OOTS - The Players

[Seonaid]

I'm beginning to think that Miko is being played by a friend of the GM's. At first, the group was willing to trust her and even really liked her, but then the Devious Plotting of the GM was revealed. I don't know about you, but most of the groups I've played with in no way, shape, or form trust NPCs, but have a guest player and they're willing to listen to anything that person says.

 

[DaveyJones]

I'm beginning to think that Miko is being played by a friend of the GM's. At first, the group was willing to trust her and even really liked her, but then the Devious Plotting of the GM was revealed. I don't know about you, but most of the groups I've played with in no way, shape, or form trust NPCs, but have a guest player and they're willing to listen to anything that person says.

not just friend. SO/wife.

there are many pages of threads on the DM's girlfriend/SO/wife problem.

 

[Seonaid]

See, I was thinking that, but Miko seems to be fairly consistent. I would expect the SO to be less zealous. But since we know the GM is a railroader, the way Miko is being played makes sense. I'm willing to bet that Miko's guest player is a fairly consistent gamer.

 

[Voadam]

Actually, next to Charisma, intelligence is the best bard stat.

Debatable. They get plenty of skill points and have a general knowledge class feature so they are not really hurt by low int.

Dex and Con to keep them from being hit and to help them survive when they inevitably do are also good for a bard to have, particularly if he gets anywhere near physical combat.

 

[LordVyreth]

I'm actually of the theory that the entirety of the OotS is completely DM and player-less. That is, the entire OotS-verse was created based on the expectations a D&D game's universe requires: an obvious disparity between PCs and NPCs, plot railroading, adventure hooks appearing out of nowhere, etc., but from the perspective of intelligent beings stuck living in such a universe. I could be wrong, but I suspect we won't see an answer until the absolute last strip, if ever, either way.

 

[DaveyJones]

Agreed. Now, a lousy Wisdom is pretty common for a bard.

you are confusing the player with the character.

the only option for the bard class is not to play one.

 

[Victim]

Debatable. They get plenty of skill points and have a general knowledge class feature so they are not really hurt by low int.

Plenty of skill points is questionable. While the bard class does receive a large number of skill points, especially compared to other core classes, it also has a high demand for skills. A bard's 6 points don't go very far in covering all the things you'd want a bard to do. Take Perform (because you need it) and Concentration, and then the bard only has 4 base skill points left - say enough for social skills. He can't really be a backup scout, no knowledge, movement, tricky/weird stuff (Sleight of Hand, Forgery). Many of those checks are opposed, so it's harder to get by with a few ranks here and there. A ranger can get Spot, Listen, Hide, MS, and Survival and still have 1 point left over to add some movement skills or Handle Animal - they can cover most ranger-ly things without extra skill points.

Plus that general knowledge feature is an INT based check.

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Also, Elan's player gets to playtest the DM's houseruled, ridiculously over-powered Prestige Class: The Dashing Swordsman.

This sort of fits with the casual player theory- essentially, the DM had to come up with a tailored prestige class to get the character back up to snuff with the rest of the party.

As for Belkar, a high-level ranger with TWF and a dip into barbarian says to me that the character was trying to make a Drizzt clone, the DM put his foot down, and the player just changed races to halfling instead...

 

[Wolfwood2]

I'm actually of the theory that the entirety of the OotS is completely DM and player-less. That is, the entire OotS-verse was created based on the expectations a D&D game's universe requires: an obvious disparity between PCs and NPCs, plot railroading, adventure hooks appearing out of nowhere, etc., but from the perspective of intelligent beings stuck living in such a universe. I could be wrong, but I suspect we won't see an answer until the absolute last strip, if ever, either way.

In principle I agree, but since it's all imaginary anyway I'm willing to go along with, "If OotS had players, what would the players be like?"

Belkar - Player wants to be a hack and slasher, but whenever it comes to character building stuff is unable to resist the temptation to go with what is cool over what is effective. DM agreed to let him play an evil character on the grounds that it would be funny. I'd guess the hate-on for Miko isn't a roleplaying thing either, as the player is just venting an out of game hate.

Roy - I'd bet that Roy's player usually plays spellcasters and is deliberately going against type by playing a pure fighter. He probably considers himself a pretty smart, tactical player and took the high intelligence so he'd always have an excuse for plans. Despite the PC not having many social skill ranks, the player is a good talker and does well right up until the DM makes him roll the dice. I'd gues he's a reliable player the DM has known a long time, so the DM felt confident hanging the main plot of the campaign off him. I'm not absolutely sure, but it's possible that Roy's father is based off a previous PC the player had.

Elan - I'm inclined to agree that the player is somewhat smarter than his PC and is deliberately playing a somewhat stupid bard because he thinks it's funny. He wrote the "evil twin" into his backstory and dared the DM to use it. Wasn't taking the game very seriously until he got interested in the romance subplot.

Durkin - Durkin's player probably hasn't played many RPGs. He's still a little reluctant to speak at times, gets confused about what the spells do and how to stack bonuses (but the DM goes easy on him), and a lot of the time likes fading into the background.

Vaarsuvius - I agree with the earlier poster that V's player is a power-gamer who loves blowing things up. He's also not nearly as good at planning as Roy's player is.

Haley - Haley's player is a 1E veteran and still thinks he's playing the "thief" class. (Though he does bother to back it up with IC motivation.) I think possibly he was absent for a few sessions so the DM stretch the 'not able to talk' (which originally was only supposed to last one session) out a lot longer so as not to have to have the character say anything.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I think V is an ineffective powergamer, at least in "standard" combats. Seriously, cast a defensive spell for once!

Whenever I play a mage, I don't expect the PC fighter to defend me from ghasts.