Common Mistakes

Avoid these common pitfalls that new Yggdrasil players often encounter.

Character Creation Mistakes

Over-Specializing Too Early

Mistake: Putting all points into one area Problem: Character becomes one-dimensional Solution: Spread points across multiple relevant areas

Example: Don't put all 25 skill points into Occult. Your mage still needs Athletics to run away and Empathy to interact with people.

Ignoring Defense and Health

Mistake: Focusing only on offense Problem: Character dies quickly in combat Solution: Consider Stamina, Athletics, and armor

Taking Too Many Abilities

Mistake: Spreading ability XP too thin Problem: All abilities are weak and expensive to use Solution: Focus on 1-2 ability types initially

Forgetting Equipment

Mistake: Not considering what gear your character has Problem: Unprepared for basic situations Solution: Think about your character's lifestyle and profession

Gameplay Mistakes

Rolling Before Describing

Mistake: "I roll Persuasion!" without saying what you do Problem: GM can't set appropriate difficulty or consequences Solution: Always describe your action first, then roll

Trying to "Win" Conversations

Mistake: Treating social encounters like combat Problem: Reduces roleplay to dice rolls Solution: Focus on understanding what characters want

Hoarding Resources

Mistake: Never spending Willpower or mana Problem: Resources exist to be used for dramatic moments Solution: Spend resources on important rolls

Playing Lone Wolf

Mistake: Not cooperating with other player characters Problem: Reduces group cohesion and fun Solution: Look for ways to support and interact with others

Combat Mistakes

Forgetting Defense Options

Mistake: Always choosing to attack Problem: Taking unnecessary damage Solution: Sometimes Dodge or Full Defense is better

Not Using Cover

Mistake: Standing in the open during firefights Problem: Taking maximum damage from ranged attacks Solution: Describe using environment for protection

Ignoring Initiative Order

Mistake: Acting out of turn or trying to coordinate complex plans Problem: Slows down combat flow Solution: Plan your turn while others act

Attacking Down Players

Mistake: Continuing to attack unconscious opponents Problem: Creates player resentment and feels unsporting Solution: Move to new threats unless character would really do this

Magic Mistakes

Casting Spells for Everything

Mistake: Using magic for mundane tasks Problem: Wastes mana and trivializes non-magical characters Solution: Save magic for important moments

Not Understanding Ability Costs

Mistake: Not tracking mana expenditure Problem: Running out of resources mid-scene Solution: Plan your ability use throughout the session

Overcomplicating Spell Effects

Mistake: Trying to create complex, multi-part effects Problem: Higher difficulty, more ways to fail Solution: Start simple, build complexity as you gain experience

Forgetting Spell Duration

Mistake: Assuming magic effects last indefinitely Problem: Abilities wearing off at crucial moments Solution: Track duration and refresh important effects

Treating NPCs Like Video Game Characters

Mistake: Expecting NPCs to have simple, mechanical reactions Problem: Reduces rich social interactions to button-pressing Solution: Think about NPC motivations and relationships

Arguing Rules Mid-Scene

Mistake: Stopping roleplay to debate mechanics Problem: Kills dramatic momentum Solution: Accept GM ruling, discuss later if needed

Not Failing Forward

Mistake: Letting failed rolls stop the story Problem: Progress grinds to a halt Solution: Failed rolls should complicate things, not prevent them

Ignoring Consequences

Mistake: Not considering how actions affect relationships Problem: Actions feel meaningless Solution: Think about how NPCs will remember your behavior

Roleplaying Mistakes

Playing Your Character Sheet

Mistake: Only doing things your character is mechanically good at Problem: Reduces character to statistics Solution: Sometimes act according to personality instead of optimal strategy

Avoiding Your Character's Flaws

Mistake: Never engaging with Vice or negative traits Problem: Character has no growth or interesting struggles Solution: Let your flaws create problems - it's more fun!

Not Giving Others Spotlight Time

Mistake: Dominating every scene Problem: Other players feel left out Solution: Look for opportunities to highlight other characters

Playing Someone You Wouldn't Like

Mistake: Creating characters who are unpleasant to be around Problem: Other players avoid interacting with you Solution: Flawed characters can still be likeable and cooperative

Learning Mistakes

Trying to Master Everything at Once

Mistake: Attempting to learn all rules immediately Problem: Information overload, analysis paralysis Solution: Learn basics first, add complexity gradually

Not Asking Questions

Mistake: Suffering in silence when confused Problem: Missing out on fun and making wrong assumptions Solution: GMs and experienced players want to help!

Comparing to Other RPGs

Mistake: Expecting Yggdrasil to work like D&D/other systems Problem: Fighting the system instead of learning it Solution: Approach with fresh perspective

Taking Criticism Personally

Mistake: Getting defensive about character or play style Problem: Prevents learning and improvement Solution: View feedback as help, not attack

Quick Reference: Better Approaches

Instead of...	Try...
"I roll Persuasion"	"I explain why helping us benefits them"
"I attack every round"	"I move to cover and assess threats"
"I solve this with magic"	"What would my character actually do?"
"My character wouldn't fail"	"How does this failure create drama?"
"That's not realistic"	"How can we make this story awesome?"

When You Make Mistakes

Remember: Everyone makes mistakes when learning!

Don't get discouraged: Mistakes are part of learning
Ask for help: Your group wants you to succeed
Learn gradually: You don't need to be perfect immediately
Focus on fun: Rules serve the story, not vice versa

Next Steps

Practice: Apply these lessons in your next session
Review: Check other Getting Started guides
Connect: Join the Community for ongoing support