5 Random Tables to Avoid Boring 5E D&D Characters

Too many times I’ve begun a fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign with the phrase, “You meet in a tavern…” and given zero thought to what the player characters might be doing in the tavern in the first place. I never gave thought to why the druid who doesn’t drink would be in the tavern at all. Last night after our game of Ingest Quest 2, Nerditor Doug, Nerdarchist Ted and I had a conversation about gaming groups and how to make D&D characters more interesting.

Real characters lead to real fun RPG experiences

Don’t get me wrong — 5E D&D made fantastic strides into codifying more roleplaying into the game. Characters’ personality traits, ideals, bonds and flaws are a fantastic start. Sources like Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything have even introduced quirks, origins and more, all appearing on specific subclass and race tables.

Those tables are some of my absolute favorite aspects of new 5E D&D books. As we talked, we discussed several options for interesting points of characters’ personalities or other traits most players and Dungeon Masters don’t think of very often. I thought it would be fun to share several tables that might help you develop your own 5E D&D characters.

When I relax, I like to…

d12 — Hobbies

1. Hook up with a pretty face, or three.
2. Sample exotic/new food and drink.
3. Maintain my possessions, nothing can ever be too clean.
4. Voraciously read smut.
5. Swim and spend time in the water.
6. Visit local religious communities or sites of spiritual significance.
7. Peruse local shops, you can never have too much stuff.
8. Train with local experts and develop my craft.
9. Go dancing and enjoy raucous parties.
10. Spend time in contemplative solitude.
11. Enjoy the company of animals.
12. Explore, hunt and forage.

My most embarrassing moment was when…

d12 — Embarrassing Moment

1. Someone I didn’t expect walked in on me and my lover(s).
2. I was blackout drunk and made a fool of myself.
3. My body betrayed me with an ill-timed natural function.
4. I lost a competition in front of a large audience.
5. My hero was insulted by my fumbling words.
6. An ill-timed magical mishap shamed me publicly.
7. My rival revealed my deepest secret.
8. I had a slight wardrobe malfunction.
9. A bard turned me into the punchline of a now-famous joke.
10. I made a rookie mistake with dire consequences.
11. My former lover jilted me.
12. I reacted in haste, without context for the greater situation.

My favorite type of food is…

d6 — Food

1. Dessert! Life is too short to not be sweet.
2. Spicy food. Bring on the burn!
3. Bitter, which requires a sophisticated palate to appreciate.
4. Savory — the heartier, the better.
5. Salty, but that doesn’t necessarily describe my disposition.
6. Sour enough to make the toughest pucker.

The quickest way to earn my affection is to…

d6 — Gesture of Affection

1. Compliment me. It’s not flattery if it’s sincere.
2. Put in some effort for a task. Actions speak louder.
3. Show physical affection through a hug, a kiss or possibly more.
4. Give a gift, because it reminds me of the giver.
5. Spend quality time doing something we can mutually enjoy.
6. Remain near me. Proximity is most important, even without talking.

When things take a turn for the worse, I’m most likely to…

d12 — Reaction to Adversity

1. Try to talk my way out of it.
2. Turn tail and run away, even if I’m ashamed to admit it.
3. Stand and fight, because I don’t back down.
4. Freeze, mentally and physically.
5. Black out – I have no idea what happens from there.
6. Switch sides, even if it’s all a ruse.
7. Remain calm and act rationally.
8. Do something unexpected.
9. Abandon all hope.
10. Hide or seek shelter.
11. Scream.
12. Look for a quick fix.

What do you think of these tables?

We’ve got loads more products with roll tables and charts in the Nerdarchy store. If you’re looking for even more options of things ready to plug into your Dungeons and Dragons games, then look at Out of the Box.

If you liked these tables, give this post a like and a share then tell us about it in the comments, tweet @Nerdarchy or connect with us on Facebook!

*Featured image — Does your character enjoy games of skill and chance? Inside Taking Chances you’ll find new and different games for both characters and players to engage with, using their in-game skills and proficiencies for some and relying on the luck of the dice for others. Along with the games are establishments where characters can discover and play them. The largest of these, Union Salon, introduces several new tool kits and even more games giving characters a chance to use their tools in arena-style battles as well as to investigate a mystery. Check it out at Nerdarchy the Store here.

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