hoverfrog
2012-09-13, 06:01 AM
Some advice gentle playgrounders if you please.
I'm involved in several PbP games at the moment and have played for many years IRL. One thing that crops up time and again is when one character picks a fight, insults, belittles, mocks, or otherwise gives another character a hard time and the player takes it personally. This is particularly an issue when playing by post where a friendly gesture or reconciliatory offer of a snack can ease tensions. Even just the fact that knowing the other players for years can allow in character conflict to be shaken off without lasting damage.
So how do you role play conflict and deal with the fallout of bruised egos? How as DM or player do you try to ensure that such conflict doesn't escalate to the point where a player rage quits the game. If you're the protagonist in character, whether an angry dwarf, a conceited paladin or an arrogant elf, how do you go about letting the player know that your insults are targeted only at their character and not their person?
I'm involved in several PbP games at the moment and have played for many years IRL. One thing that crops up time and again is when one character picks a fight, insults, belittles, mocks, or otherwise gives another character a hard time and the player takes it personally. This is particularly an issue when playing by post where a friendly gesture or reconciliatory offer of a snack can ease tensions. Even just the fact that knowing the other players for years can allow in character conflict to be shaken off without lasting damage.
So how do you role play conflict and deal with the fallout of bruised egos? How as DM or player do you try to ensure that such conflict doesn't escalate to the point where a player rage quits the game. If you're the protagonist in character, whether an angry dwarf, a conceited paladin or an arrogant elf, how do you go about letting the player know that your insults are targeted only at their character and not their person?