T O P

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j_a_shackleton

Have you asked the player what kinds of story arcs they envision for this character?


AlterManNK

We talked, but he don't know. He doesn't want to be edgy/tragic for sure


poopsonthemoon

Maybe rather than them having the tragic backstory, have somebody else have the tragic backstory? An NPC having the worst day of their life and you PC finally makes the smile, brings them some joy with their trickster ways. Setting them off on their journey. If they’re a particularly bad trickster, how they lost their path on the road to good, and will they ever find it again.


stirfriedpenguin

Is it really important to you or the player that the character really 'develops' in any meaningful way? A lot of people are content to simply level up, get new powers, acquire sweet loot and beat the bad guys--and there's nothing wrong with that! Not everyone needs to have a big, meaningful shift in perspective or personality, it's completely fine to just explore the awesome world you've created and go along for the ride.


AlterManNK

I guess you're right


TTRPGenie

What level is the character currently? Do you have any archetypal characters in mind for inspiration? Anansi, Loki, or a fool from Shakespeare, the A-team (smoke and mirrors to defeat larger forces)?


AlterManNK

Level 5 Fool from Shakespeare is very close


Keith_Marlow

The character doesn't need to change to become more developed, nor do they need to change to have potent moments of roleplay. Many of the best characters are catalysts around which other characters change and develop, while they themselves change very little. Have there been any issues with their character in RP? Any tonal dissonances or otherwise powerful moments undercut? If so then that's what you need to talk with the player about, if not, and if they haven't talked to you/hinted at any long dramatic character arcs, then I think you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. Now you should absolutely give them moments of spotlight during RP, but that doesn't have to be backstory or development related, just opportunities to shine. Ultimately, what's going to build powerful character moments is internal motivations and conflicts, not backstory. What do they want? What are they willing to do to get it? What are they not willing to do to get it? The answers to these questions, contradictions within said answers, or situations that ask these questions and others like them are what will bring drama more than anything. If they are looking for an involved personal arc, I think you've got quite a clear conflict from their backstory (which doesn't seem like a joke at all to me, at least based on what you've said). They have a powerful, serious family that they seemingly want very little to do with. How does their family feel about this? How do they feel about this? Does their family want them back, to stop messing around and sullying their reputation, or are they supportive of their decision? Maybe they get backed into a corner, and have to ask their relatives for help? Maybe their family is an antagonist (those in power are rarely clean, after all). I think there's a lot of opportunities with what you've already got.


[deleted]

Couple ways this could go; 1: he isn’t serving the diety he thought he was serving. Something else is impersonating it to gain some benifit. Maybe it’s bad like trying to create a rift between to planes or maybe it’s just that this id a minor entity that seeks small scale chaos (or butterfly effect stuff) 2: maybe lean away from the divine and focus more on his interpersonal relationships. Are there any NPC’s that are close friends or family? Maybe they stop taking him seriously following his mid-life-crisis moment and his arc is showing them that life always has room for joy