Four Tasks

In the current work game, I asked each player to provide a picture of their character. Once said picture was provided, the PC gained 100 XP, which went a long way towards advancing the character from 1st to 2nd level. Of course, this being the first game for most of the players, that was about as far as I wanted to push things - the characters are very much playing pieces at this point.

For the next work game, I'm hoping to delve a little bit more into role-playing aspects of the game, and especially group dynamics. As such, I have four tasks for the players. Each is worth 75 XP, but only when completed in order - if a player completes task #4 first they don't get the XP until they're all done!

1. Provide a picture for your PC.
   
2. Provide a little information about your PC. Specifically, one fact about his past, present, and future. (For instance, "I fell out with my brother ten years ago and we haven't spoken since. I always wear at least one blue item of clothing. I hope one day to return home with pockets full of gold.")
   
3. Your character is not a native to Icewind Dale, and the Dale is a fairly harsh and unforgiving realm. While it's obvious why your character has come to Icewind Dale, what is it that makes him stay?
   
4. Why do you adventure with this group of adventurers? What is it about them that you would trust them with your life?

As the last question notes, the party will be adventuring together, hopefully for the fairly long-term. However, as we've seen from the Avengers films, from Firefly, and from various other examples, it's generally most fun if the party are only mostly united - although they have common goals they also have competing agendas, different methods, and so forth. As such, I'll be encouraging the PCs not to be too harmonious. Which makes that last question crucial - without that answer, there's the risk of Civil War... which is fine as the climax of a campaign, but probably not right at the outset!

(Of course, the other thing that the group should work on, although not necessarily right away, is the origin story - how did this group get together. As seen in "Firefly", though, that doesn't necessarily need answered right away. Indeed, as seen in the original "Star Trek" series, it's even something that doesn't ever need to be fully answered.)