A Player Interviewed

This interview originally comes from the Life and Times of a Philippine Gamer. This is something (or something very similar to what) I may use the next time I run something. Or perhaps, I’ll just give it to my next GM. Anyway, here are my responses:

What’s your thought process when creating a  character for a setting?

I tend to start with the mechanical aspects of my characters. Only once my character is about 90% complete (mechanically), do I start fleshing it out. I dig around the setting to build the background to match the mechanics of my character (deities applicable to character talents, proficiencies or combat style, for example).

Given that you’ve formulated your character, do you come into a  game with any set expectations as to how your character should  ideally progress in terms of storyline and stats?

Mechanically, yes, I tend to have an idea how I want my character to progress. As long as I have the (illusion of)  final choice for any of my character’s storyline progress, I’m happy.

How do you feel about being given narrative  focus, or the ability to steer the plot towards a direction of   your choosing?  Would that be onerous to you or would you prefer it?

Even though I like being in control of my character’s personal story, I prefer a tighter and more controlled narrative framework to play in. I don’t mind either form of play, though if stuck in the extremes of one or the other type of play, I may get a bit frustrated. (Too much railroading = bad; too much freedom = bad. I’m a fussy player o_O.)

Would you prefer to be a Leader or a Follower (or some other  role) in terms of Party Dynamics?

Leader, for the most part. I tend to know when my characters are not the best to lead for certain scenarios and will then look to the character in the group that I think would. I especially enjoy leading from a tactical point, making both elaborate battle plans and on-the-fly strategic choices. I enjoy playing the brains of the party. My second favourite role would be the face.

What’s your favorite in-character gaming moment, and why?

While fighting a bodak (DnD 3.5), I realised that my character could only fail against the save-or-die-gaze on a 1. Wanting to finish the fight quickly (thus minimising the number of save rolls needed to make), I decided to battle the bodak head on,  with eyes wide open (while the rest of my party shielded their eyes, giving themselves an additional chance to miss the bodak with their attacks without getting full immunity to the death gaze, thus prolonging the battle, requiring more save rolls be made). Of course, when the bodak was on it’s last few hit points, I rolled a 1 and died. Everyone else survived.