tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post2481359867659467227..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Wrong PlayAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-87042399213826324462013-11-10T21:03:54.439-07:002013-11-10T21:03:54.439-07:00I haven't been playing for too many years, but...I haven't been playing for too many years, but in my experience the sort of pathological behaviour comes mostly from new players, specifically those who have come from a video game paradigm where basically encounter=combat and they are not used to everything they say and do having repercussions. After being lucky enough to survive a few levels after disparaging and picking on nearly everyone, they actually do display regret when they find their character shortened by a head--at least because a lot went into developing that character and some degree of attachment was inevitable, if not from any innate morality on the part of the player. More often than not, having to start over from scratch has led to a more careful approach from then on. T. Xenoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437826007093032573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-48524096129554077012013-11-04T11:10:44.703-07:002013-11-04T11:10:44.703-07:00My apologies for the delayed response, and thank y...My apologies for the delayed response, and thank you for taking up the point.<br /><br />I won't argue entirely from the DSM, but when I refer to people with a tendency towards playing sociopaths, I refer to the primary symptoms (if we eliminate the age requirements: <br /><br />failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;<br />deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;<br /><br />impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;<br /><br />irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;<br /><br />reckless disregard for safety of self or others;<br /><br />consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;<br /><br />lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another;<br /><br />That's very close to the sort of characters I run into again and again while gaming in unstructured settings - pick-up games, LFR or PFS games at the local game store, and online - and the sort of thing that leads me towards a role more of game collector and pontificator upon all that is ill with the hobby, instead of being an avid gamer.Jason Packerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02240705069654358715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-50942853534035140802013-10-25T19:48:01.326-06:002013-10-25T19:48:01.326-06:00By personal experience and involvement, a psychopa...By personal experience and involvement, a psychopath has the following characteristics. Mine had all of them: <br />1. Is quick, witty, and charming – if superficial.<br />2. Is electrifying, self—important, and/or narcissistic.<br />3. Is unable to “walk in the shoes” of others – lacks empathy with people.<br />4. Is prone to short, dramatic displays of emotion.<br />5. Is impulsive.<br />6. Is highly reactive and short tempered.<br />7. Lives in the fast lane – almost nomadic.<br />8. Lives by their own rules.<br />9. Has a surprising lack of concern, or guilt, for their actions. <br />10. Uses deception and manipulation as natural talents – are unphased by their own lies.<br />11. Obligations and Commitments mean nothing to them in the end.<br />12. Inflicts verbal, emotional and/or physical abuse to an increasing scale.<br />13. States that THEY themselves are the victims.<br /><br />(Source: “Without Conscience” by Dr. R. D. Hare.)<br />I've never had a player that could pull it all off, no matter what "evil" they chose.Jomo Risinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552294536240059611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-68718199512304299292013-10-25T16:39:32.089-06:002013-10-25T16:39:32.089-06:00Well they were following a mad man and his hanger&...Well they were following a mad man and his hanger's on so, nope. The Mongols got to be Mongols for a while, the NAZIs failed in the first generation.JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-37726315548994616652013-10-25T16:19:11.570-06:002013-10-25T16:19:11.570-06:00You zeroed in on something I've been saying fo...You zeroed in on something I've been saying for years about how players' styles, manners, and methods of play reflect WHO THEY TRULY ARE INSIDE. All through graduate school, I kept running into people who inhabited the town my university was in that gamed. And given enough time out of game, I would discover that their true personalities were as abhorrent, degenerate, and detestable as the characters they played.<br /><br />In the end, I find I prefer to play with people with whom I am and have been friends for a while rather than unknowns. As a corollary to that, I usually find through gaming whether or not someone I play with actually is the kind of person with whom I want to surround myself outside of game (it's a great way to give a person the litmus test to see if they're a douche).<br /><br />Having a player portray a sociopath or something like that has a time and place, especially if they interpret it as a challenge. I did it once and ended up hating the character so much I didn't want to play him anymore. But they need to take the world seriously.<br /><br />Considering the level of detail and the amount of hard work you put into your world, they'd damn well better.Dave Cesaranohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01454928720043301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-28065368370586317092013-10-25T14:04:30.977-06:002013-10-25T14:04:30.977-06:00Not to be horrifically nitpicky, however sociopath...Not to be horrifically nitpicky, however sociopathology, or antisocial personality disorder as it is classified in the current DSM, requires evidence of a diagnosable conduct disorder prior to the age of 15 to meet the diagnostic criteria as a 'sociopath'.<br /><br />So while it is safe assumption that there were some sociopathic Nazis and Mongols, they are the thumb part of the saying 'a thumb is a finger, but not all fingers are thumbs'. In both cases I think the concept of 'mob anonymity' is more fitting. Which to the point of the post, kudos on your behalf Alexis for calling them (the players; Mongol, Nazi or otherwise) to the carpet on it.Jhandarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16305832462589582095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-4053109343516717642013-10-25T12:35:51.364-06:002013-10-25T12:35:51.364-06:00So the Nazis were not sociopaths either, they were...So the Nazis were not sociopaths either, they were 'following the rules of their people and making a better life for themselves and the group.'<br /><br />Most comforting.<br /><br />;)Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-88631932804682689032013-10-25T12:29:20.171-06:002013-10-25T12:29:20.171-06:00I don't see the Mongols as sociopaths, they ar...I don't see the Mongols as sociopaths, they are following the rules of their people and making a better life for themselves and the group. <br /><br />I do mean the "murder hobos" as some folks call them when I mentioned maniacal sociopathic kleptomaniacs (with a bit of pyromania). <br />JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.com