The GF in the Game

[WhimsyTheFae]

Heck my wife's character just died last night with me as DM. No problems.

Mine could have in our game, as well, but I decided that taking all her stuff and selling her into slavery would be more fun.

 

[XO]

Wimpy

Trolling post removed - Plane Sailing

 

[Shades of Green]

I've recently (this September) introduced my girlfriend to RPGs, to Shadowrun in particular; I'm currently running a one-on-one Shadowrun campaign for her. To tell the truth, she has alot of gaming potential - she got the basic concepts (getting into character, PCs vs. NPCs, roleplaying) very quickly, faster than most male gamers I know (possibly due to the fact that she's started gaming at the age of 22, not 12). Initially she was scared by rules, especially ones with mathematical aspects (she has near-PTSD from VERY hard differential-calculus courses in college), but once I've managed to calm her down, she've grasped Shadowrun's complex combat system faster than most male gamers I know. I haven't played with her in larger groups, but I don't think she'll even WANT any kind of favoritism - she's quite into game-world consistency and realism, and builds her characters according to their backstory, which is not munchkinish.

All in all, I think that it all boils down to the DM's and GF's individual personalities and tastes rather than any overall gender tendencies.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

I've gamed in several groups with dating and married couples, and have only had an issue with one couple - and that was because of the individuals in question couldn't handle their relationship, not because of the relationship itself. In fact, my fiance and I game together, and there's never been any complaints.

Indeed, I've actually had more issues with non-dating favortism more than anything else. I recently played in game where apparently we were just there to follow one of the other PCs around - despite it having been mentioned to the GM several times, by that player as well as the rest of the group, that maybe he should focus the attention on some of the rest of us for a while.

So, yeah, it's the people involved, not the exact relationship.

 

[Mercule]

In theory, it could be a big deal. Just like having a SO who didn't game could be a big deal if they wanted to whine.

IME, it's no big deal at all. My wife has been a player in my campaign for nearly 15 years -- she actually asked to join the game because she was interested in dating me. Even when we were 18-19 and going through all the flirty crap, it never caused a problem in the game.

My current group is made up of three couples and there have never been any woes from that. I've also known several GMs who have had their SO/spouse as a player without incident.

The problem is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- inherent to having a SO in the game. It's a problem with maturity levels and/or a potential issue in the relationship.

 

[Gundark]

Mine could have in our game, as well, but I decided that taking all her stuff and selling her into slavery would be more fun.

I smell a fantasy here

 

[Thanee]

Is it me or is the biggest problem a DM could have is a gf or significant other as a player?

Yaknow, there are actually people out there, who can act in a mature fashion. I like to believe (hope? ) they are in the majority.

Bye
Thanee

 

[takyris]

My wife's a player in one game I run. My DM's wife is a player in his game. I've never noticed or had any problems, except possibly that my wife knows all my tells and will say, "So, guys, you think there's any chance that this person is totally a spy for the bad guys planning to betray us? I'm just asking." (She brings it up in character, though, so it's not metagaming, even. It's just her knowing all my damn tells.)

 

[Li Shenron]

Is it me or is the biggest problem a DM could have is a gf or significant other as a player?

It's only a problem if

(a) the significant other didn't really want to play the game

or

(b) there is no relationship YET, but only a wish

 

[Nifft]

My friend's GF played for two sessions. She was a good addition to the group -- but he was so very well behaved! I'd ask her back even if she were merely mediocre.

-- N