D&D 5E Player consent required -spoilers for new adv book

[doctorbadwolf]

Does the adventure punish or penalize or grant benefits to those who do get transformed, though? If yes, then there's no opt-out - it'll work the same for everyone. And if no, then what's the point?

I have the same information you do, at this point.

The image in the OP says that the PC won’t lose out on any game benefits if they choose not to do the thing. Could go either way.

 

[mamba]

Does the adventure punish or penalize or grant benefits to those who do get transformed, though?

Nothing overly drastic

If yes, then there's no opt-out - it'll work the same for everyone. And if no, then what's the point?

creating atmosphere, scaring the characters / players, ...

 

[Micah Sweet]

@DarkCrisis
Lots of posts here and I couldn't read them all, but wanted to chime in that the warning could just be there to avoid another PR incident. It's not hard to imagine the unflattering social-networking conversations that would be flying around if they DIDN'T put the blurb in.

The strongly worded stance is obnoxious to me, but again, anything less would just give others holes to punch through to write a "Why WOTC's New Adventure Completely Disregards Player's Agency and Why that's Problematic" headline.

Avoiding another PR incident is more important to WotC than good design IMO. I'm pleasantly surprised the idea of PC transformation is in the adventure at all. Laying down the law must be the only way they'd let them do it.

 

[mamba]

The implication of that statement was "stop in the middle of the game and make sure they know they're going to turn into an illithid". They said nothing about session 0.

That is where I would be asking this nonetheless, but yes, you can ask up to chapter 4 (the last one without any effects)

"Before you use the character transformation rules presented in this section, check with each player to determine if they are open to their character experiencing physically transformative effects. A player will not miss game benefits if they choose not to use these rules for their character."

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well a character dies if they become a mind flayer 99.9 % of the time

Does character death have a sidebar from WotC demanding player consent?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Your inference of the meaning of that statement, you mean.

Of course! You think I'm talking about someone  else's inference?

 

[Fifth Element]

Valid question. My point is that the line seems to be getting more and more restrictive all the time; this being the first time I've ever encountered permanent polymorph as being across said line where IME it's always just been a known - if bloody rare - in-character risk along with all the others. What's next?

What's next? Some kind of muddy embankment, presumably. Characters will have to be careful on the slippery slope.

Some players can't even handle their character getting killed in the game - which tells me the game probably isn't suited for those people and really never has been.

Or, some people just play the game differently than you prefer to play it. You seem to be a long time player, so there's really no excuse for not knowing this by now.

It's SUPER condescending to say they "can't handle it" rather than "they prefer not to play the game in that way." This is not a contest, where players who play the way you play are the real gamers, while the others just can't handle your game. It's elitist and judgmental, and not becoming.

 

[Fifth Element]

Of course! You think I'm talking about someone  else's inference?

No, I'm pointing out that you suggest the text can only be read in the way you read it. I inferred that you were not acknowledging your reading of it is filtered through your own particular biases.

 

[Fifth Element]

Yes, and a large part of the fun lies in the game's challenges; and not everyone is going to overcome every challenge (otherwise they wouldn't be legitimate challenges to start with). Further, it's also a game of luck, and sometimes bad luck rears its ugly head. The results of not overcoming every challenge, or of being unlucky, can be unpleasant.

To you, sure. But you understand that the things you find fun in the game are not universal, that other people enjoy different things, right?

...Right?

 

[Fifth Element]

Since then I've realize what a terribly insensitive and crappy attitude that is. The game is not more important than the people playing it. The people at the table are more important than the game.

That's a very succinct way of expressing this thought. Thank you.