How do you create character flaws? /u/Brilliant-Anybody973 DnD: Roll for Initiative!

Hey everyone, I’ve been considering the question in the title. How do you create character flaws and actually roleplay them in game?

I’m about 32 sessions into a homebrew campaign with my friends and I feel that there’s been a lot of great conflict, but it’s hard to remember and play out a flaw throughout this. I think my mistake is not giving a flaw enough thought in character creation.

My character is a 19 year old Fire genasi named Alistar that was born as a sorcerer, and his father neglected him and his twin sister. His mother died upon the birth of the twins. Due to the neglect of my character’s father, he decided to get attention from his friend and formed a solid group of friends in school, thus becoming a popular kid. Eventually later in life, his father came back and pretended to apologize for his mistakes of neglect and abuse, which led Alistar’s sister to run away — distrusting her father’s words. Alistar was then left alone with his father, to do political campaign for him to become an advisor to the fire genasi king. Desiring a connection with his father for once, Alistar did as he was told, going to lengths of stealing and lying for his father. Eventually, Alistar’s father instructed Alistar to kill another advisor to the king, and open up a spot on the council. Nearly following through with the order, Alistar hesitated and resisted, resulting in him finding an artifact of great power in the home of the man he was set to assassinate. Stealing the artifact, Alistar ran from his father, fearing that this was the reason his father needed his assistance all along.

A bit longwinded and there’s more to the story, but this is the basic gist. If anyone is interested in helping me determine a strong flaw for my character I’d really appreciate that! I’d love to hear your own stories too!

Hey everyone, I’ve been considering the question in the title. How do you create character flaws and actually roleplay them in game?

I’m about 32 sessions into a homebrew campaign with my friends and I feel that there’s been a lot of great conflict, but it’s hard to remember and play out a flaw throughout this. I think my mistake is not giving a flaw enough thought in character creation.

My character is a 19 year old Fire genasi named Alistar that was born as a sorcerer, and his father neglected him and his twin sister. His mother died upon the birth of the twins. Due to the neglect of my character’s father, he decided to get attention from his friend and formed a solid group of friends in school, thus becoming a popular kid. Eventually later in life, his father came back and pretended to apologize for his mistakes of neglect and abuse, which led Alistar’s sister to run away — distrusting her father’s words. Alistar was then left alone with his father, to do political campaign for him to become an advisor to the fire genasi king. Desiring a connection with his father for once, Alistar did as he was told, going to lengths of stealing and lying for his father. Eventually, Alistar’s father instructed Alistar to kill another advisor to the king, and open up a spot on the council. Nearly following through with the order, Alistar hesitated and resisted, resulting in him finding an artifact of great power in the home of the man he was set to assassinate. Stealing the artifact, Alistar ran from his father, fearing that this was the reason his father needed his assistance all along.

A bit longwinded and there’s more to the story, but this is the basic gist. If anyone is interested in helping me determine a strong flaw for my character I’d really appreciate that! I’d love to hear your own stories too!