12 reasons for your D&D character to stick with their party

[@EMbrokehp]

Cleric idea: Shortly after becoming a cleric, their god arranges for them to meet the other adventurers because "it'll be good for you to get out of the temple for a while and socialize with others your age."

[@MrSpirals]

An "eugh, mooom, stop embarrassing me!" cleric-god relationship could be so good

[@HHSDaily]

Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle: go make some friends. TS: but mom!

[@chesskinge4627]

@@HHSDaily In some alternate time-line she does just that with her skill in alchemy 😛

[@willowpeacock9526]

theres actually a homebrew patron thats pretty popular thats literally just your mom.

[@DisneyIsHardcore]

OMG I LOVE THIS LOL

[@elisekorenhof8623]

I had a one shot once where we had: A) a wizard with self-destructive arrogance B) a cleric charged with keeping him alive C) a fighter in service of a temple, committed to protecting the cleric It was a lot of people jumping in front of each other...

[@thomasjdurfee]

"It's a job" *ad begins* I see what you did there

[@markdurham5062]

The Hosts cat is usually the most interesting being at the party.

[@johntrevy1]

Yessssssss *PURR*

[@inventivitygames4229]

Obviously the cat IS the host. The human is just working at the cat's place.

[@johntrevy1]

@@inventivitygames4229 Glad you hoomans know your place.

[@zac9933]

The cat usually wants just as little to do with me as everyone else at social events.

[@druid_zephyrus]

@@zac9933 have you tried sitting on the floor and smearing catnip and fish oil on your hands?

[@noahthehoneyboy6294]

*sees group of casters* My giant firbolg barbarian- “smol must protecc”

[@zeppelopod]

Thanks to Matt Mercer, I now imagine all firbolgs have backwoods Canadian accents ❤️

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

My tiger-folk barbarian was basically this 😄 he liked his new friends and didn't want to see them get hurt. He also understood that the soul muncher was hurting people and someone had asked him to help find it in the jungle.

[@thomass2505]

Pixie and Brutus

[@meherinmouly]

@@thomass2505 Yes

[@emilysmith2965]

Softboi + baby = cute and good

[@bluescales6454]

A favourite bardic reason of mine is "There's a story to be seen and told!", which is basically "Observation" but more of a tag along type, which I sometimes adore.

[@LeonBlackbird]

Also, it's a great way to remember what happened in previous sessions, so the DM and the other players can pick it where they left it.

[@chrisangus7078]

Especially if there a paladin or barbarian as they tend to be seen Stealing hose to star with

[@Th3M4k40n]

In the game Pathfinder: Kingmaker you get your first party member incredibly soon because she's a gnome bard that singled you out as someone to write a great story about haha

[@davidjennings2179]

My favourite bard was a newspaper reporter. Was actually my second character after the first died, the party was already established so that was a bonus.

[@Chelsey.A.L]

My friends and I just started a Humblewood campaign. My character is an older Vulpin (wolf-like humanoid) lady who was asked by an old friend to join a group in completing a mission. While on the road, she has realized that many of the people she is traveling with remind her of her family (especially of her kids). Those maternal instincts have kicked in and she is now determined to not only complete the mission but also keep everyone safe (and well fed) while doing it. Also, can confirm that this Patreon community is amazing!

[@GinnyDi]

That's so cute!! Mom friend: the D&D class!!

[@elbruces]

I love the idea of a "party mom!" That's a dynamic we don't often see.

[@Chelsey.A.L]

@@elbruces I've always been the mom friend, so I figured why not play a litteral mom 😜 It also gave me a chance to test out the Community domain for clerics. The channel divinity basically lets me make baked goods that act as healing potions and cure the frightened or poisoned condition 😊.

[@wunsekhobbies4765]

@@Chelsey.A.L I love this character idea, and I hope you and your group have lots of fun with it! When I was playing my kid tabaxi, Wunsek, we also had a party mom and it was a wonderful experience. She was super sweet, even when my roguish little cat's shenanigans gave her a headache.

[@Chelsey.A.L]

@@wunsekhobbies4765 funny you should say that, the other adventurer that my character is looking out for in particular also happens to be a rogue.

[@forddnd]

An anthropologist who takes copious notes about the party is something I'm totally going to use in a future campaign....

[@euansmith3699]

It could be a great way to get other players to open up about their characters, by asking them open questions about their actions and motivations. Anne the Ropologist [running down the road], "So, Grakk... [puff puff]... why, exactly, did you... [phew]... feel it necessary... [gasp]... to kill that... [pant]... town guard?"

[@areafire1]

I have a party member who joined trying to record The Last Shield's adventures after we saved a city and became influential figures. The rest of the party collectively stood up and decided we needed to protect our deaf nerd child lest he join an evil cult for knowledge.

[@tielorstanger-lopez3888]

In some cases, participant observation includes banishing demon lords back to the abyss.

[@CharlieFurellis]

There’s a D&D web series based on this concept now called, “the party.”

[@SlimJimCowboy]

One of the biggest things I struggle with as a player is finding the common ground amongst my party for my character to, well, stay with them! As Sam Riegel always says "why would you stay??? You're always facing life or death, who wants to do that?" So this is a very cool video that I'm positive will help me a lot with my character intentions and reasonings for facing those life or death scenarios!

[@jtjames79]

I find the easiest way for me is to imagine your D&D game is actually a TV show/movie. Players are actually actors, the DM is really the director, and everyone involved is a producer. What you're trying to accomplish is creating a show that everyone at the table wants to watch. That's your role/motivation for being in the party/cast. Once you're completely outside of the problem in your headspace, coming up with reasons to stick together is pretty easy. Just pick something amusing that gets you to the next scene, and let the characters more or less build themselves. I also encourage lots of out of character conversation with the whole table as equals about the direction of the game. Since well I'm the director, seems to make things a heck of a lot easier. I find this relationship works for the same reason it works trying to make a TV show or a movie. What the actor knows about the character and what the director knows about the character are two different things. I love it when my players ask me what their motivation should be. Players getting lost in the forest is normal, all they can see are the trees. The DM is there to provide a bigger perspective just like a director, so the player/actors can perform better. I've recently been watching Lego Masters, and Will Arnett's direction is absolutely masterful. That's what I try to emulate at my table. Not railroading but motivating. It's my job to use my perspective to help my players create memorable characters and memorable moments. Because I know, what my players don't know, that their characters know. For example I very often use the line "As a professional you recognize X for Y" when I think their character would make a deduction that the player didn't. Okay this post went on for a lot longer than I intended it to.

[@inventivitygames4229]

Can relate. The most important part is what Ginny said at the end: It's just a character after all. If you are suspending disbelieve at pretty much every roll of the dice why would you insist on realism on character development when it's bound to screw the party?

[@elbruces]

The question, "why would your character go adventuring with your party" should be the very first thing you base them on. There should be no such thing as a character designed who can't answer that, because the entire character should start with the answer to that question. If you answer that question about them first thing and then build from there, you should never have that problem. That said, a campaign can change over time and things can come up that change that question. To use Sam Riegel again, his character Scanlan had an easy answer to that question ("it's fun!"), right up until Matt confronted him with a previously unknown daughter. So it's a question you may need to revisit down the road.

[@TerryAVanguard]

How much dose your dm know about your goals? And what are they?

[@IceFire1800]

my character recently burned the bridge with his assassin guild contact (middle fingers to him and the guild) via a little monologue. Pretty much announcing via unseen(to the party) cinematic of why he's staying, even when they call him out for hoarding money general gist was "the world is insanely dangerous, but ive survived with my party and I enjoy the shenanigans we share"

[@Risu-sama]

Ginny makes the best sponsorship adverts on youtube, hands down.

[@MikeTwaiks]

Look for Missasinfonia... thats advertising xD

[@shankyisme]

I love Ginny’s, but Ryan George’s Adstronaut gets me every time

[@MonkeyJedi99]

I am also a fan of the ad segments in Mann Shorts - the channel where Ginny recently guest starred!

[@commandercaptain4664]

PC background: _assets and textures_ 🤣

[@jetpizzashere1228]

Sam reigel

[@Tengila]

I've been pretty amused about how one of the characters I've been playing lately is this pretty traditional loner rogue type, who also happens to be an adorable bunny rabbit, and a complete pushover, socially. She basically follows the party because of peer pressure.

[@DannyboyO1]

I was not prepared for the batman meme reference. Or the return of Francis. Kinda hoping dgnfog hires you again, making a trilogy. They survive an epic quest, other party members looking over their shoulder as they open a treasure chest and find... that they're part of an advert yet again, as the party is stoked about having good combat maps and terrain at an affordable price! (wait, now I'm doing it. oh god, is it contagious?)

[@GinnyDi]

Contagious disease that compels you to promote a product?? Can't tell if that's the plot of a Black Mirror episode, or a great idea for my next sponsorship segment...

[@irregularassassin6380]

@@GinnyDi Your sponsorship segments are among the few I actually watch. They're just so creative, fun, and engaging! They make me want to learn more about the product because I'm laughing.

[@k0pstl939]

@@irregularassassin6380 Her and critical role are the ones I watch mainly

[@MegaFireFoot]

I am unfamiliar with the batman meme, can you fill me in?

[@rylian21]

@@MegaFireFoot There was a recent "controversy" when it was revealed that DC nixed part of a Harley Quinn comic that implied Batman going down on Catwoman with the initial reasoning that "Batman wouldn't do that" before later relenting that it's because it would make it awkward to sell toys.

[@Normy12]

"I seem so charismatic when I'm alone in my basement performing scripted enthusiasm to a camera". I love it.

[@tomcaniff6437]

Omg I practically spawned a second personality that way!

[@tomcaniff6437]

Help.

[@Keyce0013]

"I have a 20 in charisma - but only when no one is directly looking at me."

[@thelastfaeinthewoods]

@@Keyce0013 My curse.

[@lolli_popples]

So I have this character who’s a really important noble, and there’s a lot of people trying to kill him now that he’s left home. One of the other players is an assassin who is supposed to kill me. I made friends with him, like you do. So now he’s staying to make sure he can kill me when he gets the order and I’m staying so 5 other people don’t also try to kill me. Very fun.

[@arbyaenax]

So, this is a problem of the campaign expectation set by you and your dm. If you willingly decided to play a character that would be infamous and wanted and the complain about it even though you KNEW you would be hunted by A LOT of people it's your problem and decision. However even then there should be solutions. Your party should not be people that would all kill you if you were not sticking with them, you are supposed to make new friends and companions and protect each other. Also, there should have been a session 0 where you and the assassin would have agreed that he would not take a contract against you and by 95% execute you, like ok, a storyline where he deviates from that seems more interesting. Guys, COMMUNICATION BEFORE CAMPAIIIIGNS

[@1Lanavis1]

@@arbyaenax I don't think op was complaining

[@Sellesion]

That sounds really fun. Makes me think of the Dread Pirate Roberts in the Princess Bride. "Goodnight Welsey, I'll most likely kill you in the morning." I think the opportunities for role-playing here are endless. Your characters can have a silly rivalry, that is mutually beneficial, and then if ever the day comes where they "have" to kill you now, playing out the scene where they realize they can't bring themselves to do it, because youve become friends, could be really moving. And then you could plot together, how to get the assassin out of their contract, how to get the bounty off your head, ect.

[@Sellesion]

@@arbyaenax I think you missed the point.

[@arbyaenax]

sry guys, you are right, I misread the whole situation, sry op

[@danieldonnert3747]

1: "spin the bottle" sounds like a great session 0 activity. 2: I've heard all those things about Francis the last time you introduced her. Francis deserves more. Have Francis come back for revenge and be part of a minor villain series (joking, but I would be thoroughly entertained).

[@WildfireMagni]

Maybe Francis teams up with Pink Ginny Dice?

[@FlatOnHisFace]

Wazzat?? Francis is perfect where she is: Wanting to be developed by her creator, only to be used again and again as a marketing ploy. Change that and you no longer even have "Francis."

[@lil_fox0585]

I'm playing this Lizardfolk who's on a journey to learn about everything really, so she's joined this party as they keep using big words that she doesn't understand and hopes to learn from them

[@salamzander]

That’s so wholesome 🥺

[@sealedtugboat9965]

Me two! My lizardfolk specifically wants to bring a dragon back to their home and heard the party is looking for the dragon too. They’re also learning about “meatfolk” society along the way.

[@jamespolk5955]

this is me with my Dragonborn Fighter, my hometown got attacked by cultists so I’m out looking to learn about the world and why they attacked my dwarf village

[@PunkJr]

My Curse of Strahd group is firmly in the "relationship" camp. We're two pairs of PCs who ran into each other and decided to go forth as a party! I love being able to develop both established dynamics with my sister and new friendships with the old married couple that joined us. =)

[@GinnyDi]

I love this!! Especially the idea of an old married couple going out adventuring, that's the BEST

[@JeremyMacDonald1973]

In Curse of Strahd... so um... what are you going to do when they die? I mean there is a chance that you won't have to answer this. It is certainly conceivable that you will die first.

[@PequenaNoobAmaPudim]

@@JeremyMacDonald1973 that's part of the fun I guess!

[@Michael-Drizzt]

Yes why be Batman, when you can be 'The Owlbear'

[@DMingThoughts]

Is it CR reference? :D

[@RenatoSilva-dq7py]

"That rage..."

[@Neutral_Tired]

I agree, why be a bat when you could have the owl-sight of a bear?

[@emilysmith2965]

Hoot Growl!

[@darthaelris2059]

But if you cannot be an Owlbear, be Batman

[@profdouglas1392]

I just made a character who is a creation bard, and is obsessed with beauty. He has a unique way of observing beauty and has learned to paint in a way that better portrays the beauty he finds in other people. Upon meeting the party, the dm asked every other player to roll a charisma check and my character viewed the highest roller as the most beautiful and now follows him around asking him to model whenever they are out of combat. I haven’t played him very long but I love the flavor on his spells and the way rolling has forced me as a player not to make any judgements based on class or player playing the character that may influence how I treat other PCs

[@estebanthemagnificent3523]

That's actually epic. Sounds sort of like Yusuke in Persona 5, kinda own tempo artist type who's always wanting his friends to model for him

[@carolynwilliams5918]

'It's a Job' works very well when you're trying to get a bunch of weirdos together for the first time. It's worked for 3 of my parties so far!

[@petersenior5432]

My character was a loner. She'd go off on her own to who knows where and leave the party behind, making them worry about her well-being. Then she had a dream from her angelic guide: comforting her and urging her to trust these people and stay with them. To stay calm and take things Slow. She rested in her arms and thought about it a lot. Over the next day, and as she slept, more bonds were forged with the rest of the party due to the information they gained about her. The warlock became like a brother, waiting for her to return from a conversation with one of her parents, and to protect her if needed. The artificer got an urge to protect her, and the paladin princess carried her to bed when she passed out. The wizard hasn't said much, but she wants to talk to him and learn what he knows about magic and what she is. When the city fell into a minor bout of chaos caused by the warlock, instead of running she held back that urge and stayed to save lives and protect people. Though they were all arrested and thrown out of a dragon's mouth at 160,000 feet, they were thrown out together, and not only did Cyra know, but she was there- they survived. Cyra could not have done anything to help them if she had run on home to her parents again. She took this as a final sign from her guide that she should trust in these people and stay with them no matter what. Now they find themselves in an unfamiliar landscape that only she vaguely knows from her nature based Aasimar dreams, and she has to guide them and help them survive. She will struggle just like the rest, so she cannot struggle alone.

[@KaioKenneth4]

Wow. You sound completely self absorbed and unbearable to play with. Fun fact: you’re not the main character, nor should you be. Your character going off on their own made more work for your DM and took time away from the rest of the players. And then you make an over complicated character arc just so your character can be a functioning social person? Piss off.

[@panhandlersparadise1733]

Note to advertisers: Ginny D is the internet version of Geiko commercials, we actually enjoy watching her ads instead of skipping through them like we do with other youtube channel advertisements.

[@Raegoer]

I still skip through, I just also respect her for making money off of it. Nothing would make me watch an optional advert

[@SilentSooYun]

Somewhere between "It's A Job" and "Observe" lies my own Rogue/Bard character: "Actively Working With The BBEG" to delay, dumbfound, demoralise, and dispose of certain inconvenient artifacts and/or actors. There was so much gaslighting and disinformation, the countryside practically welcomed the Dark Lord with open arms >:) The best part is the *players* didn't even realise what was going on... they were told to go here, find this, kill that, and they DID!

[@PheonixCheeseStudios]

In this campaign we are playing, my character just wants her carrot cake recipe back but feels like she needs to make sure the monk/druid dosen't get hurt (because he is so dumb) the warlock follows us because they are a fan of my character. And that's it

[@rhythma8026]

My character's in the party mostly for the 'survival' part. You've been dropped in the middle of a tundra, why not stick with the 5 other people who don't instantly try to kill you-

[@ettoremancin3276]

7:15 OMG you just gave me the best idea! A wizard that wants to graduate wizarding university and needs a party to complete some internship hours and write a thesis. Until he gets his degree he cannot get paid because the internship cannot be paid or else it doesn't count and he has to find another party and do the same thing again (if he doesn't start at level one but instead at level 3 this already happened to him maybe). Then he finally ends his thesis goes to wizarding school, gets his degree after an exam, goes partying with the party (lol) and he stays with them because it is just easier for him instead of having to look for another job.

[@danicapearce4714]

This has become much harder for my character lately. She's a chaotic neutral rogue among a lot of goody-two-shoes characters. Some of this interplay has been fun, but upon learning that one member of our party was asked to spy on me to make sure I'm not associated with the big bad, well, let's just say that conversation didn't go well, and it's really hard for me to think of why she'd stick with these people. Initially it was out of self-preservation. But when this character sidelined mine with this reveal, my character has fallen back on her independent tendencies. She almost bailed on the big boss fight. Fortunately we're at a crossroads where our characters are taking a year off to do our own things, but I just am not sure that she would want to keep adventuring with the one character in particular. But I also really really love my character.

[@PatricRogers]

Speaking as a completely random extrovert with no relevance to your life, I want to say I really enjoy and appreciate your sense of humor, your creativity, and your presentation. Thank you for giving me a reason to laugh every week, as well as useful tips to share with my friends who just discovered RPGs.

[@CrowCandorra]

Lets Think about my current Caracter: Salacia (Some Kind of Trickstery Tiefling Bard thinking most of herselve) finds the Party useful. They help survive an are useful for Jokes. Libby (Verry Altruistic Halfling Monk) just wants to help the Party help others. Dawn (Little Naive halfling Druid raised by Fairies): "Hey look these nice people help expolre this exiting and strange world." Continuing With Shadowrun: Jabby (Verry young cheery Decker, that normally cannot take anything serious) is in for the fun of the game and needs others for the irl-Stuff. Red Robin (Semiviglilante Body Adept, thar really likes to SMASH) feels like those mushy idiots wold get themselves killes without her. Hmm... Cold continue with older characters, but... Well they are legion and I think I agree with you. You need a reason to stay with the others or the Party is not a Party.

[@FXowOxO]

*Oh my goodness, my character is that "Weirdo"-* He just wants some acceptance. The character in question is my Tiefling Druid, Rei Lovis, who worships Malor the beast lord. Recently, the party has had a little run in with Malor and Rei is questioning is religion! F u n . We're about to start a Curse of Strahd campaign with these characters so I'm super excited! ^^

[@RasmusVJS]

You made an important point in the end. I don't have a problem with "That's what my character would do." I have a problem with people making characters that would do something that could be considered disruptive to the game. Don't make a character where playing them = disruptive.

[@tsifirakiehl4250]

That’s it exactly! Do what your character would do, but don’t make a character who would do things that ruin the fun for others at the table.

[@leftonred11]

my dnd character is literally just staying with the party for the fun of it. he's a kid who wanted to see the world and then he just! became a pirate! for fun! and I love him

[@Mangaka718]

omg my lil goblin artificer is basically this but cowboys. they left home and stumbled across the party while they were on their way to a mission briefing, decided it looked interesting, and just tagged along XD they idolize spaghetti western films so now they would rather the party be their "posse" than just them being a lone wanderer.

[@axolirvin971]

JRWI is that you??

[@prism1374]

This was VERY useful and I loved that "spin the bottle" you came up with. Every one of these videos helps with not only D&D but my writing as well. I've been having MAJOR issues with how I want my main character to stay with the main party. Thanks to this I'm thinking a combination of EXTREME clumsiness (on my main character's end) and a debt involving a 300gp diamond.

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

I feel like a 300gp diamond just isn't a huge deal. For a commoner, that's like 5-10 years or so of paycheck but for an adventurer? That seems like level 3 expected gold. Idk, whatever works but still.

[@maplesweets3217]

Ahhh, this is so useful! I'm planning a homebrew campaign right now and this will come in so handy for session 0! Thanks Ginny!

[@probablythedm1669]

Ginny: "I'm that person who ends up of in the corner with the host's cat." Me: I thought I was the only one! Is this... is this what being seen feels like?

[@JedisTrek]

It's been such a pleasure to watch your discovery and exploration of D&D (and role playing in general). As someone who has played since the early '80s, it's easy to fall into habits and become comfortable. Your fresh perspective and enthusiasm help reinvigorate the game for old schoolers. Thank you so much. Play on!

[@chris-the-human]

"Moments when you black out and lose whole stretches of time" who told you I need to sleep once a day?

[@jonathanblanton9446]

Pact of the Tome can take care of that problem.

[@spyglass3511]

I legit was sad when Francis turned out to be a sponsorship segment. Hey, if you could make a barmaid this interesting (Tilly is just amazing)you sure can do the same with a mapmaker!

[@H9092-2]

One of the most perfect examples you didn't touch on... boredom. They're with the party because the party is a bunch of idiots and crazies and they do things and if the character leaves, they'll be bored. If you ever know ahead of time you're going to miss a session have your character storm off in a huff and when you come back, have them refuse to admit they missed the party in a way that makes it clear they definitely did. Boredom is a powerful tool.

[@summersw1rl]

Absolutely recommend having shared backstories with the entire group. Ever since our table started doing that, our party dynamic has been 120% better.

[@jacobgriffon6067]

One of my favorite characters is a kobold, so one of the biggest reason they are with a party is because kobolds evolved to work better in a group. Pack tactics rule.

[@katrinepetersen2566]

My PC's have a weird dynamic. They absolutely DESPISE each other, yet they stay together. The bard stays for malicious entertainment. See, the barbarian is too prideful and therefore very funny too tease and prank. The barbarian on the other hand stays, because the bard would get killed on his own, and that would hurt her reputation and therefore pride.

[@xaviertan4306]

Rival relationships between PCs, of course when the actual players are agreeable about it, is the most interesting and fun kind of relationships (saying this as a DM)

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Ahh yes! In my fiance’s campaign, a player changed characters and the new one just acted rude and gave the party no reason to accept them- like actively tried to fight them. This is a very important video! :)

[@jetvulcan2020]

A game I am in we had a wizard who unless actively engaged by a monster would not lift a finger to help then in a big fight they abandon us at the start of a fight and ran to save themselves and escape with the loot. the group had to jump thou some real hoops to justified letting the character stay with the group. the Dm sent them a message that if they kept playing this way their was no reason the party would let the character stay with them.

[@StarryEyed0590]

I played in a superhero campaign once, very briefly, where the first session was basically each character getting recruited by this government agency for a team. The last player we recruited actively refused to go with us, and started fighting us when we tried to convince her. So, we knocked her out and brought her back to the base to try to reason with her in a more controlled/less public environment. Upon awakening, the character again fought us, refused to work with us, and ran away because her character "would never be able to trust you." Finally, in exasperation, we asked her to make a new character. The player was the GM's wife, which is why this problem was squarely on the shoulders of the other players to deal with

[@drashna]

"Never split the party!" My rogue does go solo a lot. However, we have twin crowns that allow for telepathic communication. So i'm never alone. Also, at any given time, my character has a minimum of 2 voices in his head, not counting the telepathy crowns. :D

[@corinnebloom7005]

Minimum?

[@elfdragon1227]

As long as you don't do what this Kender PC I played with did--roll to steal a carriage in front of everyone, roll animal handling, and then proceed on to the next town without any other party members or any inclination of waiting for the party... I did not like playing with that guy. Or Kender, at this point.

[@drashna]

@@corinnebloom7005 Yes. minimum. Those twin crowns came with a lich's mind. Which was purged by Lady Phaulkon (waterdeep dragon heist), and is now my patron (rogue warlock is fun!). Additionally, I'm the one with the stone of galorr (which is a sentient artifact). And ... we killed xanathar, and I ended up with it's ring of mind shielding. Also, since I'm the rogue and therefore scout of the party, ... I tend to be the one that gets telepathied .... At this point, my character is not comfortable without several voices. It's too quiet otherwise.

[@drashna]

@@elfdragon1227 I never. I don't steal from other players or from loot, PERIOD. Even if they have stuff I really want. I've been on the receiving end of this often enough and never want to do that to others. And while I may split the party, I'm never far from them, nor without a way to covertly communicate with them, and I EXPLICITLY always keep them in the loop, in game. Solo-ing is fine, but it's a group game. (and in game, strength in numbers, or they can bust in to save my ass).

[@elfdragon1227]

@@drashna Ah, I didn't mean the Kender stole from the party. He just stole a carriage in front of a ton of witnesses. But yeah, it was incredibly frustrating because I was playing remotely from a different state from everyone else and that kind of thing made me feel like I was wasting my time.

[@BlueTressym]

This is a great video. I think the reason more parties don't go down the route of prior relationships is that it's hard to roleplay without a fair amount of thought and discussion beforehand. If I as a player know bugger-all about your character, I can't properly rp as someone who knows them well. So, while it's a potentially good way to do things, it involves work to make sure you all know OOC things about the other PC(s) that your characters would logically know. I've found this with settings as well. Some GMs are weirdly stingy about telling the players about the world their characters are supposedly native to and it's really awkward knowing bugger-all about the world, even things it makes no sense for your character to be ignorant of.

[@eitberko]

I feel like this video was made for me. This is something I often struggle with when creating a character - I want enough detail to make them interesting and unique, but not so much that I will end up struggling at some point to find reasons to team up. This was amazing, thank you!

[@Tersidian]

For one of the campaigns I'm running I made custom pre-campaign sessions for every character, 2 of the players played character who knew each other from childhood, 1 of them was sold into slavery though (the other didn't know exactly what happened, only that their best friend was gone after a powerful wizard visited and nobody was telling them anything) .. the one sold into slavery was trained as an assassin of sorts while in slavery and then sent to a test by a possible employer (who killed their slaver as a way of recruiting them) and after succeeding sent to a harbor where they were to board a ship the other went on to become a wizard themselves to try to find a way to take care of all that dangerous magic that gives people the power to take away a kid's friends .. and during their session 0 saw their childhood friend for the first time in years, performing songs of all things, then they followed them, onto a ship .. and that is how they ended up on a mission to an unknown land, but back together with their childhood friend :D

[@xinahliaofthefeywild8985]

Thats a really good idea

[@emmaart1546]

This was really helpful! Me and my friend just started playing twin elves named Solay and Falin, we have only played them for one session but it has been so fun! And makes it a lot easier to bounce off each other and other people. I really think it will help us later on with working with the party

[@dankartifact2064]

In the campaign I’m a part of, our characters were servants for the king and accused of plotting to murder him. The king then threw us into this portal that took us to an alternate dimension. The king ended up getting killed but the idea was really fun. My character is the acceptance reason. She is a three foot tall bat humanoid who enjoys killing giants, and excels at it too.

[@firestorm165]

Oh poor Francis, that was heartbreaking

[@jonathanstern5537]

Here are why my characters are with their party. Fitz: He's paying them to help retake his homeland. Al: He believes they're trying to help him save his mother (weird magic stuff). Jamie: At first it was because they were all trying to get out of the Feywild and decided to stick together. Now it's because they're friends, and he genuinely loves them. Finx: He's being paid, and won't be paid if he leaves the party. Playswith Squirrels: He lost a group of friends once and is determined to not lose this group. Frances: She's old friends with her party and loves them dearly.

[@duelbraids]

Yesssss, the survival one is my fight-cerer. She has a chronic pain condition and knows she has to rely on a party to make sure she's not stuck in the wilderness on a day she can barely move. They're her friends now, of course, that's the best part of DnD.

[@centurosproductions8827]

I kind of like when the GM straight up says "figure out how you guys know each other beforehand." That gives a good reason for you all to not just go "who cares about these schmucks."

[@Wildivlax]

I love the placement of the promo, right in the 'job' segment. Very clever, Ginny, you love to see it

[@Alirien]

“Common goal of Greater Good” has tended to be the reasoning for the party I play in and the one I DM

[@stumbling_]

9 times out of 10, the DM will loved to help out their players with coming up with backstories and fitting it in with other characters.

[@Greenfourth]

My character from a campaign that just started has joined up on a quest he has no real personal stake in mainly because his two half-siblings and his mentor (all three of them, PCs) have all decided to take the quest on. He's mainly staying to protect his family.

[@3dartstudio007]

Don't worry, you DO help thousands of people! If our DM is messing up, I just gotta send a link to a Ginni Di youtube video with the fix, and BAM we're all set! Next game will be better! Thanks Ginni!!!

[@TheSpencermacdougall]

For the most part. My characters have the mind set of "well, if I'm going to be adventuring, might as well be in a group." The reason they set out on the adventure doesn't really matter. Could be kicked off the farm or just out on a midlife crisis, or have some grand destiny. Either way, if you're going to be out in the wilds, it's best to have someone watching your back.

[@klayd5930]

Another fabulous video, especially a fan of Observation- that's how my OoS wizard started out with the party, now it's turned into more of a family dynamic. And your creativity with the ads in all your videos is nothing short of fierce.

[@PunkJr]

I'm going to start a petition to get a POV video with Francis. =P

[@jafrazer]

Where do I sign!? #TeamFrancis Although... I like the idea of Francis being a recurring character, getting more and more belligerent, demanding a POV video, and eventually becoming the Ginny-verse Big Bad.

[@DMingThoughts]

#TeamFrancis

[@GlennWilson-n4t]

As a Cartographer by college training and irl when I worked I feel Francis’ pain. Besides, that is avpetition I could/would sign!

[@erikwilliams1562]

that add in the middle... perfection

[@eblizzard6821]

Francis has been betrayed, backstabbed and quite possibly bamboozled! We need to theorise poor Francis' backstory: my guess is that he's been cursed by a powerful sorcerer that left his memory ripped and replaced by people using him for sponsors when trying to remind him who he is. I think I wrote to much.

[@joshuadixon6026]

Nah this is a fine size. I wrote too much a couple videos back. About my Kobolds backstory, I realized about halfway through and stopped adding details.

[@sherilda82]

Maybe it's because i actually need a dungeon making tool for my dnd but that sponsorship sent me straight to their main page. Your hours to prepare friend...erm Francis did not go to waste! Edit: Omg fastest premium membership ever. Fantastic tool!

[@amandajones8841]

Play a tabaxi, BE the host's cat. Every introvert at the table gathers around.

[@spookingtonvonhaunt7495]

In my campaign, two of the party members are a sea witch and an exiled island tribesman. The tribesman got exiled, cast adrift in the ocean, and when a storm hit, it was the sea witch who rescued him. It's really nice! The sea witch is a total weirdo, and the tribesman rogue is trying his best to protect her.

[@BattlerUshiromiya9999]

In my DnD campaign my character’s current motive is that he’s trying to go home after being separated from his family due to stupid and desperate mistakes he’s made. The only reason my character has joined with up with a party right now is because he is in need of finances since his home isn’t a walk in the park and a group of people can get the job done faster and more efficiently than to do it alone (an actual voyage across the sea isn’t cheap at all). After finishing our last dungeon my character finally gathered enough to make the voyage and separate from the party (This hasn’t been brought up yet but I am talking to my DM and from the looks of it seems that I will be derailing the campaign since my DM wants us to look into some evil demonic force that’s affecting multiple cities, something my character has no interest in now with his major goal is in sight. And because his goal is right there, my character no longer has a reason to be part of a group since he only joined for money) What my character doesn’t know or the way I have it planned out is that my character’s family home is destroyed and in ruins, I essentially I wanted to develop a reason for my character to be part of the group, at least a stronger reason than “to get the job done/to get paid” and currently I’m leaning towards the idea of a “finding out what happened” sort of deal once the situation arises. I’ll be keeping some details out of this comment since I don’t know if my friends will come across reading this especially since we were tasked to all have a secret to keep from one another that will be revealed when we deem it appropriate or if we find that we can’t hide it anymore.

[@anmimc]

I genuinely love the ad reads. Some of the most creative approaches I have seen

[@oxnardmontalvo85]

“I’m that person who winds up in the corner with the hosts cat” Same, and I leave by giving them the old Tokyo sayonara.

[@dalemurray4083]

CLEVER Ad, I actually enjoyed the Ad it was amusingly done.

[@irregularassassin6380]

In my current campaign, my character, and our lovable DMPC, were assigned to root out some bandits on the road to the big Dwarven Hold. So my character hired these three "adventurer-types" that were riding in with a caravan to get the job done. We did it, and immediately get pulled aside by the Wardens upon returning to the Hold. My character was mentioned by name in the final breath of a man who died under mysterious circumstances relating to a serial killer on the loose. The whole party got tapped to solve the problem ... and that lead to uncovering a conspiracy ... Seven hard months later, we're inseparable through ties of duty, friendship, and fate, as we venture to stop a world-eating evil from beyond the stars.

[@rkk667]

Very nice outro words here :) well said! I had a fellow PC once run off several giant rooms ahead in a Giants fortress to get killed literally because 'that is what my character would do'. Now that I am running a newer campaign, a different person is moving their character rooms away during a big fight and i remarked "hah, you are doing half of a (dead character name)". They smiled as they told me this was what their character had always done in previous encounters as if they were proud i was noticing that they were playing consistently. It was only afterwards I played this over in my mind and heard it as "i am just doing what my character would do/does".

[@commandercaptain4664]

Ginny: Stick with the party. Me as DM: So you have chosen SPLIT THE PARTY. How to make a Batman RPG from a group of six... Step 1: One player plays Batman Step 2: One plays the GM and the other four players are Assistant GMs. Step 3: Profit!

[@dliessmgg]

I've been horribly struggling with this question for my current character. I don't have a solution yet, but you gave me some ideas. Thank you!

[@andrewrawlings5220]

Batman: Dark broody loner. Also the comic book character most associated with having a partner.

[@fjkly]

I'd say the most associated is Superman with Lois. Batman's relationships have always been too unstable.

[@Paegis]

@@fjkly I think he's referring to a crimefighting partner rather than a romantic interest - ie all the Robins Batman has adopted. He's probably the archetypal superhero-with-sidekick.

[@fjkly]

@@Paegis That makes sense. I was for some reason convinced they meant romantic partner.

[@andrewrawlings5220]

@@fjkly You don't associate Batman with Robin?

[@fjkly]

@@andrewrawlings5220 I do, but I thought you meant a romantic partner, rather than a crime fighting partner. I definitely agree with Robin though.

[@glarak9819]

I always love coming back to videos like that when I create a new character Delta (Warforged Druid) has a few reasons to tag along 1.) Delta was in an inactiv state for who knows how long and doesn't know much about the currant time periode. So people that do come in handy 2.) Delta is a curiouse type and the group would definitly spark their interest 3.) They love a good challange. As an adventurer you got plenty. And if they lose to another PC in a 1v1 sparing, they would be way to prideful to leave until the score is at least evend 4.) Delta is scared. That ties back to number 1. They are in a completly new enviroment after all, and together it is less scary

[@Torlik11]

"It's what my character would do" always sounded like the worse possible answer to me. Obviously that's what they would do: they're your character and they're doing it. It's like, ok but why is it what your character would do?

[@aphenine]

Actually, I once played a pre-created character in a Monster of the Week adventure. It was a sentient apocalypse engine. We'd talked the final big bad out of the fight, but some of our characters got wounded in the process. As the party muscle, I begged the party to give me any reason not to let me pick up a heavily injured character on the verge of death with multiple back trauma to "help" him as that is what my character would do (and what would a sentient apocalypse engine know about human physiology?). But no... We had a fey creature, a pirate from the 18th C, both as clueless as me. I killed* the character. Yes, it was my interpretation, of the character, but I still tried dammit... * character was resurrected as a playable cyborg, everyone thought it was hilarious and it ended well, but honestly!

[@tombratcher6938]

"My character wouldn't be able to articulate this either"

[@zacharyhawley1693]

There's also fun in having characters getting sucked into an adventure, liking it and just deciding to stick together.

[@MrR2D2TS]

Definitely need more Francis. Hopefully more appearances will happen.

[@Aaa-bi8ly]

Maybe as her own company!

[@michellebrowne9100]

The Overly Sarcastic Productions video on Loners from Trope Talks is spectacular! If you're desperate to play a loner but you still want to be less annoying for your group, or if you want to write or play with a loner, it's a must watch.

[@nuggetwings5932]

The only valid batman dnd character is one that is so lonely that they refuse to leave the others side. Example: Cleric: Hey wanna go to the carnival? Batman: A carnival? Pfft. You're all babies. I'm too mature for that. Cleric: Uh, okay. You can stay here. Alright guys, let's- Batman: NO DON'T LEAVE ME

[@Karina-Loves-Andreas]

Hahahaha.....I know lot's of IRL peeps like that!!🤣

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

@@Karina-Loves-Andreas don't call me out like this!

[@pwhite2579]

There are very few ads on youtube that I will watch...congratulations!

[@Ringleader3791]

Is there some sort of new Batman's relationship with Catwoman thing that I've spent too much time in my hole in the ground to hear about?

[@Risu-sama]

google "heroes don't do that", it's the dumbest thing I've heard in a while.

[@alicianorris9352]

That's what I was wondering! What's going on?

[@arandomqueerfanpeep7655]

Its dc cannon that batman doesn't do oral

[@gvendurst]

Comic Drake made a video about it

[@xickyr1611]

@@arandomqueerfanpeep7655 it really isn't. There's a literal scene in one of his canon comics where he goes down on Catwoman,,

[@DesLivresetdesLoutres]

Last D&D game I started, my DM made us come up with the starting point of our party, and it made me so much more excited to start playing! Even if it's not a very dramatic one (my character basicaly hired 2 sort of childhood friend to help with her new commercial endeavor) it really made session 1 go smoother than usual :)

[@sarcasticserpent]

My reason - was a lone hunter, found a baby wolf, he needed a pack. So now they're our pack :D

[@kelly_seastar]

That's cute

[@spencervance8484]

My character was a beast master ranger who had been adopted by a wolf pack...only for a fire to burn his hunting grounds to ash. He and his dire wolf were the only survivors. And the two ran into the party and became part of their "pack"...too bad a beholder dusted the dire wolf later on.

[@ab-cq1oi]

Rare to see an ad, thats almost the highlight of the video xD Without trying to talk something down, that stuff was just outstandingly good x)

[@angelagranger760]

Even Batman worked with the Justice League

[@gractipi]

you're one of the only people I can watch the full ad in the video. always so creative!

[@LemonMoon]

For historical purposes, the reason Ginny mentions not being Batman is that DC recently stated that Batman wouldn’t go down in catwoman.

[@RawrQueen5th]

I have to say I love your sponsored ad! For once I didn't jump forward because it's not an infomercial stuck in the middle. BRAVO!

[@druid_zephyrus]

The only times "It's what my character would do" is acceptable is when it only affects you or a joint [our characters] with a mutual moron.

[@grinnylein]

Not sure about that, it is acceptable in a lot of times, but not when it hurts the enjoyment of the other players (too much if you have players at the table that only want to play the 'best' way and try to control other players' actions, then you can sometimes piss that their enjoyment when it hurts yours too much, but the rule should always be, talk with each other of course)

[@markoseldo2007]

Too many comments to see if anyone else has mentioned it, but tonight I am running a Session 0 using the D&D version of the Fiasco set-up rules. It means every character will have a relationship with two other characters at the table. Very excited to see how it works out!

[@th3fps304]

DONT BE BATMAN, BLOW YOUR GIRLFRIEND, AND STAY WITH YOUR PARTY

[@michaellamontagne2470]

OMG!!!!!! I laughed my arse off at the mid video “advertisement” that was hilarious!!! Love your videos and content. 😘😘

[@Anarchomancer]

I don't know where people got the idea that Batman is an anti-social loner, because he has one of the largest families in comics.

[@Neutral_Tired]

he keeps trying to tell people he's an antisocial loner, that's where

[@Anarchomancer]

@@Neutral_Tired Depends on the writer.

[@sirteddyIII]

Two of the most fun and stable ‘stick with the party’ implements I’ve used for some oddball characters are: The character is horribly directionally challenged and can’t find his way to his next job/quest without help (works great with brutes and mercenaries) and divinely bound fate, or your patron/god told you that your fate aligns with these strangers, (which is excellent since it gives you reason to rally the other PCs to work together or just hop in if they are already getting along.)

[@Karina-Loves-Andreas]

That's kind if where I'm at. Newbie player with other newbies. I made it clear in my "backstory" I can barely find my ass with two hands, even though I'm "booksmart", lol!!

[@Bam31415]

Batman isn't a loner. He's probably the hero with the most sidekicks. Hell, Batman has chosen all his sidekicks, Superman has at best had sidekicks forced upon him.

[@xickyr1611]

You missed the point. It's more of a Justice League reference, to the fact that Batman prefers to work alone instead of with other heroes (Superman, Flash, etc.). He's even refused Nightwing's team-up offers on multiple occasions,,

[@GinnyDi]

please, explain batman to me more, it's definitely the most important part of this video about Dungeons & Dragons

[@Ken-1313]

This is so great! It is also helpful for me as a DM who is planning on starting a new campaign soon and mulling over the best ways to introduce and group everyone together. I already had an idea, but this helps hone and improve it, And I love the Eat the Rich shirt!

[@weebikarp1806]

There's no such thing as "it's what my character would do". At the end of the day, it's still you screwing over your friends and other players.