Character Questionnaire

The Duality of Changelings

So pretty much everyone I have already spoken to about what they are intending to play in the new chronicle has only mentioned their 'Fae' persona with no reference to their 'Human' life (which to be honest is fair as no one ever got enthused about playing a guy struggling to hold down a menial nine-to-five job...especially when you can play a dragon). However one of the core themes of Changeling is navigating the thin tightrope of this duality, even the most dogmatic Fire courtier's actions are informed by the person they perceived they were. What we want is for players to think about the mundane challenges their characters face and the dissonance between their lives before and after Arcadia.

Motive Vs. Circumstance

I'm going to be honest here, as an ST tool we don't like player backstories. The backstories have all been really enjoyable reads  and have provide insightful, but when you have to periodically go over them looking for plot worthy details it can be time consuming and sometimes, in the context of the plot you want to run, unproductive. What I really want is the answers to three questions: 'what can we bait your character with?', 'what can we do to harm your character?' and 'where does your character want to go?'

Therefore, by asking for a background in the form of this Character questionnaire we have a quick reference for various circumstances that might come up in play. From a player perspective, this also puts the emphasis on a characters reasons for doing something rather than simply reporting stuff that has happened; we have tried to make the questions as open ended as possible so players can put their own spin and emphasis on them. After all, how you define a question can be as insightful as the content of the answer.

An Anthology of Memories

Most Folkloric characters don't have an established chronology of action and consequence, instead there are usually multiple episodic tales attributed to them. In my own experiences playing with an established and ordered background makes it less likely it will come into play for fear of going 'too far down the rabbit hole': everyone usually has that one skeleton in the closet from their backstory that they simultaneously want to come up in game but don't want other characters to use against them. This makes players less likely to openly draw on their characters experiences because this can lead to unwanted scrutiny. By breaking up a backstory into a series of questions you can make each answer a self-contained story which is easier to offer up on the altar of good roleplay.

About the questionnaire

We have prepared 5 categories for the questionnaire with between 5 and 8 questions in each.

The first 5 questions in each category make up the main body of questions we would ask you to complete at minimum. It makes our tailoring plot much easier.

Beyond the first 5 questions are Bonus questions in each category that we would be greatly appreciate you completing  and will help us get a more rounded overview of your character and the world around you, but these bonus questions are not necessarily needed, so if they do not apply or appeal to you feel free to skip them.

We have indicated the questions we feel most important for extra detail by phrasing them as “tell us about...” questions.  Please take a little time to write a paragraph or two for these questions if you can.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire and making it easier to run a cool and personalised game.

Once Upon a Time

1.             Tell us about your character. 

2.             Who was most important to you?

3.             If you could go back, what would you change?

4.             What is the worst thing you have done?

5.             What is the worst thing you could imagine yourself doing?

Bonus question...

6.             What was the biggest promise you made before you were taken?

Off to Never-never-land…

1.             Who is your Keeper? What is their title? How did they treat you?

2.             Tell us about how you were taken by your keeper

3.             Tell us about your Durance

4.             What did you have to promise your Keeper to avoid punishment?

5.             What kept you there for so long?

The Return

1.             What was strong enough to bring you back?

2.             How did you escape?

3.             Did you settle any scores along the way?

4.             Did anyone else come with you?

5.             Did you have to leave anyone else behind?

Bonus questions

6.             Do you miss the songs of distant Arcadia?

7.             At one point you had to just roll the dice and pray, what was worth sacrificing to stay at the table?

Happily Ever After?

1.             Tell us about who you love (if they are your touchstone please indicate that here)

2.             Tell us about who you hate (if they are your touchstone please indicate that here)

3.             Tell us about your touchstone if it is not who you love or hate

4.             What do you intend to (re)claim?

5.             Tell us about your fetch

Bonus questions

6.             Now, what is the worst thing you have done?

7.             And what’s the worst thing you can imagine doing now?

8.             Who doesn't know, but suspects you are not exactly 'human'?

A Motley Crew

1.             Tell us how your motley formed

2.             Tell us why you trust them

3.             Upon what Oath did you bind your fates together?

4.             What was the pledge sworn on?

5.             Tell us about your motley mates

Bonus questions

6.             What do you do for your Motley?

7.             What does your Motley do for you?

8.             If you were forced to choose, who in your Motley would you save at the expense of everyone else?