Immersion and the creepy player

[TRP]

Players screw up all the time w/o meaning to do so. It's incomprehensible to me why a good player would intentionally make a bad move. It's a game not a Stanislavsky class.

[AxeMental]

Players screw up all the time w/o meaning to do so. It's incomprehensible to me why a good player would intentionally make a bad move. It's a game not a Stanislavsky class.

TRP seriously? One week you play a paladin, the next week you play a chaotic half orc fighter with a 6 wisdom and an 8 intelligence, the week after that you play a balls to the walls dwarf. Your supposed to play them differently, follow different tactics (some perhaps foolish at times) but also your own gut and personality (would you play Conan as a pussy). I'm not suggesting TPK the group screaming up ahead at a sleeping dragon, but whatever the player wants to do he can do. Anyhow, there's nothing stopping you from putting a muzzle on the loud mouth or threatening him "do that one more time and we string you up", right? Its more often then not the groups fault for not controlling things (perhaps out of not wanting to appear like jerks). But hey, thats part of the game.

I think its when players take it too far that things get annoying (especially if they kill a player for no good reason). Thats when playing with normal people (outside of gaming) comes in handy. A weirdo in real life is going to be a weirdo in game. Moral of the story, kick out the psychos.

[TRP]

Your supposed to play them differently, follow different tactics ...

Yes, but tactics should be based on class, level, alignment, race and gear (or even special circumstances as dictated by the DM, ie., charm, possession etc) to the best of your ability as a player. It's a punk move if half of the party gets wiped out, because some player decides his character must sneeze in the middle of casting a spell.

If you're not playing any game to the best of your skill as a player, then why are you playing a game instead of writing short stories, poetry and novels? I'm not in a game to be entertained by your ability to *immerse yourself* in your asthmatic, myopic CE half-orc assassin.

[AxeMental]

Your supposed to play them differently, follow different tactics ...

Yes, but tactics should be based on class, level, alignment, race and gear (or even special circumstances as dictated by the DM, ie., charm, possession etc) to the best of your ability as a player. It's a punk move if half of the party gets wiped out, because some player decides his character must sneeze in the middle of casting a spell.

If you're not playing any game to the best of your skill as a player, then why are you playing a game instead of writing short stories, poetry and novels? I'm not in a game to be entertained by your ability to *immerse yourself* in your asthmatic, myopic CE half-orc assassin.

I have no argument with any of that (you guys must have played with a level of jerk I've never encountered).

The idea of immersion in 1E terms is about "pretending your there" (on some level) thus, the second you intentionally put yourself (your PC) in real danger, your not playing properly, and messing up everyone else's experience. That would be no different then playing Monopoly and refusing to trade property even when its to your advantage, or playing RISK and not defending borders, or going all out against a random player ruining your own chances of winning. Your wasting everyones time.

My only point is, don't kill the flavor stuff (you want your barbarian acting like Conan 1 not Conan 2) but yeah, if its not game based eject there ass from the table.

Also good tactics are personal (and usually involve working as a team so you make it to the treasure). At some point though, a PC might run or loot while the party is battling it out (they are playing to personally succeed not for the entire group to). If you don't want that sort of thing to happen, you need to agree to it before play (but IMO your missing out on the randomness and excitement restricting behavior like this. Let evil be evil. Most players figure out that the party won't take them adventuring (or simply abandon or kill them) if they pull shit like this, so its rarely ever a problem. Kinda like you have the freedom to go 145 MPH in your car if you want to, but you pretty much keep it under 80 all the time, and have never gone to close to 100). I remember a few times in our online game when the shit went down and everyone scattered, the old "everyman for themselves" even the good guys. Good isn't stupid, and even in a paladin's case useless suicide isn't appropriate (so personal tactics can overcome group for the best).

[deathanddrek]

A bunch of local gamers have been talking about freeform/jeepform games.

(It's like we're no longer talking about the same hobby. Grumble grumble get off my lawn.)

From http://lizziestark.com/2012/09/17/jeepform-for-noobs/ -

Playing close to home also means making the story emotionally relevant for yourself by bringing your real life into the game. If I’m playing a relationship game and choose to riff off of that fight I had with my husband last week, that creates a very different play experience than playing on an issue that’s alien to me. Playing close to home can cause bleed, which is what happens when player and character emotions get mixed up. In the US, we often think of bleed as something to be avoided, but in many Nordic roleplaying games, it is encouraged and managed by the game formats. Playing for bleed can lead to insight about oneself and the world, and it creates intense emotions that some players crave.

[francisca]

A bunch of local gamers have been talking about freeform/jeepform games.

(It's like we're no longer talking about the same hobby. Grumble grumble get off my lawn.)

From http://lizziestark.com/2012/09/17/jeepform-for-noobs/ -

Playing close to home also means making the story emotionally relevant for yourself by bringing your real life into the game. If I’m playing a relationship game and choose to riff off of that fight I had with my husband last week, that creates a very different play experience than playing on an issue that’s alien to me. Playing close to home can cause bleed, which is what happens when player and character emotions get mixed up. In the US, we often think of bleed as something to be avoided, but in many Nordic roleplaying games, it is encouraged and managed by the game formats. Playing for bleed can lead to insight about oneself and the world, and it creates intense emotions that some players crave.

Uh....I play RPGs to hang out with my buddies, and set stuff on fire and break shit (in-game of course), not as some sort of psychotherapy. Fuck that noise.

[Chainsaw]

Argh! Shiver me timbers!

Uh....I play RPGs to hang out with my buddies, and set stuff on fire and break shit (in-game of course), not as some sort of psychotherapy. Fuck that noise.

Agreed.

[Matthew]

Yeah, that is really "role-playing" as something separate from "role-playing characters within an adventure game".

[Ska]

Hey Axe what about that time you showed up to play your female gnome illusionist/thief, Bandella Bombodella, and had on those weird curled toed shoes, a bathrobe, and some kind of home made fucked up hat? And what was with that weird high pitched voice whenever your character answered questions?

I mean what the fuck was that?

[Philotomy Jurament]

[Juju EyeBall]

Hey Axe what about that time you showed up to play your female gnome illusionist/thief, Bandella Bombodella, and had on those weird curled toed shoes, a bathrobe, and some kind of home made fucked up hat? And what was with that weird high pitched voice whenever your character answered questions?

I mean what the fuck was that?

I might have to sig this.

[AxeMental]

SKA I believe you must have slipped and hit your head this morning in the shower while grooving to your Pretty in Pink soundtrack. That memory your having is correct, but of your own PC, the female halfing Femboatta!

[francisca]

<backing away slowly>

[Falconer]

Oh, shit!

[AxeMental]

Damned good thing I'm DM right now SKA. I have a feeling your fighter cleric may be swallowed by a Gygaxian carnivorous whale in the conclusion of UK1. And don't whine to me about the abuse of DM power.