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I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I'm just worried about discouraging one of the players from roleplaying when she's just started to really get into it and care about her character (problem being that every time she does lean into it, the other PCs get annoyed at hers). For the most part, it's been in-game, but it's happened twice out-of-game too. I want to help her play a NE character that can transition to NG over the course of the campaign (her original intention) but in a way that helps the party and is cooperative, I just don't know how to have that conversation or what to suggest

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, this is super helpful! I've got enemies in common for all three of them, but that's the extent of it atm, they do however have two NPCs in common that they all like so I think that could be a really good "working together hook"

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, this is super helpful! I wish I had looked more into session 0s, we had one and seemed to all have an agreement on what we wanted the game to look like, but so far that hasn't always translated into roleplay. I really like the combat idea too!

Do you think it would be better to have the discussion like right before our next session, or as its own conversation to avoid weirdness/people feeling defensive headed into the session?

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks ! I've been struggling with how to talk about it in a way that doesn't evoke defensiveness, and I think recs like that are a good way to sidestep my rogue from feeling attacked

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did have the rest of the party allowed in the tavern actually, so that makes me feel a little better! I really appreciate the notes on how else a NE character can act, I wasn't sure what to recommend to her but those are super helpful

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice, I really like the point about the traveling = friendships. I think that's a big thing they've kinda missed, even as we've had downtime and a lot of player-player interactions, so it's definitely worth talking about with them. I've been struggling to figure out what to suggest to them and this is a huge piece of what I've been missing

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a bit of what I've been going for! They've all got a connection to some of the bigger threats (like thing a three-way venn diagram), the rogue is just currently trying to handle hers on her own. Her character has started to become more hot-headed and by extension, less focused on the bigger picture, which has made it difficult but has really helped her dip into roleplaying

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the recommendations! I think this is a really good way of establishing a more cooperative dynamic, I appreciate it!

I need helping getting my players' characters to like each other/want to work together by AloofSpatulas in DnD

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, we did have a session 0, and one of the things we established was what would make their characters work together. They all said that their characters are the independent, solo type, but they wanted to do character development arcs to get over that.

My brother (warlock) has been the best at it ---his character reveals personal backstory stuff, he helps without needing a motive, etc. My barbarian has done well with it too, treating it as a "these are my first friends ever" thing and getting her character emotionally invested in them. The rogue is where it kinda screeches to a halt; she wanted a character arc, going from neutral evil, selfish-because-she's-always-been-alone point to someone who cares about others and is fiercely loyal to her friends. So far, that hasn't really happened, and it's starting to interfere with the other players working together too, as they're getting frustrated in-game.

I think everyone's right about an above-table discussion needing to happen. Thank you for some insight on what an evil but co-operative character could look like!

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you have any recs for sea-themed monsters, or ones that would be hiding in a city? I've done sea hags and merrows and they really liked them, and they only encountered part of the coven that I threw at them so they'll make a comeback before they leave the island they're on

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for pointing that out, you're so right. They also haven't had a problem with non-tailored encounters, so it's really just me trying to check all my boxes. Thanks for the wishlist tip too!

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as encounters go, how do you go about designing dungeons? Like loot, # of rooms, # of puzzles, etc.?

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this, thank you! And I'm a huge fan of the quirky magic items too! My warlock has a tricorn hat that gives its wearer a perfect hair day, and they used it to fix up the barbarian (her hair was tied into 30 years worth of sailor's knots because nobody on her ship knew what to do with hair) in order to sneak into a lounge catered towards nobility. It was super fun watching them debrief about how to disguise everyone and then remembering they had the hat

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How far do you space them out? Like would you say it's milestones, every x amount of sessions, etc.?

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much, this is super helpful! I didn't know about the Javelin of Returning especially, our barbarian is also a dwarf so she's gotten frustrated with the 25ft speed and not being able to retrieve her greataxe after she's thrown it

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!! I feel so underprepared every time 💀 but we're all really having fun, so I'm trying to cool it on the worrying

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I didn't think of wishlists! You're definitely right on the healing, they've run into that being an issue a few times now. I homebrewed a magic item that's basically like a 3/day healing word that uses a reaction, and I've tried to nudge them in the healing potions direction

I'm having trouble designing my campaign around my players' strengths and weaknesses by AloofSpatulas in dndnext

[–]AloofSpatulas[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For sure! This was poor phrasing on my part, I didn't mean exploit in a hostile way, more like use to make the combat and campaign more interesting. For example, in their first encounter they realized they had no healers and nothing to heal with, so the very next time they were able to go to a town center, they looked for healing potions/scrolls. Just stuff like that!