This is an RPG, not a "to do" list.

[fanboy2000]

Ok guys, gather round 'cause I'm about to tell you something that shouldn't come as a surprise to you.

I set up the world for your PC, you tell me what your PCs do. It's that simple. Ok, it's not quite that simple. I'd fail as a DM if I didn't present you with opportunities for adventure. But you don't have to take me up on them. Not every princess has to be rescued, not every dragon has to die. Do what you want. List of things I don't want to play is fairly short: no sex, no raping, and no pillaging.

What I don't have a list of actions that you are supposed to do "next". This is an RPG, not a "to do" list. I'm not, as we sometimes call, running a railroad. I run every NPC in the whole world I don't need to run your character too. That's your job. I'm not even asking you to put a lot of thought into it. I am, however, asking that you stop aking yourself "what does Fanboy want me to do next?" And start asking yourself "what does my character want to do next?" Because honestly, if you asked me that question during the game, I'd just turn it back onto you.

Look, I'm not new to this. I knew that when you came across the portal to the Elemental Chaos you and the party might want to go through, but you don't have to. It's not like Midgard is a boring place to be. And you don't have to go through it immediately. Sure, it may not be there in a year, but I haven't exactly put some kind of time limit on it. You wandered across it while exiting a dragon's lair on your way to tell the king you found who was killing the sheep and stealing grain.

My point is this: stop being in such a hurry to go where I want you to go, because I don't care where your PCs go. I don't. I'm not some hippie DM who'll let your wimpy PC win a fight agains Vecna, but I'm not going to stop you from trying to locate his tower and kill him. I don't care if you fail.

I want you to be happy. I wouldn't be a GM if I didn't want people enjoy RPGs, I will make every attempt to run a game you enjoy playing. But you gotta play on a level just slightly more involved than choosing what to with your standard action.

Again, this isn't a "to do" list. Stop being in a hurry to cross things off a list that doesn't exist.

 

[ExploderWizard]

List of things I don't want to play is fairly short: no sex, and no pillaging.


I want you to be happy.

How exactly?

 

[jonesy]

Hmm. Let's see now.. things to do.. things to do..

0. Create a character. Try not be cliché. I know, it's hard.
1. Create motives for the character. Go for it.
2. Get into the spirit of the setting.
3. Assume the character is not invincible. Tread with care. Like you would if you were, you know, there.
4. Play the character for the characters goals, not your goals for the character. (like, don't cause an extreme alignment change midstream just because yesterday you found a 'better' build on the net)
5. Don't be a rules lawyer. Nobody likes those. Not even rules lawyers.
6. Don't be lazy. You came here to play, right? (and not construct your MTG deck)
7. When the DM gives you a story, try to listen. He took the time to prepare it. You could take the time to hear it. Doesn't mean you _have_ to follow it.
8. Teamwork. That means working for the team, not the team working for you.
9. Assume consequences for your actions.
10. Play = Fun. If you find this equation untrue, make it true. And while you're at it, make it true for everyone else as well.

 

[fanboy2000]

How exactly?

By defining pillaging in a way that allows you to have fun. Razing a village = pillaging.

You know like the old saying: "it takes a village to raise a child, but a viking to raze a village."

 

[Water Bob]

Look, I'm not new to this.

No, not at all.

But, maybe a bit jaded? I think so.

 

[Holy Bovine]

No, not at all.

But, maybe a bit jaded? I think so.

Jaded? I don't think he sounds jaded at all.

 

[Orius]

Do what you want. List of things I don't want to play is fairly short: no sex, no raping, and no pillaging.

I'm guessing there's not a lot of barbarians in your campaign.

 

[fanboy2000]

I'm guessing there's not a lot of barbarians in your campaign.

Ironically, I usually play a barbarian when I play. (Not often.)

 

[moneygame]

I think it's a bit jaded

 

[fanboy2000]

I’m not trying to sound jaded. I’m just trying to tell people that maybe a more PC centric approach to playing their PC might be a better mindset than a “what’s the next plot point I need to hit?” I suspect I’m preaching to choir right now. I’ve already told my group (using nicer language than I did here).

Here’s what happened to prompt this. Last week, my players defeated a dragon. It was fun. This week, I had nothing planed. I tried to plan something, but it didn’t work. And by didn’t work, I mean I didn’t come up with anything. Ever had one of those days? So, I winged the whole session. You know, let the PCs do some exploring. I set-up a rolling ball trap, which my PCs disabled nicely. (Really nicely, I was impressed.) At the other end, I re-used a location the PCs had already visited. In their previous visit, it was established that the glowing circle on the ground was a magical portal to the elemental chaos. In the name of the consistency, I kept it that way. The minotaurs who normally occupy the area were away, but would be back shortly.

Anyways, my game has six players, but only three are involved in this little tale. Two have been playing the game longer than I have. They’ve been playing since Basic D&D. (I started with 2e, but didn’t really get into it until 3e.) The third person started with 3.5 and has been playing very casually on and off since.

So Adam (not his real name) makes an arcana check and figures out that the portal leads to the City of Brass. He wants to activate it right now and go there. Barney, suggests that maybe going to the City of Brass on a whim isn’t constructive to a long life. Maybe they should wait. Discussion ensues. Barney wants to take proof to the king that they killed the dragon. He wants to go to his keep and do some upkeep. (I wonder if those two words are related?) Generally speaking, I let the players hash out things like what they want to do on their own. Barney mostly gets his own way. They fly to the King’s place using the Eagle's Flight ritual, then they fly to the keep using the same ritual. We take a break from playing. I talk to Barney so we can get into what he wants to do without interfering with the others enjoyment. After that, I take my break and leave the room for few moments.

When I get back Barney is using the linked portal ritual to get them back to the elemental chaos portal. At that point, the third player in this story, Charlie, asks Barney what preparations the group made for the journey to the City of Brass. Barney says he didn’t make any. If the group wants to go so badly, he’ll just cast the ritual and take the whole party there. Charlie doesn’t know what preparations to make because she’s never been exposed it before. Neither has her PC. This makes her upset because she figured that the whole point of waiting to prepare. So, Charlie leaves. I continue on without her.

Combat ensues. The minotaurs were home when they came in, and didn’t want to share their portal. The PCs win. After that, they use the portal. I end the session. Barney wants me to tell them what they see. Adam suggests it’s more suspenseful not to say. That’s right, they argue about how to end the session. Ugh. Anyways, I confess that I’d be happy to tell them what they saw, but I don’t know. I’m making it up as we go along.

At that point, Adam turns to me and asks “what would you have done if we’d gone there an hour and a half ago?” I tell him I would have figured something out. Adam then says that he thought that I wanted the party to go to the City of Brass and was fighting tooth and nail for the party to get there.

And that’s what upsets me. All the fighting because one person wasn’t asking “what do I want to do?” and instead “what is the next step in the DM’s plan?” Sometime Adam literally asks that question, “what’s the next step?” He acts like he’s cutting through stuff and getting to the heart of the matter, but really he’s perpetuating arguments because he’s not letting people discuss things. He’s treating the game like it’s some kind of long “to do” list from me and getting upset at people for not following this imaginary list.

Frankly, I’m tired of it. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered this problem. (Once, I was the problem.) The players all act like the DM’s got some grand plan and they either try to follow this non-existent plan or complain about it. What I really hate is an insinuation that I’m running a railroad and then following. Look, if your not having fun, let me know. Try doing something else.

I mean, I have to provide some kind of adventure hooks, otherwise the PCs do nothing and then complain that they’re not doing anything. But here’s a hint, if you don’t want to rescue the princess, don’t. I’ll either come-up with another job for your group, or you can take the initiative and think of something yourself.

Now, if you read all that, give yourself a cookie.