Perverse Incentives

[Savage Wombat]

One of the things that has stopped me from trying to run a humorous, "Order of the Stick" -like game, has been the fact that the tone of sarcastic humor has to come primarily from the players, not the GM.

And getting players to be funny on demand can be difficult.

My proposed solution: Perverse Incentive cards.

Every session, each player draws a card at random. The card says something like:

"Start an argument (in character) with another PC. 100 xp."

"Ask a bizarre question of another PC. 100 xp if he answers, 200 xp if he gets confused."

"Make a humorous remark about another PCs character. 50 xp per character that laughs."

You could also have the GM draw one each game, and reward the first player that accidentally stumbles on the correct role-playing action.

You'd need good role-players, of course - ones that wouldn't take this sort of thing personally.

What do you all think?

 

[Doomhawk]

It would be fun, but you'd need a massive deck full of creative ideas to keep it from getting boring after a few sessions.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

That sounds like a really good idea. Hrm ...

Could we start coming up with an expanded list?

 

[blargney the second]

Pick one other PC, and do a theme song for them. 25 XP per time, up to three times.

Get another PC to do something for you that they're not good at or are normally disinclined to do. 100 XP

Use a piece of mundane equipment to embarass or cause irritation to another PC. 100 XP

 

[dog45]

Delay your actions in life or death situations for a more cinematic feel. 200 xp

 

[Thurbane]

One of the things that has stopped me from trying to run a humorous, "Order of the Stick" -like game, has been the fact that the tone of sarcastic humor has to come primarily from the players, not the GM.

And getting players to be funny on demand can be difficult.

My proposed solution: Perverse Incentive cards.

Every session, each player draws a card at random. The card says something like:

"Start an argument (in character) with another PC. 100 xp."

"Ask a bizarre question of another PC. 100 xp if he answers, 200 xp if he gets confused."

"Make a humorous remark about another PCs character. 50 xp per character that laughs."

You could also have the GM draw one each game, and reward the first player that accidentally stumbles on the correct role-playing action.

You'd need good role-players, of course - ones that wouldn't take this sort of thing personally.

What do you all think?

Sounds like a bl**dy fantastic idea to me! Consider this idea yoinked!

 

[Thurbane]

"Work the name Honkin Foddypeak into an in-character conversation. 100 xp."

"Attack an opponent with a frying pan, table leg or other improvised weapon. 100 xp"

"Have your character 'hit on' the next NPC they encounter. 100 xp; 200 xp if it is an especially bizarre NPC for the character to flirt with"

"Have your character get roaring drunk at a wildly inapproriate point. Alernatively, if your character is already a spirit swilling Dwarf type, have him go the whole session without a single drink. 100 xp."

"Ask a stupid (OOC) question about a dungeon that the module has no answer for. 50xp."

"Get a Paladin to question his moral Code. 200 xp."

 

[Savage Wombat]

"Tell the group that you need to attend to a problem normally ignored in the game - eating, caring for equipment, or finding a restroom. Insist that everyone stop what they're doing while you deal with the problem. 100 xp, or 200 if you can make them solve the problem for you (find a restroom, provide food, etc.)"

 

[Felix]

Produce a convincing argument why the party should let you kill a PC. 200xp

 

[Land Outcast]

"Go replace munadne equipment, insisting that it is really worn out and that at the next step your backpack/sheath/boots will be completly torn out. 100 xp"

"Insist in getting a bath. 50 xp, 100 xp if you get a paid-for bath"