by Marius on
Random D&D Warm-up Question
Get PC backstory and world-building details before each session
Warm-up questions before a D&D session help everyone get into character, and they are opportunities for collaborative world-building and character-backstory-building!
Characters talk more with each other in Dungeons & Dragons than the players do. We get together maybe once every week to talk about our characters. But in most cases, the characters are around each other more or less constantly. They share many moments of small talk which we do not play through as players. To reveal backstory details that might have come up for the characters in small talk, ask players a warm-up question .
As a DM, we can take notes as players answer the question. The backstory details of the warm-up questions can become inspiration for roleplaying situations. Other answers might give us details about the fictional world which we can build into the game.
d100 D&D Warm-up Questions
- What would your character say to the party with their dying breath?
- What is the best meal your character has ever eaten?
- What is the best gift your character has ever received?
- What is your character’s retirement plan?
- With which school of magic does your character most identify?
- What is your character’s favorite thing about adventuring?
- For what would your character sell their soul?
- What did your character last dream about?
- When is the last time your character failed?
- What does your character do on their day off?
- How would the other party members describe your character?
- Describe one of your character’s childhood friends.
- If your character was an animal, which one would they be?
- Where was your character educated? If they didn’t have a formal education, how were they taught?
- What is one secret the rest of the party doesn’t know about your character?
- When was the last time your character said, “I love you,” if ever?
- What is your character’s catch phrase?
- What is one thing your character admires about someone else in the party?
- How does your character relax after a hard day’s work?
- Describe your character’s personal hell.
- What’s one thing that always makes your character smile?
- What is one way that someone can earn your character’s trust?
- What is something your character does every morning?
- What does your character look like when they get angry?
- If your character were to start a business, what would it be? What would make it special?
- Describe your character’s perfect afternoon.
- Who does your character look up to?
- What’s the most valuable thing your character has lost? When did they lose it?
- What place would you want to visit again? Why?
- Describe your favorite childhood toy.
- What is/was your relationship with your parents like?
- What’s the weirdest thing you have done while drunk?
- What memory keeps you awake at night?
- What place have you only heard of and would like to visit?
- What one thing do you really want but can’t afford?
- Describe a moment when you felt triumphant.
- Describe a moment when you felt bewildered.
- What’s something that gets under your skin?
- What’s something that reminds you of home?
- When was a moment when you felt safe?
- When was a moment when you felt truly afraid?
- What makes you feel like a member of the team?
- Describe a time that someone did something altruistic for you.
- What is one food that you simply will not eat?
- What’s something that makes you feel alive?
- What are some of your short term/long term goals?
- How do you feel about [an NPC the party met]?
- What’s something that grosses you out?
- What’s something that has sentimental value to you?
- Who’s’ somebody that looks up to you?
- Describe your favorite festival/holiday? Why?
- What’s something you do to unwind? Why does that relax you?
- Describe a vice you have. Is it a secret?
- If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
- If you were granted a wish, what would you ask for?
- Do you have a birthmark? What does it look like?
- How important is the approval of others to you?
- Using only four words, how would you describe your outlook on life?
- When was the last time you cried? What happened?
- What do you consider to be an overrated virtue?
- What is the most offensive thing you have ever said?
- What is the worst thing you have done to someone you loved?
- When did you last break a promise?
- What is your favorite vegetable?
- What event can you not forget?
- What do you not understand about society?
- What do you view as the ultimate sacrifice?
- What bores you?
- What would you want to be remembered for?
- What do you view as pitiful?
- What makes you respect others?
- What are you looking forward to at your next stop?
- What scares you about the direction you’re taking?
- What does your present circ*mstance remind you of?
- What disturbs you about your past actions?
- What did you always want to tell one of your companions?
- What is something you seek in a future journey?
- What friend do you miss?
- What location does your current location remind you of?
- What loved one do you miss?
- What was the most morally questionable choice you made?
- What villain do you remember?
- What location did you best enjoy?
- Where do you wish you were right now?
- Who did you leave behind?
- What villain is still out there?
- What happened with your last adventuring party?
- What is your fondest memory?
- What was your darkest moment?
- What was your favorite meal?
- Which other player character does your character find themselves having the most in common with?
- When they were a child, what did your character want to be, or think they were going to be, when they grew up?
- What kind of magic item would your character like to find? A weapon? Armor? A wand or staff?
- Describe your character’s current appearance: clothes, armor, scars they’ve picked up along the journey, etc.
- What advice would your character give to a younger version of themselves?
- Describe the campaign in one word.
- What would most people think when they first see your character?
- What is your character’s favorite spell? If they don’t use spells: what is their favorite personal weapon/combat maneuver/skill/etc.?
- What does your character hope for the afterlife?
- Where does your character feel the most at home?
Links & Resources
The 100 warm-up questions were picked from four sources:
- Justice Arman: “Weekly Roleplay Warm-up” – https://justicearman.com/2020/09/25/weekly-roleplay-warm-up/
- u/Onion27 on r/BehindTheTables: “d100 – Warmup questions” – https://www.reddit.com/r/BehindTheTables/comments/8es6vn/d100_warmup_questions/
- Mike Shea: “Campfire Story Prompts During Rests in D&D” – https://slyflourish.com/campfire_talk.html
- Dndspeak: “100 Warm Up Roleplaying Questions For Players” – https://www.dndspeak.com/2019/03/05/100-warm-up-roleplaying-questions-for-players/
