[HoE] PC & Game Control (Re: Road Warriors)

[Matthew Steflik <grifflik@stny.rr.com>]

Nihil Privatus wrote:

> If you don't like the way they're playing, you can discuss their character's
> motivations and actions, and they can ask why you GM'ed things the way you
> did.  By session 2, you'll either have reached an understanding and
> everyone's happy, or the bad apples (re: Munchkins & Rules Lawyers) will
> leave because your style is not up to their liking.  And everyone will be
> happy either way, trust me.
>
Jay Treat replied:

>    This only works in a gamer-rich environment.  However, since such
> things don't actually exist outside of Columbus, most of us have to deal
> with the You'll_play_with_me_or_you_won't_play_at_all phenomenon and since
> most gamers are fanatically enough about gaming that they'll make
> sacrifices, it is often the case that you won't be able to 'weed out and
> apples' or 'get a better GM'.
>         For this reason, I offer the following suggestions:
>         Compromise.  Deal.  Try not to annoy to excess.  (I know this is a
> tough one for a lot of you [Lord knows I have trouble with it]).
>
I'm with you on that.  I had to ask my players (of which there are TEN
now, in one posse...two of which are harrowed) to come to a compromise
with me in regard to character types.  Trying to come up with a fun (and
still challenging) scenario each week with a party of five doomsayers
and five sykers (with two of the sykers also being cyborgs) would have
been no picnic (which honestly was the way things were starting to
head).  Together we came up with a set of house rules that while it
doesn't solve all of our problems, seems to keep things relatively
balanced.  Luckily they're a flexible bunch and most of them are great
roleplayers (there's a few newbies but we're "tryin' ta learn 'em
good").  As a result of them conceding to my request regarding character
creation, I try to cater to what each individual wants to do in the
"grand scheme", trying to keep it flowing as a single plot from week to
week (which believe me is no picnic when you've got ten different
concepts of what they'd like to see happen).  Anyway - I agree.  When it
comes down to it, its all about compromise.

Matt Steflik
Master of Wahoo
Gimme Shelter - http://www.geocities.com/grifflik/