In all my years of gaming, I can’t say I have ever run across a situation like this, and frankly I am not sure what to do about it. I’ve seen lots of things occur in games and in gaming groups, but I am rather out of my element here. Let me see if I can explain.
Out of a group of nine players, I have recently had not one, but FOUR of them come to me seeking personal motivation for their character. They want me to give them a reason for being with the group of adventurers. Each one has expressed their want, no their need, for a personal reason to remain with the group. I’ve never encountered such a large group of people who needed to be spoon-fed so much information about their own character. Each one has been presented the same information as the other players. The other five players all seem to have figured out what they are doing, why they are together, what they want to do in life.
That is how just about every player I have ever seen handles things. It’s a fantasy game, after all, justification for being together is pretty easy, or so I thought. The group met in adverse circumstances, and have begun adventuring together because adventuring alone is suicidal. Some of the players are seeking a particular ancient artifact, some are seeking a life of heroic action, and some are seeking to acquire great magic. All pretty standard fantasy tropes, and all excellent reasons to be adventuring together. But it looks like the rest need a personally engraved invitation or some divinely inspired reason to adventure. Why, why, WHY? I play fantasy RPGs to escape the need for justification, for deep seated philosophical reasons for being. What’s wrong with adventuring for the sake of adventuring?
Oh, and don’t get me started on the player who feels the need to explore the sexuality of his Paladin. That’s a whole different rant on my part.
Out of a group of nine players, I have recently had not one, but FOUR of them come to me seeking personal motivation for their character. They want me to give them a reason for being with the group of adventurers. Each one has expressed their want, no their need, for a personal reason to remain with the group. I’ve never encountered such a large group of people who needed to be spoon-fed so much information about their own character. Each one has been presented the same information as the other players. The other five players all seem to have figured out what they are doing, why they are together, what they want to do in life.
That is how just about every player I have ever seen handles things. It’s a fantasy game, after all, justification for being together is pretty easy, or so I thought. The group met in adverse circumstances, and have begun adventuring together because adventuring alone is suicidal. Some of the players are seeking a particular ancient artifact, some are seeking a life of heroic action, and some are seeking to acquire great magic. All pretty standard fantasy tropes, and all excellent reasons to be adventuring together. But it looks like the rest need a personally engraved invitation or some divinely inspired reason to adventure. Why, why, WHY? I play fantasy RPGs to escape the need for justification, for deep seated philosophical reasons for being. What’s wrong with adventuring for the sake of adventuring?
Oh, and don’t get me started on the player who feels the need to explore the sexuality of his Paladin. That’s a whole different rant on my part.