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How far is too far when describing what a PC senses and feels?
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<blockquote data-quote="Guest 6801328" data-source="post: 7598530"><p>Actually, I'd like to expand on that last post.</p><p></p><p>There's an approach to roleplaying...and I think this falls under the "what would character X do?" line of thinking, that goes: </p><p> - This character experienced something in the past.</p><p> - This new experience would trigger those memories</p><p> - Therefore the character would have such-and-such emotional reaction now.</p><p></p><p>That's all fine and good, and totally valid, but it's not really my preferred approach to roleplaying.</p><p></p><p>What interests me more is (and maybe this is called "director" or "author" stance...I've never been totally clear on those distinctions and what they are supposed to mean) is the following:</p><p> - The DM describes something happening</p><p> - The player thinks that it would be cool/interesting/fun if his character had a certain reaction to it. </p><p> - The player invents, on the spot, a detail from his background...and maybe even some details about the game world...that would explain that reaction.</p><p></p><p>As far as the reaction the player chooses goes, maybe it corresponds to how he has been portraying this character so far. Or maybe this is a new facet of the character. Or maybe it's even a change from previous portrayals; evolution of the character, as it were. I guess I would hope/prefer that it's not totally arbitrary...that there's some character concept the player is sticking to. But I know when I start a new character I don't have the whole personality sorted out, and I "discover" the personality along the way. Or sometimes I think I know who this character is, and for whatever reasons I just find myself playing him/her differently. I think it's more fun to explore those things. And I think it's a lot more fun when other people surprise me with their character, instead of just doing things that I could predict.</p><p></p><p>So, going back to the question of the thread, I really don't want the DM telling me what my character thinks and feels, how my character interprets what he experiences. Deciding those things for myself, hopefully to the surprise and delight of my tablemates, is a big part of the fun.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Guest 6801328, post: 7598530"] Actually, I'd like to expand on that last post. There's an approach to roleplaying...and I think this falls under the "what would character X do?" line of thinking, that goes: - This character experienced something in the past. - This new experience would trigger those memories - Therefore the character would have such-and-such emotional reaction now. That's all fine and good, and totally valid, but it's not really my preferred approach to roleplaying. What interests me more is (and maybe this is called "director" or "author" stance...I've never been totally clear on those distinctions and what they are supposed to mean) is the following: - The DM describes something happening - The player thinks that it would be cool/interesting/fun if his character had a certain reaction to it. - The player invents, on the spot, a detail from his background...and maybe even some details about the game world...that would explain that reaction. As far as the reaction the player chooses goes, maybe it corresponds to how he has been portraying this character so far. Or maybe this is a new facet of the character. Or maybe it's even a change from previous portrayals; evolution of the character, as it were. I guess I would hope/prefer that it's not totally arbitrary...that there's some character concept the player is sticking to. But I know when I start a new character I don't have the whole personality sorted out, and I "discover" the personality along the way. Or sometimes I think I know who this character is, and for whatever reasons I just find myself playing him/her differently. I think it's more fun to explore those things. And I think it's a lot more fun when other people surprise me with their character, instead of just doing things that I could predict. So, going back to the question of the thread, I really don't want the DM telling me what my character thinks and feels, how my character interprets what he experiences. Deciding those things for myself, hopefully to the surprise and delight of my tablemates, is a big part of the fun. [/QUOTE]
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How far is too far when describing what a PC senses and feels?
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