Intangible Rewards Are More Real

Recently I let one of my players go on a short side quest to acquire a furry companion. The puppy she rescued from its abusive owner means the world to her. Being very fond of animals in real life the player seemed to connect with the role playing aspect of the game a little bit more.

I've found playing on real world personality traits is a good way to get new gamers involved with more than just the rules aspect of the game. It's a big step for some people to jump into another persona and play the role. So you should not discourage new players mirroring their own personality in their first character.

I know that my player will cherish her new puppy more than she could ever love a Great sword +5. Below are the stats for her dog, Stargazer.

~James