the edges.
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My GM has asked that everyone attending our session zero come prepared with ideas for how their characters might already know one or more other characters in the group. The goal is to establish pre-existing relationships that kick off the campaign naturally—without resorting to the typical "we all met at the bar" scenario.
For context, our adventure is set in Wildemount, starting in a town created by the GM. I'm playing a druid who has recently decided to venture beyond the borders of the forest she grew up in to explore the world on her pilgrimage which is a right of passage for her people.
I'm having trouble coming up with compelling ideas on my own, so I'd love your input. What pre-established relationships have your characters had before starting a campaign? Please share what has worked well for you and what you found fun to explore through roleplay.
Your character has a difficulty baked into her story - if she's not really ventured outside of her forest before, how would she know a bunch of what are presumably city folk?
Perhaps if you share some of the rough backstories of the other characters, we could suggest some ideas. The obvious one that jumps out to me is that one or more of them would occasionally venture into her forest, and encountered you. You struck up a friendship over time. That friendship is playing a role in your decision to leave the forest and go on an adventure.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I do get that. I should have clarified that my character has been on her pilgrimage for around a year and spent roughly 3-4 months in this city. So they've likely come across the other PCs
Another player could have been a bodyguard for you while you are on your pilgrimage. Or a fan of you and is a very encouraging person of you and wants you to complete it. Maybe they are doing something of a pilgrimage themselves and you guys are helping each other. Or they are a creep and has been hiding in your forest stalking you because they are trying to sell you their products like chocolate or an extended warranty for their weapons/armor. It really depends on the other player that will have a friendship with you.
Check with other players if your character couldn't be sibling, extended family, friend, lover, neighbour or acquaintance in some forms.
Even profesionally known as business partners, or socially perhaps longtime gamers,
I'm not sure how you "prepare" for that, really, without talking to the other players and finding out more about the characters they are playing
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)
I agree with Anton, by it's very nature it's not something you can do in isolation it needs a conversation with other players to find out their back stories and see where they could overlap. However some suggestions in addition to the ones above would be to consider not just what you needed as part of the pilgrimage (a guide to the larger world, a bodyguard, information etc) but what you might offer to others. Were you hired by one because of your skill with herbs? Did another player die in a prior adventure and you were the one that brought them back? Did you work with one of the others on a job that required wildshape? Also consider negative connections, one of the others beat you in a game of cards and you followed them to get your money back, you suspect one of them of being involved in a crime against your people (whether they are guilty or not is to be agreed on with that players) or one of them worked for a logging company that destroyed a section of your home forest
As an exemple in one of my last campaign in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden some characters arrived togheter in the Savage North, a Cormyrian noble Purple Dragon Knight who was secretly a fan of Drizzt, with his retenues, along with a Cleric of Lathander on a pilgrimage to the temple of Amaunator in Bryn Shander, actually an Harper spy there to investigate Zhentarim activities in the area.
Other character was a Human Swashbuckler from Luskan, sole survivor of a shipwreck in the Sea of Moving Ice who was found and rescued in the tundra half buried in snow by a Goliath Ranger after an encounter with Yeti.
The Goliath saved his life, healed him up from hyppothermia and befriended the pirate. En route to Ten Towns, they cross the path of the Knight and his retenues lost in a blizzard...
My GM asked us to come up with potential character connections to bring to session zero for discussion with the other players. I know these relationships can't be decided alone, but I want to have some solid ideas ready to explore and develop at the table.
No offense to your GM, but that seems like throwing darts blindfolded to me
If the campaign is starting in this city you've been in for a few months though, I'd focus on what you've been up to that might have given you the opportunity to meet other adventurers. Have you made friends/acquaintances who might have introduced you? Frequented shops other adventurers might go to? Gotten into any escapades that might have been more than one lone druid could handle? Figure out what your life in the city has been like, and you should find spots that it makes sense to plug someone in (if it also makes sense for them)
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)
I think the best advice I can give is to really keep an open mind. If someone else mentions their character is doing something your character might be involved in, talk the idea through with them and see what you can come up with together. And be willing to reciprocate that sort of attitude. It’s fairly easy to do this, and still maintain the core of your character, if you’re willing to make some small adjustments around the edges.