[5e] Spell & Crossbones

[CanadienneBacon]

[MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION], the out of game distractions in this game make it hard for me to enjoy the game. Save for the tension between two players, It's been a wonderful game and I've enjoyed myself. Unfortunately, I've just spent all of Kid's in-game time from May until September attempting a reconciliation between Kat and Jim, to no avail it seems; both seem equally reluctant to establish trust.

I'm sorry, but I'm done here. Please do as you like with Kid. I regard everyone here as a friend and very much look forward to gaming with each of you in the future.

--Wendy

 

[Kobold Stew]

Dear Fenris (and everyone),

It may be that in real life I might not expect forgiveness from a pirate in one day, but this has been nine months of my life, waiting to be re-integrated into the party, following a misunderstanding that I thought had been sorted in November. The interactions I've had with Quickleaf and CanadienneBacon have been amazingly fun (one of the best online games I've played, honestly, with memories I will retell with pleasure), but I still feel I'm an outsider.

If the links in my post were too much, I apologize, to everyone but especially Queenie. I wanted to be clear where what I was posting was coming from, but I can see how my defensiveness makes me look like an ass.

Dear Quickleaf (and everyone),

This is an amazingly great game, and I have really enjoyed seeing the characters deepen and the world become real. There are so many ideas here, but I'm not contributing in a way that gives me happiness, and so I think it's best if I step away, leaving Barrington as an NPC or just walking off into the sunset with Polly.

We are all real people, with thoughts and feelings, looking to have fun with a game. That's not happening for me, and I see that I am interfering with it happening for others. Take care, all, and I hope to game with you in the future.

KS.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION], the out of game distractions in this game make it hard for me to enjoy the game. Save for the tension between two players, It's been a wonderful game and I've enjoyed myself. Unfortunately, I've just spent all of Kid's in-game time from May until September attempting a reconciliation between Kat and Jim, to no avail it seems; both seem equally reluctant to establish trust.

I'm sorry, but I'm done here. Please do as you like with Kid. I regard everyone here as a friend and very much look forward to gaming with each of you in the future.

--Wendy

Wendy, I completely understand. Hopefully I can convince you not to drop the game However, if your mind's already made, no worries. I'll be in touch and will try to follow your Castle Amber game when I can. Shaka, sister!

So [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION], [MENTION=8058]Queenie[/MENTION], [MENTION=2820]Fenris[/MENTION], and @ everybody basically...

I had been reading the lingering mistrust and tension between Barrington and Katerina as strictly in-character things that you were doing deliberately to emphasize two prideful characters butting heads. Both Katerina and Barrington were EQUALLY responsible for fostering ongoing suspicions and mistrust between each other. But I just thought that was the sort of foil/rivalry dynamic you both were going for. In other words, I assumed you were role-playing and everyone was enjoying it!

However, [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] your latest post does come off as ambiguously passive aggressive and sets an unhelpful ultimatum, I've got to agree with [MENTION=2820]Fenris[/MENTION]. Maybe that wasn't your intention? I remember the situation before just seemed to snowball out of control, so I'm stepping in to avoid that from happening again.

So, let me assume the role of mediator (if it turns out we need it).

First, I totally think this is surmountable and we're all adult enough to recognize if the dynamic between Katerina and Barrington is affecting other players negatively it's time for that dynamic to change.

Second, [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] and [MENTION=8058]Queenie[/MENTION], any thoughts? Is this all strictly role-playing or is there some kind of lingering OOC stuff that we need to resolve?

If it's just RP fun, then I'd like to ask you to bring it to a close because it is negatively affecting others' enjoyment!

If there's OOC tension, then I'd like to discuss in more depth what's going on publicly. Though, of course, if you feel the need to I am available by PM. I'd just like to widen the discussion and make it transparent.

The GM has spoken~

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION]
I'm sorry to hear that. If you're still on the fence, I'm totally willing to work it out OOC. Like always

But also if you're exhausted by the problem, or otherwise done with it, I also understand and respect your decision.

It's always tough to find that sweet spot with players who don't know each other, and in some ways it's more difficult online. I have tremendous respect for everybody's role-playing chops. And in my ideal situation we can work out a resolution that leaves everyone happy. One big happy dysfunctional pirate crew. However, I understand completely if others feel differently.

 

[Fenris]

[MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION], first of all. You da man.

Secondly, [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION]. I did not intent to drive you away and I would ask that you reconsider leaving. You write wonderfully detailed posts. That being said, I had a situation much like this where I had a character in the course of playing him ended up being so obnoxious and rude to the other players (actually he was another dwarf, go figure, but a cantankerous goat), that I role played him into a corner! I felt trapped, playing the character as I wrote him, but it got him deeper and deeper in a hole. Finally I had to have a reset much like Quickleaf is proposing. The character was brilliant, once of the best I had made, but he did not play well with others, and in the end it is a group play for us all to enjoy.

Something in how you portray Barrington, has at times grated. As has been stated, something....inflexible, like the last statement "Am I an ally or an enemy" Right now? Do I have to answer? That is fixable though. I think once we all get on the ship and get our roles straightened out we will be better. Queenie has indicated to me, privately, and I encouraged her to do so publicly, that she intends to delegate all these chores to the officers, once they have also been elected..... which of course we can't do until we are all together and perhaps on the ship. Kat asked Barrington to finish the cannon purchase, isn't that a sign of trust? The role of a trusted lieutenant? You enjoy the game KS, can you fins a way to accept Kat more readily? Either overlook or don't read to much into a statement or body language? Just trying to find solutions here.

I thought Barrington would lighten up after he got some (that's a joke folks, don't throw things). But something is amiss. We all need to tone all our language down, and get us moving forward. This game is FAR FAR too rich for anyone who enjoys it to leave. Let's find a way to make this work. So please, [MENTION=11146]CanadienneBacon[/MENTION] and KS, come back to yer swabs.

CB your last post for Kid was great.

 

[Queenie]

I don't have a ton of time tonight to post but basically...

I don't want ANYone to leave. I want everyone to have fun in a rolicking awesome pirate game. I would like to get the frakkin ship and get on the frakkin ship and then have everyone discuss together what roles they would like to take and then get going on the adventure. I don't feel that just because Katerina is Captain that I am running this game, I want everyone to feel like they can have an equal say... we aren't there yet I guess. (Just because someone is a leader in a D&D group doesn't mean they tell everyone what to do every minute of every day!). I thought eventually Kat and Barrington would make a good team running the ship - she's the wild, take no prisoners, go for the crazy maneuver, drink herself to sleep, ya gotta figure out how to handle her, Pirate. Barrington is the more level headed, disciplined, let's think things through Privateer. You kind of need both to succeed.

While I can't say there was ever no lingering "why is he posting that" feelings, I do not hold any grudge against KS. He's got a great character and is an awesome writer with great descriptions and if he could just integrate smoothly with everyone else it would all be fabulous.

Katerina is a PIRATE. She's Chaotic Neutral, which I thought fit with this Pirate game. She's only just met these people a day ago. She doesn't really trust anyone anyway, nonetheless strangers, especially with this mission that is so very dear to her soul. Nia is a special circumstance, there are odd feelings that she can't explain which will play out later. Eventually crew becomes family and is trusted. It takes some time to build that up. It probably helped some of us but hurt Barrington that most of the characters knew each other already. Kat has a deep seated hatred for Wallace that she isn't going to just blab about around town.

I thought all that was part of the role playing dynamics and not wanting to give every detail away right away it would all play out, especially because we have a group that actually likes to post frequently. I can change what Kat shares if you want. I can play Kat as is she just trusts everyone if you want. I can change her entire personality if you want. I just thought I made a Pirate.

But like CB, I am not interested in fighting about this over and over. I have precious few games left that are actively playing - well, this is really the only one and I don't want to lose it either.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=8058]Queenie[/MENTION], you reminded me that I forgot to mention: If you all feel there's something that I could do as GM which would help get everyone on the same level...I dunno, expediting acquiring the ship and crew?...then I am all ears, like a gnomish Ross Perot.

 

[Shayuri]

For what it's worth, Nia would also like for both Kat and Barrington to be on the team, as she also sees both as having important qualities that complement one another. If I can help keep things together IC, or OOC, I shall do so at once.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I would normally not return to comment, but it seemed rude to refrain from comment when grace has been extended.

In the interest of letting the game continue promptly, I'll clarify. It is my strong sense that the tension is deeply seeded, mutual, and unlikely to abate. I am given to understand that a lengthy discussion of the issue has already occurred some time ago via private message. In the intervening time period, NPCs have been introduced, time has passed, in-game play has resumed, and new players have been introduced. Those are all things that normally result in detente and, eventually, tension dies off and the game continues on its merry way. For some reason, however, that doesn't seem to have occurred here. Instead, the out of game tension continues in both the IC and the OOC.

Life's too short. Recreational gaming time is too precious. This could be a truly legend PbP game. It's certainly already headed that way. I'm equally sure I'll, from time to time, regret my decision to leave. I'm okay with that. My thought, and it's a firm one, is that I am done. The hope is that by pruning Kid (and Barrington, too, I see), you guys can get down to the meat and potatoes of getting The Coral Curse and getting on with the game.

Thanks for the kind words and well wishes. Again, everyone here is a friend and I'm sure we'll be gaming together on the boards in the future.

 

[peterka99]

I'll rather stay in the crew if the ship would still sail away...