Why are people so uncomfortable with PvP?

[ThirdWizard]

My campaigns are, first of all, character based. The "scenarios" aren't the main focus. The PCs decide where they are going, and I plan accordingly. If they want to walk away and do something else, then that's what they do. So, I never have the problem that I, as the DM, am trying to get the game on track. It's always on track by definition.

I don't think thats really PvP. Like the examples where the Barbarian isn't trying to harm the group, and the group isn't trying to harm the barbarian, just trying to keep him from doing something stupid .. eh, it's just no one harming no one.

I don't think its a stretch to define PvP as PCs rolling dice against each other. For example, what if its nonlethal combat or a mixture of lethal and nonlethal? What if they stop just before the final blow or while bleeding to death and bandage the other one up to carry the other along? It's the opposite of PvE (player versus environment) in which the players fight against monsters.

So, you don't role play the character, that's cool. Not everyone likes to role play their characters which is pretending to be that character.

An actor need not see themselves as the character to be an actor. As a DM, I never see myself as the NPC, but I consider myself to be roleplaying.

 

[turbo]

1) It slows down play - you aren't off fighting villains and winning treasure, you're sitting in the same room hacking at each other.

Getting there is half the fun.

 

[tetsujin28]

And it's also interesting how a well scripted show is nothing like a non scripted RPG.

Word.

 

[Crothian]

An actor need not see themselves as the character to be an actor. As a DM, I never see myself as the NPC, but I consider myself to be roleplaying.

The other person said he doesn't pretend to be the character, and role playing is pretending to be the character. I don't think anyone things they are the character they are playing. When you role play, you are the character. players talk to you as if you are the character unless your group keeps everything third person.

 

[DonTadow]

So, you don't role play the character, that's cool. Not everyone likes to role play their characters which is pretending to be that character.

Not roleplayign a character in a roleplaying game? Isn't that like playing basketball but not wanting to dribble the ball.

 

[Crothian]

Not roleplayign a character in a roleplaying game? Isn't that like playing basketball but not wanting to dribble the ball.

No, RPGs especially D&D can be run as a War game.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I don't think anyone things they are the character they are playing.

When you role play, you are the character.

Okay, now you're just messing with my head.

 

[Crothian]

Okay, now you're just messing with my head.

Be that as it may, there is a fine and subtle difference. The first is an actual belief that you are the character, the second is more of a representation of that character.

 

[Azul]

Because it's really bleeping annoying.

Out of character, this pretty much hits the nail on the head. PvP disrupts gameplay and ruins the fun of most people at the table. For that reason alone, it is worth discouraging.

In character, the issue is trust. Your fellow party members are comrades in arms who you need to be able to trust with your very life. They are your closest allies. You might disagree and argue with your closest allies but you don't try to kill them. Once the trust in a party disintegrates, that group will rapidly become useless as an adventuring party because they PCs will be far more focused on fighting each other than dealing with the scenario at hand.

In my campaigns, even chaotic and evil (and even chaotic evil) PCs realize the value of having friends and allies - both for emotional and pragmatic reasons. Only a fool thinks he is stronger alone than with friends backing him up and only the most antisocial freak doesn't need at least a few friends he can trust/drink with/sleep safely around. A chaotic evil berserk still wants someone he can celebrate his victory with and trust to stand guard while he sleeps. He may not feel affection but he would certainly find a proven trustworthy ally to be very valuable.

I don't outright ban PvP but I do strongly discourage it. My players take a very dim view of willingly attacking other PCs (or friendly NPCs) or any other behaviour that seriously undermines inter-party trust. I have no doubt that a player who did this would face genuinely irate (if not angry) players unless there was a very good reason for it. Obviously, no one gets upset over dominated PCs or PCs who misinterpret a situation in a disastrous manner ("You mean he isn't the doppleganger?... oh cr*p, sorry...). Accidentally killing buddies happens from time to time but the players accept that accidents can happen with all that pointy steel and deadly magic flying.

 

[DonTadow]

No, RPGs especially D&D can be run as a War game.

Not really. You can't erally change the definition of the world rpg when role playing is in the title. They can be adapited to be wargames (same as any game from monopoly to bootlegers can be adapted) , but there are games such as chainmail and nother wargames that better suit the wargaming need. There are a ton that have low ammounts of rpg elements but focus more on the wargaming hack and slash that better suit players.

I don't see the point in adapting and changing things when there are other options.