How much do effort do you put into character assumption?

[Matt_Rourke]

I don't think someone who plays in the style of a 10 response has to be a campaign killer. A lot of that depends on how the character was designed before the campaign, and how well the character's goals fit the campaign.

For instance, if a character has a very specific goal and will not deviate from it, that will not work well for a campaign with a lot of side quests. If a character is totally devoted to money (aka Haley from OotS), that will not work well for a campaign that requires altruism to make it work.

If a DM knows he has a player that is 100% in character all the time, then the DM has to make sure that either a) the character chosen will work in his or her campaign, or b) the campaign designed will work with that character.

Personally, I like characters who play 100% in character, because I can design scenarios for them that call for challenging choices on the part of that character, and I can predict to a certain extent how those characters will react at any given time. I feel it allows for a more interesting and fun gaming experience.

In PBEM campaigns I've played in, this has lead to parties that have split in two, lone characters that have gone off to return later, and other things that are far easier to handle over email than in person. I mean, a lone player on a scouting mission can be handled simultaneously with a party dealing with some totally unrelated encounter - without either group knowing what is happening with the other. Makes for some interesting flexibility, I must say.

I much prefer characters who are 100% in character though, as opposed to metagamers who know all the rules and have their characters make decisions based on what they read in Dragon Magazine last month.

 

[Arnwyn]

Given the scale parameters in the OP, I'd have to say 4. Our group definitely considers it more a "game" than some sort of 'acting' experience.

 

[shilsen]

I voted 10. I always do what the character would do. However, since no character is absolutely set in stone, that means I usually have a fair amount of freedom in my decision of what the character would do. And I invariably go with the option that is simultaneously best for the game (not necessarily the PC) and the group.

Anyone who screws over the campaign and other PCs and uses the argument "But this is what my character would do!" isn't trying hard enough.

 

[sniffles]

I voted 7. I try to do what the character would do as often as possible, but if the character's behavior as I imagine it would interfere with another player's enjoyment of the game in a significant way, I usually put the game before the character.

For example, if my character is a thief but I know another player would be really upset by my character stealing from their character, I won't do it.

I usually won't have my character choose a course of action that would obviously get the entire party into serious danger, if I know that danger might otherwise have been avoided.

I won't have my character choose a course of action that will cause my character to be separated from the party for an extended period of time if I think that will create a hardship for the GM.

But each situation has to be evaulated based on what players are in the group and what the tone of the campaign is.

 

[Slander]

I threw in a 6. I try and stay in character with my actions and choices. But most of the other players in my game are 2's and 3's, so I yield to peer pressure to keep things fun for everyone and moving along.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I voted 9. All in character actions are dictated by what the character would do in that circumstance unless it would be actively detdrimental to the game itself. Not the character, mind you, but the game. Unless, of course, the group doesn't mind.

 

[Lanefan]

I put 8...this from someone who has, in character as Lanefan, roleplayed himself right out of a game on a few occasions...

Lanefan

 

[Terwox]

I voted a 4.

Somewhat often in a game, I'll just stop and say -- wait, my character wouldn't go along with that. Help me figure out a plausible reason my character is going with you all and not stopping the game. (Of course, there are times I'll have my character say "that's a bad idea" or whatever. But there are quite a few times where my character would say "That's a bad idea, let's do this" while I as a player would rather get on with the more enjoyable parts of the game.)

A 10 is the person who would refuse to go. I hate split party, so I'd rather make something up.

I've had my characters make incredibly stupid decisions, though, because of problems my characters have had. I think a LOT about who my character is and what they would do, but the group having fun comes 100% before being true to my character.

 

[Sammael]

I voted 7 (as did a lot of others apparently). I do my best to roleplay my characters according to their personalities, abilities, and skills, but I am ready to compromise if in-character actions would detriment the game, cause unnecessary conflict within the party, or mean certain death for my character.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I voted 8, I pretty much do what my character would do, not what I know is best or what the DM wants me to do. That said I keep in mind that it is just a game and won't do something that will detract significantly from another player/DMs fun.

I've sent characters into certain death situations before, one of these times I just might make it out