D&D 5E The Gloves Are Off?

[Mort]

Then why even bother making them write it down and turn the whole exercise into a Flash Fiction challenge.

I find all the sniping and mockery of people who actually put some thought into their characters hugely disrespectful. Like if they spoke it out loud people here would be interrupting with BORING! I DON'T CARE, CHECK OUT THE LOSER WHO WANTS TO ROLEPLAY IN THIS ROLEPLAYING GAME.

If someone really put a huge amount of effort into their character, great, they can show it in play and have it affect the fiction. As events come up in the fiction, they can use what they wrote down to shape how they play their character and interact with the world.

I find it disrespectful to present a book to the DM and state that you expect everything in there to become part of the campaign.

 

[iserith]

Then why even bother making them write it down and turn the whole exercise into a Flash Fiction challenge.

I find all the sniping and mockery of people who actually put some thought into their characters hugely disrespectful. Like if they spoke it out loud people here would be interrupting with BORING! I DON'T CARE, CHECK OUT THE LOSER WHO WANTS TO ROLEPLAY IN THIS ROLEPLAYING GAME.

I can't control what people do - only what I do. Go ahead and write your backstory if it helps you play your character better. But I ain't reading it. Instead, I'll wait for you to play your character and portray elements of said backstory during the game. Then if it's interesting, I'll build on it.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Sure, but its also true that people take HP from effects that could not possibly actually hit without downing the PC, so you can't really take hit or miss literally. Which is a real problem.

If "you can't really take hit or miss literally", then why take the timing of Shield literally?

 

[Vaalingrade]

I can't control what people do - only what I do. Go ahead and write your backstory if it helps you play your character better. But I ain't reading it. Instead, I'll wait for you to play your character and portray elements of said backstory during the game. Then if it's interesting, I'll build on it.

If someone really put a huge amount of effort into their character, great, they can show it in play and have it affect the fiction. As events come up in the fiction, they can use what they wrote down to shape how they play their character and interact with the world.

I find it disrespectful to present a book to the DM and state that you expect everything in there to become part of the campaign.

Then don't ask for a written version. Otherwise you're just asking people to waste their time.

 

[iserith]

Then don't ask for a written version. Otherwise you're just asking people to waste their time.

Sure. I ask for nothing longer than a Tweet, as I said above. Distill it down into that to give everyone a basic idea of who you are, then expand upon it as you like during play.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Sure. I ask for nothing longer than a Tweet, as I said above. Distill it down into that to give everyone a basic idea of who you are, then expand upon it as you like during play.

That's not enough real estate for anything worthwhile.

 

[Mort]

Then don't ask for a written version. Otherwise you're just asking people to waste their time.

I don't require a written version.

But I do encourage a short blurb so I, and the rest of the group, can get a sense of the character.

 

[iserith]

That's not enough real estate for anything worthwhile.

The worthwhile stuff comes out in play where it actually matters. Like always wearing your gloves no matter what because they belonged to your father who was killed by orcs and it's all you have left of him.

 

[Mort]

That's not enough real estate for anything worthwhile.

Disagree, I find requiring brevity forces more creativity.

Regardless, as @iserith said, the worthwhile stuff should be coming out in play.

 

[tetrasodium]

1. The problem is the player (says) he thought the traveler's outfit (which WAS on his sheet) included gloves. It doesn't but that could, very well be a good faith mistake, especially for a new player.

2. Personally, I don't want the backstory to be some kind of catchall. I want it to be a quick blurb that launches the character forward and allows his actual story to be developed in play. Certainly, wouldn't want it SO detailed that gloves are a factor.

No there is a problem before that. If you go back to the OP you will see "Unbeknownst to an unarmored character and despite the DM's sufficient telegraphing, they touched a chest that has been smeared with a dangerous contact poison."

The time to bring up the gloves & check the expected efficacy is before touching the chest that has been given "sufficient telegraphing" not after you've done so & want to use player agency over interpretation as a club against the gm.