When "Roleplaying" rears its ugly head...

[Darkness]

Like it or not, but telling a player his PC has to behave in a certain way just because the DM wants him to (whether justified or not) is generally among the worst mistakes a DM can make.

Stay out of this and let the other (living) PCs handle him. Assuming they don't agree with him. Either way, you really should accept the party's decision.

 

[nopantsyet]

Whether he is acting like a spoiled brat is a different question from whether he is roleplaying in an acceptable manner. Will I be a spoiled brat if I disagree with you that he was being a spoiled brat? (Tongue inserted firmly in cheek. )

I once had a player refuse resurrection for his favorite PC of all time in a FR campaign I ran some years ago. He was playing a Tiefling barbarian who had served Malar, who then converted to a goddess who was an enemy of Malar (don't remember). He had been going through the arduous ordeal of seeking her acceptance, and when the group asked if he wanted them to resurrect him, he asked whether the goddess had accepted his soul. I had previously decided, but not revealed, that she had accepted him, and was going to allow him into her clerical order. He refused the resurrection. However he was the strongest combatant in the party and had the most hit points, and some members of the group were not happy about it. But it was perfectly acceptable and legitimate roleplaying.

However, acting like a jerk about it is not. Now, being in the minority does not necessarily mean one is actling like a jerk--regardless of what the majority says. It sounds like his response was probably out of line. But then again, saying "to hell with it" to somebody's opinion is also probably out of line. It is also possible that this player isn't a good match for your group, and that everyone would be happier to part ways. I wasn't there, I don't know the nature or the history of the relationships, and I didn't hear the tone in which this exchange occurred. But either the issue will gradually fade and be forgotten, or it won't. The future will be more informative than the past.

 

[Doug McCrae]

God, I hate roleplayers. Sometimes they can really get in the way of having fun.

 

[Raloc]

If the player of the dead PC doesn't mind being Reincarnated for the sake of roleplaying, then I think you should go that route.

 

[fusangite]

Sadly, you cannot over-rule the player. The player is making the wrong decision about whom to bring back but you cannot over-rule it. This "I'm playing in character" thing is absolutely infantile but the appropriate response to it is to look for other ways to make the plot work for the player whose PC died.

 

[Corsair]

Sadly, you cannot over-rule the player. The player is making the wrong decision about whom to bring back but you cannot over-rule it. This "I'm playing in character" thing is absolutely infantile but the appropriate response to it is to look for other ways to make the plot work for the player whose PC died.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds that insulting. Will I work with a player to include a new character in the party? Sure. But will I make an in-character decision for the sole purpose of appeasing a player? Nope. Maybe its just crazy talk, but some of us like playing believable and consistent characters. Sometimes that means making sacrifices, or doing something which would not be popular out of character.

I've been on the receiving end of this situation before as well (losing a character, but having an NPC [the significant other of the party paladin] get raised instead of me). It happens. I'd rather have the other players act in such a way that they think their characters would act, and not fudging things to keep another player happy.

 

[Glyfair]

There is a fine line in making decisions based on character considerations and player considerations. I absolutely detest playing in a game with someone who believes playing his character the way he wants is the most important thing. A majority of the time, those games devolve because the player distracts the game with his actions, often becoming the center of attention.

On the other hand, I like to have a certain amount of "suspension of disbelief." If a the choice was between a character's spouse and another character with whom he doesn't have a close bond, it wouldn't feel right for that character to raise the character instead of the spouse.

In this case, I don't feel strongly against the situation. Both characters can be brought back into play, one just has a certain risk. I would feel a somewhat differently if the choice was between one character being raised and the other staying dead.

 

[Templetroll]

I would have been pleased that the NPC had made a connection to the character so that they felt it should be raised. As it stands, the other older character should have discussed it with the character seeking to raise the NPC and decided. The GM should stay out of decisions like that. YMMV.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

The complaining player is 100% right. You should commend him for getting into the game and yourself for providing a game he can get into.

If the player with the dead PC whines about being forced to accept reincarnation, even though I can think of absolutely no logical reason he wouldn't have to, remind him that some DMs would tell him to suck it up and play smarter next time - next time meaning with the next character, because resurrection magic, if it exists at all, exists only for those who have earned the friendship and respect of their companions over many missions.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Like it or not, but telling a player his PC has to behave in a certain way just because the DM wants him to (whether justified or not) is generally among the worst mistakes a DM can make.

Stay out of this and let the other (living) PCs handle him. Assuming they don't agree with him. Either way, you really should accept the party's decision.

That about sums it up.

And in this case I agree with the player, if he likes the NPC better then that would be the person he would use the spell on. Fudge the Reincarnate if you feel like it, but the player is right, and it is his call.

The Auld Grump