How much do effort do you put into character assumption?

[Glyfair]

When playing, how much effort and importance do you put into character assumption? Assume that a 10 means that when playing you are at least 95% in character, only making decisions the character would make. You are unconcerned with what is most fun for the other players at the table, the better tactical decision because of the rules, etc.

1 would mean that you never consider your character as anything other than a gaming piece you are moving through the game. 5-6 means you make decisions based on your character often, but are just as likely to use other factors (players at the table, lateness of the game, etc.) in your decisions in character.

 

[SWAT]

I voted 9. I've received the comment that it feels as if I'm not in control of my characters. That they just do what they want regardless of anything I have to say about it. I'd say that's a good deal of character assumption.

And currently in d20 Modern, my character Matthew is on the verge of a relationship with an NPC. I came to my senses recently and last Friday told the DM that I don't play roleplaying games to roleplay relationships, so I wouldn't be following up on that plot point. The DM asked me how Matthew felt about that, if he would really make the decision to be alone for the rest of his life. Well that sure brought on a guilt trip. And when the time comes, I don't know if I'll be able to go through with it, to make a non-plausible in character decision based on my enjoyment of the game. Doesn't my character deserve love and happiness?
...
Do I need help?

 

[Glyfair]

Do I need help?

Maybe

I admit the sample size is small now, but I didn't expect that many 10's. I expected it to tend towards the higher numbers, but in my experience 10's are "I'm in the game for myself, and don't care who else is having fun." They tend to take roleplaying to the level that any influence outside the game world is wrong, and often kill campaigns because they feel its what the character would choose.

 

[Herobizkit]

I'm about a 5. Half the time I'm deep in character, the other I'm trying to keep the character alive.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

in my experience 10's are "I'm in the game for myself, and don't care who else is having fun." They tend to take roleplaying to the level that any influence outside the game world is wrong, and often kill campaigns because they feel its what the character would choose.

This has been my experience too, but I wouldn't presume to say that all folks who favor in-character rationale think this way.

I sometimes make decisions based on character. My current character, a paladin, does not barter with his church for discounts, because he feels it would be disloyal to the Church to try and dicker for extra gold beyond fair market value. He's also grown a bit biased against another god's Church, which may cause some minor friction in the party. He trusts the halfling thief, because thus-far the halfling thief has never stolen from the party.

But in the end, I value our gaming experience more than the verisimilitude of the character. I'm not writing a novel here, nor acting in a Broadway play. My gaming isn't art. It's entertainment, and therefore the entertainment of the group is more important than any other factor.

So before the game even starts, I try and devise a character that will be harmonious in the party. Then I will make character-focused decisions so long as it doesn't impact my or others' fun. When it gets to that point, the character development loses out over our fun.

 

[Teflon Billy]

4-ish.

I don't really spend a lot of time staunchly "Staying in character".

I mean, I try and do what the character would do, and I roleplay out dialogue scenes, but for the most part I am at the game to have a few drinks, goof around with my friends and socialize.

"Deep immersion" roleplaying doesn't lend itself well to our style of play in my experience, and is not something I've appreciated the times I've seen it/been involved with it.

I mean, the game shouldn't always be about "winning the Oscar"...sometimes you just want to roll some dice and move minis around

 

[Gold Roger]

I'm a solid seven.

I'm no super deep immersive roleplayer and sometimes I just can't think on my foot enough to do exactly what my character would do.

So while I don't "become" my character at the table, every in game decision and action, from negotiations to combat are always based on my characters personality and as in character as possible. Only when I think there's two possible courses of action I base my decision on metagaming.

 

[Jedi_Solo]

A 7 or 8.

I have made decisions that caused some chaos in the party (woo hoo!!!) that I think a character would do but nothing that has destroyed a campaign or outright gotten another character killed (well, outside of what turned out to a be a poor tacticle move in combat, or similar).

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I voted a 7 could maybe have been a 6. I like assuming a role in character and have fairly developed motivations and personalities for my characters that I try to stay in as much as possible. However given the parmeters of what 10 is I could never be one as I always try to keep other people involved and make sure they are having fun too. I don't think I could be so self centered as to ruin other people's fun as the expense of my own (as the Op implies by the definition of a 10 in this poll).

 

[ken-ichi]

I was actually kind of surprised that I honestly had to answer a 4.
Every once in a while I make a choice or act based purely on the character.
In my earlier gaming years I would probably have rated a 7-8. I think a lot of the result depends on who you are playing with. My current group is more tactical, wargamey oriented. We mainly play modules so there is not so much character driven adventures.
My previous group was much more free form and character driven. I am not sure if I personally have changed in how I like to play or if I have just adapted to the attitude of the rest of the group.