HTE 2: Character Control

[The Grumpy Celt]

All the talk about “High Trust Environment” in gaming has made me wonder about some related topics.

What do you, as a player, do when you do not like (approve, agree with, whatever) how another player is running their own character?

The flip side; what do you do when another player is at least trying to push you around, and/or control your character?

What do you, as a Game Master, do when you do not like (approve, agree with, whatever) how a player in your game is running their character? Do they have the right to resist your intervention?

The flip side; what do you do when the Game Master is trying to push you around, and/or control your character? Do you have the right to resist?

Is your only recourse to quit?

If not, what are your other options (besides obedience)?

 

[the Jester]

Well, there are two possible issues.

If I don't approve of how someone is playing their character because they are breaking the rules, then (as a gm) I step in and point out the error and explain options for fixing it.

I I don't approve of their roleplaying or whatnot, I accept that they are playing their character, and realize that it isn't my place to intervene- unless they are ruining the whole group's fun, in which case I have a talk with them about it.

 

[roguerouge]

Say, "Dude," to the offending player. Vary your inflection of this magic word to eloquently communicate your attitude towards their behavior. Await their response of "Dude," which will invariably reflect their world view. Repeat.

 

[roguerouge]

More seriously, I evaluate my response based on whether I feel they can do better than what they're doing or if they simply don't know any better. Some people should simply be in war gaming instead of roleplaying, frankly. If it's serious, I tend to call them on it in character.

 

[Jeysie]

If someone's character is causing a disruption to the whole group, we usually talk to the person, explain how the rest of us feel there's a problem, and discuss a compromise.

Usually this works out OK, though in one case we had to let a player go because her idea of what made for fun RP unfortunately didn't mesh with everyone else's (plus she didn't seem to like any of us socially, either, which didn't help).

Peace & Luv, Liz

 

[Belbarid]

All the talk about “High Trust Environment” in gaming has made me wonder about some related topics.

What do you, as a player, do when you do not like (approve, agree with, whatever) how another player is running their own character?

First, I let it fester over the course of several games, usually punctuated by a lot of glaring. Then, at some point, I do something ridiculously passive-aggressive. That'll learn 'em.

Seriously, not much. I find that annoying people are a part of life- likely they exist in fantasy worlds as well.

The flip side; what do you do when another player is at least trying to push you around, and/or control your character?

Assuming you mean that someone out of character tries to decide how to play my character for me, or unduely influence my decisions, bad things happen then.

Assuming you mean in-character interactions, it depends on my character. The other character might get ignored. Or there might be a lot of yelling. Depends.

What do you, as a Game Master, do when you do not like (approve, agree with, whatever) how a player in your game is running their character? Do they have the right to resist your intervention?

As long as the players are actually roleplaying, I'm happy to let the players sort out these things.

The flip side; what do you do when the Game Master is trying to push you around, and/or control your character? Do you have the right to resist?

Is your only recourse to quit?

No, but I will anyway. Sign of a bad DM, and I am not a Betty Ford clinic for micromanaging DMs.

 

[Wik]

If another player is running his character in a way I disagree with... I either mention something like "is that what sir X would do?", or I respond to it in character. If my PC and his PC don't get along, they don't get along. I'm lucky in that I pretty much only play with my friends, so there's no personality conflicts at the table that are that big - most conflicts are only in character.

Now, if someone tries to push me around, I just sort of ignore it. This happened at the Worldwide D&D gameday two months ago. Someone tried to gimme hell for not using my Paladin's Detect Evil, and kept mentioning to the GM that I was using it. I just kind of said "Look, I didn't say I was using it, so I'm not. It's not a big deal, but thanks for reminding me. I might use it next encounter". and then I purposefully didn't use it until absolutely necessary.

It also happens when someone says something like "And Wik will go search for traps over there" - though usually it's just because they know I'd do that anyways, and are trying to make things easier for the GM. But when I'm ordered to do something by another gamer... ugh.

Now, as a GM, if I see a PC being annoying, I pretty much only intervene if it's ruining the game for everyone else. And lately, I've found that with one player (who is a nice guy, but LOVES having the spotlight) I keep cutting in and mentioning how his behaviour is actually harming the group. Really, though, I rely on the rest of the group keeping him in check, rather than anything I actively do. (Also, if he's about to do something stupid that'll screw over the party, I pretend I don't hear him and let one of the other players act first. It's juvenile, but it keeps the game going)

If a GM tries to push me around, well... rail-roading happens. I take it for a bit, and if it gets really bad, I try to get off the beaten path. If it seems I'm stuck on the trail, but I like the group I'm with - I either keep playing (depends on how fun the game group is), or I suggest we play Munchkin or something silly next session. If I don't like the group, I say "Look at the time", and leave.

If he tries to control my PC, I let him, and read a book, or access gaming materials he has that I don't, and generally stop paying attention to the game. I mean, I'm not really needed, am I?

 

[Kahuna Burger]

If a person is playing the game in a way that makes the game less fun for me, that is a problem for me. The fact that they are "playing their character" as the avenue for that behaviour is irrelevant. What I do about that depends on how well I know the person, how much of a disruption it's causing and how persistent it is. Dealing with it in character is actually my least favored option, if it's a problem for me, the player, I need to let the other player know that.

Now, if it's just a matter of a "suboptimal" character use that isn't effecting my overall enjoyment of the game, I might give some out of character advice once, but if they have a schtick that they want to use, good on them.

It's taken a while to reach this point, but to me, a person who is playing an obstructionist, annoying character is no different an issue than a player who is annoying me by answering the rule clarification / judgment call questions I have addressed to the DM. I'll let it go a couple of times, try to gently indicate my displeasure and then just let the player know that it is annoying me.

I'm not very open to DMs stating what my character does, so I would tend to call that out and address it at the first incident. Certainly I have an option besides leaving the game, I can tell the DM that I would prefer s/he not do that and continue playing. A person who ignores my clear request (or can't give me a good argument to change my mind on the issue) isn't a person to game with whether they are the DM or not. (Then again, I don't have the "DM owns the group and game" mindset many do, based on prior threads.)

 

[Mallus]

What do you, as a player, do when you do not like (approve, agree with, whatever) how another player is running their own character?

I try not to think of it terms of "approving" or "disapproving", rather I separate other players/characters into "entertaining" and "not entertaining", and what I usually do is nothing; other people have a right to their own fun.

The flip side; what do you do when another player is at least trying to push you around, and/or control your character?

This is a different case. I'm fond of the old J.S. Mill chestnut, "Your rights end where mine begin". If I'm being entertained by the bossy player, I'd have fun and respond in character, making a game of it. Otherwise I'd let the player know their behavior was bothering me and ask them politely to stop. If they didn't, I'd consider leaving. I wouldn't want to socialize with a person not well-enough socialized to respect a polite request.

What do you, as a Game Master, do when you do not like (approve, agree with, whatever) how a player in your game is running their character? Do they have the right to resist your intervention?

I make an honest attempt at respecting the way others play the game. So again, I do nothing except try and find a compromise between our different play styles. I suppose if a player was hell bent on not cooperating with me, and simply wanted to run and obstructionist character at odds with the rest of the group (I've noticed this game brings out ugly power issues in some people...), I'd discuss with them whether they were a good fit for the campaign.

The flip side; what do you do when the Game Master is trying to push you around, and/or control your character? Do you have the right to resist?

I try to work with the DM/GM when it comes to the campaign narrative. If I'm being entertained, I'll accept a fairly large amount of DM "direction" (read: pushing around), if not, I'll state my objections. If they aren't heard, I'd bow out of the game.

Is your only recourse to quit?

Personally, I've never had to do it, but I pretty sure the answer to that is "yes".

If not, what are your other options (besides obedience)?

Communication is always the first and best option. If it's not available, I think you really have to ask yourself what you're doing with that group of people.