What! Limper has a gripe?

[Limper]

Saeviomagy: You misunderstand... I don't care if I'm the highest level, I care that the player who contributes NOTHING is the same level. How is THAT fair? I dont want anything for free nor do I want to see anyone else get something for free... something for nothing is very UNFAIR. After years of putting up with it, its starting to bother me just a bit! Why should I try? If my trying to facilitate the story isn't worth anything whats the point? Fun you all are saying... but since its a game there should be fairness correct? How is it fair that party A contributes nothing and party B works their butt off and they are both the same? How are they the same? If you have unequal contribution then there should be unequal reward... it's how the world works, isn't it?

 

[barsoomcore]

After years of putting up with it, its starting to bother me just a bit! Why should I try?

Why do you put up with it at all? I don't understand you, Limper. You're whining because this player gets the same XP as you? Why don't you say anything to the player -- tell them you find their style of play irritating? You'd rather spend YEARS being cranky than have one frank discussion with this person? It's hilarious.

What does this issue have to do with XP, anyway? Obviously you're playing with someone whose style you hate. You say you've been playing with them (and hating their style) for years. Well, if you don't take action don't expect results. TELL this person their style of play bothers you so much. And if they don't want to play, DON'T PLAY WITH THEM. This isn't a rules problem, it's a lack of social skills problem.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Optional huh... I guess we used them for so long it seemed gospel... and they were good motivators. They aren't really a friend... but a friend of a friend who no longer plays with our group... they are inherited dead weight. I have suggested such but they are a bunch of nonconfrontationalists... if you can't guess I'm rather confrontational.


What I'm sensing is that many of you would sacrifice story, would give up immersive play, would do without the cohesion of having the group play at its peak and play FOR the story created, you'd give up all of this.... just so someones feelings wouldn't get hurt.

Wow I expected better....

Actually, my interpretation wasn't that you were for the good of the group, you just want to make sure that you're more powerful than the guy that you don't think plays so well. You're not looking for a group experience, you're looking to win.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Oooooooooo!!! Did you see that Phil?

I sure did Bob! Barsoomcore and Dinkeldog just double teamed Limper and sent him outta the thread, do you think there should be a call on that?

I don't think so Phil, looked pretty clean and there ain't nothin' wrong with a little of the old one-two.

Do you think limper realizes how badly he's hit?

We'll have to wait and see Phil - he's a tough little nugget sometimes.

 

[Limper]

barsoomcore: I have. They keep coming back... I've been trying for years subtly or not so subtly to make them go away. Even if they avoid confrontation I like the rest of the group... the rest of the group are my friends. They wont go away and I am stuck with them because the rest of the group wont back me up... when the weak link whines behind my back they let them back to the table, why? Because they can't stand hurting someones feelings... if you can't guess that is not a weakness of mine. I've made them cry on at least two occasions... they keep coming back.

Dinkeldog: You are correct in part... I would like my "team" to win. Victory is a meaningful, rich, complex story in which we've all taken part in it's telling... is this bad?

 

[ForceUser]

Oooooooooo!!! Did you see that Phil?

I sure did Bob! Barsoomcore and Dinkeldog just double teamed Limper and sent him outta the thread, do you think there should be a call on that?

I don't think so Phil, looked pretty clean and there ain't nothin' wrong with a little of the old one-two.

Do you think limper realizes how badly he's hit?

We'll have to wait and see Phil - he's a tough little nugget sometimes.

ROFL! I love those radio commericals

 

[WizarDru]

barsoomcore: I have. They keep coming back... I've been trying for years subtly or not so subtly to make them go away. Even if they avoid confrontation I like the rest of the group... the rest of the group are my friends. They wont go away and I am stuck with them because the rest of the group wont back me up... when the weak link whines behind my back they let them back to the table, why? Because they can't stand hurting someones feelings... if you can't guess that is not a weakness of mine. I've made them cry on at least two occasions... they keep coming back.

Dinkeldog: You are correct in part... I would like my "team" to win. Victory is a meaningful, rich, complex story in which we've all taken part in it's telling... is this bad?

Well, I'm not with your group, so I couldn't speak to the dynamic...but it sounds like that other player is probably feeling that you're the bad guy, and it's even possible the others agree but can't get rid of you. It's also possible that they consider you both to be friends, and just wish you'd learn to get along.

Exactly what does he not do that everyone else in the group does that makes playing with him such a burden? Does he not contribute to combats? Is his play style so radically different from the rest of the group? What does the DM have to say about it? Does he shut down when the combat's over? What kind of character does he have, a support role character? I'm geniunely curious exactly how he hasn't fulfilled his end of the bargain.

 

[maddman75]

Well, on the original subject I've used two different systems.

the first was a 'scorecard'. Anytime a player had a good idea, they made a note of it. At time to give out XP, I looked over everyone's notes and gave out some bonus XP. It worked, encouraged everyone to get into the game and try to contribute, but as someone else mentioned, it was too much work trying to figure out how much to give for what.

What I use now is the 'MVP' reward. At XP time, the players all vote on the most valuable PC since they last got experience. This works well, because what it rewards is teamwork. Whoever helps the PCs get past the challenges gets the bonus. Lots of fighting? One of the warriors. Tricky political situation? WHoever did the talking.

On Limper's problem, I believe he has something that needs to be removed from a place that will remain unmentioned .

If the player doesn't do jack, ignore him. What's it to you that he gets XP. Ain't nothing fair.

 

[Limper]

He doesn't contribute or help out when the group has a problem (riddle, trap, politics... this sort of stuff)

He doesn't use tactics or items or abilities in combat... been swinging that quarter staff for a decade and still cant remeber what die to roll for damage. he doesn't react unless prompted EVER.

The rest of us are rather proactive... he just doesn't react at all.

The DM keeps designing encounter's which we need his abilities to overcome.... "I think I've got something to get XXX into the game now." 10 years its never worked... this is also why I can't just forget the goomba.

He never turns on so I cant say if he's less responsive after the fight.

Fighter/Wizard is what he plays.

He sits there, thats it, thats all he does..... he just shows up and doesn't do anything.... he sits there and since the DM keeps trying hes a burden on the group... he gets experience and gold and they treat him as an equal but he hasn't contributed EVER.

Hes about as much fun as a rock, I've known rocks who had more life and input into their environment than him. It's a game your supposed to PLAY the game... it's a roleplaying game doesn't that imply some degree of participation? In order to get experience shouldn't you HAVE to do something? Why should a piece of masonry get a share of anything? If you show up and don't do anything how are you contributing?

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Role-playing is neither necessary nor required to participate in a game of D&D, or in all but a handful of RPGs.

Why would people who don't role-play spend their time playing a role-playing game?

I already know the answer; I just want to see if anyone else is going to be honest about it...