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How should a GM handle refused plots
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<blockquote data-quote="ccs" data-source="post: 7101001" data-attributes="member: 6803664"><p>But.... This is one of the ways to get to like your character. You give them a few interesting details & a reason why they've taken up the adventuring life. You don't have to write something the size of War & Peace, just a paragraph or two.</p><p></p><p>And in my games doing this during pc creation will save you/the rest of us some time & prevent a # of (often nasty) surprises.</p><p>Sure, you can make PC - with - no - background. And that'll fly for a few sessions. Though during that time I, the DM, WILL be gently pressing you for some details. You don't have to tell the other players. And you certainly don't have to tell their characters.... But you DO have to tell ME. Because I'm playing the world, the gods, the fates, etc etc etc & your character exists in my domain. You don't get to have secrets from the DM.</p><p>If you refuse to supply info then 1 of 2 things happens:</p><p>1) Your character is removed from the game. I don't like this option. There's no creativity involved.</p><p>2) Details will be supplied for you. These will almost always impact the whole party & often as negative plot twists, complications, etc.</p><p>Ex: A few years ago in a PF campaign one of the guys rolled up a bard as a replacement PC. He gave him a name, described him as wearing a black leather costume like Gene Simmons of KISS, & equipped the character with studded leather armor and a rapier.</p><p>That's it, that's all. No backstory at all, didn't bother spending any of the 30k worth of his allowed WBL. Was completely vague about why he was where he was when he joined the party. Several sessions pass with me asking him questions. No info forthcoming. OK....</p><p>So the next major town they roll into? They get jumped by his 4 former band mates - who are not at all happy with "Gene" as apparently he made off with 30k. And they want it back. </p><p>The party legitimately gets their arses kicked by 4 BARDS.</p><p>They awake up robbed & having been sold to work as slaves on the oar crew aboard a galley. They are also well out at sea.</p><p>The other players lost alot of nice loot & being abducted like this screwed up more than a few of thier plans. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p>And though everyone did have fun playing the adventures to come, that bard player is never allowed to forget that everything past a certain point was HIS fault.</p><p>Now the group polices each other & makes sure everyone has some sort of backstory.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> They'd like to have some say....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ccs, post: 7101001, member: 6803664"] But.... This is one of the ways to get to like your character. You give them a few interesting details & a reason why they've taken up the adventuring life. You don't have to write something the size of War & Peace, just a paragraph or two. And in my games doing this during pc creation will save you/the rest of us some time & prevent a # of (often nasty) surprises. Sure, you can make PC - with - no - background. And that'll fly for a few sessions. Though during that time I, the DM, WILL be gently pressing you for some details. You don't have to tell the other players. And you certainly don't have to tell their characters.... But you DO have to tell ME. Because I'm playing the world, the gods, the fates, etc etc etc & your character exists in my domain. You don't get to have secrets from the DM. If you refuse to supply info then 1 of 2 things happens: 1) Your character is removed from the game. I don't like this option. There's no creativity involved. 2) Details will be supplied for you. These will almost always impact the whole party & often as negative plot twists, complications, etc. Ex: A few years ago in a PF campaign one of the guys rolled up a bard as a replacement PC. He gave him a name, described him as wearing a black leather costume like Gene Simmons of KISS, & equipped the character with studded leather armor and a rapier. That's it, that's all. No backstory at all, didn't bother spending any of the 30k worth of his allowed WBL. Was completely vague about why he was where he was when he joined the party. Several sessions pass with me asking him questions. No info forthcoming. OK.... So the next major town they roll into? They get jumped by his 4 former band mates - who are not at all happy with "Gene" as apparently he made off with 30k. And they want it back. The party legitimately gets their arses kicked by 4 BARDS. They awake up robbed & having been sold to work as slaves on the oar crew aboard a galley. They are also well out at sea. The other players lost alot of nice loot & being abducted like this screwed up more than a few of thier plans. :) And though everyone did have fun playing the adventures to come, that bard player is never allowed to forget that everything past a certain point was HIS fault. Now the group polices each other & makes sure everyone has some sort of backstory.:) They'd like to have some say.... [/QUOTE]
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