When "Roleplaying" rears its ugly head...

[Hannibal King]

Here's the lay down, current party has 4 player characters and 1 NPC. The NPC has been in the party longer than two of the player characters (one died several sessions ago, the other changed character). With me?

Last session, 1 of the newer player characters was killed as was the NPC. Due to current conditions the party has the option of resurrecting one of the dead and reincarnating the other. Got it?

Now as DM, I belive the players character should be raised and the NPC should risk the reincarnation spell. Obvious the players enjoyment is paramount over my NPC. But wait for it...

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.

I argued that I won't spoil the player's enjoyment for the sake of an NPC. He argued that it would be the true roleplaying way to handle it. My reply was to hell with that! I won't allow roleplaying to ruin a player's enjoyment. His arguement now is that this is ruining his enjoyment of the game. And that we (the rest of the group) are a bunch of metagamers who don't have a clue about the true roleplaying way.

So, thoughts? Is he acting like a spoilt brat and not considering the feelings of others? Is he due for a reality check as this is just a game ? Or is he right, should true roleplaying over-ride the meta-portion of gaming when the players are involved?

To the moderators, if this starts a flame war, I apologize, it's was not my intention.
Thanks
Hannibal King

 

[Corsair]

Actually in the group I play in, that exact sort of situation has come up before, involving one of my characters. I didn't sweat it, and frankly it wasn't that big a deal to me. I'd much rather play in a game where the world works in a consistent manner, rather than one that favors PCs just because they don't have an "N" in their acronym.

To answer your questions specifically:

I can't fault your player. He, like me I suppose, wants to play his character consistently, and try not to use out of game knowledge to justify an in character action. Personally I applaud players like this. Maybe you want a more casual game than he does, but neither of you is really wrong. You might want to consider your apparently harsh stance though. Considering some of the language you used in your post, one or both of you may be taking unnecessarily beligerant points of view.

In the end, I can't really fault the player of the living character for acting in that way. That doesn't make him a bad person, it just means he wants to play a realistic character. I also can't fault you for wanting to have a fun casual game with friends. In the end, I tend to side with your player, because that is how I would feel on the matter too.

Now it occurs to me, what about the player with the dead PC? Is he taking it personally? If so, why? If he is a serious roleplayer at all, he should understand. If he is less serious, I doubt turning into a different type of humanoid will be that big a deal to him.

 

[Klaus]

Ahh, I've seen one of those...

The complaining player *has* a right to enjoy the game in his own way, but that right ends just before he spoils someone else's fun.

The *true* roleplaying way (if there is such a thing) would be to raise the PC, reincarnate the NPC and find an *in-character* reason to justify it. You preserve the group's fun and flex the roleplaying muscles all the same.

 

[Silver Moon]

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

Our campaign is on its 23rd year and there are NPC's who have been around for most of that. The players have never hesitated to resurrect one of those over somebody they just met, and I've supported that decison. Heck, I had a new character with the group for all of an hour once because the party had no relationship with him so were not inclinded to bring him back.

That being said, the players are also aware of the fact that everyone is there to have fun. So they would be more inclined to help work the player's next character into the storyline.

 

[Von Ether]

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

Our campaign is on its 23rd year and there are NPC's who have been around for most of that. The players have never hesitated to resurrect one of those over somebody they just met, and I've supported that decison. Heck, I had a new character with the group for all of an hour once because the party had no relationship with him so were not inclinded to bring him back.

That being said, the players are also aware of the fact that everyone is there to have fun. So they would be more inclined to help work the player's next character into the storyline.

Hmmm. That's a tough call. I'd see how the new player felt about it. If he was cool with it, I'd go with it. If not, I don't fault him.

But most of my games don't get that far. There is role-playing and role assumption. I have players who tend to do role assumption, in that they will play their characters "faithfuly" to the bitter end, even if that means they refuse to find a way to even stay with the party for more than half an adventure.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

The next time you are around the table, have the complaining character pick high or low, and let the dice decide.

 

[jmucchiello]

the newer player character should risk the reincarnation cause he is has been around longer and is a friend of the older player character.

Fudge the Reincarnation roll (and annoy the gamists/simulationists). Or, provide a miracle second resurrection possiblity and just move on.

 

[Quasqueton]

Being reincarnated from death will ruin a Player's enjoyment? Has the Player with the dead PC complained about the method of his potential revivification? Hey, he died. Make up a new character or live with the choices made by the not-dead PCs. If being reincarnated is a drag, stay dead.

Quasqueton

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Now it occurs to me, what about the player with the dead PC? Is he taking it personally? If so, why? If he is a serious roleplayer at all, he should understand. If he is less serious, I doubt turning into a different type of humanoid will be that big a deal to him.

This would be the decider for me.

 

[Buttercup]

Is he acting like a spoilt brat and not considering the feelings of others? Is he due for a reality check as this is just a game ?

Lemme think about this for a minute. Yup. His insistance on "pure" roleplaying is immature BS. Of course you want to raise the PC. So what if that means you have to metagame a bit to justify it.

Word to the wise, though. Never run NPCs with the party like this--it always leads to trouble of one sort or another.

I have a question. Are all of you friends outside of the game? Because if you are, I predict that this player's behavior could change that. Sad but true.