In the player community of Dungeons & Dragons there are various archetypes that players more or less consciously assign to their characters, even if it wasn’t intended. The character of MeinMMO editor Caro fits enough traits to crown her as the typical “Edgelord” of the group. However, she doesn’t want to be a killjoy, but rather shed the curse of this archetype.
Together with my D&D group, I am on my first, yet already two-year adventure in the north of Faerûn. Our group is a colorful mix of different personalities, each with their own talents but also quirks, just like my warlock Ozen (bonus points to those who know where the name comes from).
Alongside our barbarian, druid, and bard, she is what one might describe as the typical Edgelord character according to absolute warlock clichés: A rather ugly past plus a dark backstory, a connection to a – or now several – sinister entity/entities, and on top of that a lot of unhealthy fear that prevents her from casually talking about all of this.
Such characters are rather frowned upon in the Dungeons & Dragons community, and for good reason. A dark backstory full of helplessness and sorrow can lead a character to be more introverted, speak less, and reveal as little as possible about themselves, their past, and ambitions. And that offers everyone else at the table something very special, namely: nothing.
What Makes an Edgelord So Problematic?
A character, or rather their player, who acts so withdrawn – whether out of fear, excessive coolness, or dark intentions – brings no value to a shared group. Dungeons & Dragons is primarily one thing, namely a shared player experience, where a group tells a story together and experiences exciting moments.
Especially at the beginning of a campaign, where the characters do not yet know each other and thus do not want to share all the little details about themselves, this can still work well and even create tension. However, this tension quickly turns to boredom when a character constantly tries to appear mysterious in order not to reveal their dark, evil past. It prevents teamwork, shared experiences, and above all, what is simultaneously the salvation of this archetype: character development and depth.
It is not problematic to play a character with a bad past; it can even provide a strong narrative basis for the campaign. And therein lies the solution to foster character development. The problem is not the dark character, but the lack of substance: the person behind that dark mask.
How to Play a Dark Character Without Alienating Your Fellow Players
Those who love provocative and dark stories can definitely incorporate them with the consent of the dungeon master and the group. However, it is a shame if a dark story does not go beyond the shock factor and the potential arising from such a background remains unused.
Violence and cruelty without substance are boring and come off as “hollow.” But repressed vulnerability and softness behind them can lead to incredibly strong character moments.
To explain this, I want to take myself and my Ozen as an example, so you can learn from my mistakes and insights on how to play an Edgelord while still advancing the story. Yes, this might get embarrassing, but… aren’t we all a bit cringe?
Being Edgy is Okay – But Don’t Lose the Humanity Beneath
To give you a brief picture of what makes Ozen so edgy: She fled from a religious commune in her youth, where she was seen as a bad omen as the only tiefling among humans. Just before that, she was ritualistically bound to an entity, which she agreed to, in order to be somewhat useful to her “home.” She rarely talks about her youth, is often fearful, insecure, and rather quiet. And that made her, especially after the first sessions of the shared adventure with her group, really… difficult.
In Dungeons & Dragons, the story and the development of the characters are particularly important to me. And how should my character develop if she never comes out of her shell? The solution is – who would have guessed it – communication.
I have realized which moments were truly valuable without having to give up the Edgelord character:
- Allowing emotions: Due to a delicious meal prepared by the barbarian (with a Nat 20), it was so tasty that Ozen is almost brought to tears because she has never had such a meal in her entire life. It was funny, a bit tragic, and created a special moment between friends.
- Not hiding flaws but showing them: Stoic coolness is rarely perceived by others as being as cool as one envisions. Allowing flaws can lead to surprising moments that spark conversation. If this flaw is also connected to the past, it can be processed. Ozen cannot read or write quickly due to lack of education, yet she has the “Comprehend Languages” spell. The group has to patiently wait until she has dictated a message, and they become curious as to why it takes her so long. Boom – direct conversation starter.
- Empathy: Most characters have something in their past they are reluctant to talk about because it burdens them. Instead of isolating themselves, they can respond to the pain of others. And this doesn’t have to be limited to fellow players, but also NPCs. Perhaps a dangerous enemy should be taken down, who, however, has a similar past as oneself. One struggles with this or refuses. This can cause conflicts at first, but can also encourage more discussion about the reason. Ozen mourned one of the first more dangerous enemies because the two shared almost identical youth. When the group celebrated their victory over her, Ozen did not feel well about it. This led to a conversation and the first revelation that they were more alike than others thought.
- And – even if it doesn’t come from your Edgelord – humor: Humor is very bonding for the entire group, whether it’s the players themselves or the embodied characters. And even an Edgelord cannot escape this. Often, humor arises from coincidences. It is often even funnier when the normally stoic, mysterious character becomes a victim of these moments. When a usually quiet recluse is met with laughter, it can be absolutely healing.
We are already in the second year of our adventure and I am happy, despite the title of Edgelord, to play a character who has already undergone so much development because she engages with the group’s antics. And to be honest – that is much more rewarding than sitting silently in the corners of taverns for years.
The recluse (without depth) is considered one of the least popular character archetypes in Dungeons & Dragons, but it is not the only problematic type of player. In this list on MeinMMO, we have summarized for you which types of players quickly become unpopular at the table due to their behavior and should therefore be avoided: 5 types of characters you better shouldn’t play in Dungeons & Dragons
