[DL] Do not Fold Spindel or Mutilate.

[Jester <steeltoedsneaker@punkass.com>]

Marshals,

Tired of your posse not paying attention in combat? Tired of having to
scream " I called Queens, I can see three of you have them..." over
conversations about pizza or work? Tired of having a heated 30 minute
discussion with the Huckster Player over what does and does not
constitute a flush?

So was I. Then I saw the light. Welcome to Marshal Heck's dirty tricks
to keep the players on their toes! I will share some of my wisdom with
all of the exasperated Marshals out there.

Problem #1: The quintessential antagonist
I have a player who is a veteran roll player. This man has argued and
rules lawyers through many a tournament. He abuses whatever system he is
in. Has an uncanny knack at destroying the most well planned adventure.
He drags you to every Origins and Gencon event with sadistic glee (after
awakening you by jumping on your bed and rubbing his stubble on your
face... screaming "the convention opens in an hour we have to be there
before it opens!" {sorry folks had a flashback}) In my posse his name is
Rob.

Rob usually creates a fatal flaw within his own character. One that can
be used by the wily Marshal to make his life hell on earth. Rob believes
in hinderance/edges. A hinderance/edge is actually a hindrance that can
be played as an edge by a creative or experienced player. Let me give
you some examples:

Hindrance            (what the player thinks it
means)                     How to handle it
Big Britches            A reason to kill NPC's                  When the
PC dies, the
Bloodthirsty            A reason to kill NPC's
Reckoners take control of PC
Curious                  A reason to rob NPC's                  Shiny
Cursed object

, maybe involving a manitou

inspired killing spree.
Greedy                   A reason to horde anything          See above
Randy                     A reason to flirt with the one woman in the
posse   Institute the Sadie

Hawkins night of death.

(Succubs heh heh)

You should ge the idea with those examples.

This same player also instinctively knows all the rules in the game. He
can quote sentences from any of the main books or the supplements...
even the ones not out yet. There is one way to deal with this evil...
House Rules. 'No!' I can hear you scream. 'Shane Lacy Hensley and John
Goff are gods!' Get over it. Sometimes ya gotta bite the bullet... House
rules are essential to throw the rules lawyer off. Example, in my game I
allow PC's and NPC's to roll both the traits and skill dies while
accomplishing tasks. Why? I does not raise their chances much to make a
roll , more dice to roll makes the posse happy (oooh 11 die pool!) , and
most of all the rules lawyer has no leg to stand on.

Pretty nifty eh?

I'll throw out some more ideas for you later... I'm going to the
Caribbean tonight.
See ya'll next week!

Marshal Heck