When "Roleplaying" rears its ugly head...

[Pants]

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.

Great advice, though it sounds like the complaining player is acting like a jerk in the matter. Sure, he may be roleplaying, but calling everyone else a bunch of metagamers with no idea of true roleplaying wouldn't win any points from me.

If the player did that in may game, I'd ressurect the PC, just to get an arrogant sod like him to leave. However, I am spiteful at times and if he were a friend outside of the game, I might not do that. If he was just a guy that I gamed with and nothing more, that attitude would get him out of the group. Fast.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

It's an interesting arguement. Both sides have valid points.

Ultimately, someone has to decide where 'the characters' and 'the players' begin to fall to each others' needs. We all should play as our characters and run things as they would (assuming an RP game), but we should all play for the betterment of the group of players (assuming friendships).

That's something to be defined on a group by group, case by case basis.
The best advice I can give you is to talk succinctly about it to everyone. Don't be judgemental. Don't be a jerk. If you really want the player to get the ressurection, ask sincerely once. "Yo guys, I'd really apprecieate it if you used the ressurection on PCDude." Say it once, make sure everyone is listening, but make it a request.

Argueing almost always just leads to hurt feelings (ie: " bunch of metagamers who don't have a clue about the true roleplaying way.") If he's like my arguementative guy, he's saying that just because you're telling him to do something else.

Best of luck.

 

[Wild Gazebo]

I once had a group of players who had their characters resurrect a BBEG instead of an other PC because they couldn't get a reward if the BBEG was dead. I must have laughed for a solid ten minutes when I saw the expression on the players face. 'Course, I have a bit of an evil streak in me.

I tend to let things lie. I never make a decision for a PC...though I may warn of consequences.

Though, game chemistry should be maintained...play with people who have similar 'gaming ideals'.

But, I would side with the 'infantile' roleplayer...cause I enjoy that style of play more.

edit: glaring errors

 

[reanjr]

IMO, he's right. The NPC gets resurrected. PCs shouldn't be able to expect resurrection, anyway, or else there's no fear of dying.

 

[Hannibal King]

Ok thanks for the posts guys. I must say one thing if the dead PC was one who robbed from the PCs, lied to them, cheated them of treasure etc and he died. I would be all for letting the other players refuse to resurect the troublesome player character, but in this case, the NPC has been in the party for a whole month of downtime longer in which only the argumentive player interacted with him, as for the rest of the player characters they have adventured with the NPC for the same amount of time as the newer PC.

The other day this same player said if the player whose character died rolls up another character his PC will not let the new guy into the party, WTF?! Geez and we're supposed to be all friends outside the game too!

Sorry at the end of the day its a game played by a group. Affecting other players enjoyment for the sake of something as childish as wanting the game world to be realistic is stupid. You want realism go live real life, leave those of us that play this game in peace.

Hannibal King

 

[Turanil]

One of the players of one the older player characters feels that the NPC should recieve the resurrection and the newer player character should risk the reincarnation cause he is has been around longer and is a friend of the older player character.

Or is he right, should true roleplaying over-ride the meta-portion of gaming when the players are involved?

My opinion is to raise the PC and let the NPC be reincarnated, BUT THEN roleplay that "after many considerations and painful debates" they have got to the conclusion that the NPC is to be reincarnated than resurrected. Let the players be creative to explain that, and come up with a perfectly logical explanation. For example, maybe the NPC's religion would prevent him to be resurrected?

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Ok thanks for the posts guys. I must say one thing if the dead PC was one who robbed from the PCs, lied to them, cheated them of treasure etc and he died. I would be all for letting the other players refuse to resurect the troublesome player character, but in this case, the NPC has been in the party for a whole month of downtime longer in which only the argumentive player interacted with him, as for the rest of the player characters they have adventured with the NPC for the same amount of time as the newer PC.

The other day this same player said if the player whose character died rolls up another character his PC will not let the new guy into the party, WTF?! Geez and we're supposed to be all friends outside the game too!

Sorry at the end of the day its a game played by a group. Affecting other players enjoyment for the sake of something as childish as wanting the game world to be realistic is stupid. You want realism go live real life, leave those of us that play this game in peace.

Hannibal King

Ah, now we have a somewhat different scenario. Only ONE PC had a preexisting relationship with the NPC, and the others didn't? That changes matters considerably. What was their relationship - romantic?

Anyway, the player has betrayed himself as either a fool or a hypocrite - HE'S going to metagame against the other player's character. Tell him to sod off; to (heavily) paraphrase Richter Belmont, tell him "Gamerkind ill needs a roleplayer like you."

However, I still stand by the fact that "being a PC" is by no means a valid reason for a PC to be raised over an NPC, and that any player who lets that basic and obvious fact get in the way of his enjoyment is just as childish and silly as the complainer, albeit less in the wrong since he's not by definition a hypocrite.

 

[Hannibal King]

reanjr this hasn't gone up against the group yet. We're playing on Sunday so I'll see what happens. If the dead PC accepts the chance with reincarnate fine, but if he is not happy with it (and he is more likely to play along for the sake of the group) and the other player demands that the group resurrects the NPC instead, I am going to let the PC be resurrected.
If the 'roleplayer' then acts in a childish manner against the other player I am quiting DMing until 4th edition comes out.

I played with children when I was 5, I don't have time for this sort of behaviour. As DM it's our responsibility to make sure the game is fun for all. Having always be against true roleplaying (and all my players know this), the roleplayer will probably realise I won't bend to that sort of play.

Hannibal King

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I still think that it is the player's choice as to who he ressurects (assuming that he is the one with access to ressurection), but saying that he would not allow a new character by the same player into the group?!! Ummm, no, that is not right, not right at all.

If he is not the person with the Ressurect then he should go with the party decision. And if he doesn't agree to it show him the door rather than quit yourself.

If need be take him aside and ask if he wants to play D&D Survivor style, voting one of the two players off of the island... It sounds like a personality issue to me.

The Auld Grump

 

[Hannibal King]

Ah, now we have a somewhat different scenario. Only ONE PC had a preexisting relationship with the NPC, and the others didn't? That changes matters considerably. What was their relationship - romantic?

However, I still stand by the fact that "being a PC" is by no means a valid reason for a PC to be raised over an NPC, and that any player who lets that basic and obvious fact get in the way of his enjoyment is just as childish and silly as the complainer, albeit less in the wrong since he's not by definition a hypocrite.

No MoogleEmpMog, the NPC is a drinking buddy he rescued from slavers, no romance there. I don't play those sorts of games...not that there's anything wrong with that.

It's not like there is no option for both characters to be brought back to life. It's just that I feel the player character should be given the benefit of the doubt with the ressurect and the NPC can risk the reincarnate. Considering I am playing the NPC I am sure I could react better to be returned in Troglodyte form!