Post by writersblock on Sept 29, 2008 1:20:14 GMT -5
I am putting this in, even though it pains me to have to.
I am all about the role play in games. I am one of those GMs that has let people play over 15 hours of real time conversation and such with NPCs ...they were enjoying it and the players were enjoying it.
This leads me to Two Points I need to make in case you are thinking of joining the game.
First, I am all about character driven story. If the party the PCs start in an inn is so enjoyable people want to role play it and because of that we do not get to the planned encounter, I am fine with that and put off the encounter to next time.
If your character's like to behave certain ways, like in real life, word gets around. You become known as a flirt, bully, softie, whatever....
Keep in mind, this can be good and bad, and not everything that gets around is true. If your character is rumored to be sleeping with everything that moves, and also happens to be old friends with the washerwoman, and the washer is suddenly preggers with no man in her life, she might know its not your's but try and convince the other poeple convinced that your childhood friend, who is like a sister to you, is not just one more notch on your bed post.
If you earn a rep off doing impossible tasks and refusing any reward, one day they may stop offering the reward instead of risking offending you.
If you groom a reputation as a killing machine, don't be surprised when people keep their distance at an inn and the guard comes knocking any time someone it brutally slain...
I also follow the lead of the characters. If you are in the mood to go on a hunt, I try and guide it to a hunt. You wanna explore the city? I will oblige. Some times that will mean a night of mostly combat. Some times there will not be any battle at all.
On that note, I expect all effort to be made to play in character. Don't say "My character goes to the Inn". Tell me "I go to the inn." This goes for conversation too.
Second, in my games, no real life topic is barred from the game.
I am not going to go soft in order to remain PC or not risk offending. I will address brutal subject on occassion and sometimes my evil baddies do sick and demented stuff; to NPCs and PCs. My games are generally 'R rated'...I don't go overboard, and don't give details not needed to make the point (especially if the action is not seen by the PCs and is only viewed in terms of results). But be warned, I am not a "G Rated" games DM.
Related to that is, once again, I expect you to play in character. This is relevant because of this: I expect certain things to be role played most of the time. I am not a GM who does this:
DM: So what do you do.
Player: Bully the Thief needs info. I go down to the docks, flash the Thieves Cant and get the info so we know when the ship is due in.
DM: Ok, its due at midnight and the guard will be staying away.
Using the example above, I will, to a certain extent, get you to play chatting with your contacts. This goes for all NPC reactions of any significant nature. Of course this will be story and time permitting, but I use stuff like this to establish regular contacts, allies, and "population" in town. Going to the armor shop for repairs is a totally different experience when the PCs give a damn about which shop they go to and whether Rudy's mom got over her cold...she makes those biscuits everyone likes...
This is on you, the players as well. Sun Dunce once told me that, in our respective campaigns, we each pretty much populate the world...creating NPCs for each other's games. This is how it should be...I have characters that got a good deal once, go back often now, and because of that the shop keep is fleshed out, named, and known. That is how it will be in my game here if I get my way.
Now this also goes for interactions.
If you tell me your character tries to say something intimidating, I will take your roll into consideration. I may even help you word something in PM, but I will expect you to give me detail of what you try to do or say; what it is you actually DO to be intimidating.
If your character is trying to flirt with a girl at the bar, I will expect this to be roleplayed to some extent not "I roll Seduction. Got a 4, cool, she totally wants me..." Again, I take your roll into account, but I expect some effort being made to roleplay.
This leads to another thing.
Sometimes people want to roleplay events "off camera" (outside normal play). A private negotiation, secret meeting, romantic interlude, whatever. Be this something PMd so others in game do not hear, or something we do, solo, at another time.
I am willing to do this. I find it adds something to the character, and to involved NPCs, that simple recap is not going to cut. In this case, and this case only, I will play it as far as the individual player is interested in.
Yes, I have basically done soft core gaming...
What it comes down to is I expect you TRY. I understand your character with a Charisma 18 is gonna be a smoother talker than you....I will take that into consideration as the situation warrants. But try to get into character.
That is about it for now. More will follow as I have more to say.
Questions welcome.
I am all about the role play in games. I am one of those GMs that has let people play over 15 hours of real time conversation and such with NPCs ...they were enjoying it and the players were enjoying it.
This leads me to Two Points I need to make in case you are thinking of joining the game.
First, I am all about character driven story. If the party the PCs start in an inn is so enjoyable people want to role play it and because of that we do not get to the planned encounter, I am fine with that and put off the encounter to next time.
If your character's like to behave certain ways, like in real life, word gets around. You become known as a flirt, bully, softie, whatever....
Keep in mind, this can be good and bad, and not everything that gets around is true. If your character is rumored to be sleeping with everything that moves, and also happens to be old friends with the washerwoman, and the washer is suddenly preggers with no man in her life, she might know its not your's but try and convince the other poeple convinced that your childhood friend, who is like a sister to you, is not just one more notch on your bed post.
If you earn a rep off doing impossible tasks and refusing any reward, one day they may stop offering the reward instead of risking offending you.
If you groom a reputation as a killing machine, don't be surprised when people keep their distance at an inn and the guard comes knocking any time someone it brutally slain...
I also follow the lead of the characters. If you are in the mood to go on a hunt, I try and guide it to a hunt. You wanna explore the city? I will oblige. Some times that will mean a night of mostly combat. Some times there will not be any battle at all.
On that note, I expect all effort to be made to play in character. Don't say "My character goes to the Inn". Tell me "I go to the inn." This goes for conversation too.
Second, in my games, no real life topic is barred from the game.
I am not going to go soft in order to remain PC or not risk offending. I will address brutal subject on occassion and sometimes my evil baddies do sick and demented stuff; to NPCs and PCs. My games are generally 'R rated'...I don't go overboard, and don't give details not needed to make the point (especially if the action is not seen by the PCs and is only viewed in terms of results). But be warned, I am not a "G Rated" games DM.
Related to that is, once again, I expect you to play in character. This is relevant because of this: I expect certain things to be role played most of the time. I am not a GM who does this:
DM: So what do you do.
Player: Bully the Thief needs info. I go down to the docks, flash the Thieves Cant and get the info so we know when the ship is due in.
DM: Ok, its due at midnight and the guard will be staying away.
Using the example above, I will, to a certain extent, get you to play chatting with your contacts. This goes for all NPC reactions of any significant nature. Of course this will be story and time permitting, but I use stuff like this to establish regular contacts, allies, and "population" in town. Going to the armor shop for repairs is a totally different experience when the PCs give a damn about which shop they go to and whether Rudy's mom got over her cold...she makes those biscuits everyone likes...
This is on you, the players as well. Sun Dunce once told me that, in our respective campaigns, we each pretty much populate the world...creating NPCs for each other's games. This is how it should be...I have characters that got a good deal once, go back often now, and because of that the shop keep is fleshed out, named, and known. That is how it will be in my game here if I get my way.
Now this also goes for interactions.
If you tell me your character tries to say something intimidating, I will take your roll into consideration. I may even help you word something in PM, but I will expect you to give me detail of what you try to do or say; what it is you actually DO to be intimidating.
If your character is trying to flirt with a girl at the bar, I will expect this to be roleplayed to some extent not "I roll Seduction. Got a 4, cool, she totally wants me..." Again, I take your roll into account, but I expect some effort being made to roleplay.
This leads to another thing.
Sometimes people want to roleplay events "off camera" (outside normal play). A private negotiation, secret meeting, romantic interlude, whatever. Be this something PMd so others in game do not hear, or something we do, solo, at another time.
I am willing to do this. I find it adds something to the character, and to involved NPCs, that simple recap is not going to cut. In this case, and this case only, I will play it as far as the individual player is interested in.
Yes, I have basically done soft core gaming...
What it comes down to is I expect you TRY. I understand your character with a Charisma 18 is gonna be a smoother talker than you....I will take that into consideration as the situation warrants. But try to get into character.
That is about it for now. More will follow as I have more to say.
Questions welcome.