Halfling PC behaving like Kender

[Dreeble]

Roleplaying: two-way street

Heya:

It's important that one person's roleplaying doesn't subjugate everybody else's. It's all well and good somebody wants to roleplaying an annoying character (and depending on the personalities of the other party members, especially a _dwarf_, being stolen from probably isn't annoying, it's active assault), but what about the other characters? Do they "get" to roleplay also?

If I were playing a dwarf in a non-Dragonlance campaign and a fellow PC stole from me, my likely reaction wouldn't be to kill the poor guy, it'd be, "You go that way. I go this way. You follow me, you die. The rest of you blokes want to go this way, fine." There's a saying, "Do you dwarfs love gold? No, we just say that to get it into bed." (Terry Pratchett) Why would a character like that (or any character that doesn't like being stolen from, really) travel with someone like this halfling?

Take care,
Dreeble

 

[Artimoff]

Re: Re: Re: Halfling PC behaving like Kender

Yes, I think this character is destined to have a short life. [/B]

The player may know this and think it would be a fitting end for his PC. Playing different PCs that you know wont last more than 2 or 3 levels can free one's imagination. It will allow you to play a character who is only in it for one or two adventures.

 

[Oni]

I told the player during the session that he shouldn't be surprised if the other party members killed him. In fact, I told him this each time he picked one of their pockets. I've been playing with this guy since August, but this is only the third character I've seen him play. The other two were not antisocial like this. I don't know what he was thinking, to create such an annoying character.

That's not quite what I had in mind when I suggested speaking to the player. I think you might have better luck if you pull the player aside, speak to him privately, and express your concern that he is affecting the game in an adverse fashion, infringing on the enjoyment had by others. Also I would express your concerns about the impression on the new players. Taking a more adverserial tack is likely to create more tension at the table, and could leave a bad taste in your new players' mouths.

 

[ced1106]

Use it as a plot hook. PC steals from NPC, NPC tosses a Geas or Quest on him. Part of the Geas / Quest is that everyone but the PC gets a share of the loot.

Killing's so 2e. 3e has all those useful non-lethal damage rules. Think "101 Things to do with an Unconscious Hobbit"!


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^

 

[Airwolf]

Re: Re: Re: Halfling PC behaving like Kender

And generally I agree, Tom. But in this case, two of the players are new to role playing, so I'm a bit worried about the impression they'll get of the game. I don't want either of them to feel picked on by another player.

...

I agree this could be a problem for new players.
I would suggest that you talk to the new players OoC and let them know that their characters are free to take any action they see fit to stop the thieving. Let them know its okay to roll play anger and aggression towards the halfling when he steals from them.

I also agree with several other posters, let the group roll play the situation. If the character gets caught and jailed or killed, so be it.

 

[Gizzard]

I would suggest that you talk to the new players OoC and let them know that their characters are free to take any action they see fit to stop the thieving. Let them know its okay to roll play anger and aggression towards the halfling when he steals from them.

Considering that all the players have already let this guy off the hook three times I'd think the DM would want to mention this to the group in general.

Basically, in some campaigns, PK'ing is bad form regardless of what motivates it. (I can understand this -- if you think one player being an annoying jerk can divide a play group, you haven't seen what a PK can do. ;-) Anyway, it seems that Buttercup has no problem with letting fate take its course with this player and she should express that (privately) to everyone. Especially as 2 of the 5 incidents of pickpocketing involved NPCs, perhaps the play group is confused - "Well, the DM didn't jack the Kender for stealing so maybe we should follow that lead."

 

[Fenes 2]

IMHO, your right to roleplay your character ends where it detracts from me enjoying the game. Gaming is a social activity, if someone's action hamper the fun of the rest he has to stop.

I don't deal with such problems in-game, I reason it out face to face.

 

[Olive]

it actually sounds ckinda fun to me, but since it obviously isn't i'm not sure what i'd do. Maybe the player doesn't mind if he gets killed, as long as he;'s roll plyign the PC properly? But make sure of that cos just as you don't want to alienate the new players, you probably don't want to alienate the old one either.

Also: make sure it's not just your husband who's annoyed. Sometimes (in my experience) having your partner play can lead to you getting a skewed view of party dynamics from the players perspective.

I'd see how it plays out myself, talk to the other players, and amke sure the kender reaslises that there are consequences for actions.

One more think: not wanting to turn this into an alignment issue, but killing someone for stealing three coppers seems a tad extreme to me... couldn't the party just exile the PC and warn him that they'll tell the watch if he shows up again? Makes an interesting NPC and a new PC for the player.

 

[Cedric]

Kill him...quick, fast and without mercy.

If I catch a character in the same party I'm in with his hand in my pocket, ..unless I'm playing someone lawful good AND forgiving...I'm going to kill him.

Cedric

 

[Tiefling]

What's the party's motivation for keeping this guy around?