*Sigh* I was hoping for something more...

[mythusmage]

Reveal, you told him, you didn't show him.

The first thing is, who said he had to have a home up there. He doesn't want to live there, all he wants to do is summon on owl. And since anybody can visit, there should be no problem in simply going there and casting the spell.

Groundskeeper: Excuse me sir, but what are you doing?

Ranger: I'm summoning an animal companion.

GK: What sort of companion, sir?

Ranger: An owl.

GK: Any particular type of owl sir?

Ranger, An ordinary owl, nothing special.

GK: Carry on then, sir. I'll make sure you are not disturbed in your summoning.

 

[reveal]

Reveal, you told him, you didn't show him.

The first thing is, who said he had to have a home up there. He doesn't want to live there, all he wants to do is summon on owl. And since anybody can visit, there should be no problem in simply going there and casting the spell.

Groundskeeper: Excuse me sir, but what are you doing?

Ranger: I'm summoning an animal companion.

GK: What sort of companion, sir?

Ranger: An owl.

GK: Any particular type of owl sir?

Ranger, An ordinary owl, nothing special.

GK: Carry on then, sir. I'll make sure you are not disturbed in your summoning.

That I would have prefered over what I got. At least that took some creative input. I just wanted something more than I got. I answered his questions hoping to get something a little more creative than the few sentences I received.

 

[Delemental]

Could you expand on what he gave you as a prompt to embellish his role-play a little more?

I mean, we have a shifter (who I understand aren't all that welcome in Eberron) sitting in a high-class neighborhood late at night, making squeaky noises? That sounds like a call for a visit from the city watch, or a nosy resident. Maybe the ledge he's perched on is that same one that NPC changeling rogue is about to climb up on in order to rob the house. Maybe a sorcerer shows up who is also wanting to summon a familiar.

As far as the construct owl, it's a neat idea, but would it really be the character's 'ideal' companion? If this were a gnome artificer, I'd say yes without hesitation, but it's a shifter ranger. Maybe better would be an owl that's slightly buffer than the average (bump the physical stats up a notch or two, better hit points, maybe a +1 natural armor). Or he summons a trained owl that already knows a trick or two (it'd be amusing if the trained owl was being kept as a pet by one ofthe wealthy homeowners in that spire, and the ranger's efforts to summon it allowed it to escape).

 

[nopantsyet]

I do something similar to what PirateCat mentioned. I narrate a complete encounter in response, and I try to always make it more flavorful than the description I'm given. But in addition to that, I always include something extra. Something they wouldn't have gotten out of a normal session. A new NPC contact, a hook for a minor reward, or some information relating to the plot at hand. It gives the PCs some personal experiences, and I know my players always like getting some story out of it.

 

[cmanos]

If the player does get me something better, I will give him a construct owl. I have the stats already written.

Had a player playing a wizard whop thought all the typical familiars were stupid and wanted something cool. He threw out that he wanbted to take some time and build a clockwork spider. He was first level and didn't have any kind of 'build magical construct' skills, but, ya know...he spent a lot of IC time working on it, I sayd screw it and made it happen. Thought it was a really cool idea.

I'd definitely try and see if you can get a little more out of him. Maybe pull him over to your place some night for a one on one run through of the evening. Make him sneak his way up to the highest point, perhaps have to bluff his way past a couple city watch who don't think a shifty shifter belongs in that part of town. Once he's there he starts making mouse sounds and imagining an owl and nothing happens....have him give you more.

Also had a ranger PC ask, in character, some of the local hunters he grea up with if they had any new pups coming of age soon. I said yeah and Savitar started playing with the pups, getting a feel for them, letting them get a feel for him. He started working with them on his off time (granted there wasn't much off time), teaching them tricks. Again...good roleplaying. He wasn't at a level where he could get an animal companion yet, but he was doing the legwork before he got to that point. He got his dog with a couple extra tricks for his work.

 

[RFisher]

That's why I strive very hard to (1) suppress expectations for what the players might do & (2) embrace & get excited about what the players do...um...do.

That said, I guess the best thing you can do is try to lead by example. Take the description of the PC's actions that they give you & restate & expand upon it to make it more like what you were expecting.

In the end, though, we each have different strengths. Though a player may not come up with the most creative or dramatic descriptions, surely they have other strengths that contribute to the game. Look for those strength & try to give each player an opportunity to play to their strengths.

 

[Arnwyn]

Anyone else run into things like this? Where you have hopes your players will do something grand and get something mundane instead?

Nope. I have no illusions about the capabilities and competency of my players.

"Always be pessimistic - that way, you'll never be disappointed."

 

[mythusmage]

That I would have prefered over what I got. At least that took some creative input. I just wanted something more than I got. I answered his questions hoping to get something a little more creative than the few sentences I received.

You have to take the lead. Start off with something like...

"Are you asking anybody who works there about summoning an owl?"

Or...

"A few inquiries reveals that it is possible, as long as you ask permission first."

Yes, it is leading the bull by the nose ring, but sometimes you need to make it obvious.

Player (as player): I'd like my ranger to summon an owl for an animal companion from the top of Sharn's tallest building.

DM (as building superintendent): Oh, we'd be glad to help. We have a resident owl colony which has provided companions and familiars for a number of people. You're more than welcome to come up and see what you wind up with. At your earliest possible convienience.

In short, respond in character. If the player says something like, "My ranger would like to check out the hobgoblin bar on Murkle St." respond with something like, "You sure you're in the right neigborhood, fella? Most humans don't last long in this part of town."

The best way to encourage roleplaying is by roleplaying.

 

[Southern Oracle]

Had a player with a monk character who was abandoning his order and cross-classing into sorcerer. He was in an inn with the rest of the party, and the barmaid happened to take a liking to him. After drinks and carousing in the common room, it was time to close up shop. The barmaid approached the character and asked if she could see him later. He said yes. She said she'd come up to his room after she cleaned up.

I told the player we wouldn't play anything out...we'd just "assume" he got lucky if he could come up with a smooth line when he met her at the door. The player had two weeks to come up with a line -- just one line!

This was his handiwork...

You answer a knock at the door...it's the barmaid, Rinda, flushed and nervous, her hair brushed to a soft golden shine and her plain outfit exchanged for a dress of midnight blue. "Hello," she breathes. "Can I come in?"
"Sure. Uh, are you from around here?"

Needless to say, the player was teased quite a bit after that for his smoothness with the ladies.

 

[Hjorimir]

That is when I break into my Lost in Translation impersonation:

"The directory say he want...more intensity!"