Why should I care?
I was talking with a potential player recently, and they said something that struck a chord with me: "I struggle to play TTRPGs because I don't know why I should care about my character". On its surface, this seems like a valid concern. Why should we care about any given character or world (especially in games where character creation is randomized)? Without some backstory or lore, what draws us in?
Here lies the problem: the excitement comes from play! TTRPGs aren't like other media, it is the act of playing the game that gives characters life. So, how can you become invested before you play? This creates a Catch-22, where players start out uninterested and are therefore unable to ever become interested.
The answer, and my advice to players, is to care before you have reason to. Practice radical caring! If I am handed a completely randomized character, I will look for something that makes me excited to play them. Maybe it is a checkered past or a distinctive look. Maybe I have a particular skill or item that I can tie to my identity. If this approach is foreign to you, work with your GM to create a little spark of interest that ties into the game world. Once your journey commences, you will be surprised by how invested you will become. Player investment is not solely the GM's responsibility! Everyone at the table will have a good time if they start the game with the understanding that they are already interested and excited to play. After all, we are all playing to have fun, right? Start by having fun and see what happens!
For the GMs reading this, and I know you are, remember that it isn't solely your responsibility for your players to have fun. The best games will happen when everyone is invested in the collaborative storytelling at the table. If you must take some actionable advice from this, it is to leave plenty of openings in the world, implicit or explicit, for players to add something that hooks them in. Some GMs ask players to answer questions about their backstory before they start, others just say 'yes' to whatever their players come up with. Having players draw their character is a surprisingly useful tool for engagement. Find the approach that works best for you.
This post was written for Prismatic Wasteland's Player Advice Blogwagon.