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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gothmog" data-source="post: 2880370" data-attributes="member: 317">Exactly- thats dead on der kluge.  I prefer to run games where many of the "mundane" interactions are RPed out, and I throw in interesting tidbits, opportunities, and side adventures and plots for those that do them.  I'll allow the "we go and plunk down our money for this stuff so we can get back on the road" when the players want it, but if they are willing to take the time to RP out some everyday occurrances, I throw some extra opportunities at them.  For example:1.  The paladin PC went to look for some new armor when he was 5th level.  He wanted some personalized plate mail with religious motifs of his faith engraved on it.  While he was haggling with the armorsmith, he saw in one area of the smithy a piece of armor he recognized as belonging to another knight of his temple that had vanished about 2 years ago (when he was 2nd level).  This other knight was a mentor and trainer to him, and when he questioned the blacksmith about it, the smith said the damaged pauldron was brought in by a man who matched the vanished knight's description.  Long story short was that the vanished knight had been on a quest, become possessed by a demonic entity, and was trying to undermine the character's temple in this distant city.  The paladin PC managed to uncover the plot, defeat his former mentor, exorcise the demon from him, and got a BIG promotion in his temple, as well as the temple covering the cost for his fancy new armor.2.  The PCs arrived at a roadside inn where a tinker was selling all sorts of minor trinkets and items.  One thing he had was a small oak box that was elaborately engraved and bore the word "Schonnberg" on it.  The box was hollow, something rattled in it, and had no discernable hinges or lock on it, and it intrigued the group.  The bard PC bought it and started doing some research.  She found out the Schonnberg's were a noble family from a nearby country that had a long and somewhat dark family history, including incest, murder, and madness.  In addition, the group could find no way to open the box- even smashing it with a warhammer didn't mar the wood.  The PCs tracked it back to the barony of the Schonnbergs, only to find the barony in ruins, and the Schonnberg line apparently died out 30 years ago in a fire that consumed their castle.  When the PCs showed the box to some locals, they shied away and made superstitious signs muttering something under their breaths, but wouldn't say any more.  This plot hook is still up in the air, and the PCs have moved on to other things for now.  However, the Schonnberg plot still comes up occasionally- sometimes the person sleeping closest to the box has strange, prophetic dreams, or they hear the name Schonnberg occasionally from random people.  I'm going for a Cthulhu-esque type of thing with this story, but it might take some time to play out.  One thing is for sure- anytime the PCs hear the word Schonnberg, their ears perk up and they go digging for more info- they are dying to know what's in the box they can't open, and why the family has such a...colorful reputation.I do this kind of thing all the time- there have been probably 50 or 60 subplots or stories uncovered by RPing out "mundane things", and about 6 active right now.  Now some of you might say this is unfair to the person who doesn't like to RP the mundane stuff- to those I say.... TOUGH.  You put extra effort into the game, and I'll make sure you get extra out of it or get special consideration.  If you want to rush through everything, you will miss a lot of interesting bits, just like in real life.</blockquote>

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