New characters joining a group and issue of trust

[Harmon]

Recent events have left one of our groups with three fewer characters (2 hth combatants and a cleric- one NPC and two PCs). The two players without characters have made up new characters and are ready to add them to the group. Right now the group is between adventures resting up in a major town.

A bit of history- two of the characters have prices on their heads and know it, while the group was hunted by one very powerful mage they defeated him and the majority of his goons, thou there maybe others. So thinking- "we still might have enemies out there," is not just paranoid, its a possibility.

So I have been considering asking these new additions some questions while being Detect Thought-ed. I have a short list of questions that I think covers this fairly well, however, my thoughts are not about the questions so much as how they would be received.

In essence the interview will begin with all the- hi how are you doings, exchanging of names and pleasantries, followed by an explication of why the Detect Thoughts must be done, this will also be a warning to them.

So my question to you all is- how would you (a hopefully good aligned person) react to having someone question you while reading your thoughts looking for lies.

(Oh ya, resistance to the Detect Thoughts (refusal to submit, or not allowing it to occur) automatically classifies them as being untrustable and they will not be allowed into the group- meaning other characters will have to be made.)

 

[ElvishBard]

I wouldn't see a problem with having detect thoughts cast if they told me that they were going to do it. If they say no then that probably means they have something to hide.

 

[Crothian]

It would really depend on why I weas jioning your group. Or better yet, can I also ask you questions while casting my own detect thoughts? I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I'd be catious.

 

[Shallown]

I think there is a balance between the chartacters being realsitic and consistent to their personalities/situation and takinginto account that it is a game so the characters are suppose to "team up".

I would just let the player(s) know that the questioningis going to be there and that they need to create characters who would agree. Anything else waste everyone's time. If the player doesn't agree then it becomes a meta issue not a character issue. Just becuase you think your character thinks its reasonable doesn't mean someone else would agree.

I think that's reasonable and havbe had untrusting characters with justifiable paranioa and still let the fact its just a game make the character more accepting. Sometimes for no reason you meet people you trust. It can always be justified you just have to decide how much disruption is worth it.

later

 

[Voadam]

Depends what's the backstory for why they are joining the group?

We did a more thorough one when we expanded our party in the banewarrens because we had already been infiltrated by double agents in the past and knew there were shapechanger infiltration teams still out there who from an evil group who wanted us dead.

We had the paladin detect evil had them declare all their magic then I checked them out with a detect magic so that I could tell if there was any illusion magic active all the while with the fighter standing with a readied action with his big magical axe as we interviewed people the church got to volunteer to help us on our big quest against evil.

Also before the interview began I gave them the opportunity to fess up and surrender, explaining that we were doing magic checks on them and if we discovered they were evil we would immediately attack them.

All the new PCs knew they were signing up for dangerous duty with the church and that they would have to pass some magical tests but as the good volunteers they were they were game for it and it went well in roleplay and as an intro to the seriousness of what they were getting involved in.

Other circumstances would have been different.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

It would really depend on why I weas jioning your group. Or better yet, can I also ask you questions while casting my own detect thoughts? I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I'd be catious.

I agree with Crothian. If prospective team-mates told me that they had reason to be cautious, but were willing to extend the same courtesy to me that they were asking from me, i.e. they'd submit to a Detect Thoughts as well and allow me to ask some tough questions, I'd be all right with it. Basically, they'd be asking me for a guarantee of honesty, and offering one up themselves.

If they wanted me to submit to an interrogation, but were unwilling to submit to one themselves, I'd tell them what they could do with themselves. Probably any character I made.

 

[Harmon]

The questions would be laid out before hand- this is what I want to know.

One of the characters is seeking adventure, and wants to discover why her father was killed, while another is a "barbarian" from the far north seeking something that was stolen from his tribe. Both characters have had an adventure with one of the exsiting characters and she- for the most part, trusting of them.

A potion of Detect Thoughts could be purchased and the interrogator would willfully submit to questioning, during his interrogation or after (not before as his thoughts might seem a little to distrusting, be guarded and such as you can image the person could be looking for the right answers)

 

[Ferret]

I wouldn't mind being questioned, after finding out the reasoning, but If I was suspicious I'd not be allowed to enter? I might just follow you. It might be cool to have them stay and there be some animosity.

 

[Harmon]

The questions

- What languages do you speak?

- Are you working for any one right now? If so, who?

- What gods do you worship and how faithfully do you worship them?

- Would you consider betraying an ally for any reason?

- Have you ever heard the name XXXX? If so- where and by whom?

- Have you ever been to any monasteries or allied with them?

- Do you dislike any of the so-called civilized races? If so, which ones and why?

Only a couple of the questions are critical to the job being denied or filled by that character. Few will result in an immediate attack.

 

[fanboy2000]

I'd use Zone of Truth. Knowing someone is lieing is less useful than knowing the truth. I'd modify the questions to get around creative answers.

-How many languages do you speak? List them.
-Have you ever betrayed an ally?
-Can you think of a reason why you would betray an ally? If yes, what is it?

I'd keep the other questions the same.