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TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#126: May 23rd 2012 at 11:20:30 AM

One thing that I'm having problems with in my current campaign is that one of the significant PNP Cs has become a Faux Action Girl.

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#127: May 23rd 2012 at 3:46:27 PM

Have her kick the shit out of stuff. Simple.

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#128: May 23rd 2012 at 3:57:09 PM

No, that would reinforce her Faux Action Girl elements, because here, "on-screen" means "as a PNPC in combat."

Now, the party is forced to bring her along in Encounter 14.2 and 16.2, but other than that, she's unlikely to get much combat screentime.

It helps that she gets a pretty significant damage boost at 16th level. Before then, she's basically a less effective version of the PC monk.

edited 23rd May '12 3:57:36 PM by TheyCallMeTomu

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#129: May 23rd 2012 at 3:58:38 PM

That's just a problem with PNPCS in general, innit?

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#130: May 23rd 2012 at 4:08:55 PM

Not all PNP Cs function equally though. That being said, it's not a bad thing that Tenjin seems to be pretty popular with the party.

KyleJacobs from DC - Southern efficiency, Northern charm Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#131: May 24th 2012 at 7:49:04 AM

The Faux Action Girl status stems from the fact that the Random Number God absolutely despises the NPC in question.

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#132: May 24th 2012 at 7:50:09 AM

An, makes sense.

So, general question: How willing are you to let players do Crazy Shit with their character concepts?

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#133: May 24th 2012 at 9:04:02 AM

[up]Depends on so many different factors, any answer would be meaningless.

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#134: May 24th 2012 at 9:06:42 AM

What do you mean "do Crazy Shit?"

Kyle is playing the personification of the spirit of metal-not the material but the type of music-in a medieval Asia game. Is that crazy shit?

IraTheSquire Since: Apr, 2010
#135: May 24th 2012 at 9:06:47 AM

[up][up][up][up] That, I think, would be one of the cases when you should fudge your rolls.

edited 24th May '12 9:07:11 AM by IraTheSquire

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#136: May 24th 2012 at 9:15:11 AM

Eh, die rolls are public. I suppose I could always institute "override" die rolls though.

Besides-the PNPC is essentially a fifth PC, which the main distinction that the party (usually) gets to choose who they bring along. While I want them to be effective, it's absolutely crucial that they not overshadow the other P Cs.

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#137: May 24th 2012 at 9:16:33 AM

Yes, Jacobs' character is most definitely Crazy Shit.

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#138: May 24th 2012 at 9:17:45 AM

I only let Kyle get away with that because there's "one in every group."

I hate it when the entire party wants to be special snowflakes.

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#139: May 24th 2012 at 9:22:32 AM

Dwindle special snowflake. I tend to think interesting characters are good. Take our group for example. We've got a Highlander with magical tattoos, a librarian monk that fights while reading, a batshit insane Gnome pirate, a necromancer obsessed with Science!. . . and it is awesome.

edited 24th May '12 9:23:13 AM by Exelixi

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#140: May 24th 2012 at 9:24:18 AM

It's more the issue of everyone insisting on playing against the genre. Like, if you run a mercenary campaign, everyone wants to play a pacifist, or something like that.

I really should have forced people into a "you're all mercenaries deal with it" thing for TGD or something, because right now, they're just sort of being swept along in the fast pace of the plot rather than having a whole lot of character incentive. On the plus side, hopefully they'll be really happy to kill Karite once they get the chance.

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#141: May 24th 2012 at 9:25:19 AM

Ah, that. Yeah, I hate that.

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
IraTheSquire Since: Apr, 2010
#142: May 24th 2012 at 8:57:58 PM

@ Tomu: That's what the GM screen is for. Also, rolling dice in secret keeps the players on edge because they will have no dea for it is for (and cannot even guess).

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#143: May 24th 2012 at 8:59:57 PM

I play online. Die results are posted. I suppose I could change all the macros to be g: and only go to the DM-then the players would have to take my word for it. But no, you really can't use Interrupts to get +X to defenses effectively if die rolls aren't public.

KyleJacobs from DC - Southern efficiency, Northern charm Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#144: May 24th 2012 at 9:43:29 PM

This is one of the reasons I GM over a mic - I actually get to make die rolls behind the screen without needing an actual screen, and cause my players to freak out. On an unrelated note, I just so happen to have an actual screen, but I put it together for convenience more than anything else.

Speaking of GM screens, what do you guys generally like to see on them? Mine has common skill uses and their DC's, a list of the combat maneuvers, the mook maker, a chart of what does and doesn't provoke Attack of Opportunity, and a list of the various conditions and what they do note . Also, the player side - in case I ever have a session with other people physically present - is the Judge Dredd "I AM THE LAW" picture. You know the one.

edited 24th May '12 9:43:50 PM by KyleJacobs

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#145: May 24th 2012 at 9:59:32 PM

I haven't played off-line in about a decade, so I really can't say.

I suppose I could rig the dicebot (I actually have ways of doing this) if I really wanted to fudge the dice, but it's just a lot of extra coding to do, so I've never bothered to implement it.

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#146: May 25th 2012 at 9:09:44 AM

So, later in this campaign, I'll be using PC Centric sidequests, and I've gathered info from the various players from what they want in their sidequests. Unfortunately, the Kitsune's player wanted "an orgy." I find myself increasingly wondering how to respond to that...

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#147: May 25th 2012 at 9:11:41 AM

@Offscreen dice rolls: Yeah, not gonna lie, I find myself clenching up on reflex whenever I hear the sound of dice hitting Jacobs' desk.

[up]Try "no, you're not having an orgy."

edited 25th May '12 9:11:59 AM by Exelixi

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#148: May 25th 2012 at 9:14:09 AM

But it's central to his character!

Besides, I'm thinking of luring him in with the promise of an orgy, and then suddenly turning it into a romantic drama.

Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#149: May 25th 2012 at 9:16:10 AM

[up]You'll be a hero of Dungeon Masters and japanophiles everywhere if you can stick him with an Unwanted Harem. Emphasis on 'unwanted'.

edited 25th May '12 9:16:32 AM by Kayeka

Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#150: May 25th 2012 at 9:16:35 AM

Seems legit.

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-

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