Keeping realistic immersion (one small observation)

[Rotku]

Keep in mind that 90% of PCs have had their parents/siblings/mentor brutally murdered in front of them by a pack of orc scouts, so have seen bloodshed right from an early age.

[Mick]

Keep in mind that 90% of PCs have had their parents/siblings/mentor brutally murdered in front of them by a pack of orc scouts, so have seen bloodshed right from an early age.

Talk about keeping realism in the fore. I expect better from our Lead Admin. It is more like 96%.

Oh, and they were vampiric, magic-using orc scouts, thank you very much.

[danielmn]

I think, more and more, the balance of pc's who affect the gameworld has grown greater than the pc's for whom the gameworld affects them. In a sense, I've seen similar things detailing how...players aren't affected by the world, period. It's a valid playstyle I suppose for those PC's with an extreme force of personality. I am often left scratching my head at reactions to events when around certain PC's. It isn't necessarily low level based, though I get where you're coming from. There's stuff out there to make high level's crap their pants too, and I've seen reactions ranging from spot on, to huh?

[oldgrayrogue]

While we are all left scratching our head sometimes, there is indeed the type of RP Galadorn would like to see more of going on in ALFA all the time. First time my big warlike barb PC saw the moonbridge he literally fell over in fear and awe =). Many players RP their PC's failings. I reiterate that IMO the best way to deal with the lack of what you believe is an appropriate IC response is to RP your own PC's reaction to that IC. By doing so you may learn why it is indeed IC for the other PCs to not react the way you beliive they should, or you may subtley cue the other player in to play in a way that improves immersion without actually dictating to them how their character should be played.

[thinkpig]

I reiterate that IMO the best way to deal with the lack of what you believe is an appropriate IC response is to RP your own PC's reaction to that IC. By doing so you may learn why it is indeed IC for the other PCs to not react the way you beliive they should, or you may subtley cue the other player in to play in a way that improves immersion without actually dictating to them how their character should be played.

That is the way I learned a lot of the etiquette and trick of RP in ALFA-- shutting doors, etc. You learn by example/subtle cues from others. The worst thing you can do is say or do nothing, then you can be sure the player won't catch on.

[Melody]

I understand where you are coming from, and I myself have been guilty of under rping in combat situations. Part of this is because I'm trying to get used to the client again. It is hard to type while holding shift and clicking to target. I'm getting better as I go and hopefully the rest of the time I'm pretty accurate in her reactions. I'd like to thank everyone I've played with for the excellent quality of their role play Mecha, NES, Killy Duncan, I've learned and relearned so much just being in your company. Of course there are many others to thank, but it is hard to post on my phone so please excuse the omission.

[Dorn]

I like this thread.

Now.

My PC Calas has good domain on my ftr/cleric of Correllon.
He is 'fearless' and that also rubs off on those close to him when danger strikes.
He is also wise and moderately intelligent.
He is also level 2 with no illusions as to his 'weakness' in comparison to others.

Now i try and play him as smart about avoiding certain death and nervous in the face of high risk but not afraid (eg slightly debilitating) and in control of himself under pressure and his bodily functions. This often means standing behind others at this low level with an eye over his shoulder.

Am i right in assuming that the "immunity to fear and fear effects" mean that if a dragon landed next to him he would run as fast as he could making correct logical choices about the best way to escape vs crap his pants and run into a wall at top speed knocking himself out becasue he was looking behind him screaming for mummy?

Does that sound right for PnP determination of how fearless should be done?

[JaydeMoon]

As a DM, I'd like to point out another factor that can contribute to this phenomenon of 'fearless' PCs.

Desensitization of players and PCs. When DMs are willing to run events where lycanthropes, undead, shadows, demons, or whatever are the shock troopers of the plot, the players (and by extension their PCs) become somewhat inured to their presence.

Things that should at the least be worrisome foes simply become run of the mill pests.

I'm as guilty of it as any other DM in the ALFA setting, it's hard not to try to keep up with the Joneses, after all.

Near the end of the NWN1 platform, I was DMing a group and without a mass of other DMs introducing scads of fantastical battles, I was able to ratchet up the awe, wonder, and fear of smaller encounters. But if my players are gonna face DM Q's succubi army and then DM X's vampire horde, then in my campaign, they aren't going to bat an eye at the single mummy I place as the big encounter of the day.

Just an observation.

[lakhena]

One of the DM events on another server I remember best (and it's been aided by a very talented illustrator friend of mine who has immortalized the moment) was during a normal trek through some rather icy trails where our little elven warparty of five encountered a ragged peasant-looking npc carrying not much besides a crude spear. We all thought nothing of it. Five versus one raggedy-looking peasant. The bloody "peasant" happened to be some fanatical zealot of a murderous god who gutted my poor elf in the first round (of course, he turned out to be a weaponmaster and of course, he critted with the bloody spear! #$%!).

I've seen hordes of demons, fey'ri, what-have-you in all sorts of DM events across a range of servers. Sometimes, those lone npcs/mobs intelligently done or with some other surprise factor to them are quite refreshing.

So, yes. Throw the single mummies at us. Please.

[wvincenti]

A DM can also instill a sense of fear in the Players/PCs without major casualties amongst the PCs. If anyone remembers Mikayla's days DMing on Daggerdale (I know you remember Killthorne. ), it didn't take her much killing to scare the Players so much that they almost never left the safely of hearth and home. Twas a brilliant and infectious atmosphere to RP within.

-Bill

[NickD]

Keep in mind that 90% of PCs have had their parents/siblings/mentor brutally murdered in front of them by a pack of orc scouts, so have seen bloodshed right from an early age.

I had a PC whose parent was an orc scout who was brutally murdered by a pack of humans. Is that the same thing?

[oldgrayrogue]

Mirabai had a group of us holding in our water on the glacier not long ago merely by making some ice crack under our feet. Nary a monster in sight. Quite intense.