Why do I alwaus get one player......

[Crothian]

Me: "The game setting, or this region anyway, is 99% Human, <1% Dwarf. You can play a Gnome or a Halfling, but no one has ever seen one and it will be a bit hard. Every other race is a hated enemy. Basically everyone is going to be Human or Dwarf."

Wow, this is very controlling of you. THe players should have some input into the game they are going to be playing in, the DM needs to be able to take his players into account when running a game. If you chase off all the players, you have no game. Even games where the player reluctantly play what they are being forced to play is not as fun as the games the players really want to play in.

 

[Arpad]

I just look for a group that will let me have a character I want to play. If they don't like my style of character no sense butting heads over it. We're supposed to be having fun here.

 

[Crothian]

I just look for a group that will let me have a character I want to play. If they don't like my style of character no sense butting heads over it. We're supposed to be having fun here.

Most people aren't blessed with knowing multiple groups they can join and quit at a moments notice though.

 

[TheEvil]

Wow, this is very controlling of you. THe players should have some input into the game they are going to be playing in, the DM needs to be able to take his players into account when running a game. If you chase off all the players, you have no game. Even games where the player reluctantly play what they are being forced to play is not as fun as the games the players really want to play in.

Speaking as a player, I feel that it really is the role of the player to be more flexible then the GM in this regard. After all, the GM is (ostensibly) putting the most effort into the game, and restricting player choices doesn't in and of it self indicate that the game will be no fun, though it can be a warning sign. However, it is a pretty poor gamer who will only enjoy playing if they have complete freedom to play anything they want to. I have run into very few situations where the game would have been fun 'If only the GM had let me play this unusual class/race'. Frankly, I have seen the oddball character screw up more games then they have helped. YMMV

Even in the example cited, there are four race options and no restictions on class that I have noticed. If you are really that bored of 'standard' combinations, maybe what you really need to do is switch genres.

 

[jasper]

Most people aren't blessed with knowing multiple groups they can join and quit at a moments notice though.

Hopefully those who are not bless with multiple groups, will remember this is game and find some other hobby they can enjoy. In other words you don't have to be addict to D&D.

 

[S'mon]

Wow, this is very controlling of you. THe players should have some input into the game they are going to be playing in, the DM needs to be able to take his players into account when running a game. If you chase off all the players, you have no game. Even games where the player reluctantly play what they are being forced to play is not as fun as the games the players really want to play in.

I disagree 100% inasmuch as while players should certainly have input into their PCs, it must be within paramaters set by the GM - eg no hobbits in a Conan game. Only the very worst kind of players can't deal with restrictions that exist for genre/setting or theme reasons - if the GM says it's a campaign about human mercenaries in a gritty medieval setting, don't suggest a half-medusa tiefling genasi ninja, please. If the setting & theme don't interest you, fair enough, but don't waste everyone's time.

 

[Dryfus]

If the setting & theme don't interest you, fair enough, but don't waste everyone's time.

Here here...Well said.

 

[IcyCool]

I disagree 100% inasmuch as while players should certainly have input into their PCs, it must be within paramaters set by the GM - eg no hobbits in a Conan game. Only the very worst kind of players can't deal with restrictions that exist for genre/setting or theme reasons - if the GM says it's a campaign about human mercenaries in a gritty medieval setting, don't suggest a half-medusa tiefling genasi ninja, please. If the setting & theme don't interest you, fair enough, but don't waste everyone's time.

Well said.

 

[Crothian]

I disagree 100% inasmuch as while players should certainly have input into their PCs, it must be within paramaters set by the GM - eg no hobbits in a Conan game. Only the very worst kind of players can't deal with restrictions that exist for genre/setting or theme reasons - if the GM says it's a campaign about human mercenaries in a gritty medieval setting, don't suggest a half-medusa tiefling genasi ninja, please. If the setting & theme don't interest you, fair enough, but don't waste everyone's time.

There are restrictions and then there is a the DM straightjacket where they are too extremely restirictive. So, not ever DM who places restrictions on what can be played is going to be in the right just as ever player who complains he should be allowed to play X is in the right. Players and DMs should be able to work together to get a campaign that everyone can have fun with. If you know one of the players really wants to play a half-medusa tiefling genasi ninja and the DM chooses to run the campaign about human mercenaries in a gritty medieval setting dispite that, then the DM desrves some of the blame. (anyone who wants to play a half-medusa tiefling genasi ninja is not without blame no matter what the circumstances in my eyes )

 

[Arnwyn]

So, not ever DM who places restrictions on what can be played is going to be in the right

Maybe not "every" DM... but it seems like you'd be surprised on how many are in the right.

If you know one of the players really wants to play a half-medusa tiefling genasi ninja and the DM chooses to run the campaign about human mercenaries in a gritty medieval setting dispite that, then the DM desrves some of the blame.

There's no "blame" there. If only one player (out of all the players) is being contrary, then I direct you to S'mon's wise comment: "If the setting & theme don't interest you, fair enough, but don't waste everyone's time."

I can't agree with you at all (unless you're talking about extreme situations of DM restrictiveness - which isn't particularly valid in the context of this thread).