Take the GM out of the Equation- A 3e design philosophy

[Belen]

Gentlemen, I asked to dispense with sniping at one another. There's a large difference between disagreeing with what someone wrote, and flaming them. If there's a poster that you can't agree with to the point of insults, it may be best to put one another on ignore lists.

No worries Henry, I have no intentions of flaming anyone. My problem is that when I have someone on my ignore list, I can't resist to read what they wrote.

It's a character flaw. I always fail my will save.

 

[Henry]

And it is lazy to roll a die and expect the GM to come up with the lie for you... You play D&D to socialize.

While the two statements are not necessarily mutually exclusive (I've been poisoned by Robin Laws lately ), I agree with both of them.

It's one thing to not be a "good talker," it's a whole different level to treat bluffing like a combat. Case in point would be the "lady" Carlotta Sanchez from Rel's Sky Galleons game trying to seduce a couple of lusty guards away from a boat - I ain't about to play out a seduction scene, much less do I even know the first thing about seduction (just buy me some D&D books and you've got me)

However, I communicated to the GM what I wanted to do, we looked at Carlotta's skill at bluffing, and he applied whatever modifiers he felt appropriate for both her charm and my total lack of wordsmithing. Carlotta reeled in the fish, and one shanghai later, the plot moves on.

 

[Belen]

However, I communicated to the GM what I wanted to do,

Exactly, you communicated. Although I think that we're using too different examples. Even I draw the line at RPing a seduction scene. I am not looking for drama at the table!

If I ever RP a D&D seduction scene, then I will be married to the player and no one else will be around.

 

[barsoomcore]

just buy me some D&D books and you've got me

Noted, cutie.

 

[barsoomcore]

If I ever RP a D&D seduction scene, then I will be married to the player and no one else will be around.

And you will never so much as mention that it ever happened. Please. I beg you.

 

[Belen]

Noted, cutie.

Dude....that was so wrong. How do you scrub that vision from the back or your eyeballs!?

 

[Belen]

And you will never so much as mention that it ever happened. Please. I beg you.

No worries...I restrict myself to boyish bathroom humor when on ENWorld. You'd need to ply me with drinks for anything more and I have not had a drop of alcohol in 5 years.

You're safe.

 

[Monte At Home]

NPC: "What are you doing in the Queen's chamber?"
Rogue: I lie to him. (rolls)- I get a 27.
GM: What did you say to him?
Player: I don't know. You make it up.
GM: It isn't my job to make it up, it's yours. I need at least some idea of what you're going to tell him.
Player: Um, I tell him that I'm a member of the guard.
GM: Okay, he's also wearing the uniform of the guard so he's not totally buying it. He says, "Why haven't I seen you around the barracks?"
Player: I tell him that I just got recruited yesterday.
GM: Okay, make another Bluff Check.
Player: (rolls)- I get a 25.
GM: He still seems a bit suspicious. He says, "I'm going to check this with the Watch Commander. I don't think that new recruits out of uniform should be in the Queen's chambers..."

To slightly highjack, I read this and really liked it. I think it's a great example of play. It shows that the player doesn't have to be an actual master of wordplay (although if he was, that would be OK too), but on the other hand it shows that the DM respects the high rolls but doesn't let the high rolls walk all over him. The guard acts like an actual thinking person--convinced of the PCs words enough not to attack or react drastically, but also not willing to ignore all rational observation. I really like it.

I liked that the DM made the player at least come up with the basis for the lie, just like in a combat situation, a DM would ask a player to state his actions for a round even though he's no expert in actual combat. (To put it another way, the DM doesn't make a combatant actually describe every physical motion involved with his attack, but at least makes him tell if he's using his sword, his dagger or his bow.)

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

To slightly highjack, I read this and really liked it. I think it's a great example of play. It shows that the player doesn't have to be an actual master of wordplay (although if he was, that would be OK too), but on the other hand it shows that the DM respects the high rolls but doesn't let the high rolls walk all over him. The guard acts like an actual thinking person--convinced of the PCs words enough not to attack or react drastically, but also not willing to ignore all rational observation. I really like it.

I liked that the DM made the player at least come up with the basis for the lie, just like in a combat situation, a DM would ask a player to state his actions for a round even though he's no expert in actual combat. (To put it another way, the DM doesn't make a combatant actually describe every physical motion involved with his attack, but at least makes him tell if he's using his sword, his dagger or his bow.)

Hey, wait a second. I thought you didn't appear unless we said your name three times!

 

[barsoomcore]

Actually, you only have to say it once, if you use his secret name:

"Cutie"