Bookmark
I've considered this idea a few times, but it's creeping back.
The core rules for a game fit on a single sheet, and the entire character sheet fits on two sides of a bookmark. The important bit is the character's story, and this is written out in a diary. The character sheet/bookmark is used to mark the place in the diary where the character is up to. When the adventure is over (or when travelling between towns), we can skip some pages until the next important events begin. If a character dies, their diary becomes an in-game journal and artifact of the setting. Future characters can find these as they resolve their own stories, perhaps finding clues that help their own stories.
A diary used for these purposes would track other people met during a character's journey, as well as any character development that might impact the story for more than a couple of days (such as new skills, serious injuries, reputation/infamy, etc.). Each day should have enough room to write a few sentences, maybe even a couple of paragraphs or sketches using one of those diaries where each page (or each opening) covers the events of a single day.
I like this idea because a player can buy a diary that reflects their character in some way. It could be a quirky pop-culture themed student diary, a serious business journal, it might have floral designs through it, sports players, trucks, pornography, anything, or nothing at all... what does this say about the character?
I'm finding myself redrawn to this idea because I feel that a good character only needs a goal, something that prevents them reaching it, a strength (or maybe a few), and a weakness (or maybe a few). Deeper characters probably have a few goals and obstacles, where choices between them add richness to the character's story. So I'm aiming for simple characters, but coherent characters who are linked into the world around them.
Simple, easy to reference characters on a bookmark.
Rich interconnected relationships to the world and coherent story in a diary.
Let's see where this path goes.
The core rules for a game fit on a single sheet, and the entire character sheet fits on two sides of a bookmark. The important bit is the character's story, and this is written out in a diary. The character sheet/bookmark is used to mark the place in the diary where the character is up to. When the adventure is over (or when travelling between towns), we can skip some pages until the next important events begin. If a character dies, their diary becomes an in-game journal and artifact of the setting. Future characters can find these as they resolve their own stories, perhaps finding clues that help their own stories.
A diary used for these purposes would track other people met during a character's journey, as well as any character development that might impact the story for more than a couple of days (such as new skills, serious injuries, reputation/infamy, etc.). Each day should have enough room to write a few sentences, maybe even a couple of paragraphs or sketches using one of those diaries where each page (or each opening) covers the events of a single day.
I like this idea because a player can buy a diary that reflects their character in some way. It could be a quirky pop-culture themed student diary, a serious business journal, it might have floral designs through it, sports players, trucks, pornography, anything, or nothing at all... what does this say about the character?
I'm finding myself redrawn to this idea because I feel that a good character only needs a goal, something that prevents them reaching it, a strength (or maybe a few), and a weakness (or maybe a few). Deeper characters probably have a few goals and obstacles, where choices between them add richness to the character's story. So I'm aiming for simple characters, but coherent characters who are linked into the world around them.
Simple, easy to reference characters on a bookmark.
Rich interconnected relationships to the world and coherent story in a diary.
Let's see where this path goes.
.png)
Comments
I really dig this idea though, and want to hear if anyone gives it a try, and how it turns out.