Discussion on "playing your character sheet"

[Galaahd]

Pfttt I know who he is.

[stevebarracuda]

i love when mages cast Fox Cunning on me so i can hold a meaningful conversation with Azin 6 int to 10 int ftw! Its like a whole other person haha

Yeah, I can imagine playing your toon's INT appropriately is another Equally challenging challenge.

[mdchrist]

i love when mages cast Fox Cunning on me so i can hold a meaningful conversation with Azin 6 int to 10 int ftw! Its like a whole other person haha

Yeah, I can imagine playing your toon's INT appropriately is another Equally challenging challenge.

Its loads of fun though, i love this character haha =)

[FairVigil]

Weaknesses and strengths still has to be RP'd, but you have the choice on which you want.

Hey Xan, maybe not the first time, but now I do.

I think this is very important, but often not adhered to.

Personally I believe, when it comes to stats, anyway you swing it, a low Ability and negative modifier should effect your RP of your toon negatively. Because, if you have a 6–8 STR, you're gonna "feel it" because the engine makes you unable to carry stuff. The engine does not make you "feel" a 6–8 CHA, which is why CHA and also WIS are considered "dump stats" and many toons built for play on BG reflect that, in hopes of gaining an edge in mechanics.

I have absolutely nothing against having low Abilities and negative modifiers if they are openly RP'd. This was a challenge put to me many months ago, and since I didn't feel I could adequately RP the low scores, I stopped playing the toon.

3.5 rules, with the game being chronologically set earlier.

So, 6–9 Ability scores are sub-normal. There must be TONS of sub-normals running around BG.

but would it be allowed here on this server to RP as a spawn of a elf and orc? Can we RP a half-monstrous race?

That's a negatory. It's what we mean by "playing what's on your sheet." This has been the general policy for as long as I've been here.

As it was explained to me by older DMs a while back, this is so that we don't have a Coast full of vampires, werewolves, and well... half-monstrous races.

Thank you DM MR for clarifying this.

As it stands, there a number of players openly and adamantly RP'ing half-monstrous toons, and as much as I've explained to them that this is not policy on this server, they've told me essentially to shove it.

If the DMs don't want to touch this for sake of "letting players have their fun," then it's on them to let slide such things. I, however, plan on either completely ignoring those toons from now on, or selecting them hostile the minute I see then, since they should be considered monsters and destroyed.

Sadly the server is just too popular and expansive to have such a luxury as a dm per roving party. So really we each have a dual responsibility. To rp our pc accordingly to their stats as well as dm the success or failures if no dm is around.

None of this even takes into account how little most people know about the lore behind their pc's class.

I heartedly agree with what you're saying here. But I'm trying to find a balance as to how far I go with expecting other players to be honorable here.

Can I give a little example of why this is important to me? Krasc, the Hand of the Orcbloods, has a sub-normal CHA. Partially because he has a giant white tatoo on his face, partially because he is unforgiving and gruff, partially because he IS a Gray Orc (-2 CHA natural). His low CHA is what I RP keeps him from taking the mantle of Chief of the Orcbloods. He can still be wise, intelligent and strong (all high Abilities), but he often opts to the decisions of the wiser Grays for leadership. I could so easily just say: Krasc is Chief, and be on my merry way. But I just can't justify playing a leader with a neg. CHA...maybe that's just me...but then again, if Krasc got himself a hold of a +4 CHA item...maybe then the magic would adjust his ability to be leader material.

But besides this tangent above, I too falter when knowing all there is about the lore of the Forgotten Realms. To a certain extent, one can "make stuff up." But seriously, there is a ton of bad behavior against lore-wise actions on this PW, and players could be more aware of it.

But maybe that brings the fun factor down?!?

The easy answer is yes. Forcing people to do anything is usually bad. Anyone who takes the time to read a bit on the land or lore will tell everyone its exponentially better and enriches the experience for everyone you encounter afterwards. enough of that though

Krasc might not need cha? im not sure due to my limited knowledge of Orcs but id figure they would respect strength or fear. Perhaps the opposite is true and you get more with vinegar then you do with honey with those types? The moment you lose the edge or a step your done for though and sadly you cant convince them otherwise apparently

[stevebarracuda]

Krasc might not need cha? im not sure ...

My illustration with Krasc was to show where an importance on RP'ing your character sheet matters. At least for my personal view of things. The CHA value argument is a long one that has been beat around the forums a few times since I started...but, we can argue the importance of INT, WIS and such many times over.

I offer that the real question is: to what extent does it matter to RP your stats or not, on this server?

If I have an 8 INT, but carry on as a normal smarts person, maybe even a bit smarter than I should be by 3.5 rules, does anyone even care? Are the DMs going to see my sheet and confront me?

There is no statement in the server rules that says "play your character sheet," it is just something we uphold as individuals...for the most part. And, some just don't.

Should there be a rule added to the server rules that does state this?

[Charraj]

Krasc might not need cha? im not sure ...

My illustration with Krasc was to show where an importance on RP'ing your character sheet matters. At least for my personal view of things. The CHA value argument is a long one that has been beat around the forums a few times since I started...but, we can argue the importance of INT, WIS and such many times over.

I offer that the real question is: to what extent does it matter to RP your stats or not, on this server?

If I have an 8 INT, but carry on as a normal smarts person, maybe even a bit smarter than I should be by 3.5 rules, does anyone even care? Are the DMs going to see my sheet and confront me?

There is no statement in the server rules that says "play your character sheet," it is just something we uphold as individuals...for the most part. And, some just don't.

Should there be a rule added to the server rules that does state this?

It is largely up to the players to honor this themselves. I've yet to see a DM come down on a player for not roleplaying his attributes well. I suppose it's possible, and I wouldn't be too surprised if I ever saw one of our DMs do it, but I wouldn't feel comfortable "enforcing" this standard myself.

'Cuz really, that's what it is. A standard of roleplay. A lot of people are meeting this standard, from what I've seen. And some people are new to RP and are taking baby steps.

. . . Then again, if a -6 INT half-orc were explaining the intricacies of the Weave, I guess I'd have a little talk with him, come to think of it.

Anyways, do we need to make it a rule? Nah. I think we have enough rules for now, don't you?

[Charraj]

Oh yeah, btw, I have a PC who I can only RP as somewhat normal with a +3 WIS amulet and a +2 INT ring on. Yes, I feel cheesy every time I play him. I am seriously considering RCRing him.

Guilt complex much?

[stevebarracuda]

Anyways, do we need to make it a rule? Nah. I think we have enough rules for now, don't you?

How about: "We appreciate that you play your character sheet. Saying you're a wizard of great intelligence but you have an 8 INT is frowned upon."

[Simian]

. . . Then again, if a -6 INT half-orc were explaining the intricacies of the Weave, I guess I'd have a little talk with him, come to think of it.

Intentionally re-creates my half-orc sorcerer/frost mage/arcane scholar... just to have that discussion. (The original character never got past level three though, some elf just poked him dead while he was sitting by a fire amongst the ruins at the hill top.)

[FairVigil]

To put it in perspective. Lets say we adopt the rule. Can you accurately portray a lvl 30 wizard with 20 intelligence?

Or should europeans who dont speak english perfectly be all forced to role play demihumans where english is the second language?

I know you see my point and figured it for yourself already and i see you just want more honus placed on players. I really think the character bios do alot to help if only we read them. Even a pm asking for another pc's stats could go along way. If we can manage the metagame info appropriately. Most wont give them to you but after time you will find the ones that do appreciate the effort and experience resulting from it.

[Hoihe]

Also, character sheet can't really follow the RP. Say, your character finds something, or someone who might have enough influence to change your character's behaviour. Say, your character might be lusting for vegneance, thinking he had it the worst in the entire world, and such is rude, ignorant of others and such. Which forces him to have say, 6 or 8 charismatic value. But after should he get the vengeance, or prehaps meets someone with a similiar reason for vengeance, yet they are capably of being charismatic... You can't change your charisma to some proper value without items. I agree it takes time for inviduals to change, but what if it can't be changed even more, as they've hit their leveling limit? Well, that's what i've got to say about the matter. Though i'd find it amazing that a drunken dwarf or anyone afflicted by feeble mind understand my or some other's scholarly character's ramblings about the Weave or Lore.

[Charraj]

Anyways, do we need to make it a rule? Nah. I think we have enough rules for now, don't you?

How about: "We appreciate that you play your character sheet. Saying you're a wizard of great intelligence but you have an 8 INT is frowned upon."

Maybe, but we've gotten some complaints of us becoming too rules heavy, so I don't think we'll do it for now.

If we see anything too out of bounds, we'll talk to the player, never fear. Short of that, though, I think it's best to give players a certain degree of latitude.

[LeslieMS]

Anyways, do we need to make it a rule? Nah. I think we have enough rules for now, don't you?

How about: "We appreciate that you play your character sheet. Saying you're a wizard of great intelligence but you have an 8 INT is frowned upon."

I'd say that is already implied by the standards we as players choose to set. By taking responsibility for how we each rp our characters, according to our stats, to the best of our abilities, and leading by example... There is a standard set, a norm so to speak. This norm is obviously preferable in an rp setting... Look at it as a sort of gentleman's law if you want to. It isn't a rule, it isn't something enforced with an iron hand... Just something we challenge ourselves to do for the sake of rp =D

[stevebarracuda]

Also, character sheet can't really follow the RP. Say, your character finds something, or someone who might have enough influence to change your character's behaviour. Say, your character might be lusting for vegneance, thinking he had it the worst in the entire world, and such is rude, ignorant of others and such. Which forces him to have say, 6 or 8 charismatic value. But after should he get the vengeance, or prehaps meets someone with a similiar reason for vengeance, yet they are capably of being charismatic... You can't change your charisma to some proper value without items. I agree it takes time for inviduals to change, but what if it can't be changed even more, as they've hit their leveling limit? Well, that's what i've got to say about the matter. Though i'd find it amazing that a drunken dwarf or anyone afflicted by feeble mind understand my or some other's scholarly character's ramblings about the Weave or Lore.

Well, here you are just wrong.

In a character's leveling, you get 7 chances to increase your ability states. I'd imagine going from level 1--30 would be taking years!!! You could easily change.

Furthermore, you just posted a bio with a link to your build sheet, and Hoihe your Arcane Swordsman has an 8 CHA, considered below normal by general server based rules. Hw you gonna play him to reflect that????

[stevebarracuda]

Anyways, do we need to make it a rule? Nah. I think we have enough rules for now, don't you?

How about: "We appreciate that you play your character sheet. Saying you're a wizard of great intelligence but you have an 8 INT is frowned upon."

I'd say that is already implied by the standards we as players choose to set. By taking responsibility for how we each rp our characters, according to our stats, to the best of our abilities, and leading by example... There is a standard set, a norm so to speak. This norm is obviously preferable in an rp setting... Look at it as a sort of gentleman's law if you want to. It isn't a rule, it isn't something enforced with an iron hand... Just something we challenge ourselves to do for the sake of rp =D

Leslie, I wholeheartedly agree, and dearly wish to believe its true. Unfortunately, it's not.

I'm trying to "lead by example" for what it's worth, but when I get into RP with someone in which I can't help but commenting that their not RPing their sheet (and I hate to have to go this route cause it just ruins the vibe), the response is "shove it buddy," no one can see my sheet.

So, I'm left with: walk away from the situation, and find another player/toon to interact with, because they ain't gonna change, and there is no rule or statement in which i can point them to to let them reflect on what is expected of quality RP and to play your sheet.

Lastly, I see everyones points here, I agree with most, and I'll just learn to live with the "honus on the player" bit, and hope we have more faithful-to-the-sheet players than not.

I guess I'm kinda done now. Thanks again everyone.