In RPGs, Should PCs Be Better Than NPCs By Default?

[Mark]

Sounds pretty Mary Sue to me.

Which can lead to the wearing of Maggie's drawers . . .

 

[el-remmen]

By default no.

But depending on the context of and style of the campaign, yes.

word.

 

[Kid Socrates]

I voted "yes," although I had to really think about it, and I still don't know how well it represents my stance. I think the PCs should be better than Joe NPC down at the shipyard, but not better than Evil McBadGuy. I think they should be able to defeat Evil McBadGuy when Evil comes calling for the final showdown, that should be within their power -- but I don't think they should be intrinsically "better." I also don't think Joe Shipyard should be able to kill them and take their stuff, should he take leave of his senses and try.

My two classes of NPCs have confused my response.

 

[Ranger REG]

I am fairly surprised at the poll results. Do you guys have level 7 City Guardsmen frequently outfight your fighters? Sounds pretty Mary Sue to me.

Meh. I'm a sadist. The first rule of roleplaying: don't come into the session with a swell head. Got so many players, newbies and veteran, having the notion they'll be heroes. Have to teach them the lesson hard.

Of course, some were offended and left -- but I already knew because of their Type-A egos and 'tudes -- but the others stayed to be victimized over and over again.

 

[Arnwyn]

I am fairly surprised at the poll results. Do you guys have level 7 City Guardsmen frequently outfight your fighters? Sounds pretty Mary Sue to me.

Because you're making unwarranted assumptions that have no basis with the original question.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Meh. I'm a sadist. The first rule of roleplaying: don't come into the session with a swell head. Got so many players, newbies and veteran, having the notion they'll be heroes. Have to teach them the lesson hard.

Of course, some were offended and left -- but I already knew because of their Type-A egos and 'tudes -- but the others stayed to be victimized over and over again.

See, we clearly differ. Because I want my players to know (and behave like) they're heroes from the beginning.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

Is it really that hard to pick one (more yes than no? more no than yes?) and explain in more detail in a reply?

Does anyone else find this odd?

If the answer is: "It depends.", then yes it is hard. I've stopped answering his polls because there's no point in my doing so since the poll answer is meaningless.

 

[Ibram]

As has been stated before, this is something of a tricky question.

Once a PC passes the 6-7th level mark he's probably better then most NPCs he'll encounter. Before that PCs have to be a bit cautious, town guards are usualy around 3-4th while more experienced / higher ranking characters will usualy top out at around 7th.

 

[Ranger REG]

See, we clearly differ. Because I want my players to know (and behave like) they're heroes from the beginning.

And I want my players to know that being heroes ain't no picnic, unless one can face adversity.

Kinda like the Kobayashi Maru scenario.

 

[ruleslawyer]

IMHO, confronting PCs with adversity and endowing PCs with special talents, skills, or destinies are hardly mutually exclusive. The Kobayashi Maru scenario may be a no-winner, but that doesn't mean that the Enterprise isn't the best of the best, or that Kirk isn't unconventionally brilliant.