tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post1307219259894893245..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: I Think That We Can Think It Out AgainAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-15886639843742957172016-01-04T13:17:06.548-07:002016-01-04T13:17:06.548-07:00I can speak from experience that some actors do, E...I can speak from experience that some actors do, Eric. Some won't play villains, some will only play villains. Some won't play homosexual roles. Many actors won't work with children or animals. And of course nudity, vice, religion and political themes are all issues, both for and against.<br /><br />Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-44001407224224151352016-01-04T12:34:49.349-07:002016-01-04T12:34:49.349-07:00BaronOpal,
I appreciated reading your perspective...BaronOpal,<br /><br />I appreciated reading your perspective on this - it made me think about how, as much as the DM would like to allow a player ANY experience, there are some game experiences that would hit a little too close to home, and the player would want to avoid.<br /><br />I wonder if some actors avoid certain roles for that reason?<br /><br />EricZrog (ESR)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09610162200721944106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-71555015422778272182016-01-04T11:20:30.166-07:002016-01-04T11:20:30.166-07:00"Is this any different from a saving throw yo...<i>"Is this any different from a saving throw you'd have to throw if it were an evil mage than a well meaning host?"</i><br /><br />That's a good point, and thinking about it I would have to say probably not. You are simply describing a different sort of challenge to overcome.<br /><br />However, this is something that I would have a very difficult time approaching dispassionately due to what I do on a daily basis. I usually have my fill of such pathos during the week. I wouldn't want my playtime to be filled with the same.BaronOpalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11201728348801013383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-50688016157168291722016-01-03T23:38:10.658-07:002016-01-03T23:38:10.658-07:00This is a very understandable reaction, Baron - it...This is a very understandable reaction, Baron - it is why I wrote the post.<br /><br />The rent a room and withdraw idea is perfectly reasonable. It would require, unquestionably, some investment; think of it as a small quest, a probable period of adjustment . . . perhaps only a period of time that the rest of the party could simply concede. This would be easier if you weren't walking into an ongoing campaign, where time was relevant. But let's presume it's done and you're "normal."<br /><br />There's still the occasional matter of temptation, however. You're speaking with a sheik in his tent and he offers a bit of opium if you'd like, just a little bit - since you won't be leaving his encampment for a few days anyway.<br /><br />Is this any different from a saving throw you'd have to throw if it were an evil mage than a well meaning host?Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-62475958576700800892016-01-03T21:57:23.746-07:002016-01-03T21:57:23.746-07:00After re-reading the comments:
"The characte...After re-reading the comments:<br /><br /><i>"The character's addiction rolled up by the generator only describes what the character has BEEN - it doesn't describe what the character has to do with that behaviour. If the character is willing to give up the habit ... then the character doesn't have to be anxious, self-destructive or addicted, not even because the random generator "told them" they were."</i><br /><br />I could deal with that, I think. But, then it would be "my character rents a room and goes through withdrawal. When should I come back?"BaronOpalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11201728348801013383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-25771308587234383202016-01-03T21:53:43.200-07:002016-01-03T21:53:43.200-07:00I had a very visceral Hell, no. when I read this. ...I had a very visceral <i>Hell, no.</i> when I read this. I would not play a character that I was informed had an addiction at the start of the game. I would be perfectly willing to forego any advantages that might have come with that disability. If I couldn't do that, or roll up a different character, I wouldn't play. Any such impairment would have to be from consequences of play.<br /><br />Now, I suspect that such a reaction on my part comes from taking care of the human wreckage that washes into my hospital, fixing them up, and sending them out after they have gone through withdrawal. BaronOpalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11201728348801013383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-7148305810294563192015-12-31T15:30:06.534-07:002015-12-31T15:30:06.534-07:00Preston,
I think this is the sort of thing I'...Preston,<br /><br />I think this is the sort of thing I'd like to work out with a specific player who WANTED to play this out. Those who have gotten the result in the past have been happy to pay the cost, keep track of their use and leave it at that. I haven't wanted to infringe beyond this; if they stop using, I drop their stats, but so long as they keep up with their habit, their stats and character abilities remain standard.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-55070556179133559492015-12-31T13:55:13.572-07:002015-12-31T13:55:13.572-07:00I get the feeling that a lot of old school setting...I get the feeling that a lot of old school settings pretty much expect the PCs to be alcoholic- between lack of clean drinking water and the general stress and isolation of the adventurer lifestyle and the tendency of DnD characters to hang out in places that serve alcohol.<br /><br />Do you have any mechanics for developing addiction in play?<br />Or anything for figuring the occurrence of permanent wounds and physical disabilities since we are talking about chronic character handicaps in general?<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302117270345645812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-57356811604985086942015-12-31T02:47:59.667-07:002015-12-31T02:47:59.667-07:00@ Alexis:
Hey, your random character generator ga...@ Alexis:<br /><br />Hey, your random character generator gave me a character who was "extremely ticklish" and couldn't stand jewelry or having a weapon longer than 2' strapped to his hip. From a game perspective, that would seem more detrimental than requiring him to spend spare coin at the local wine-seller.<br /><br />[then again (as I review my old character sheet), I see 'ol Franz also had "prone to addiction" as a tendency]<br /><br />The more random background that's built-in to the game, the more it feels like you're being given a pre-gen character, rather than something you create yourself...the empty vessel to be filled with your imagination. On the other hand, random backgrounds are about the only "fair" way to award such (generally minor) bonuses and penalties. Personally, I enjoyed it as an idiosyncrasy and additional challenge of playing in your world.<br /><br />Which is to say, yes, I think it's okay to force addiction on characters. Not sure how that even really takes away from a character being a "hero," since there is something inherently heroic about a person able to succeed and be effective despite their shortcomings.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-59472502968336649952015-12-29T14:00:22.911-07:002015-12-29T14:00:22.911-07:00Oh, I think I should be clear about that, Preston ...Oh, I think I should be clear about that, Preston - I did mention getting cleaned up and moving on in the post and that might have been missed.<br /><br />The character's addiction rolled up by the generator only describes what the character has BEEN - it doesn't describe what the character has to do with that behaviour. If the character is willing to give up the habit, go through the period of adjustment (which could be a while, as there is no spell invented for 'end drug habit'), then the character doesn't have to be anxious, self-destructive or addicted, not even because the random generator "told them" they were.<br /><br />Characters are still able to act as they will, according to a sandbox motif; it is only that in this case, it is one more problem they have to overcome (or embrace).<br />Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-52402493348844412462015-12-29T13:31:18.708-07:002015-12-29T13:31:18.708-07:00I can dig it.
I've had loads of fun playing a...I can dig it. <br />I've had loads of fun playing anxious, self-destructive alcoholic characters, without even having to be told to by a random generator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302117270345645812noreply@blogger.com