Summary
Playing multiple characters in yourDungeons & Dragonscampaign isn’t a fantasy. If you’re a high-level, highly skilled D&D player, you can absolutely find ways to inhabit two different roles in one party. This can be extremely helpful for difficult campaigns where you might need a bigger party to tackle your most powerful foes.
Playing multiple characters is also a fun way to bring multiple campaigns together, or even experiment with different classes and species at the same time. But, if you’ve never played multiple characters before, it can prove tricky. Here are some tips and tricks to help you play multiple characters in D&D.
10Organization Is Key
Keep Tidy
The most important aspect of playing multiple characters at once is keeping yourself organized. You, of course, need to make sure you have two separate character sheets, two separate spell lists, and two separate inventory lists. Keeping track of these can seem daunting, but it’s worth it.
Plus, putting the pressure on your Dungeon Master to help you differentiate between your characters is burdensome. Stay together on your end. You can even choose to create two separate character binders or character portfolios if you use an online character sheet creator.
9Differentiate Where Possible
No Need To Overlap
If you’re going to play multiple characters, you’re going to want to make sure they’re as different as possible. After all, there’s not that much point inplaying two fighterswith two different subclasses. Try to make sure that, when it comes to picking class, species, and more, you’re differentiating your two characters.
This is helpful not just because it helps the party gain more abilities, but because this will help you keep your characters straight in your head. If both characters are too similar in abilities and personality, you might want to go back to the drawing board for a bit.
8Avoid Multiclassing
Why Make It Harder On Yourself
You’re already playing two different classes, why make it four? This isn’t a hard and fast rule. Of course, if you really want to multiclass one or both of your characters, you can. But, you should ask yourself if this is worth it.
Part of the fun of multiclassingis experimenting with different classes, but, if you’re playing multiple characters at once, you’re already doing that. So, if you do choose to multiclass, make sure you feel strongly about it. You don’t want to accidentally overwhelm yourself.
7Connect The Characters
You Meet At A Tavern
One great way to bring both of your characters into the fold is to connect them, either via relationship or backstory in general. Maybe both of your characters are siblings, or they’ve just traveled and ventured together before.
Whatever the ultimate answer is, connecting your characters can help with roleplay and with introducing them to the party at large. If you connect your characters, this will help your DM and fellow players understand both of them more easily, rather than having to learn about two separate individuals at the same time.
6Contrast Magic And Might
Sword Versus Sorcery
While there are a lot of different ways to make both of your characters feel unique and distinct from one another, one great way to do this is to play one spellcaster and one non-spellcaster. This way, you reduce having to maintain two separate spell lists and sets of spell slots, which can prove confusing even for veteran players.
For some fun combinations, consider mixing fighters and wizards, sorcerers and barbarians, or warlocks and rogues. you may also do divine casters and arcane casters, though this, of course, means having two separate spell lists to keep track of.
5Use Different Dice
Aesthetics Do Matter
This is a simple trick but can help keep your characters straight. Use different sets of dice for each character. If you can find sets of dice that have color schemes or other iconography on them that are reflective of each character, this is even better.
This helps for a lot of reasons, but the most important reason this is a useful trick is for tracking initiative order. If you’re playing multiple characters, it’s easy to roll initiative, or even the same saving throw, and forget which roll is for which character. Using different dice helps make this easier.
4Employ Mannerisms
Shake Up Your Roleplay
Having a distinct voice or mannerism as a Dungeons & Dragons player isalways great for roleplay. While these mannerisms don’t have to be all that complicated, having a different voice or personality that you’re able to embody for each character will help you roleplay both at the table.
If both characters have the same personality, accent, or affect, this can make it hard for your Dungeon Master or fellow players to know who’s speaking. Try experimenting with different vocal affects, mannerisms, and other distinguishing characteristics as you roleplay both characters.
3Pay Attention To Level-Ups
Keep An Eye On What’s Coming
Leveling up two characters at the same time can be tricky, especially if your Dungeon Master uses the milestone system, meaning leveling up at the same time is more likely to happen. ensure when you do so, you’re paying attention to what each character is going to get down the line.
This is helpful for a few reasons. One, you’re going to want to ensure you’re picking features, subclasses, and traits that are different from one another, so you’re not doubling up on abilities. Second, you can also pick spells, abilities, and more that can synergize nicely, allowing you to buff yourself in combat.
2Round Out The Party
Fill In The Blanks
Make sure that when you’re picking species and classes for both of your characters you’re picking abilities that help round out your party. If you’re playing multiple classes, there’s no point in overlapping with other members of your party, unless you’re specifically trying to get more healers into the fray.
Ultimately, before deciding to play two characters, try to figure out what elements your party is missing, and select a species and class based on those missing attributes. This will help round out your party and make playing two characters feel more worth it.
1Limit Interaction
There’s Other Players Too
If you’re playing two different characters at the same time, you’re able to accidentally find yourself entering a feedback loop in which you only roleplay with your own two characters. While moments where your two characters talk to each other can be fun, you should limit spending too much time roleplaying with just yourself.
Remember, there’s a whole other party that wants to play too. And, if you’re spending the table’s time talking to yourself, this can feel a little selfish. Make sure you’re not using two characters to soak up the spotlight for yourself.
