D&D General D&D Editions: Anybody Else Feel Like They Don't Fit In?

[Thomas Shey]

True, and clearly I'm making use if that here. Even so, I still prefer to portray my character logically and with personality in such games, even if I can't be sure of their survival or the completion of some theoretical character arc. I recently completed a short campaign where my PC wanted nothing so much as to conquer the world and gain tremendous power in the doing. In the end, I came very close but was foiled by the delayed consequences of my own actions earlier in the campaign. One of the best games in which I ever participated.

Well, the gig is with a lot of people the more engagement they make with the character (getting deeper into their personality and motives) the less they want life to be cheap for them usually. That's just how they roll.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well, the gig is with a lot of people the more engagement they make with the character (getting deeper into their personality and motives) the less they want life to be cheap for them usually. That's just how they roll.

Well, I'm sure that's true of some, but certainly not me. Plenty of character ideas in the sea.

 

[Distracted DM]

Well, I'm sure that's true of some, but certainly not me. Plenty of character ideas in the sea.

I don't know how true this is of everyone.. but when I first started playing, and for a long time afterward, I was kind of person that was heavily invested in my character, very unhappy if they died. Once I witched from primarily player to primarily GM though, I learned to, as I put it, "hold on lightly." Being a GM really changed my perspective on playing my character.. I think because as a GM you might have hopes for some NPCs, but ultimately they're all there to service the game as a whole- if they die.. they die. If they're forgotten that's a shame, but it is what it is.
That mentality might then transfer over to your own characters.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't know how true this is of everyone.. but when I first started playing, and for a long time afterward, I was kind of person that was heavily invested in my character, very unhappy if they died. Once I witched from primarily player to primarily GM though, I learned to, as I put it, "hold on lightly." Being a GM really changed my perspective on playing my character.. I think because as a GM you might have hopes for some NPCs, but ultimately they're all there to service the game as a whole- if they die.. they die. If they're forgotten that's a shame, but it is what it is.
That mentality might then transfer over to your own characters.

When I started, PC life was cheap. You have fun and play your character as best you can while they're here. I have carried that to every PC I've ever played in any game ever since. And I do the same with my NPCs when I DM.

 

[Aldarc]

So I hit upon a solution recently: I asked her to not think if Shadowdark and similar games as RPGs as she understands them, but instead as a kind of boardgame, and your PC as a game piece you control. You can if you want give characterization to your game piece, but ultimately its no different from the character you control in Betrayal at House on the Hill (a game she loves), and those folks die all the time.

This isn't how I see classic RPGs, of course, but it will help here have fun with them I hope.

To be fair, this is also similar how I sold my partner on Dragonbane. My partner likes board games. They are German after all. I emphasized the board game like qualities of the Dragonbane Core Box. It came in a box like a board game even!

Characters had simple abilities or perks like Roles found in some co-op board games, so they weren't overwhelmed by character abilities. We used the initiative cards, cardboard minis, battle mats, and improvised weapon cards to provide a visual and tactile element like in board games. The simple roll under skill system meant that my partner always knew what they needed to roll without having to ask me. Characters are easy enough for my partner to play three characters at once!

It was a success! Dragonbane has now joined the illustrious roster of games that my partner is willing to play again!

They nearly lost one character in the last session we played, but the other two managed to get the Mallard Knight back on his feet so that all the PCs could escape with a piece of the MacGuffin.

 

[Theory of Games]

When I started, PC life was cheap. You have fun and play your character as best you can while they're here. I have carried that to every PC I've ever played in any game ever since. And I do the same with my NPCs when I DM.

The lives of PCs are still cheap: they've just become more durable

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

I've been interested in Shadowdark since I first heard about it shortly before the Kickstarter ended, but I wasn't in a position at the time to participate. I've since had an opportunity to get it, and to me it really hits those classic play vibes i appreciate. The problem is that my wife is much more interested in the modern style of play where a character's story is paramount, and bad luck isn't just going to kill her PC (a real possibility in Shadowdark). To her, that's what an RPG is. So I hit upon a solution recently: I asked her to not think if Shadowdark and similar games as RPGs as she understands them, but instead as a kind of boardgame, and your PC as a game piece you control. You can if you want give characterization to your game piece, but ultimately its no different from the character you control in Betrayal at House on the Hill (a game she loves), and those folks die all the time.

This isn't how I see classic RPGs, of course, but it will help here have fun with them I hope.

So how did your wife respond to your suggestion? Did she think that looking at Shadowdark, et al. that way would help her enjoy it more?

 

[Imaro]

I've been interested in Shadowdark since I first heard about it shortly before the Kickstarter ended, but I wasn't in a position at the time to participate. I've since had an opportunity to get it, and to me it really hits those classic play vibes i appreciate. The problem is that my wife is much more interested in the modern style of play where a character's story is paramount, and bad luck isn't just going to kill her PC (a real possibility in Shadowdark). To her, that's what an RPG is. So I hit upon a solution recently: I asked her to not think if Shadowdark and similar games as RPGs as she understands them, but instead as a kind of boardgame, and your PC as a game piece you control. You can if you want give characterization to your game piece, but ultimately its no different from the character you control in Betrayal at House on the Hill (a game she loves), and those folks die all the time.

This isn't how I see classic RPGs, of course, but it will help here have fun with them I hope.

For me at least, at this point I'd rather just play a dungeoncrawler boardgame... Descent, Heroquest, Massive Darkness, etc. Many even allow for progression and someone to "run" while being less prone to human errors and providing a much better arena to test skilled play.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Well, I'm sure that's true of some, but certainly not me. Plenty of character ideas in the sea.

That's fine, but its potentially the way your players may, and you have to just accept that may be something you need to deal with.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I don't know how true this is of everyone.. but when I first started playing, and for a long time afterward, I was kind of person that was heavily invested in my character, very unhappy if they died. Once I witched from primarily player to primarily GM though, I learned to, as I put it, "hold on lightly." Being a GM really changed my perspective on playing my character.. I think because as a GM you might have hopes for some NPCs, but ultimately they're all there to service the game as a whole- if they die.. they die. If they're forgotten that's a shame, but it is what it is.
That mentality might then transfer over to your own characters.

Of course that's just another reason some people don't like to GM. They don't want that distance.