Just because he's a PC?

[jaded]

Last session a player lost a character, new PC time.

Now the party is neutral tending to vindictive and the is DM being relativley strict about languages and regional dialects in this campaign (which is actually turning out to be rather cool).

Given this, the player has come up with a new PC - a Goliath from a distant mountain that has no common language with the party, not even "tradespeak".

Now sure, we all have the right to play the characters that we want, but where do you draw line in-character about letting another join the party?

As far as I can tell, the goliath has at least 10 intelligence but hasn't spent skill points on languages because he needs tham all for earliest possible prestige class entry (some ice giant thing from Frostburn I think).

The current PC's are a starting to get annoyed at an 8" goliath following them round like a stray puppy. It's likely that the goliath (we can't even ask his name) will be left behind, or if he is more insistent about it, killed.

Should we let him join just because he's a PC?

 

[Crothian]

No, but talk to the player and the DM out of game and ask that the PC move skill points so he can talk to you. If not tell them both that he will be left behind.

 

[scourger]

Sick!

Let me guess, the player wants to play this Goliath for the cool benefits of the race or class or whatever; and clearly wants not to "waste" skill points in something "useless" like Speak Language. Sick. The player should have to play with ear plugs or something else to keep from being able to understand what is going on. Why would the other players take on this liability? It's not even cool like Antonio Banderas' character learning the nordic language in The Thirteenth Warrior since this player apparently has no interest in ever learning a common tongue.

Drop 'em.

 

[Piratecat]

Alternatively, make him spend some of his starting money on a "translator" magic item.

 

[Greylock]

10 INT? That barely meets the threshold of sentience!

Really, the group should make amends, and include him. Language is more than words. My group has taken in a cast-off Barbarian elf with nothing of note upstairs (maybe 5 INT?). After some 9 or 10 sessions, he is the soul of the party.

Of course, the elf thinks my character rocks the world, but that has nothing to do with this...

 

[painandgreed]

Actually, I like the idea of an 8" goliath walking around with the party and nobody understanding a word either says. Reminds me of Seven Samurai where the 7th samurai is following everybody. They were annoyed and even threw rocks at him and such until he proved his worth by understanding the peasants where the samurai couldn't. In this case, it would probably be some combat that the party is a little over their heads when a enraged barbarian shows up to the rescue. Then he'll just be that big guy who stands in the back and attacks anything that we attack. Role playing wise, such characters usually shine or flop and you can tell in a few sessions. Give it a chance and if it doesn't work, simply let the PC make a new character and give it the experince the barbarian earned and say the barbarian wandered off. The true test will be when they actually can talk to the barbarian and find out why he is following them around. "I was bored" doesn't make for a good story but if it was something like "The village wise woman who had the spirit sight looked into my soul and saw my future. She told me I had to wander till I saw (describe something about the party) and then I must protect them with my life because they will eventually save my tribe." Follow that up with a trip to the region he is in and some adventure which saves the tribe and you have a story. I'm sure the DM and the player could come up with something else more relavent to the campaign however.

 

[Kilmore]

I would have a talk with the player away from the game and tell him straight out that even though the other players are willing to work with him, there is no reason for your characters to let him hang around unless there's some way that he can be of use to you. Sorry, but your characters are a bunch of jerks like that. Then discuss how you can get him into the game.

 

[Dungeonmaster P]

As people have already said above it all depends on the rest of the group. If You all don´t approve of the PC... Well he has to make a new one. Gaming should be fun for all involoved. And not being dragged down by one bad player or character concept.

 

[Greylock]

Now the party is neutral tending to vindictive and the is DM being relativley strict about languages and regional dialects in this campaign...

This campaign sounds like it precludes most non-core, non-high INT chars. How does a low-skill, non-language-learning class fit in? Say, any fighter-based low-level char?

 

[jaded]

Really, the group should make amends, and include him. Language is more than words. My group has taken in a cast-off Barbarian elf with nothing of note upstairs (maybe 5 INT?). After some 9 or 10 sessions, he is the soul of the party.

The soul of the party currently is a half-orc bard 3/ barabarian 1 with 6 Int, but he can speak all the languages.

The characters starting cash was virtually all blown on an heirloom-style ice-material large greataxe. Plus "translator items" would probably dent the feel of the strict language rules.

I guess my beef is that the player appears to be making no concession to the characters or players as they stand and is just relying on the "but I'm a PC, this is my character, you must accept me" fiat.

Which grates on me. Surely there has to be a bit of give and take?