Cheeky players.... what would you do?

[BlackMoria]

Our group will be starting a new campaign as the old one finished up recently. Our group discussed Eberron and the consensus is to go for it.

Then one of the players stated that he would make a warforged and would name him 'C3PO'. Another player picked up on this and said he would also have a warforged called 'R2D2'. This silliness made a third player decide that a Kalashtar Psionic Warrior called 'Luke Skywalker' would be neat to play. The last player, infected by the joviality of the others, said he would make a human rogue called 'Hans Solo'.

I hope they are just 'shining me on' (I think they are) but if they are serious about it, I am not certain what to do, 'cause I find the whole notion more light hearted (not serious) that I want for a campaign that I would be running.

If you were DM and your players did the above, what would you do?

Edit: I really think my players are pullling my leg on this but I am curious what others would do. Certainly someone else out there is tempted to call their warforged 'C3PO'...

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'd slap them upside the head if they even thought about it.

But, Eberron does seem to have some over-the-top inclinations, so you may be in for a tug-of-war if you are more the grim'n'gritty type.

 

[HiLiphNY]

You NEED to read more Knights of the Dinner Table. Weird Pete sets a fine example of a DM who knows how to give his table , and take numbers! No slack, no wussing, and no talkback are allowed from his players.


B.A., the other DM, would be the counter example. DON'T aspire to follow his style.

 

[Anabstercorian]

Relax. Think of it as an opportunity to ensure roleplay. Your characters have very distinct archetypes pre-defined for them. You could have a lot of fun running with this as opposed to trying to thwart it.

 

[MerakSpielman]

You now have a silly game. It happens. Think of it this way - the villians and plot are already worked out for you - you just have to translate them into D&D terms.

 

[BradfordFerguson]

It stinks when you do some world creation work and your players want a different type of game, but you are using Eberron so you haven't sunk a bunch of time into your game. Even if you have invested that time, it does not mean that you should continue with something that won't work for your players. Try to figure out what would be fun for the players as a whole and yourself.

I would ask them if they do want to go with this because you are putting the energy into making the plot for the game. I would also discourage someone from playing R2D2 because I don't think that would be as fun. Also, if they are serious you should consider using the revised SWRPG. But, if you TOTALLY don't want to run this kind of game, then you gotta say "no."

 

[eris404]

If you were DM and your players did the above, what would you do? Edit: I really think my players are pullling my leg on this but I am curious what others would do. Certainly someone else out there is tempted to call their warforged 'C3PO'...

It depends on how much the players really liked the idea and if I felt up to it. I might create a compromise: the players could use the backgrounds and personality of the SW characters but would have to change the names. I wouldn't mind if the names were similar, though.

My other idea would be to embrace it completely and seriously. Yes, it is Star Wars, but Star Wars translated directly into a fantasy setting using "standard" D&D terms. So, maybe there wouldn't be starships per se, but instead ships that travel through the astral or ethereal planes. Jedi become psions. Maybe wookiees become orcs or some other standard D&D humanoid race.

I don't think that would be a bad campaign at all.

 

[Umbran]

If you were DM and your players did the above, what would you do?

Wait and see. If they're pulling your leg, then no retribution is necesary. For the games I like to play in, such a constant reference to another fiction would serve to thoroughly break suspension of disbelief, which is no fun.

If they refuse to relent, it's time to pull out the stops. If they wanna be goofy, give 'em no holds barred goofy

What do you think they'd say if they started seeing warforged enemies named "Megatron"?

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Could just be a momentary insanity, so try offering to run a one-shot adventure for the characters. Then make the players create new (serious) characters for the real campaign. If they really enjoy the silliness, plan on running one-shots with the silly characters from time to time - it will give everyone a break to recharge for the main campaign.

 

[Zandy]

It stinks when you do some world creation work and your players want a different type of game...

Wow. This is a scary statement.

Although I think his players are being goofy, and are PROBABLY playing around, you have hit upon the biggest problem in most groups, IMHO.

The DM's "job" and responsibility is to create a game that his/her players will enjoy. If a DM is doing tons of work BEFORE running an idea past the group, he deserves to get what is thrown back at him.

I've been on the receiving end of games that a DM REALLY wanted to do, and that none of us wanted, and yet he insisted. The campaigns haven't lasted too long.

I respectfully hope that you don't actually DM in this manner. And anyone out there who DOES make a game without consulting his players first, may I humbly point out the error of your ways; talk to your players, find out what they want, and give it to them. This doesn't mean that you can't make the game of your own style and format, but honestly, that is secondary to the player's wants and needs.

Remember, the players are the customers, and you can't DM if you don't have them.