Why are people so uncomfortable with PvP?

[ThirdWizard]

Blackleaf, No!!

 

[Romnipotent]

Blackleaf, No!!

Get over it he was laundering money from the party.

 

[freebfrost]

I have to be nice, but since you are local I will be coming over and jamming this down your throat in person.

I've gamed for about 25 years, I've played so many games and so many styles I've learned: its all good. If I was in a group that liked PvP, I'd be fine with it. AS long as people have fun, tis cool. Its gaming, I don't get worked up over gaming.

I've played since 1980 myself, and feel much the same way.

By the way I've invested a lot of skill points over the year in Spot (since it's a DM class skill), and I totally saw you hiding up in my tree last night Crothian. Better luck next time!!

 

[Crothian]

I've played since 1980 myself, and feel much the same way.

By the way I've invested a lot of skill points over the year in Spot (since it's a DM class skill), and I totally saw you hiding up in my tree last night Crothian. Better luck next time!!

Got you!! I was behind the car...the dummy was behind the tree!!

 

[DamionW]

I think the whole pretend vs. Roleplay argument breaks down to two styles of play. Both are applicable to RPGs and not wargaming. I borrowed them from Robin Law's Rules of Good Game-Mastering. There is the Method Actor style and the Storyteller style. The Method Actor plays characters to try and understand and relate to them, exploring them by feeling them and their motivations out in first person. The Storyteller is focused on the overall plot of any game. He creates characters with strong backgrounds and motivations in order to send the GMs story in different and new directions than what it would be without his character. He likes trying different character concepts and designs in somuch as they lead to new plot twists and threads. This doesn't necessarily involve relating to those characters or immersing oneself in them, but it does take a greater focus on background and plots then any wargame could allow for with just dicerolling and miniatures. Overall it could be almost split into an actor's mindset and an author's mindset, although each borrows from the other. That's my take on it and both are valid, IMO. Just because you don't relate to a character on a personal level doesn't mean it's just a miniature with statistics blocks to back it up.

 

[DonTadow]

Got you!! I was behind the car...the dummy was behind the tree!!

Wait if you were behind the car and the dummy was

behind​

the tree, who did freefrost see in the tree... Well played Crothian, Well played

 

[Crothian]

Wait if you were behind the car and the dummy was

behind​

the tree, who did freefrost see in the tree...

The Ghost!!!

 

[Thaniel]

D&D is a social game, everything is face to face...online is not.

I take a modicum of offense at this. I do not play d&d face to face. There are not face-to-face games near enough to me. I do all my D&Ding online (via IRC). D&D online (not the new video game - talking about real D&D here) is no different than D&D offline. The idea that online you can PvP to your heart's content is a good way of being blacklisted from playing in any games (assuming the different GMs know each other, which mine mostly do). Granted, I'm sure you just meant MMORPGs or something, but please make the distinction clear. Many many people play D&D through online means. Not everyone is able to find a game near them.

That said, and back on topic, I find there's nothing wrong with PvP as long as it doesn't get violent. And if it does, I've never played with anyone that had their character exert lethal force against another PC. Anyone that would do that just because of some in-party argument (which I have absolutely nothing against) has no business playing D&D as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Crothian]

I take a modicum of offense at this. I do not play d&d face to face. There are not face-to-face games near enough to me. I do all my D&Ding online (via IRC). D&D online (not the new video game - talking about real D&D here) is no different than D&D offline.

D&D online is way different then D&D on line, they are both D&D but the differences in the medium can have a huge impact on the game.

 

[BSF]

A game laregly focused on PvP doesn't need me to run it. Get together some afternoon and fight amongst yourselves. You don't need a DM for that.

This isn't to say that intra-party conflict can't/doesn't exist. But when the relationships turn overtly hostile, why would the PCs remain together? If you are going to enter dangerous situations and you always feel like you are watching your back against the guy that should be watching your back...

I like a little conflict within the group. But not to the extent where the point of the game becomes PvP.