Players that make you go 'Whoa!'

[Deadguy]

Why not let the player play the risen, formerly NPC cleric?

I just wanted to comment that whilst this can be an idea if the player is interested, it might be better to just let things go. When someone makes a real sacrifice like that, it can be best to honour that, and let the character pass on. After all, it isn't really a sacrifice if you don't lose out!

But I agree that the player of the paladin really did a good job internalising the meaning of paladinhood and projecting that into the story.

 

[ShadowWolf]

whoa!!!

this happened in the campaign i ran in '94-96. After finaly compleating his quest(of epic proprtions) the paliden surendered his newly gotten Holly Avenger +5 to the temple, because he could not justify taking it with him on account that he was only doing his god's will. he only ever used a longsword +1 that his dead brother gave him.

 

[Mercule]

Re: whoa!!!

this happened in the campaign i ran in '94-96. After finaly compleating his quest(of epic proprtions) the paliden surendered his newly gotten Holly Avenger +5 to the temple, because he could not justify taking it with him on account that he was only doing his god's will. he only ever used a longsword +1 that his dead brother gave him.

This reminds me of another story. Same ranger. Whilst walking through town, a blacksmith finds him and presents him with a long sword specifically crafted for him. It was a quite nice, but wholly non-magical sword.

The ranger looked at the sword and thought for a second. He accepted the sword gratefully and drew his own. Saying something to the effect of, "While the gift you have given me is far more valuable, please accept this as a token of my gratitude. I'll be far more proud to carry your weapon into battle than this one." He then handed the smith his Frost Brand.

 

[Wampus Cat]

In a 3e game a couple of years ago, our low-level party got into it with a couple of heavily-armed and -armored baddies that had been waiting for us on the other side of a tiny stream. The headstrong fighter wades in, steps on some strategically placed caltrops, and is promptly waxed by one of the evildoers. At -7 hp and facedown in the water, his prospects were slim (we called it "the blue light special" - a small, glowing number appears above the body flashing "-7, -7, -7, ding! -8, -8, -8, need healing in aisle four!, -9, -9, -9, going, going..."). Anyway, our cleric hesitates a moment, then wades in to save his buddy, despite everyone knowing what would happen ("That's what he would do!"). He takes his AoO like a man, going down to 1 hp, and casts his cure. He then, sure enough, receives a critical hit along the order of a small nuclear device, taking the express train to meet his god. His sacrifice, however, gave the party time to finish off the villains and saved the fighter.
An appalled moment of silence ensued - this was our first fatality. Since we were way out in the wilderness, there was no hope of raising him. We buried both halves of him with honors, and erected a sign, written in the bad guys' blood, forever naming the creek "Ahkeem's Crack".
There really is something enobling about having your character die in the line of duty.

 

[s/LaSH]

There's some true gems here, and here's my contribution.

This happened to me fairly recently, with a party with two powerful Christian spellcasters in it. They were fighting a trio of bezekira (invisible hellcats), and defeated two, but the players were pretty munched (the thief had run through a room full of traps and was currently halfway up a wall trying to get away, for example). The third considered its options, and surrendered itself to the mercy of the players. (Lawful evil; it recognises honour.)

The PCs debated, and accepted its surrender. Then the priest offered to heal it from the wounds the PCs had inflicted.

Now, I (the DM) was a little proud of myself for having it surrender. But when a Christian priest character offers healing to a devil cat that had just tried eviscerating him... that just did it for me. Was it the right thing to do? I suspect most people wouldn't even imagine doing something like this.

Of course, the bezekira rejected the offer in disgust, but it was a great moment.


There's another fun occasion I remember from a con, playing a quick game based in the Aliens universe. As a colonial marine hunting a corporate vessel carrying xenomorph eggs, we very quickly decided that zero tolerance was the word of the day and were pleased to note that out battleship had nukes. We only used one nuke in the end, and it got our CO courtmartialed afterwards, but the entire group was willing to order a nuclear strike at ground zero, vapourising everyone and ending the adventure. There's something to be said for the kind of emotional investment in a setting that can provoke that kind of group mentality.

 

[Celtavian]

Re

That is a great roleplay story.


I have played too many heroic Paladins, my favorite class behind wizard/sorcerer, to make anyone go "whoa" anymore.


I have jumped off a 100 foot plus cliff to save a drowning person in unknown water, staved off a force that was going to kill the party while they ran, sacrificed my own soul to bring back my wife's soul, and too many other such acts to name. A paladin should be willing to lay down their life for their friends at the drop of a hat. It's their job.

My most recent heroic act was to fly into a fiery pit to save a suicidal gnome from buring to death after we had freed him from a curse that made him diabolically evil. (Those who have played RttToEE know what gnome I am talking about.) He still managed to commit suicide because our party was nearly decimated by the high priestess of the fire temple who my paladin managed to kill.

It was disappointing because I had fully prepared for battle. The group cleric had cast a fly spell on my character so I could reach the high priestess in the fire pit. I had my Divine Might going on my sword, then this gnome screams and jumps in the pit to commit suicide. I had to fly in the pit, grapple him to get a hold of him, and then fly him out and try to calm him down. I was very disappointed that the gnome ran off and ended up throwing himself on a spear. I guess you can't save everyone.

There is nothing like playing a heroic paladin. A person so attuned with their god that sacrificing their life in the name of goodness is second nature. It is in fact expected.

Very cool story. Paladins are a great class to roleplay. Too many players try to avoid death, while paladins think of death as but one sacrifice in a life of eternal service to their god.

 

[fba827]

But I agree that the player of the paladin really did a good job internalising the meaning of paladinhood and projecting that into the story.

Na, allow me to play the role of the cynic this night...

I say the paladin's player was just bored with the character and this was an easy way to just end it and allow him to move on...




Edit: Correcting a type-o -- that's what I get for trying to make sense at ungodly hours of the night

 

[Deadguy]

Na, allow me to play the role of the synic this night...

I say the paladin's player was just bored with the character and this was an easy way to just end it and allow him to move on...

LOL!! Yup, cynic!

You're right - I am perhaps projecting my reasoning onto someone else's actions. It's a valid point, and I always try and get the player to explain the reason for character actions that surprise or confuse me.

 

[hong]

In the last session of my Britannia 3E game, the druid cast magnetism (spell from OA that snatches an enemy's weapon out of their hands) on a chain golem, to stop it shredding the unconscious mage.

A chain golem!

Whoa.