For real, this is how I prepare places and people, often while play goes on, on scratch paper. I discussed the fractal dungeon in a previous post, and here I’ll quickly talk about the everyone’s a dragon character sketch that I use.

Everyone’s a dragon in a fantasy world. I use this as shorthand, because dragons – think Smaug the Magnificent – are complex enough to be unpredictable, but simple enough for a child to understand. That’s the sweet spot I’m looking for for most of the people in my worlds, because I want it to be easy for the other players to think, in retrospect: Duh, of course they responded that way.

So, Smaug has:

• An Obsession Accumulating, but never using, wealth
• A Horde Gold and gemstones
• A Weakness: The missing scale over his heart.
• A Mask Magnanimous and witty
• A True Self Jealous and petty

This works for any character and is pretty easy and quick to sketch in the margins, so long as I use the terms loosely:

Farmer Giles has:

• An Obsession The sheep-raiding goblins at it again
• A Horde Seventy-two silver-hide sheep and six daughters
• A Weakness: Will accept no risk to his daughters, but for a fear of flying insects
• A Mask Inept and galumphing
• A True Self Brave under pressure, when his Horde is threatened

Here ‘mask’ is more what he appears and believes himself to be, having not been put under pressure to reveal his true self. I also try to imply a personality in here: I can picture Giles waving his fist at the silhouettes of the goblin raiders as they disappear over the horizon, but also standing his ground when he finally faces them, likely armed with a pair of shears.

Obviously this is not a perfect technique for sketching personalities, but I find this one evocative, easy to do in the margins, and means it’s possible for me to wing a character much more easily.

So, when I’m surprised by a place or a person, I simply treat it like a dungeon or a dragon. What are your tricks for easy improvisation with depth and potential for depth? Like, comment, and share, please!

February 15th, 2022,

Idle Cartulary