Player 5: My parents were adventurers and pressured me into this life. Every summer it was adventure camp. Battle training for three hours a day on top of lessons in navigation, foraging, survival, and lute lessons. I’m only doing this because I have no other skills. Thanks mom & dad…
My current campaign has a character whose parents still live in the town where the adventure is largely based. A lot of effort is spent convincing other townsfolk not to tell his mother what he’s been up to. It’s fantastic.
This is my current campaign.
One of my party members is the last survivor of a noble family who got murdered by an usurper, the other is a paladin who swore vengeance against a demonic cult, and the other is a girl who sold her soul to obtain enough power to get retribution against the one who killed her entire family.
And then there’s me, a goofy dude who has spent a peaceful life as a city guard and is actually pretty chill and looking forward to inheriting his family’s shop.
looking forward to inheriting his family’s shop.
Dm : I think I’m gonna try to kill this guy
My character is also about to hit retirement, and is a black dude.
If I survive this, then I’ve truly reached the peak of my DnD career.
Fun fact: Last session I came really close to dying. The DM rolled for damage and I was totally dead, then remembered the 5 temp HP from fighting spirit. I was left with 1 HP.
I love it when you actually remember the ability that saves you in the moment rather than 5 rounds later. But if you were left with 1hp then surely you’d only have been unconscious from the attack anyway?
Player 1’s father is obviously the Warlord.
Player 2’s father is also the Warlord. He killed the father in the same way Darth Vader killed Anakin Skywalker.
Player 3’s mother sold their soul for the Warlord to fall in love with her.
Player 4’s Father is the Warlord and Player 3’s Mother. Except after they got together they settled down for a happily ever after.
I love the “happy backstory” characters and love GMing for them. Having an auntie the next village over is just wonderfully quaint. A couple of siblings whose mess has to be cleaned up. Cousins that have to be bailed out of trouble. That is just the low stakes. Turn up the heat a little and put some conflicting interests in the mix and you have a recipe for character drama.
And then there are all the larger and societal issues that become personal. Those affected by the situation are those that matter for the pc. While out killing goblins the bank took the farm. Auntie with an anarcho-syndicalist streak is accused of witchcraft.
Or mr edgy edgelord number fifteen who cares about nothing and none. My taste is clear - homebaked apple pie and an afternoon in the hammock.
