Roleplaying questions...
Posted: 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?
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?