20 Characters Flaws To Try On Your Next DnD Character
Character flaws are among the most crucial story tools for any character, whether it's the Player or DM playing the character. Character flaws let us create more conflict in our games, but flaws make a path for a character to overcome them in the long run, creating memorable stories.
Roleplaying characters with Flaws
Whenever you're creating a character with some flaws or not, first think about other players and DM whether the character flaw provides more fun opportunities to the table or frustrates others because of its incompatible nature with this type of game. An excellent example of a lousy flaw would be "Greedy," a trait that's quite destructive since it prioritizes individual player's needs rather than group needs.
Flaws are not positives. If you don't calibrate with the players at your table, that might lead to a hated character(And not only the character in most cases). Poor execution of flaws might lead to some of the players having frustrations with your character if you fail to consider other player's fun. Still, considering other players' fun at a table is a better skill than any interesting character flaw.
Overcoming flaws
One of the most critical aspects of flaws in DnD or stories, in general, is that a character might potentially overcome them. And I see many times players and DM's don't think a lot about them or even forget them. Not seeing the flaws as an important aspect of a character leads a person roleplaying a character just having a one-dimensional character or having a character with the same personality as the person playing it. This is okay if you are just starting playing D&D, but let's push the boundary a bit and become better D&D players and DM's that create more fun and exciting stories at our tables.
20 Characters Flaws To Try On Your Next Character
1. Fearful - If you're playing another heroic figure that is all about dungeon door smashing and saving the princess, it's great, but real heroes must overcome something. Fears are one of the most potent instruments to make the story interesting. The only thing that we must fear is not putting fears into our characters. Take Indiana Jones, for example. He hates/fears snakes as heck, still goes into ruins despite that, creating comedic moments in the process.
2. Incompetence - Incompetence is an outstanding flaw for a character, just because it stirs up some chaos into the campaigns because failed rolls might create not only funny moments but also dramatic moments. And depending on an incompetent character in a time of need is a tremendous opportunity for great story moments.
3. Rebellious - Rebellious and Rogish characters are loveable by all. This trait is excellent to roleplay in your party since this trait creates tremendous opportunities to deviate from the DM structure due to the character's beliefs and ideals in a fun way.
4. Vanity - This trait is basically bards. However, exploring vanity's themes is an excellent trait since it provides a significant character development opportunity to care about somebody other than your character in the story.
5. Cowardice - Nobody likes a coward. But overcoming cowardice is a significant flaw to have since sometimes it just can make the encounters a bit more challenging, and in the process, create even more conflict. Not only this is a great supporting character flaw that might inspire others to change the coward into something better.
6. Compulsive Liar - This trait, in my opinion, is way better than some of the characteristics like being "secretive" or "manipulative." These two traits might be roleplayed in a more passive way, where coming up with new lies are a great character development tool. Think of Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad as an example.
7. Vengeful - Being Vengeful could be an interesting character trait to have since this provides an opportunity to find some of the wrongdoings that might seem small to others but show to other players and DM what this character values for its ideals and create conflict. Think Gladiator as an example to draw inspiration from.
8. Messy - Being messy is a trait that could provide some additional challenge when trying to sneak your way through a stealth situation or just being messy in the way of thinking trying to get your character ideas across in a chaotic and convoluted way.
9. Lazy - Being lazy might be a bit whiny trait for a character to have, but simply a bard that will not do any physical labor could provide more roleplaying opportunities for others to interact with these lazy tendencies and provide more challenge to the party in the process.
10. Prejudice - This is an outstanding character flaw that might be more useful for DMs to infuriate some of the players with some illogical characters, especially religious/inquisition types that might have their truths about somebody is inherently wrong. And for players, it's a great story of overcoming it and making the character understand other's points of view. Take a war-like orc that doesn't understand kindness or an elitist elf that doesn't understand lower classes, yet they find something more than their own beliefs over the journey.
11. Gullible - One of the better flaws to have for any character is a flaw that lets the DM take advantage of the character to create either more conflict at the table. A gullible cleric, righteous, might even follow an evil entity without knowing. Or a proud nobleman might not be street smart at all, falling for every parlor trick made on him.
12. Obsessed - This is an excellent trait for any character, a bounty or artifact hunter, annoying cleric worshiping a deity, or merely an artificer being enthusiastic about small magical details creating more roleplaying opportunities for others at the table to interact with.
13. Spoiled - There is nothing more hated than a spoiled brat. But nothing is more fun to see the brat's wishes refused in any circumstance. This character flaw is also great since it could build other characters at the table to teach the brat some of the values that the party members value.
14. Dependent - Being dependent on something is a great character trait for players to tie some of the players together in an exciting way. Whatever happens to the entity the character is dependent on will impact the character in some meaningful way creating great stories on the way.
15. Overconfidence - This is an excellent chaotic element that might create ridiculous and risky moments for the character, but maybe having some defeats might change the character to a more cautious one or even more braggadocious character in the process.
16. Pacifist - Being a pacifist might suit a specific person to play this type of character, yet this flaw can make some great moments where the character must fight between principles and threats surrounding him and others. Either way, this flaw is not passive, constantly providing moral dilemmas for the character.
17. Superstitious - I love this flaw. It has a mixture of fear and a bit of plain ignorance. A dwarf might avoid crossing a bridge that might bring him misfortune at night, or some other ridiculous reason might provide an extra effort in simple tasks and comedic moments for the party to overcome. Maybe you need to carry or throw a dwarf over a bridge.
18. Awkward - This is a significant flaw in trying out, especially if you think you're a social butterfly.
19. Prideful - This is a great character trait for players to stand for their beliefs in a manner where others NPC's or Players alike will question these beliefs, provide counter-arguments to the character beliefs and test them. Prideful ones don't really like being wrong, which will test the party's opinions as well.
20. Skeptical - This is a great trait to create conflict in the game. It could be a bit destructive when overdone. But this a great character trait for others to explain their character motivations and intentions.
Character flaws are spicy, don't overdo it
Whichever trait you might implement in your character, please don't overdo it. If you depend only on one character trait for too long without character development, the character has a chance of becoming a one-dimensional entity. So always don't afraid to add more flaws or even transform them into virtues in the long run to making a character unique and more fun for your party.
If you enjoyed this content and want to see more of Dungeon Goblin's content, consider supporting us on Patreon. Thank you for reading and watching!
