D&D General Styles of Roleplaying and Characters

[Lanefan]

It seems to me that sometimes, by control, you mean something like being free to declare actions for my PC (eg "in control of what my PC does, how they act". And I agree that getting temp hp doesn't affect that.

But I don't see how it doesn't affect what your PC thinks and feels. If nothing about your PC's mental state has changed, where do the temp hp come from?

In the case of Gandalf, divine blessing?

 

[Lanefan]

Do you extend this view beyond RPGing? Eg, and to pick up on @hawkeyefan's example from upthread, do you think that the character of Han Solo is "redefined", or handled inconsistently, in the original Star Wars movie (ie because he comes back without payment to save Luke and the Rebellion)?

Not at all. Han's player decided that Han had become smitten with Leia, and had Han act accordingly.

 

[pemerton]

Not at all. Han's player decided that Han had become smitten with Leia, and had Han act accordingly.

So why did he leave? Despite her expressly imploring him not to?

 

[pemerton]

In the case of Gandalf, divine blessing?

We are told that, when Gandalf took command of the defence of the city of Gondor, wherever he came men's hearts lifted again. That seems to me a change in those men's feelings.

 

[Hussar]

We are told that, when Gandalf took command of the defence of the city of Gondor, wherever he came men's hearts lifted again. That seems to me a change in those men's feelings.

But, that's maaaagic, so, it's okay. That's the point about the "divine blessing".

I've rapidly come to the realization that once again, this is all an issue of how the ideas are presented, rather than anything of substance. All WotC has to do is present these kinds of mechanics in the same way that they present Battlemaster Fighters or Mastermind Rogues (how exactly do I grant advantage with the Help action from 30 feet away? Or cause someone to target another target other than you?), or various feats or other bits and bobs through out the game that don't cause people to freak out about "MIND CONTROL".

So long as they write it the right way, it works. Heck, you can see it right here in this thread in how quickly people will defend mental mechanics so long as you don't actually call them mental mechanics.

 

[pemerton]

But, that's maaaagic, so, it's okay. That's the point about the "divine blessing".

So Gandalf couldn't have done that in an anti-magic field? I find the whole framing bizarre!

 

[Aldarc]

We are told that, when Gandalf took command of the defence of the city of Gondor, wherever he came men's hearts lifted again. That seems to me a change in those men's feelings.

...but MAGIC!

 

[Maxperson]

So why did he leave? Despite her expressly imploring him not to?

He was stubborn? He left and then changed his mind over Leia? It's not hard to come up with a very reasonable explanation.

 

[Maxperson]

We are told that, when Gandalf took command of the defence of the city of Gondor, wherever he came men's hearts lifted again. That seems to me a change in those men's feelings.

I don't think anyone is arguing that supernatural effects can't affect character thoughts and emotions.

 

[Bill Zebub]

(Note to self: when you want to drop out of a conversation, don't keep following that conversation, because you may just not be able to resist jumping back in.)

But, that's maaaagic, so, it's okay. That's the point about the "divine blessing".

Ok, so let me get this straight: your argument is demonstrated by a line from Lord of the Rings? That somehow LotR is actually a session log from a roleplaying game, and that all those residents of Gondor are actually Player Characters, not NPCs?

And you deliver this..."logic"...with mocking derision?

Really?