Do you think that it's alright for a DM to do this?

[blackshirt5]

For a Dm to tell a player, "no, you can't do that with your character" or "Your character wouldn't do that!" in regards to your character's personality?

We're getting ready for Angcuru's FR campaign. After Angcuru tells me about how the way things are for the Avariel(which is the race my character comes from) being hunted by the drow as wel as the blue dragons, I decide that he's gonna try to hide his identity...and not very well at that.

He introduces himself to everyone as something different. "Hi, I'm Ted. Ted Nugent." "Axelrod, Axelrod Rimthruster, glad to meet you." "Helena, Helena Handbasket." Angcuru looks at me and says "no, you can't do that."

What's your opinion, is it fair for a DM to do this? I'm gonna play the character as a dead-serious ranger the rest of the time; I just want to lighten up the mood a bit sometimes, and it does seem like it'd be appropriate to the character.

 

[Gregor]

I would think that a DM should not tell you what you can and cannot do with the role-playing or flavour of your character. Its your character, not his/hers. However, it is definitely the DM's right to make suggestions about your character and how he or she will operate in his/her world. The DM probably has an idea of consistency and flow in the world and has an idea of how things should be running. It is as much your responsibility to play your character in and around those ideas as much as it is the DM's responsibility for allowing you to play your character how you want. Fine line no?

I am sure that both you and the DM can come to some sort of agreement. Perhaps your DM does not appreciate the 70's rock personality names, such as Ted Nugent, you are using as it does not flow with a FR setting. Perhaps meet on level ground? Still operate your character as hiding his/her true identity but make up fantasy style names to use?

So in short, talk with your DM and see how you can meet eye to eye.

Cheers

 

[blackshirt5]

Why do you think I inserted the name Axelrod Rimthruster in there? It's fantasy-esque. And it's not like I'm walking around introducing myself as JAmes Hetfield or Lars Ulrich.

 

[elbandit]

For a Dm to tell a player, "no, you can't do that with your character" or "Your character wouldn't do that!" in regards to your character's personality?

He introduces himself to everyone as something different. "Hi, I'm Ted. Ted Nugent." "Axelrod, Axelrod Rimthruster, glad to meet you." "Helena, Helena Handbasket." Angcuru looks at me and says "no, you can't do that."

What's your opinion, is it fair for a DM to do this? I'm gonna play the character as a dead-serious ranger the rest of the time; I just want to lighten up the mood a bit sometimes, and it does seem like it'd be appropriate to the character.

If the example names are what you would be using, I can say the DM has a right to stop you from throwing a monkey wrench into an otherwise serious campaign. It is a mood breaker and honestly not funny to me.

When it comes down to it, it is the DMs campaign. He has final say what goes. At least that is how I look at it.

 

[alsih2o]

come up with 3 aliases, each with a job, name and origin. approach your dm with these (without names that could be used in a phone prank).

this should show you are serious about the concept but have enough respect for the work the dm has done.

 

[Anavel Gato]

Sometimes I think the DM has to remind players of their race and personality, but I don't really see a problem with what you were doing. We had a Paladin in our group who was more interested in looting dead bodies while other characters fought, so he was always being reminded "hey your the fighter, help us out here."

So, yes I think the DM should be able to say according to Class, Alignment you can't do that, but as far as personality, no not really. Personality grows as the character does. The DM shouldn't be able to squash that.

I like the fact you tried to hide your race and play off your true identity. Our Drow characters do it all the time...

 

[Arnwyn]

I agree that the concept of the DM telling the player that "he can't do that" is not a good thing. (IMC, at least.)

However, there is a point of idiocy that many DMs won't tolerate. Players are expected to have their characters "fit" the world that the DM is presenting.

For example, if a player tried to spout off those names that you mentioned in your original post, I'd tell him that they are not appropriate for the campaign that we're playing in. He tries it again, I'd tell him to cooperate or take a hike. Thankfully, my players are not so beligerent nor dunderheaded to even consider of such a thing - they prefer to facilitate the game.

(In any case, I very much like Gregor's advice above - it would do you well to heed that, IMO.)

 

[MarauderX]

I think you can do what you want, and with your character's background, you have a perfect reason why you would want to lie about who you are. If I don't think a PC should be saying something or think what a character does is rather sketchy I ask the player point-blank "do you really want to do/say that?" The player often times takes the hint, but sometimes they just want to do what they want to do; why stop them from doing it? It may hurt their reputation or start a fight or whatever, but that's the players choice and it doesn't have to be in the best interest of the DM IMO, IMC or someone elses. I have had players purposefully be abrasive towards high-profile NPCs just because they don't want to do something for them, or they have a trick up their sleeve that they surprise me with -- and I love it.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

For a Dm to tell a player, "no, you can't do that with your character" or "Your character wouldn't do that!" in regards to your character's personality?

We're getting ready for Angcuru's FR campaign. After Angcuru tells me about how the way things are for the Avariel(which is the race my character comes from) being hunted by the drow as wel as the blue dragons, I decide that he's gonna try to hide his identity...and not very well at that.

He introduces himself to everyone as something different. "Hi, I'm Ted. Ted Nugent." "Axelrod, Axelrod Rimthruster, glad to meet you." "Helena, Helena Handbasket." Angcuru looks at me and says "no, you can't do that."

What's your opinion, is it fair for a DM to do this? I'm gonna play the character as a dead-serious ranger the rest of the time; I just want to lighten up the mood a bit sometimes, and it does seem like it'd be appropriate to the character.

Are you one of those people who has a terrible time thinking up names? Or are you just trying to be a smarta$$ and disrupt things?

 

[Umbran]

Can you introduce yourself wiht a different name every time you meet someone? In general, sure. Unless the race has a big thing about names or personal identity that'd you'd agreed upon before, there's no problem.

However, if the game is mostly serious, introducing yourself as "Nick Soapdish" does put a damper on the mood, and the Dm does have the right to at elast request that you choose names appropriate to the scenario.

Think of it this way - if you aren't choosing names that at least sound reasonabl for the lands in which you travel, people are going ot peg you right off as a liar, and that you have something to hide. When the nasties come asking, the bartender is gonna say, "Hm, Critovau Morningstar? Never heard of him. We did have this guy coming in calling himself 'Nick Soapdish', though, and that sounded kinda... well, made up, y'know..."