Can We Guess the Tragic Backstory for Your D&D Character?

By: Amanda Monell

6 Min Quiz

Image: -asi / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images

About This Quiz

For the select few of us, when we walk into a gaming shop and see the display set up for a Dungeons & Dragons game, it's like we get transported to another world. Gone are the stale shelves of gaming miniatures and resource books and in comes the rich forestry of Neverwinter. You approach the other players, greet them and start to feel the change coming over you. Instead of your typical 9 to 5 job as a corporate cog, you're suddenly a dungeon-crawling bad*ss with plusses to all your stats and a bag of holding.

The key to a good Dungeons & Dragons campaign is a great storyline. For new Dungeonmasters, there are prewritten storylines which are great to learn from. However, if you get a seasoned DM, you'll see how the creativity flows and appreciate it when the gaming's good. If not, well ... let's not go there, shall we?

If you've leveled up your character and have grown a little attached to it, you may start telling a story of your own, creating your world within the Dungeon & Dragons world. While some stories are unique, many backstories have an ounce of tragedy to them. Tell us about your gaming style and we'll tell you your backstory.

When it comes to character creation, motivations and intentions are key. What drives yours?

Their Family

Learning something new
Their freedom

Their home

Did the event that led to your character's tragedy happen suddenly?

There was quite a battle before the event took place.

No, it took years of building up before something happened.
A little bit of time elapsed.

Yes

Roll initiative! What weapon would you use in combat?

I'd use a sword.

I'd use magic.
I'd use a ranged weapon.

I'd use a mace.

After a day of adventuring, your party needs a much-needed rest. What shift would you offer to watch?

I'll take the midnight to the late morning shift.

I'll take the late evening to dawn shift.
I'll take the early evening to midnight shift.

I'll stay up all night.

Dungeons & Dragons has a series of different races from which to choose. What race is your hero?

Aasimar

Changeling
Halfling

Dwarf

You decide to turn your tragedy into something positive by learning a new skill. Which of these abilities would your character learn?

Animal handling

Survival
Deception

Persuasion

If you designed your character for someone else to play, would a first time player be able to use it?

No

It would have to be someone who had experience in other RPGs.
Yes, my backstory is easily relatable.

Yes, however, the player would need to be more mature.

You're constantly rolling critical fails during your gaming session. What do you do?

I whine.

I go buy another set of dice.
I borrow dice from one of the other players.

I accuse the spellcasters of hexing my dice.

How long have you been a dungeon crawler?

I've been playing on and off for a few months.

It feels like I was born with at 20-sided dice in my hand.
I'd say I've been playing for a few years.

I've been playing for about a year.

In real life, would you want a bag of holding to stash your stuff?

Yes

No, I would probably lose track of what's in the bag.
I don't have enough stuff to warrant a bag of holding.

I would, definitely

If you were to play a spell caster, which school of magic would you follow?

Evocation

Enchantment
Divination

Necromancy

After failing a perception check, you have to report a baddie who isn't there. How do you play it?

After getting questioned, I run on into the area where the proposed baddie is.

I provide such detail on the baddie that the party naturally assumes that is what I see.
Before we charge in, I give an inspiring speech that helps morale.

I merely report what I believe I saw and let the others decide what to do.

When you're back in the real world, do you ever daydream about the next adventure your character will have?

All the time

If I'm bored, yes
I really don't have the time to do that.

No, I have other things to think about.

For many players, being an evil character is a struggle. Do you think you could handle it?

I wouldn't be against trying it.

I suppose it would depend on what the rest of the party was.
No, I'm too good-natured.

That's what I always play.

During one session, your DM goes into detail about an event that makes you feel uncomfortable. How do you handle it?

I wait until after the session is over to talk to the DM.

I would make some outlandish decisions to throw the party off the storyline.
I let them know right away that it was getting to be too over the top.

I'd leave after letting them know.

Death is something all players have to encounter in Dungeons & Dragons. With that being said, how attached are you to your character?

I designed this character to be disposable.

I love the story; the character, not so much.
I would say that I'm getting attached to my character.

I am incredibly fond of my character.

You catch one of your party members stealing something from a church. What do you do?

I glare at them and hope they get the message to put it back.

I blackmail them.
I tell them that when they pawn it, I get a cut of the money made.

I shame them into putting it back.

Grab your bedroll; it's time to hit the road. What method of transportation do you use?

I hitch a ride on someone's cart if they're available.

I ambush some merchants and steal their horses.
I walk.

I ride my horse.

You're low on funds and you and your party have found an inn to rest. How do you get enough money for a room?

I convince the party to bunk together in one room.

I start a poker game and hope I win.
I go outside and pick someone's pockets.

I offer to perform a service in exchange for a room.

Many players have their characters pay tribute to their god of choice. Which deity does your character follow?

Tempus, the God of War

Mystra, the Goddess of Magic
Beshaba, the Goddess of Misfortune

Tyr, the God of Justice

A common pet peeve is that players table talk (talk about out of campaign issues). Are you guilty of doing this?

Of course, I think of these players as friends.

No, it drives me batty.
It isn't intentional if I do.

I suppose it would depend on the situation.

If you want to design a character with depth, adding flaws is a must. Which of these flaws would you choose for your character?

My character is a little too attached to the other party members.

My character can be a little pushy.
My character is a little stubborn.

My character often does things that could cause the party to get into trouble.

Time to get ready for a day of adventuring! What's the first thing you do for the day?

I put out the campfire.

I get dressed.
I go to the bathroom.

I cook breakfast for my party and me.

Just like any other game, Dungeons & Dragons can be a little pricey. How much have you spent on your hobby?

About $20

More than $100
Between $51 and $75

Between $21 and $50

Have you ever participated in a LARP (Live Action Role Playing session)?

I've thought about it, but I think that it's too expensive.

I've participated in several LARP sssions.
A what?

No, but I want to.

You're in the middle of a game and are trying to plan a strategy. You come up with a brilliant idea and when it comes to execution, the DM shuts you down. How do you react?

I ask the DM the reasoning behind the ruling.

I attempt to get the DM to see things my way by quoting passages of rulebooks.
I rework it so it works.

I wait for the game to end, then see the reason why the plan wouldn't have worked.

Do you find it easy to speak in the voice of your character?

If I focus, I can speak in my character's voice.

It takes a few moments to warm up, but I slip into my character's voice easily.
My character is a part of me, so speaking in their voice is a breeze.

No, I'm still trying to find my voice.

Pizza, chips or cookies? What's your gaming munchie of choice?

Pizza, definitely

I eat before a session and during breaks. I don't want to disturb anything.
Chips and salsa FTW

Probably a little bit of everything

Between sessions, do you take advantage of downtime actions?

I'm not sure what I'd do with downtime actions.

Most definitely
It depends on how things were left when the game ended.

I use downtime actions on occasion.

You stop at an inn to question some villagers about a recent goblin invasion. Who do you go to first?

It depends on what detail I'm looking for.

I speak with a bar wench.
I speak with an innkeeper.

I speak with one of the orphans.

5 Minute Quiz 5 Min

About Zoo

Our goal at Zoo.com is to keep you entertained in this crazy life we all live.

We want you to look inward and explore new and interesting things about yourself. We want you to look outward and marvel at the world around you. We want you to laugh at past memories that helped shape the person you’ve become. We want to dream with you about all your future holds. Our hope is our quizzes and articles inspire you to do just that.

Life is a zoo! Embrace it on Zoo.com.