Quote Originally Posted by kgauck View Post
Sometimes players come to the table with character concepts that just don't make sense in BR or in some part of the setting where you are starting things off. I agree that sometimes its better to allow a player to play what they want than to insist on their playing what you want. Usually some compromise in backstory, or class powers is possible.

3x has marketing influencing rules. One of those rules is "hey here's 50 classes and races, pick whatever you want" as a scheme to get you to buy more class books. People tend to sit around thinking up character ideas long before a game presents itself. As a result they "force" the character to fit the story.

Several years ago was the best example of this. Right when 3.0 launched I had a friend of a friend that begged to play birthright, and just wouldn't take no for an answer about playing a monk. Finally I got sick of arguing and let the players vote, they didn't like the idea but allowed it just to get the game started. By the end of the first session the character was soooo out of place everyone wanted him dead.

I feel that I may be alone in my view of this in the 3X world but I believe if you are faithful to the vision of the DM you will forge a story that both you and the DM can be very very happy with with that in mind:

Listen to what his setting is about before making a character. Sure the game is about players having fun, but it's also about showing a DM's vision respect. You can't do that by having a character made without at least considering the story. If that cool character you made up 3 months ago won't fit, don't force it, there will be another D&D game eventually.

Lots of people won't even give my Birthright games a chance because I don't allow every class and race (it's very restrictive even for birthright) but I keep asking myself did I really want the player insisting on playing a dragon in my game anyway?