[Population: One] <A HREF="http://popone.innocence.com/ar

[bryant]

The character questionnaire for "Whitey's Boyos" (name still tentative, suggestions welcome) follows. The context: Whitey's squad of demon-killing hard-nosed bruisers has around for nine months or so now. A couple of the original members have died; there have been a couple of new recruits. The player characters are the entire squad. They are not expected to have jobs outside the life -- Whitey pays a generous stipend to people willing to risk their lives fighting demons.

Some of the questions can't be answered until all the characters are in, and since the final roster hasn't been finalized, that's obviously a little ways away. This is mostly so I get it written down and have time to chew on it.

The questionnaire is written in the masculine gender. This doesn't mean that female characters are impossible, but after deliberation, I think the gender choices in the language reinforce the fact that female characters would exist within a sexist environment.

1. Who does your character hate? Who screwed him over? Who would he hurt, given a chance?
2. Which family member is your character closest to? (Yes, your character has a living family member.) What's the relationship like?
3. Which member of the squad saved your life? Which squad member's life did you save? How'd it happen? Can't be the same person.
4. Where does your character hang out? Where does he feel safe? Where does he go to relax?
5. What's your character's favorite movie? Favorite album?
6. Does your character go to Mass? If not, any other regular religious activity? If not, why?
7. What would your character's perfect evening be like?
8. Who is your character dating and/or sleeping with?
9. What would your character do with a million dollars? How about a hundred thousand?
10. What's the worst disappointment of your character's life? What's his greatest achievement, from his point of view?

Comments

[mgrasso.livejournal.com]

This rocks. I need time for this. Careful, thoughtful time. But it shall be done.

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

I make a point to include the following question in my questionnaires: Who plays you in the movie?

[bryant]

It's a good question, but wrong for this game. I've found that in Dungeon Majesty, I'm spending too much time playing William Macy and not enough time playing Alvin Wasserman.

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

Another question I've used in the past that might not be right for this game: "It's said that every man has his price. What's yours?"

[bryant]

Oooh. No, that's nice. I may use that.

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

For the last D&D game I started, here's the list of questions I gave people, minus the campaign-specific ones. A couple are still obviously fantasy-tilted, like the first one.

-----------

What made you decide to take up an adventuring life instead of a safer one?

You visit your family's home. Who or what is there to greet you, and how?

When you get older, would you rather end up with riches beyond compare, have fame the world over, or fulfill a destiny involving neither?

You have agreed to defend a village too poor to reward you. Why are you helping them?

It's said that every man has his price. What's yours?

Now that you are traveling around new places, what do you most want to see?

What is the one thing you absolutely will not tolerate?

What is more important to you than your own life?

You have heard of a priceless treasure that you want to possess. What is it?

What method of death do you most want to avoid/scares you most?

What secret would you most like to keep from your friends?

What is the most sentimentally important thing you own?

Who plays you in the movie?

---------------

[ivan23.livejournal.com]

Yes, your character has a living family member.

If only every game demanded this as a fact ::grin::

[bryant]

I got four episodes to work with; I don't got time to screw around establishing connections and so on! I want the players to give me levers up front.

[robotnik.livejournal.com]

Good questionaire. What would happen if I filled this out for my character in the California Slayer game by accident?

[bryant]

I'd cherish and save it. The California Slayer game is probably next on the list.

[mgrasso.livejournal.com]

Needless to say, I'm down for that one too.