Asking Leading Questions at Character Creation

I’ve fallen in love with the idea of asking leading questions when making characters. I’ve talked before about getting asked questions that helped establish a really cool character, and I decided in this new The One Ring campaign, I’ll be doing the same.

What are leading questions? And how can they be effective?

When making characters, often players are asked, “Where are you from? Who are your parents? Who’s your best friend? What do you do in your downtime?” By using a leading question like, “What happened the night your parents died?” it immediately sets off the imagination. As the GM I’ve established that your parents died. Now I want you to tell me more. Every leading question has the GM create a reality in the world, and leave a gap for the player to answer.

Below, I’m sharing the leading questions I’m asking each of my players. Some link to other characters to help tie them together. Some may be more difficult to answer than others. None of the players have made their characters yet, so I don’t have any names, just what they’re interested in playing. A lot of these questions were provided by friends on Twitter and Facebook.

Rider of Rohan

1. You left the Riddermark ostensibly to help guide a trade caravan to Esgaroth. What is the REAL reason you left Rohan? 
2. A bearded traveler tarried in your hometown when you were young. People still talk about what happened. What do they say? How did his visit change you?
3. Your dreams are haunted by a far off place you’ve never seen in your waking life. You know you’ll go there some day and it will be significant. Describe it. What is happening in your dream?

–

Beorning

1. You spent some time in Dale. What were you doing there?
2. You fell as a child and nearly died. You remained alone for a day and a night except for *her*. You’re sure now she was a hallucination. What was it she said that gave you hope until you were found?
3. Your cousin was killed when you were 12. Why do you blame yourself?

–

Elf of Lorien

1. You were born beneath the boughs of the Golden Wood. You consider one tree in particular to be “yours”. What incident in your childhood caused it to become your tree?
2. You once made preparations and journeyed to see the fabled Grey Havens. What waylaid you from reaching the destination?
3. Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall. Why did your father leave Caras Galadhon so many years ago?

–

Woodman

1. What is the story behind your most interesting scar?
2. You traveled to Lake-town with BEORNING. What did he do that made you believe you could trust him on this journey?
3. It has been two years since you were back in your village. What has kept you away for so long?

–

Hobbit

1. Your family owns something said to be elf-crafted. Your grandfather, who is known for his tall tales, says he met an elf in his youth and asked about it, and the elf just smiled. What is it?
2. You’ve known DWARF for a while now. What happened the last time you two met that put you two on the outs with one another?
3. What did you do that makes you no longer welcome in Erebor?

–

Dwarf

1. You moved to Esgaroth during the rebuilding of of the town. What was the catalyzing event that caused you to realize you desperately needed to move?
2. When your brother was arrested in Erebor, why didn’t you go defend him in the trial?
3. WOODMAN brought you an item they needed repaired. What was it? What extra effort did you put into it and why?