PC-cide

[Shadowdancer]

I play in a science fiction d20 PBeM game that has been going for more than a year. During that time, we have had players come and go, but most of the characters have remained constant. New players take over existing characters when they join. This has worked out pretty well, until recently. A new player is playing one of the established characters in a way that is vastly different from the original character, and in a way the other players do not like.

More to the point, the new player now has the character acting in such a way that my character would probably kill him, even though we are in a cooperative group and have been working together as a team for some time. This other character is in the process of betraying the trust of all the other PCs, and my character -- from his background -- would not let something like that go without killing the other character (think "The Godfather," or "The Sopranos," or any Quentin Tarantino film).

I've never played in a game before in which one PC kills another PC, for whatever reason, but I do know that it happens. I was wondering what other people's feelings and opinions are on the subject. As a player, I'm loath to do it, but as far as playing my character properly, I'm finding it difficult to justify not killing the other character.

 

[John Crichton]

Ugh. I hate situations like this.

Mine was different than yours, but definately a circumstance where my character would kill another PC. I decided to do it (mind you, the player of this PC had caused the death of previous characters of mine) and it was no fun. Okay, it was fun for like 2 seconds then it just sucked the life right out of the game.

My suggestion: find a way to work it out. Talk with the GM, talk with the player if you have to. Maybe by telling the GM what your feelings are he can finesse things so your character won't feel compelled to kill the other character.

Depending on the situation, maybe just a "close call" could be in order - in game. I would, at all costs, try a workaround in the interest of dragging the game down. This is especially true if the players are all friends.

 

[Ottergame]

You shouldn't expect a player to be able to play someone elses character just like the original player did. Kill off the character and let that player create something he likes.

 

[John Crichton]

... or just ask the player to make a new character and retire the one he didn't create. *shrugs*

 

[Hypersmurf]

I've had a character have his throat cut by another PC. While being grappled and pinned by two more.

The game died not long after that.

-Hyp.

 

[Shadowdancer]

You shouldn't expect a player to be able to play someone elses character just like the original player did. Kill off the character and let that player create something he likes.

Well, we don't expect the character to be played just like the original player did. But this isn't even in the same ballpark. Make that the same national park.

The new player has the character doing something that will expose a secret mission we've been on -- him included. It's not illegal, but there are third parties involved who are trying to stop us. If this is all exposed, it will cause problems for the PC party as well as some very important and powerful NPCs. Lots of money, and reputations, are at stake. People (PCs and NPCs) could get killed.

 

[John Crichton]

Well, we don't expect the character to be played just like the original player did. But this isn't even in the same ballpark. Make that the same national park.

The new player has the character doing something that will expose a secret mission we've been on -- him included. It's not illegal, but there are third parties involved who are trying to stop us. If this is all exposed, it will cause problems for the PC party as well as some very important and powerful NPCs. Lots of money, and reputations, are at stake. People (PCs and NPCs) could get killed.

Sounds like the GM should have just made that PC an NPC. The new player should have made a new character. Too late now, I guess.

 

[Shadowdancer]

Sounds like the GM should have just made that PC an NPC. The new player should have made a new character. Too late now, I guess.

I guess in hindsight he should have. However, the character was liked by everyone else, and had been played by two previous players with no problems. They weren't exactly the same, but in the same general mode. Now the new player has come in, and he's not even trying to follow any of the character's established traits.

 

[John Crichton]

I guess in hindsight he should have. However, the character was liked by everyone else, and had been played by two previous players with no problems. They weren't exactly the same, but in the same general mode. Now the new player has come in, and he's not even trying to follow any of the character's established traits.

Oh, yuck. Or bad luck, I should say. Did anyone have previous dealings with the player taking over? I once had a guy take over a beloved PC. He did an ok job but it just wasn't the same. Interesting situation gone bad is what it sounds like to me.

I'll still stick with my above advise, tho. Killing other PCs is the easiest way to end a good game.

 

[Beale Knight]

I guess in hindsight he should have. However, the character was liked by everyone else, and had been played by two previous players with no problems. They weren't exactly the same, but in the same general mode. Now the new player has come in, and he's not even trying to follow any of the character's established traits.

Could it be that the player's not all that happy player a pre-established PC, and he's looking to get killed off so he can play something else?

I think John's point about the character (and campaign) best being served by that character being made an NPC is dead on. Unless it were for a one shot or special occasion, I'd feel uncomfortable trying to play a long established PC as I entered a new campagin.

Have you spoken OOC with the player about what he's doing?