Own Your Character
While I am still but a lowly newbie DM, I have done a lot of research in how to be an effective DM and player. Watching and listening to podcasts by Chris Perkins and Penny Arcade as well as other play throughs by other bloggers, reading books and other DM blogs, and my extensive experience in fantasy from all the rpgs I've played all go into the adventure that I run and the world that I create.
So, I'd like to offer a tip in being a better player. Just like how effective DMs are enhanced by the amount of expression they give to their NPCs, players too can help a campaign by making their character more real. Role playing, fleshing out your character, little quirks, and a well thought out back story help not just the DM in how to treat your character, but also give your other party members something to play off of. If your character is a greedy person, and another character is altruistic towards villagers, there's going to be friction. If one character follows a divine path and another is secretly plotting the demise of the group, then you have that dramatic interplay between the two which can help other players and the DM role play.
Instead of simply thinking on how to improve your character's battle prowess, which feats or spells can min/max their abilities, consider instead a more flavorful option. What would my character do? Would they study this technique, or practice in this way?
Some people who have watched the Penny Arcade podcasts may think that truly roleplaying your character is a dangerous thing. In those podcasts Wil Wheaton's character Aeofel managed to meet his end by acting exactly as his character should have. But I'd argue that, it made it significantly more interesting.
Therefore, for more interesting games and sessions to all players of any role playing games, please own your character. If anything bad happens, your party or the DM can always find some way to revive you. And you can keep your character's valiant sacrifice as a powerful memory.
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