Last night we had an odd session that involved a shopping encounter. It was very much needed and a great way for the GM to allow us to resupply without having to retrace our steps and restart. The merchants were goblin, fey goblins who seem to ply their trade with anyone they can get to sign a 600 page agreement. Since we still considered ourselves individuals and haven't conglomerated into single entity we each needed to chose to sign. Half the party did. Dante and my guy Adzeer chose not to, although I was tempted to.
When our party's thief started paying for things I discovered he'd been stashing money from the rest of us. Adzeer, knew a little of what was going on, but didn't say much at the time. Last night when he saw Luven shilling out more coin than he should have Adzeer threatened him. The typical measuring of members followed, "Luven, if you keep stealing from us I might forget which way my healing spells work." "Oh yeah, well maybe we'll be some place dark and you won't be able to cover your back all the time." It was a short exchange, but enough I think to make the others uncomfortable out of game. That was not my intent. Just some harsh RPing.
Even though there was nothing personal about it, I didn't like the way it came off. I will blame it on my inability to put the bad work day in my back pocket. How I wish it came off is with a bit of humor and without the threat. Next time.
I was thinking about when party members get on the opposite ends of a dispute. It happens. I kinda should happen. Most of the time it adds and interesting element to the party dynamic. Years ago I ran an adventure where everyone was the member of a thieves guild, they were to sneak into nobleman's home, but that's where their common cause ended. Each had a goal and they conflicted with the other thieves' goals. It was a lot of fun.
Last night I failed my good player roll. Next time a conflict comes up I hope to handle it better and more in line with the fun we are trying to have.
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Well as far as I am concerned what in-game stays in-game. However from my experience in tabletop and LARP I do understand the concern. Many people have issues separating in-game from out-of-game. For me, I just view it as all part of the wacky challenge that RPGs poses,
ReplyDeleteFor course typically for me I totally did not notice the whole emotional undercurrent.
I knew you had no problem with it Rob. I guess I would have had a more fun way of approaching the situation.
DeleteAlso just as an interesting aside my initial thought was "Mmm now this is an interesting side to Adzeer and the healing cleric in general."
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing.
DeleteNot sure why you think you failed your good player roll. If Adzeer knew then he would have said something. There have to be consequences. A thief that steals from either party members doesn't stay a member of the party for long, if he survives being caught. Fighters don't beat up their mates, thieves don't steal from them.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. I guess I wanted to do a better job or something more than just a threat.
DeleteAs the GM, I think the roleplaying was exceptional. Thumbs up to you and Rob.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken. After that happened there was a noticeably deflated energy so that's why I wrote the post.
DeleteIn my experience, there's frequently a lull after a bit of particularly good roleplay. It's more like people don't quite know how to follow that up than distress at anything that happened.
DeleteI agree. Your character has his own personality and a "good" priest should, at the least, condemn stealing, from party members, in the RPG world.
ReplyDeleteAnd the gods do withhold their blessings -- i.e. healing -- from those that they disapprove of. Your character acted correctly in all ways.
If other players have an out-of-game problem with that, then they are very much the ones with the problem. Not you. They need to mature and learn to separate the Game from real life.
Like I always says, there is no difference between Hollywood and Role Playing games. Except I have yet to meet a Player that could honestly win an Oscar . . . even though they are arrogant enough to think that then can.
John Wayne never thought he was really Chisum. Keep up your excellent role playing and let them "grow up" some more.
Everyone has the proverbial orifice and opinion, that's mine. The readers can decide which one it is. ;)
Ha, Adzeer I don't think would fall into the 'good' category. He worships a monster hunting god. Healing is given only to keep people around to kill more monsters.
DeleteAdzeer kind of has the Clint Eastwood Preacher vibe going.
DeleteAll the more reason for him to get upset about someone stealing from him! LOL
DeleteStill, if your fellow players want "in" on Hollywood and an Oscar, separate the game from real life.
Like Rob, I missed the emotional undercurrent, if it was in fact there at all. As a player I had no discomfort with the exchange whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteNow Dante -- as a guy who knows his life hinges on how well the party works as a team in a very, very hostile environment -- he's another story entirely. When he said "okay guys let's calm down" (or whatever it was he said), it was because he -- the character -- was uncomfortable with an increasingly tense intra-party dispute while surrounded by three goblins, a glyph and four ogres (gulp). So Dante's always going to be the guy that say "Hey guys, why don't you wait until we're topside again before you beat each others' brains out."
But, heck no, as a player, I thought you and Rob going at it was class A role playing. It's exactly the kind of thing I'd expect if Luven's stealing and Adzeer catches him at it. So I certainly wouldn't say you "failed your good player roll" at all. On the contrary, I thought it was entirely in character and very good play.
Ummm, isn't stealing from the party sort of an unofficial trait for the thief class.
ReplyDeleteWho cares. So long as the DM does not award XP for it.
Well, my character cares. I don't let fellow characters steal from "me" either. My "guy" always reacts badly to that.
DeleteOkay, As Duncan, the magic user thief that the party has given the role of "banker" (in a default manner--I take good notes) I think the exchange was perfect role playing. Due to open spending of ill gained items Luven (a little intel hampered) got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Our monster smoosher just made a statement, to which Luven responded. Both were well in character. Not only did the statements all fit, so did the end actions when Luven--sensing the hesitancy of his fellows--discovered he could turn a quick buck at out (mild) expense. I think I'm the last "other player" (besides the NPCs) and the sentiment seems unanimous--play on!
ReplyDelete