Jumping into an ongoing game
Today I’m continuing my series of articles on Characters, particularly character creation and development. Previously I’ve talked about the bad idea of making yourself as a main character and taking in-character and in-game events far too seriously, as well as creating a well thought-out character with a detailed background for the ultimate in gaming experience.
This time around I plan on getting a bit more specific and discuss creating a character for a game that is already in process.
You know how it is. You’ve just moved to town or your new friend has a gaming group that needs a new guy and so you decide to join up for their two year old Legend of the Five Rings campaign. Or you’ve been searching desperately for a way to game since real life has made it virtually impossible for your gaming group to match up a single hour of time where you all can be in the same room to roll some dice and fight some bad guys. Where’s the release? You need your gaming fix because the withdrawal is just too hard to deal with.
In both cases the characters are established; they’ve been doing their thing, forming friendships, enemies, and other relationships, creating their own niche and storylines. It’s like bringing a new character onto an established television show. It doesn’t always work – look how many “new” people came and went on Facts of Life or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Think about how hard it was for Dianne Ladd to follow in Farrah Faucett on Charlie’s Angels. Coming into a new game isn’t easy for anyone – old and new folks alike. All in all it’s an awkward moment for everyone involved. Often, the game has a stalled bit where the plot is put on hold to introduce the new character and often it’s in an unbelievable way like suddenly in the desert someone appears or the new character meets up with the current Player Characters in a tavern and suddenly everyone is expected to be friends and ask him to join the part on the quest for whatever the campaign is interested in this week.
Needless to say, in most cases, it ain’t pretty.
Freeform games are a bit better about this because the new player can find a way to insert himself or herself.
Now, here’s were character design comes in.
Find out what the game setting is from the Game Master. The Game Master is always the best resource for a game. You should at this point ask what’s needed in the game and what sort of characters already exist. No point in creating a character that won’t be needed. For example, if you discover there are already two players in the mutant/supers/Champions game you are interested in who have fire-based powers. So, likely you won’t want to make a third similar character and likely the Game Master won’t either. You might also check on existing character names. Having an existing character named Alex and deciding to name your new character Alexya is not a good thing.
After you’ve done the research about the on-going game, you should write up your character concept. Again, no point in creating a character that doesn’t fit in with the Game Master’s vision or the games needs. This is just common courtesy and an efficient use of time. If your character concept involves any of the established characters (i.e. brother, sister, cousin, old lover, husband, wife), this would be a very good time to discuss this with them. Don’t wait and surprise the player later. This appears to be rather unappreciated. In one game I am in, one of the new players insists that her character has this ” romantic history” with an established character. She asked permission for this from the other player, but what she didn’t ask was whether his character was already involved or if he was interested in resuming the “romantic relationship” where it left off. Instead, she assumed and no amount of explaining that he was not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her character. This is not a polite way to play and it isn’t fun for the existing player.
Once your character concept is accepted, you should, if the Game Master requires, create any necessary character statistics on any forms for whatever game system the Game Master requires. This is a good time to name your character if you haven’t already. Again, some people name their characters right off and some like to wait until the first game session. It’s all up to what works best for you.
O.K., so now you have an approved character for the game. You could jump right in, but I believe that before you jump, you should sit in a session of a live game. This not only gives you a chance to see what’s already going on, but you can get a feel of the tone of the game before you get your feet wet.
Also, before you jump in, it is my recommendation that you develop a detailed character background that fits into the game setting, but that goes back to yesterday’s article, so we won’t do a rehash here.
Now before we conclude, let’s stop for a second and talk about things from the Game Master’s point of view.
When a new player approaches you to join the game or you approach a new player to join the game, make sure you make yourself available to aid the new player and make this adjustment period as easy as possible. Certainly, you should make character concept suggestions, discuss a summary of the game up-to-date, and provide details to help the character design an appropriate background. For a live game, perhaps you might run a solo game to help the player get acquainted with your gaming style and you can get to know the new player’s style. If you are the Game Master of a web-based game, you might request a writing sample to familiarize yourself with the new player’s writing style and make certain that the player understands the posting requirements (i.e. format, style, etc.).
Always remember that new players joining an existing game isn’t always easy. New players may have to put a little extra effort into their character creation, but in the end it will be worth it. Also, it’s best to make your character as detailed as possible to aid your role-playing experience, but again, that was last month
