The "I Didn't Comment in Another Thread" Thread

[CleverNickName]

The problem with every discussion of player agency--every. single. one.--is that people cannot or will not agree on what, exactly, player agency is. Also, every one wants to be the correctest, so they'll argue ad infinitum (or at least ad nauseum) trying to ... I dunno, convince the people who agree with them?

 

[prabe]

And ejecting from conversations that turn into discussions of player agency is probably the best thing. I didn't intend for an analysis of why those discussions are bad to be so ... unpleasant for you. Apologies.

 

[MarkB]

When I hear "Player Agency" I visualise a specialised staffing firm that's built their business model around providing substitute players to groups whose regulars are otherwise unable to run because some of them have called in sick or had to work late.

"Hey, how come I'm 16th level now? And when did my paladin turn Chaotic Evil?"

"Oh that was Bill, the temp. He did an awesome job last week. We're definitely goin to ask for him again."

 

[overgeeked]

When I see DMs bagging on player agency it makes me wonder how many unfinished short stories and novels they have sitting on their hard drive.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

When I hear "Player Agency" I visualise a specialised staffing firm that's built their business model around providing substitute players to groups whose regulars are otherwise unable to run because some of them have called in sick or had to work late.

"Hey, how come I'm 16th level now? And when did my paladin turn Chaotic Evil?"

"Oh that was Bill, the temp. He did an awesome job last week. We're definitely goin to ask for him again."

Huh.

When I hear Player Agency, I assume it's an agency ... for agents ... of players ... to represent them and negotiate a better deal for the percentage of loot.

See, Thag of the Big Sword has had a great year ... maybe the greatest year. He has led this party in hit points dished out and hit points taken! His advanced numbers are off the charts, too- his Value Over a Replacement Barbarian (VORB) is easily the highest we've seen since Karnak the Unsteady .... and Karnak is a hall of famer. So when Thag is saying that he deserves to get 1/3 of the gold and first pick of the magic items, don't think of what it's costing you ... think of what you're gaining! SHOW ME THE GOLD PIECES!

 

[el-remmen]

Everybody knows that asking for player buy-in on a campaign premise is denying them agency.

 

[Gradine]

Without player agency you have a railroad. Without player buy-in you have no game.

 

[overgeeked]

Without player agency you have a railroad. Without player buy-in you have no game.

What’s weird is people don’t seem to want admit that without respecting player agency there’s almost no chance of buy in. I’ve never seen anyone advertise for a railroad game. If you think your players might not like being railroaded and you feel the need to do it anyway, hide the rails, lie to the players, and pretend they have agency when they don’t…that’s telling you something.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Me, whenever someone in the thread mentions Player Agency:

Look at what you've started, CleverNickName. LOOK AT IT!!!!

Are you proud of yourself?

 

[Gradine]