Being a Good New Player

So often the focus of my articles is DMing.  However, in a few short weeks I will be doing something unusual: joining The Game’s regular D&D game.  I’m going to run through the considerations of making a character for a game that has been run for a considerable time (the party is starting off paragon level).

1. Basic Concept: This one is deceptively simple, but it worth noting.  Just ask the DM any idiosyncrasies he’s using in the rules or setting.  It really helps to at least give the DM a chance to guide you towards (or away) from stuff that’s not going to work well.
2. Background: Even if you’re an active participant in D&D sessions its unreasonable to expect your character to show up in a ground and suddenly become the star.  Keep this in mind, and leave an open ended and malleable background so the DM can easily fit you into his story, the other players have reason to accept you, and you have reason to join them. A mystery or powerful enemy are good hooks for a DM to use, but don’t make them too detailed.  Give the DM just enough rope to hang you with as he pleases.
3. Party Members: Find out what other characters are in the party.  Nothing can turn a group against you like creating a character that makes another long-running party member irrelevant.  Using the 4E nomenclature, this doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t play another striker alongside with a melee Ranger , but it means you probably shouldn’t head to the Wizard’s character optimization board to make a sweet paragon half-elf dagger master that cherry picked the ranger’s twin strike feat and out performs him in every way in combat with two weapons.  That being said, nothing wins you a spot in the party like actually doing something useful.  Don’t be the new guy that makes a character that brings nothing to the table other than another person to placate.  A new player does not have to be a combat monster, but definitely have a few things you can do to lend a hand.  When you discover what the party has, make something that can fill a niche that they may need.
4. Sharing Your Info: A lot of players simply announce their character’s name, describe them, proclaim their epic destiny, and then sulk when their goals and motivations are summarily ignored.   Everyone wants to have their moment to shine, but the best way to do this is inform the DM about your character ahead of time, talk to yourself unobtrusively with other characters (in game), and then wait for your turn in the spotlight.

So, putting my own rules to use I came up with the following basic concept: A Deva Avenger that has not in fact recently died, but instead experienced some unknown trauma.  In fact, the Deva has enemies now and can’t even trust their usual avenues of aid.  Hence, they are sworn to the Raven Queen and are seeking outside sources of power from unusual, and perhaps risky, avenues (Paragon Path: Student of Caiphon).  With enemies abound and some questionable allies my character is going to walk the fine line between Deva and Rahkshasa and traffic with immortals and higher powers.  A lot of knowledge skills should adequate reflect his learned background, which he hopes will help him navigate the murky corridors of power.  I then whipped up a quick short story to sum up what his existence to my new DM…. Enjoy!

He had died countless times before: the dark alley behind the brothel in the City of Brass, battling Cosmic horrors aboard the doomed vessel Legacy, in the maw of the hell against a legion of greater demons, daring to face the great wyrm amidst the evacuation of the Great Elven Forest, and countless more.  Never pleasant, but almost comforting in the routine.  The hazy renewal, the bits of memory, the feeling of history.

He felt even emptier than he had ever been.

Blinking in confusing, Bael opened his eyes to see a slim dark silhouetted figure looming above him.  Ravens swarmed around both him and his mysterious figure, cawing ominously.  He sat up slowly and laughed.  “The Raven Queen herself greats this end.  You know that the Deva are outside your cycle.”

“Bael, you seem out of sorts.  Do you not recall what brought you here?”

Bael blinked in confusion.  “Yet another death, I’m certain.”

The Raven Queen laughed.  Her flock hooted and called in unison with her.  “Dear Bael, this is truly outstanding.  Perhaps this is more ignoble than death for one such as yourself: you failed and now you forget.  You are bereft, Bael, with a multitude of foes clamoring for you blood.”

Bael blinked, recalling none of it, yet strangely certain she was telling the truth.  “Immortal I may be, but you have powers that can cloud my mind.”

“Yet, I use none of them.”

Bael knew it to be true immediately.  “In past lives, I have slaughtered your dark cabal of Eight Avengers.  I butchered the Shadar-Kai that dare profane the realm of Kord.  I am no friend to yours, Raven Queen.”

The Raven Queen seemed to be waiting expectantly, but when he said nothing more she replied, “Yet I do not consider you an enemy.  When our interests were at odds, you acted.  Bygones, dear Bael.  Now, though, you are empty.”

Bael flinched.  He had once possessed a wellspring of divine power, he knew this, yet he could find none.

“You are bereft.”

Bael stood up and growled.

“You are broken.”

“Enough,” Bael whispered.

“And you have more enemies than ever, not just the usual members of the dark powers.  No, Bael the forces of Light will be most displeased with you, I’m certain.”

Simmering anger boiled within Bael, but he was not one to lose control.  “Tell me then, what I have done that is so terrible?”

The Raven Queen said nothing, but her flock began to swirl about Bael, cawing endlessly.  He withstood their torment has hundreds of their bodies flew within inches of his body.  “I will tell you nothing, Bael, for you will not believe.  I know not the entirety of the tale, only hearsay.  No, Bael I cannot do that.”

“Yet killing me would be futile.”

“You are too valuable for me to kill.”

“How so?”

“I have been without an Avenger of suitable power for ages, Bael.  It is true, in another life you slew the greatest group that had ever served me.  You are empty, you need power.  Accept the investiture of power, Bael.  You know how to use such strength, already.”

“I am an Avenger,” Bael said aloud.  “Yes, I am.”

“No, Bael, you were.  Now you are nothing.”

The words were without malice, yet the truth behind them stung.  The truth that he had enemies, more enemies than he had imagined, resonated as well.  “I may not have power, yet I am something.”

“I require but one thing from you Bael.  The power of the Raven Queen is that of death.  In every incarnation you have delivered death like none over.  This trait would please me in an Avenger.  No, Bael, I want your word that you will accede to but three demands.  I will call on you three times, Bael, no more, no less.  After the third, the investiture is yours to do with what you will.”

Bael stared at the Raven Queen’s hazy form.  “You still do not choose to manifest yourself fully.  Why?”

“Prudence.”

“Or fear,” Bael said smugly.  “You have me captive in your realm, under duress.”

“You may leave at any time, with or without the investiture.”

“I truly have failed at something grand, something horrifying.”

“Oh you have, Bael.  You have my word on that.  The Gods themselves will love you or fear you, but they will dare not traffic with you.”

“Save you.”

“Save me.”

Bael took a deep breath.  He would need more the powers of the Raven Queen.  He could rely not on her alone, yet that was his only choice now.  He remembered details of alien powers, those that typically did not meddle directly in the realms.  If he was truly a hunted man he would need them all.  That was later, this was now.  He had a choice to make.

He knelt before her.  “I accept.”

The Raven Queen reached behind her back and pulled an Axe from thin air.  “After you slaughtered the Eight Avengers, you took most of their belongings, save this.  You have wielded weapons both greater and paltrier, but perhaps none so ironic.”

Bael held his hands in front of him.  She place the Executioner’s Axe in his outstretched hands.  He swung a few test strokes.  He felt the radiant power of the Raven Queen surge through him.  Whereas once is divine might had been akin to a torrent of a raging river, he felt nothing but a steady stream.  “I am not what I was.”

“Not yet,” she confirmed.  “But you can be again.”

“And perhaps more,” Bael said wickedly.  The Raven Queen flinched.  Despite her insubstantiality, he sensed a current of trepidation from her.  “Do you regret your choice, Raven Queen?”

“Do you regret yours, Bael?”

They regarded each other in silence.

“Time will tell,” he said.

“Aye,” she replied simply.  “Shed what you once were Bael.  Arise Bael Corvus, Deva of a thousand lifetimes, three times my enemy, three times my ally, three times my indebted and my Avenger as long as you should live.”

“As long as I should live.”  A portal opened in front of him.  “Do you not want to wish me good fortune?  That I might harvest a thousand screaming souls for your dread kingdom?”

“Oh Bael, you need no luck for that,” the Raven Queen said.