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<blockquote data-quote="hawkeyefan" data-source="post: 6770674" data-attributes="member: 6785785"><p>Sure, a player can be selfish in their requests. But I was asking about what a DM can do besides say no. We can also discuss how it can be bad for players to insist on their character design. But my comment was to examine things from a DM perspective.</p><p></p><p>It's just for discussion. I'm curious. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Just asking what you would do if you couldn't say no. How would you work around it?</p><p></p><p>Just pretend for a minute you can't or won't say no to the request. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Hah nice. So would you use the gnome mechanics? Would you allow it to come up in any way over the course of the campaign? Or would you simply go with the delusional halfling take and never examine it any further?</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Well, no, it doesn't have to be that way. Maybe they didn't know it would be Dark Sun. Let's just assume for the sake of argument that their intentions were perfectly benign. They show up with their gnome character and oops it's Dark Sun, and there's limited time, so you just decide to run with it. How do you go about it?</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Sure, I agree. I personally wouldn't have a problem with it, and I'd work with the player to come up with a reason for the gnome. A lost tribe, a planar visitor, time travel, a new breed of gnome....plenty of possibilities depending on the campaign.</p><p></p><p>Traditionally, the setting does not allow for gnomes because they are extinct on Athas.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>You can of course say no if this were to happen. But I was just asking for the sake of discussion. </p><p></p><p>I'll put you down as "planar visitor".</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Exactly what I am trying to point out, thank you. Almost everyone just jumped to "NO!" immediately, even though I was just asking for discussion's sake. I've found that when you just decide not to automatically say no just based on the expectation you already have, and actually consider the request, and work with the player to come up with a viable resolution...well, that right there is world building. </p><p></p><p>A gnome on Athas just opens up all kinds of possibilities...maybe some that are interesting enough to examine over the course of a campaign. Maybe not...in which case the one gnome has little impact on things anyway. Especially if viewed as a delusional halfling.</p><p></p><p>I used to be a real control freak when it came to this stuff. I've made a conscious decision to stop it though, because I've found that my most creative stuff usually comes from unexpected places.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hawkeyefan, post: 6770674, member: 6785785"] Sure, a player can be selfish in their requests. But I was asking about what a DM can do besides say no. We can also discuss how it can be bad for players to insist on their character design. But my comment was to examine things from a DM perspective. It's just for discussion. I'm curious. Just asking what you would do if you couldn't say no. How would you work around it? Just pretend for a minute you can't or won't say no to the request. Hah nice. So would you use the gnome mechanics? Would you allow it to come up in any way over the course of the campaign? Or would you simply go with the delusional halfling take and never examine it any further? Well, no, it doesn't have to be that way. Maybe they didn't know it would be Dark Sun. Let's just assume for the sake of argument that their intentions were perfectly benign. They show up with their gnome character and oops it's Dark Sun, and there's limited time, so you just decide to run with it. How do you go about it? Sure, I agree. I personally wouldn't have a problem with it, and I'd work with the player to come up with a reason for the gnome. A lost tribe, a planar visitor, time travel, a new breed of gnome....plenty of possibilities depending on the campaign. Traditionally, the setting does not allow for gnomes because they are extinct on Athas. You can of course say no if this were to happen. But I was just asking for the sake of discussion. I'll put you down as "planar visitor". Exactly what I am trying to point out, thank you. Almost everyone just jumped to "NO!" immediately, even though I was just asking for discussion's sake. I've found that when you just decide not to automatically say no just based on the expectation you already have, and actually consider the request, and work with the player to come up with a viable resolution...well, that right there is world building. A gnome on Athas just opens up all kinds of possibilities...maybe some that are interesting enough to examine over the course of a campaign. Maybe not...in which case the one gnome has little impact on things anyway. Especially if viewed as a delusional halfling. I used to be a real control freak when it came to this stuff. I've made a conscious decision to stop it though, because I've found that my most creative stuff usually comes from unexpected places. [/QUOTE]
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