question for other DM's

[kengar]

I have a tough choice to make and was wondering if any other DMs had some advice.

So far, my current 3e campaign has been a fairly standard set of dungeon crawls. I've thrown in a few hooks for later plot development and a couple interesting NPC's. It's a fairly large group of players for me to DM (5). The problem I've been having is the eternal hacknslash v. roleplaying.

Some of the players just want to hit the dungeon, kill the nasties and get the loot/experience. A couple of them, one in particular, wants to RP more. Because it's a large group it can be a challenge to keep things moving so I try to minimize "downtime." The problem there is it reduces time that the RP-ers can use to flesh out characters, deal with NPC's, etc. If I spend too long letting the RP-ers "yak it up", the hacknslashers get bored and impatient. I've tried striking a balance, but lately (the last couple sessions), it feels like it's been too HS, not enough RP.

So I read about this idea; a neat plot twist that requires a player to secretly take on a different role. Basically the doppleganger scenario; but the player runs the creature and tries to keep it secret from the rest of the party. A neat RP opportunity for a player and something different from the usual party v. monster routine. It probably wouldn't be more than a side plot for a few sessions; depending on how clever folks are. My question is; should I give this "role" to the RP-er or should I give the chance to a HS-er in an attempt to "teach" them that RP can be fun, too?

In the first case, the RP-er would enjoy the stretch and get to mess with the other characters a little. The problem is it probably wouldn't affect any long term change in the other players style and the original problem won't go away. In the second case, the hackslasher could screw it up and make a mess of it, but if they tried, they might find it a lot of fun and learn to enjoy RP a bit more.

I'm stuck, any ideas?

 

[Wicht]

Give the doppleganger to the RPer

However, who said RPing had to be done in downtime?

Throw in an NPC henchman or guide to RP with for a while (comic relief perhaps).

Provide a villain, in the dungeon, who does not want to fight but who will try and manipulate the players into doing things that will further his agenda.

Give them a dungeon inhabited by good "monsters" and have the villain intown convince them they have to wipe out the evil fromt he dungeons.

Ideas like this will help RPing without cutting down necessarily on the Hack and Slash. You can do both and make everyone happy (maybe).

 

[Napftor]

Not knowing how your group gets along, I have to say this might not be the best approach in light of the fact that you've had almost non-stop dungeon crawling. How about this...

During one combat, a baddie blasts one of the hack-n-slashers with a magic that takes away his main fighting ability. The rest of the game (or more games depending on how you want to play it), that player is reduced to second string until the power is returned. Will he be happy? No. Will he have to roleplay? He better if he wants something to do. in this scenario, the RP'ers AND the hackers would be roleplaying to comfort and blasted PC and to discover just where the magic can be found to reverse the effect.

Well, I hope that makes more sense than it came out as. I've also used the wolf in sheep's clothing as you've described above. In one instance an NPC was a doppleganger and in another I had a PC request to do this kind of thing (with a disguised evil PC and not a doppleganger). In both cases, the result wasn't anything spectacular but it is good for a change. In the end, of course, the decision is yours. But I would still suggest blending elements of roleplaying and hacking in a game before launching into a wolf in sheep's clothing tactic.*


*This game idea relies heavily on a DM's experience to pull it off and the players' experience as well. If you're skittish on the issue, maybe just let it slide. or perhaps have a game involving a doppleganger as simply an enemy before introducing the idea into your group. Such an advance module would be a good primer for the shapeshifter to enter the group too (as the main dopp. is defeated, another who was hiding takes the place of a party member and none are the wiser.)


Babbling here. Please move along...