Character Plot Hooks

[Rhifox]

Hello,

The purpose of this thread is to be an archive for individual character plot hooks. While every character biography already has hooks listed, I've been told by DM Galatea that the fact that these hooks are nestled in many different, difficult to locate threads, which are all filled with often-extensive character backgrounds, makes it very hard for DMs to easily access the actual hooks that they might be interested in using in events. This serves to discourage DMs from calling up characters' personal plotlines unless directly requested.

So, in this thread, I'd like to try and make it easier for DMs to call up character hooks that they may want to run events off of. To that end I'd like people to post their character hooks (and just their character hooks!) here in this thread. I will be keeping a linked table of contents to all character hooks that are posted here. Please keep your posts short and to the point, the purpose of this is to be an easily-searchable resource for DMs so they can call up characters quickly in preparation for or even during an event. Use bullet points and summaries; if longer descriptions are needed, then offer a link to your biography for further reading after providing a suitably evocative teaser for your hook.

What counts as a hook? Important events from your character's history that's left unresolved issues that could crop up in current RP. Criminal records. Significant family members. Warlock pact details. Favored enemies. The best hooks are those that are able to involve multiple player characters rather than just yours.

What doesn't count as a hook? "My character wants to develop as a knight so maybe someone comes along to train him." Hooks are best as highly specific and deeply personal connections to your character. Simply describing the path you want to see your character move towards isn't adequate, as your character's general progression should be your job as the player. Hooks should be easy, specific, personal goals that come from your character's past, that a DM can pull out quickly and efficiently.

Example of a Hook Entry

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BOB DRAKE
Male human fighter
CN, Tymora

• Bob was abandoned by his parents and raised by a fallen knight, Sir Soandso the Hookbearer. Unbeknownst to Bob, he is the bastard son of a Corymrian noble family, House Plot. While his relatives with better claim are currently heirs to the house, it is possible that they could meet unfortunate ends, leaving Bob as the last living heir. It is likely he would be sought out in such a scenario... for good or ill.
• Bob suffered terrible bullying in his childhood by a rotten jerk named John Prick. Prick has since become an adventurer, and his company may soon pass through the Baldur's Gate region. If they did, and the two were to meet again, would circumstances be the same? Is Prick still a prick? Or has he changed?
• Bob has a record of arson in the Dalelands. He was never caught, but his deeds may one day follow him. Perhaps he burned down a powerful wizard's home, or he's attracted the attention of a fire elemental who likes his style? Or maybe some guard is just trying to meet his quota.

When a hook is met or changes due to events, the player and/or the DM should edit the hook here so that other DMs don't accidentally repeat the same one.

I hope people find this useful. If it gets good attention, I'd like to recommend a sticky for easy reference.

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Table of Contents

• Character 1
• Character 2
• Character 3
• Character 4
• ...
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[DM Galatea]

If you would like to reproduce your character plot hooks here, we can start building a database of them in a concise location. For brevity, try and keep an individual hook to a sentence. This allows DMs to build upon it.

A note on content:

Try and avoid extensive family histories. I am, for the most part, not terribly interested in fleshing out your back story. This is something for you to do as part of a player request or part of a story. If their father is a cultist, then that may be doable. If they're just "on bad terms" then I don't really need to know that. That's your own storytelling to do. Simply state that your character has a history of family trauma and explain why.

I want quick, succinct reasons why your character reacts like they do and what I can do to cause strife for them. Or, potentially, make things easier.

A further note on plot hooks - I consider one as something which can be used as a means for a DM to contextualise your involvement in an event. Typically they take the form of weaknesses, potential conflict flashpoints, strengths, involvement with NPC communities (complete with evidence) and weighty character interactions. If, for example, your character was accused of assault or fell as a paladin, that will be noted by those with whom you are dealing.

As people who have roleplayed in my events will have seen, I tend to remember and note player involvement. For example, the Ebon Blade being known of by a large bandit organisation or individuals in Baldurs Gate being noted by name. Further, having plot hooks in advance allows me to warp events in a more interesting direction. I am definitely not alone in this, either. Having plot hooks in an easy to access location is a great way to get DMs more involved in your characters story.

Please give some thought to this. Thank you

[realayer]

Mine has not reviewed and approved by DMs, but here are some of the possible plot hooks for my character Gyren Edwood.

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Gyren Edwood - LG Paladin of Lathander

[1]His weapon of choice is morningstar, although the favoured weapon of Lathander is mace, for its shape resembles the radiance of the sun. His weapon, whether enchanted or not, serves as his object of worship and a channel of communication between him and his God.

[2]He is an expert in fighting orcs and goblins as well as lizardfolks. He has developed his skill through long years of defending his home and Daggerford from orc raids. As a result, he also hates orcs and goblins. But his hatred reserves for the pure-blooded orc only. He sympathizes with half-orc as he sees them as the victims of the frequent orc raids. He even befriended some of the half-orc living in Daggerford.

[3]He is a natural rider and an expert of horse breed for his long years of working in his father's ranch. He also has connection to the Rancher Guild of Daggerford through his father.

[4]He met and made a lot of friends during this pilgrimage, including fellow Lathanderite priests and paladins as well as clergy and paladin from the Triadic church. He has connections in Cormyr, the Dalelands, Tantras and Westgate.

[5]As many as the friends he made along his journey, he also made a lot of enemies, particularly those who oppose the Lathanderite and Triadic churches, when he was serving the church, fighting against evil and crime. Most notably was the Night Masks, based in Westgate. He combated this criminal organization numerous times and thwarted many of its plans. The master of this criminal guild still holds a grudge to him after he left for Baldur's Gate.

For a more detailed back story, see my bio.