I like to start my sessions with a fun ‘get-to-know-you’ question for the player characters. These questions serve two goals. The first is just getting the players to start thinking like their characters. The second is to build some character details that you can use later in the campaign, or even later in that session. Using these small details throughout the campaign will strengthen the connection the players have with their characters, and with the story. For example, when my group of PCs made it back home from their longest journey so far I described the sunset using their favorite colors that they told me about a few sessions previously. One time I had a PC’s family send him a batch of his favorite cookies that his parents made growing up, and I knew what they were because I asked. Seriously, just ask your players questions about their characters once a session and you will gain plenty of useful information to use against them in the future.
A good source for questions is the video from Ginny Di titled ‘50 Character Builder Questions for Your Tabletop Character.’ There’s a link in the description that has a link to a list of all the questions if you don’t want to watch the video.
100 Questions to Start a TTRPG Session
- Are you a dog person or a cat person and why?
- Are you allergic to any foods?
- Are you a morning person or a night owl?
- Are you a picky eater or do you like to try new foods?
- Did you have a childhood pet?
- Do you have an insignificant memory that has stayed with you all these years?
- Do you want to settle down with a spouse and kids?
- Do you have any noticeable scars? If so, what are their stories?
- Do you have any unusual talents?
- Do you have a guilty pleasure?
- Do you have any nicknames or street names?
- Do you have any scars, tattoos, or birthmarks?
- Do you prefer camping outside of town, or staying at the inn?
- Do you have any unusual or nervous mannerisms, such as when talking, thinking, being afraid, under stress, or when embarrassed?
- Do you have a good luck charm?
- Do you have a favorite set of pajamas?
- Do you keep any houseplants?
- Do you cook meals or eat out?
- Do you keep a journal?
- Do you know how to swim?
- Do you have any phobias?
- Do you prefer hunting or fishing?
- Do you enjoy surprises?
- Have you ever broken the law and didn’t get caught, if so how?
- Have you ever been in love?
- Have you ever tended a garden?
- Have you kept any toys from childhood?
- Have you ever been fired or quit a job?
- Have you ever gone to a psychic?
- Have you ever let someone down?
- How do you like to spend your free time?
- How did you decorate your childhood bedroom?
- How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
- If you could go back and change one decision you made in the past, what would you change?
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- If you could retire with a big pile of gold, what would they do?
- If you could open a restaurant, what would it be like?
- If you were involved with a circus, what would they be doing?
- What is the best compliment that you’ve ever received?
- What is your favorite candy?
- What is your favorite color?
- What is your favorite holiday or celebration?
- What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
- What’s the worst play/street performance you ever saw?
- What was your first job?
- When was the last time you were in a place of worship?
- Who is the most important person in your life and why?
- What’s one place you’ve visited that you never want to return to?
- What’s one thing you’re determined to do before you die?
- Would you rather be hot or cold?
- What is your most favorite pair of shoes you’ve ever had?
- What was your greatest talent when you were younger?
- What was your dream job when you were younger?
- Would you change anything about your appearance?
- What was your favorite family tradition as a child?
- Who do you look up to?
- What temperature are you most comfortable at?
- Who was your best friend while growing up?
- What do you do better than anyone else?
- What’s one thing you would change about the person you love most in the world?
- Who do you wish was here with you now? How would they make things better?
- What did you dream about last night?
- What’s something you quit, that you now regret giving up on?
- What was the best party you ever went to?
- What do you do if you can’t sleep?
- What does your morning routine look like?
- What is your favorite dad joke?
- What’s the worst food you’ve ever had?
- Would your friends describe you as organized?
- What is your favorite season?
- What is your spirit animal?
- What is the biggest mistake your character has ever made?
- What is your theme song?
- Who would you trust the most with a secret?
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
- What is your most annoying habit?
- What is the one task you would absolutely refuse to do?
- What annoys you the most?
- What is your favorite art form?
- Would you rather be deaf or blind?
- Who trained you in your skilled areas?
- What do you do with your gear when sleeping?
- What is your favorite piece of furniture?
- When was the last time you went on vacation?
- What’s the best haircut you ever received?
- What is your favorite physical activity?
- What is the tallest tree you have ever climbed?
- What is your favorite weather?
- What’s the first thing you buy for a new home?
- What do you do when you get bored?
- What do you daydream about?
- What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
- What is the last present you gave somebody?
- What’s on your grocery list?
- What is the biggest lie your character has ever told?
- What one item do you save from a house fire?
- When was the last time you sang to someone?
- Would you rather have a housekeeper or a personal chef?
- What do you do to relax?
Note that this exercise can be used in most if not all tabletop games. Besides Dungeons & Dragons, I could see it being used in games like Pathfinder, Worlds Without Number, Blades in the Dark, Call of Cthulhu, Mörk Borg, Starfinder, Fiasco, Numenera, 13th Age, Fantasy Age, Old School Essentials, Shadow of the Demon Lord, or even Level Up Advanced 5e.
Are there any questions you think should be added to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
Good luck with your next session, I believe in you. See you in the future!
Related Posts
- Three-Point Planning, or How to Session Prep Like a Zelda Game
- The Best Supplement For Your Session Zero (for any game system)
- 10 Questions To Ask During A Session for PC Worldbuilding
My Favorite Posts
- d100 Magical Trinkets and Relics
- My #1 Tip For New Dungeon Masters
- Three Secret Questions for Combat Encounter Locations
Recent Posts
- Level Up Your Worldbuilding with These 3 Resources
- How I Run Initiative In Dungeons and Dragons 5e (and a free download!)
- d100 Fantastic TTRPGs and Where to Find Them
- Tactics for Engaging and Dynamic Combat Encounters
- Level Up Your Combat Encounters with These 3 Resources
Support the Blog
- Support me on Ko-fi! Ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration
- Save 10% on your order from Dice Legion with code INSPIRAT10N at checkout
- As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases https://amzn.to/4bg50tj
Points of Inspiration 