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<blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 5477098" data-attributes="member: 8835">Because what you see as Player-Passivity, I see as one player's method for trying to create hooks from his PC background into the current situation.True Player-Passivity is the player never trying to relate his PC at all.If I was in your game, would you allow me to say (as in not reject or negate my proposal):&quot;I go lookup my old fencing partner Marcel Dumas, who last I knew was overdue for a promotion in the watch.&quot;I've proposed an NPC, that doesn't contradict my backstory (assuming I used to fence).&nbsp; I also leave the GM an out.&nbsp; While I've declared what he USED to be, I've allowed for the GM to determine his current status.&nbsp; I may fail to find him (he's missing), I may find that he has recently risen to the rank of Captain of the Watch.I get the feeling, when the example player asks &quot;Do I know anybody in this town?&quot;, he'd rather do what I just did, but isn't sure the DM will let him.I think a good GM should accept a reasonable content proposal from a player.&nbsp; A GM should have the right to reject content proposals when it makes sense to do so.&nbsp; A good player should formulate content proposals that don't unbalance or contradict the GM's campaign.Bonus Explanation:I use the term loosely, but Normal People don't spontaneously decide to &quot;get to know the Captain of the Watch&quot; if they haven't met him.&nbsp; Stalkers do (or people researching a mark).&nbsp; Normal People get to know people their paths intersect.&nbsp; I may bump into an officer of the Watch, and we may strike up a conversation while waiting for something.&nbsp; He might invite me to some event, or I might run into him again, reinforcing our meeting.&nbsp; That new relationship, forged through initial contact, may result in me being somewhere to being introduced to the Captain of the Watch. Find me examples where I am commonly wrong (not just the one friend you have who actively befriends mayors, sherrifs and anybody else who will hold still).&nbsp; Normal people don't act that way.&nbsp; They do not actively seek out full strangers, just to get to know them and create a true relationship.&nbsp; Excepting people who are fishing for information, thus targetting (stalking).Thats why players start with relationships they HAVE and work their way from other initial contacts.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Janx, post: 5477098, member: 8835"] Because what you see as Player-Passivity, I see as one player's method for trying to create hooks from his PC background into the current situation. True Player-Passivity is the player never trying to relate his PC at all. If I was in your game, would you allow me to say (as in not reject or negate my proposal): "I go lookup my old fencing partner Marcel Dumas, who last I knew was overdue for a promotion in the watch." I've proposed an NPC, that doesn't contradict my backstory (assuming I used to fence). I also leave the GM an out. While I've declared what he USED to be, I've allowed for the GM to determine his current status. I may fail to find him (he's missing), I may find that he has recently risen to the rank of Captain of the Watch. I get the feeling, when the example player asks "Do I know anybody in this town?", he'd rather do what I just did, but isn't sure the DM will let him. I think a good GM should accept a reasonable content proposal from a player. A GM should have the right to reject content proposals when it makes sense to do so. A good player should formulate content proposals that don't unbalance or contradict the GM's campaign. Bonus Explanation: I use the term loosely, but Normal People don't spontaneously decide to "get to know the Captain of the Watch" if they haven't met him. Stalkers do (or people researching a mark). Normal People get to know people their paths intersect. I may bump into an officer of the Watch, and we may strike up a conversation while waiting for something. He might invite me to some event, or I might run into him again, reinforcing our meeting. That new relationship, forged through initial contact, may result in me being somewhere to being introduced to the Captain of the Watch. Find me examples where I am commonly wrong (not just the one friend you have who actively befriends mayors, sherrifs and anybody else who will hold still). Normal people don't act that way. They do not actively seek out full strangers, just to get to know them and create a true relationship. Excepting people who are fishing for information, thus targetting (stalking). Thats why players start with relationships they HAVE and work their way from other initial contacts. [/QUOTE]

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