All in good fun or too offensive

[Templetroll]

But the problem was that the player thought they had apologized even though the character hadn't. If we had let it go on, it never would have been resolved because the character would have kept thinking they had apologized, solving nothing.

I prefer characters to solve their problems in character, as well. But sometimes it's not going to happen that way.

If the character did not apologize there was no apology. The player thinking the character had apologized is metagaming until the character does apologize for nearly chopping the head off the other person. That might ease the ill-feelings and the cleric might be wise enough to realize that.

If the cleric was using some mind-reading ability there then it would be appropriate to toss in enough info that explains the new character's attitude since she is doing such a wide-ranging mind search. She gets more info than she expected and she has to accept getting it because the cleric is the one that opened the mental door.

I do like it that the magic weapon is having a problem dealing with that cleric. How about this?

Weapon: (just drawn) "You know, you do act the fool sometimes."
Cleric: "wh-what?!?"
Weapon: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Cleric: "Whatever..."
Weapon: "See, I apologized for hurting you and even though things are not perfect between us they are better now than they were just then. Apology... apology accepted... better dealings with those we had problems with. You should try it with someone you have a problem with currently that you did help harm recently but could use help from now. I do hope you were able to follow that."
Cleric: "Who put you up to that?"
Weapon: "I am free and an individual. I speak my own mind."
Cleric: "I need an altar. I have a sudden need to make a sacrifice...."
Weapon: "Okay, I won't tell you when you are being a fool."
Cleric: "You don't have to say anything."
Weapon: "Agreed, some things are constant so I'll be quiet quite often."

I love intelligent magic items!

 

[DonTadow]

The solution, the party split up and it was decided the two characters travel with one another to scout the area.

Both seem to be getting along a bit better which is good.

 

[DonTadow]

--- after session. The talk seemed to work (at least for now with both party members) . SAdiyah was a lot more toned down with her attitude but she still managed to show it which was good. Alexandra made several smart comments in game about Sadiyah going about her own business but nothing out of hand.

I think the player playing Alexandra is going to be a problem for times to come and I just have to deal with it. I'm not sure what she was thinking but she attempted to build a fireball spell today with the elemtns of magic rules and use it as a touch attack on the ground so the surrounding people would not get a saving throw. She went through a bit of arguing and then after I explained how idiotic that sounded, (hit an ac five and deal 5d6 damage to everyone in the area with no saving throw) she backed away. It annoyed me. I'm glad I'll be taking back the reigns of my campaign next week, hopefull the animosity will stay downed and she wont try to get so much over on someone who knows the rules.

 

[Look_a_Unicorn]

Reading just the posted conversation & none of the subsequent posts (at work so time limited!) I'd have to say it seems like VERY good roleplaying on behalf of the new player.

If you think the cleric player may have taken it a bit too personally and not 'understood', what I'd do is:
- Once people are starting to sit down around the table for the next session, mention that you'd read the discussion between the characters and really enjoyed it, congratulate new player on having made the effort to define her CHARACTER'S personality so well so quickly and give her a small xp reward. Next turn to the cleric player, thank her for helping the new player get involved and having such an entertaining IN-CHARACTER argument and give her a small xp reward as well.

You both reward good role-playing (if that's all it was) AND cast both players- and the 'argument'- in a better light.

Next Up- World Peace!!

 

[DonTadow]

The saga continues:::

As I said, I sent an email to both players remind them the its a game and not to curse and talk and call names on the website. Another issue that has come up is that Alexandra has an artifact called a crysal weapon. The crystal weapons are Inteillgent WEapons with an ego of 33. They have a mission to retrieve there friends. Before I let a player who finds one keep it i make them bond with the weapon and give them a 2 page synopsis of the creatures personality. I ask the player again do they wish to bond with it. I also refer the player to talk to other players whom have he crystal weapon before they decide to bond with it. Alexandra skimmed over the document and refused to talk with the other player whom had her weapon saying (i've had inteligent weapons before and i dont need the help). I asked her was she sure and she asked to bond with the weapon. The weapon is made from her god and has the soul of one of her avators inside of it. However, Alexandra choses to do anti good tings such as mindrape npcs, not help people whom needs help and ignore the weapons mission to find her other comrades.

This is what was sent to me by Alexandra

I hope you sent that same message to Sadiyah. It doesn't look like she took it to heart if you did because she is still saying some pretty harsh things.

Honestly, if my character, being a high and mighty (and arrogant) priestess of Isis...chosen one and used to a life of order and priviledge, were to be talked to like that, she would retaliate in that way. If you want to have Shiva take over and tell me how you want me to play her, I can do that. and I don't mean that in as rude a way as it may have sounded. If you want me to change my character to be different so that I fit in with the game, let me know. An outline of what you think I should or shouldn't do to fit in with the party would be helpful. I can roleplay anything out so just let me know what you expect and I'll make it happen.

This was my response

I sent a simliar letter to Jackie. I can't lie I was a bit disturbed by all of the messages and whereas i can see them being totally in icc I needed to make sure that nothing personal was leaking in. Before I sent out the emails and talked about it at the game, I decided to go to the wizards forum and ask other experienced dms if i was being overcautious or was i right to think somethings wrong. The response i got pretty much was the same. Sadyah was wrong for her tone, cursing and over anti-friendly party comments but i felt your post was wrong for asking her to leave threatening to mindrape her character.

I don't like cursing in the post and i let jackie know that. I can see it being in the flavor of the character and that hte campaign is full of adults but i let her know that i still want to respect the personal beliefs of the players. However, I don't think we need to be threatening players to leave or asking them mto leave the party. I am very very loose with the alignment charts from the phb and i dont believe in forcing players to "be nice". I just want to make sure that everyone knows that the outcome is for their character to find a common goal with the group and for the group to understand that ...even the flimsy ones, the characters nneed to have a common goal with one another.

I want you to play your character the way you want to play your character with the goals of the party in mind. I've thought Alexandra really came along far especially the last two episodes, but Alexandra was just a second tier priestess and should be very understandable of hierchy and doing whats for the better good. Isis was a good friend of Lathander and other good gods and Sardior is a good god. Above all, I would thnk that a good cleric would take on a good cause. Clerics are always different than other characters. Unlike other players whom move on their own whims, Clerics always have a god to answer to, and must make sure that they are behaving in the way that the god would approve. I don't think Isis would approve of going into someone's mind,a good person at least , without their permission. a

As for shiva, its a powerful artifact. I don't want to force acharacter to take on that responsiblity if thats not what you feel the character would do. You had an opportuny to bond with the eapon in game and ask a character out of game about the weapon and you chose not to take the person up on the offer.

Shiva's ego is 33 which woudl be the will save you need ot make to prevent it. The save is high and only a 20 would have beat the ego save.


Infrit, the masamune, is no different with Vivian. In the first few weeks INfrit would take over in the middle of battle. Shiva has been very restraining with Alexandra so far. (part of it is that I don't think the character has the full understanding of how important and powerful a weapon it is) When Alexandra chose to carry the bow she chose to share her soul with Shiva, a more powerful being whom has a mission to complete. It's a different personality than Alexandra. Alexandra has gone through a lot but nothing could be worse than disobeying Shiva. Shiva was one of the highest priestesses to ever worship Isis. In her background, she has personally met the godess, and has been very personal with her. The misssion that shiva must perform is directly assigned by Isiss. I would think it right in character for Alexandra to not only understand Shiva's purpose but not eagerly fight against her. Shiva only wishes control, just as all intelligent weapons, when the wielder does not wish to do that.

I didn't want to force shiva on anyone and that is why i asked who wanted the bow. I woudl think that alexandra would think it was the biggest honor to hold a weapon crafted by Isis and blessed with the souls of one of her most dedicated avatars.

However, If you want to take Alexandra in a different direction that is ok but let me know if you wish to keep the waapon or not.

Honestly i dont know what to do . Sadiyah has toned down her responses and but is still playing the character great. She is helpful and has a good reason to be with the party in that they are helping her with her goal, but she hates that they perform magic when she tells them not to .