Roleplaying questions...

Bloodhearte · Post by **Bloodhearte** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 10:37 am

From what I hear, you can't force RP onto people. However, I have an inquiry; can you 'force' RP onto people if the environment, situation, or time calls for it?

For example, a certain hobbit went far out of town to plant cabbage, on the mining area, and normally, grass right next to mining rock is unarable...it wouldn't make sense to plant cabbage on it anyway.

Bloodhearte was practicing magic in the area before he arrived, so, he decided to attempt to take the blood of the hobbit. I made it clear that I wouldn't do in-game damage to him, or expect him to die, but rather, feel a bit queasy.

Now, there are good arguments to this...the hobbit said I couldn't force my RP on him, and this is a good point. I would be quite unsatisfied if somebody forced an RP kidnap on me.

However, I stand on the opposite side. Why? Because the hobbit made a CHOICE to head that far out of town, and plant in unarable land. So, he headed out into the middle of nowhere, without a group of friends (and probably without a good inventory to defend himself with) and expects to plant and be on his way? You don't exactly head out that far into the wilderness and expect to remain completely out of danger when you go up next to a character such as mine, while he's feeling weak, and practicing magic.

Now tell me, what sounds realisitc? A bloodsucker trying to get blood from a hobbit because he's alone, and defenseless? In real life, it wouldn't be up to him to abstain from the bloodsucking; it's a sense of action! He probably didn't feel like it, but he must first think of the consequences of randomly traveling.

Or, does it sound more realistic if he tells a hostile person that he can't be attacked, simply because he doesn't feel like being in danger although he's out in the wilderness? I told him that if he wants to stay safe, it would be more realistic to stay somewhere near the town or have a group of buddies to come with him.

I know I sort of 'forced' it, but it only made sense in my eyes...why, I remember when a group of thugs tried to rob me of a weapon while I was far from town. I didn't agree with doing it, but I went along with it because I knew that I should face the dangers of being out into lawless lands. That's what makes games fun! Like the Zork series, or other RPGs, unpredictable danger!

Bottom line; I believe that if you don't want people 'forcing' RP on you, try to have it make sense.

Any opinions?

Rynt · Post by **Rynt** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 11:08 am

Ah, so you were the one who sucked my Character's blood. You're character may be feeeling the after effects of lycanthropic blood soon!

Draakon · Post by **Draakon** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 12:10 pm

How is you wanting to take his blood forced RP? He has to do nothing but get bitten and you get the blood (whatever it was you were trying to do) after that no more is required of him unless he wants to. If he does not want to be attacked or take damage then running would be a good idea...
If you however bit him and claimed that he turned into a vampire or that you have total control of him that would be lame and not work unless he wants to paricipate. Just like you cannot "kill" anyone unless they wants to stop playing and just be dead.

It is hard to really define forced RP I think cause if we did not basically nothing would ever happen, but obviously getting someone who wants to play along would always be preffered.

Hagen von Rabenfeld · Post by **Hagen von Rabenfeld** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 1:05 pm

Forced RP is a very difficult thing as few players like it to accept drawbacks for their Chars only of RP-reasons and not of game mechanics((for example to kill him)) What you described sounds realistic to me and a typical behaviour for Bloodhearte ((as far as i can judge that)), but i think the problem is how players write their #me`s. To write a #me which includes a lot of action, like jumping at the halfling, grabing him and sucking his blood, is difficult, because there is no chance to escape instead of just ignoring the #me, which isnt very good RP in my opinion.

My only proposal is to include more "tries to...." into the #me`s. The attacked Char and his player get a opportunity to react like "#me senses the danger and swiftly dodges the bite." I know this is not the perfect solution because some players seem to assume their Chars see and hear everything and have the reflexes of spiderman. It will get you fewer victims but i have no other proposal to make it fair and prevent players from feeling forced to a certain way of RP.

Sometimes an OOC information will help to keep the interaction logical. Example: Someone tries to grab another Char in order to hold him down. An OOC info like ((my orc has maximum strenght it will be very difficult for your halfling to escape from his iron like grip)) can make it easier for the victim to react accordingly although this doesnt work with examples which are not so clear as the one above.

Perhaps the halfling would have fled if you first showed your teeth before you jumped at him, because he sensed that he is in danger but as i didnt see what happened exactly, this is only an assumption.

I hope you understand what i try to say, if not, my bad english might be responsible

but im trying hard to improve it.

GMcFly · Post by **GMcFly** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 1:44 pm

An OOC info like ((my orc has maximum strenght it will be very difficult for your halfling to escape from his iron like grip)) can make it easier for the victim

Someone looks angry and he is playing with a lot of muscles

Someone looks at his muscles. "try it, you havnt a chance"

Cain Freemont · Post by **Cain Freemont** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 6:19 pm

Forcing your RP... I think that might be the dumbest excuse I have ever heard. That halfling entered the game well aware that in an RP world, anything is possible. By pressing that OK button, he was accepting implied constituents that state he will be susceptible to anything in game. If he didn't want to RP, he should have stayed offline.

Ellaron · Post by **Ellaron** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 9:39 pm

To be honest I wouldn't mind a bit of forcing (insert joke here) as long as it was reasonable. I would object to being turned into a chicken but, as long as it wasn't every five minutes, I wouldn't mind being clubbed and robbed. If I've little on me then I was a poor choice of victim and you find nothing. But maybe you'll get a little gold or food or whatever. That was just off the cuff, like I say I'll try to be open to most things.

Vindigan · Post by **Vindigan** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 10:20 pm

I agree, people actualy interacting with you in that way is fun, but not if its you doing it to some of the "neo" characters out there.

#me1 aims his club at (someones) head

#me2 senses the attack and reverses it, stealing his club, clothes, money and the key to his depot

#me1 cries

Rynt · Post by **Rynt** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 10:22 pm

Yes. If someone aims to hit me on the head with a club, I usually receive the hit.

Elaralith · Post by **Elaralith** » Tue Jun 10, 2003 5:18 am

It is always a good idea to use the word "try" or explain a bit of OOC info IC as GMcFly explained.

Lenara Ilandel · Post by **Lenara Ilandel** » Thu Jun 12, 2003 3:45 am

Yes yes, that it is -- You never want to sound like you're not giving them a chance, so some "attempt" words work quite nicely... ((...er.... was that a bit too much reiteration there? o_o I'm new here, so... >_> Yeah...))