I like playing two characters. As long as I get to create them both, then I’ll play two characters any time the DM allows it. But playing two characters when one is yours and one belongs to someone else is a lot more difficult and generally not as much fun.
I’ve played in games where the DM gave players the option of playing one or two characters. Most of my friends choose to stick with one character, but not me; if I can play two characters, I will. Here are some of the pros and cons I’ve found over the years of playing two characters in the same campaign.
Pros
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Role-playing experience
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More action
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Coordinated play
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Backup
Playing two characters lets you try out more classes, races, powers and feats. New sourcebooks are coming out every month and the number of options is expanding exponentially (or at least it seems that way). It’s impossible to play every build in a real game setting, but playing two at once lets you sample the new stuff more quickly.
If I’m playing two characters I get to do more. Every round I get to act twice. More swipes with my sword, more spells, more fun.
The best part of playing two characters is that you control their actions and can work them as a unit. They can move to flank together and they can use their abilities to the maximum benefit. I recently played a Rogue and a Warlord – what a combination!
If one character falls below 0 hp or is knocked unconscious, you still have an active character in the campaign. This is also true if one of the characters is killed. There’s no immediate need to find a wandering adventurer in search of an adventuring party in the next room of the dungeon or at the local tavern.
Cons
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Too much responsibility
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Slowing down the game.
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Clones
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Favouritism
Playing two characters has definitely become more difficult in 4e. Characters in 4e have a slew of At-will, Encounter, Daily and Utility powers to choose from. And don’t forget that many magic items have their own Daily powers too. That’s a lot of choice. Now double it.
The mechanics of 4e are all about keeping the action moving. If you can’t keep up when you’re only playing one character, then forget about playing two. If your attempt to play two characters brings your game to a screeching halt then any benefits from playing two characters is lost.
If you’re playing two characters then they have to be unique. They should act and talk differently. They need separate and individual motivations. I’ve found giving them very different personalities helps a lot. But you don’t want to have them arguing all the time, because in the end it’s just you talking to yourself while the other players try to suppress the desire to punch you.
The down-fall of most two character adventures I’ve played in comes down to favouritism. You end up liking one character a lot more than the other. And suddenly you’re not playing two equal members in the party, but a master and servant. If it comes to this, then one of the two characters has to retire. The most obvious sign that this is happening is when one character lends or gives the other money or magic.
Conclusion
Playing two characters is certainly not for everyone. Most DMs I’ve played with won’t allow it, except when someone is absent. It can be a rewarding experience for a player to successfully juggle two distinct characters in the same adventure. But, it’s a lot more difficult then you might think, so don’t rush into it.
Have you played two characters in a long-term campaign? How did it work out? What sort of challenges did you run in to? Do you think it’s easier or harder to play two characters in 4e simultaneously?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
A good article . . . especially pertinent to my gaming group, since I let a player of your choice run your PC when you are unable to attend a game.
The Last Rogue’s last blog post..Sort of Like Heroes #4 – A Tough Question
Well, I haven’t yet had the pleasure of running two characters in 4E. But I have done so in earlier editions and have experienced both the pros and cons you mention. I think it has a lot to do with the type of game play. Playing two characters is fine in hack-n-slash, bug hunt, dungeon crawls. However, in story-based, heavy role-play type of campaigns, I think each player benefits more if he/she concentrates on only one character at a time. Otherwise, it is too easy to confuse individual personalities and motivations.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some experienced players can pull off the split personalities needed to run two characters at once. But if you’re rather new to the concept of role-playing games, I say stick with one character for now.
Rook’s last blog post..My Foray into 4E: Taking the “Role” out of roleplaying
@The Last Rogue
Our rule is that if you can’t play and we’re running your character as an NPC, he can’t die. This removes the burden of consequence from the guy doing double duty, especially if he’s not familiar with the second class.
@Rook
I agree. If it’s a combat heavy game then playing two characters can be a lot of fun. If it’s a skill/role-playing heavy campaign then Id discourage most people from playing two characters.