Dream party has finally turned into murderhobos

[MysticSkyWhale]

For the past few years, I've had a D&D group that a lot of people could only dream of. My players show up on time, give me a big heads-up when they can't make it, bite every plot hook I throw their way, and make characters in session 0 that actually fit whatever setting we're playing in. They're amazing. But in all that time they've never made characters or played in a way that would fit the typical "murderhobo" archetype. That's finally changed.

Over this holiday season, we've been doing a bunch of one-shots because one of our regular players couldn't make it due to work related reasons. At the start of this month, we tried the Fallout 2d20 system and did a small one-shot in that. It went fairly typical for the other two members of the group. Nothing happened that I didn't expect from them. Then comes the next session. My players are really big fans of pokémon, so I figured we'd try using the 2d20 system to run a pokémon facsimile table-top game. It actually went really well, but I never expected just how much chaos these normally very tame players would cause in Goldenrod city.

In the span of two three-hour sessions, they blew up a steel mill, raided a hot dog stand at the Goldenrod city gym/stadium, raided the freezer of a sushi shop for all its contents, and then tried to break back into the stadium to steal a bunch of moo-moo milk which ended up with them getting attacked by a police officer with a Vaporeon after they used dig to intentionally break the sewer/gas lines under the road.

I'm not complaining. I just thought I'd share this because I think its f***ing hilarious that my players have only ever been the stereotypical murderhobo types in the most child-friendly/non-edgy setting we've played in thus far. Maybe it's just because it was a one-shot. Who knows?

[Asmotherion]

For the past few years, I've had a D&D group that a lot of people could only dream of. My players show up on time, give me a big heads-up when they can't make it, bite every plot hook I throw their way, and make characters in session 0 that actually fit whatever setting we're playing in. They're amazing. But in all that time they've never made characters or played in a way that would fit the typical "murderhobo" archetype. That's finally changed.

Over this holiday season, we've been doing a bunch of one-shots because one of our regular players couldn't make it due to work related reasons. At the start of this month, we tried the Fallout 2d20 system and did a small one-shot in that. It went fairly typical for the other two members of the group. Nothing happened that I didn't expect from them. Then comes the next session. My players are really big fans of pokémon, so I figured we'd try using the 2d20 system to run a pokémon facsimile table-top game. It actually went really well, but I never expected just how much chaos these normally very tame players would cause in Goldenrod city.

In the span of two three-hour sessions, they blew up a steel mill, raided a hot dog stand at the Goldenrod city gym/stadium, raided the freezer of a sushi shop for all its contents, and then tried to break back into the stadium to steal a bunch of moo-moo milk which ended up with them getting attacked by a police officer with a Vaporeon after they used dig to intentionally break the sewer/gas lines under the road.

I'm not complaining. I just thought I'd share this because I think its f***ing hilarious that my players have only ever been the stereotypical murderhobo types in the most child-friendly/non-edgy setting we've played in thus far. Maybe it's just because it was a one-shot. Who knows?

In a one-shot where they don't expect to face consequences for their actions (Long tearm) it's only natural that this would occure. Instead, you could try to implement some short tearm consequences like imprisonment or loss of limbs etc. This should discourage them from murderhobo behaviour.

[Easy e]

Oh, somehow I don't think the GM WANTS to discourage this murderhobo capacity in the Pokemon game.

[Mordar]

In a one-shot where they don't expect to face consequences for their actions (Long tearm) it's only natural that this would occure. Instead, you could try to implement some short tearm consequences like imprisonment or loss of limbs etc. This should discourage them from murderhobo behaviour.

Oh, somehow I don't think the GM WANTS to discourage this murderhobo capacity in the Pokemon game.

Either that or they don't want to deal with the ramifications of chopping off the players' hands.

...that is what you meant, right?

- M

[erikun]

Good to know that the proper Giovanni-style Team Rocket still lives on in the players' hearts.

Slightly more on-topic, Pokemon is about as tame a setting world as you can get. Which means that it is about as consequence-free a setting world as you can get - especially if you can defeat (or out-game) any potential fights. This means some pretty exceptional potential for chaos with little ramifications. In D&D, PCs could get eaten by a random wandering dragon or wizard. In Fallout, PCs could get eaten by a random wandering ghoul or deathclaw. In Pokemon, the worst PCs need to worry about is Officer Jenny beating them up and sending them to the Pokemon Center. Okay, maybe not, but the consequence is much less. And with what are effectively superpowered elementals at their complete control, with no magic restrictions in place anywhere, there's not much stopping them from simply digging, flying, surfing, cutting, and teleporting themselves wherever they might like in the city.

[Asmotherion]

Good to know that the proper Giovanni-style Team Rocket still lives on in the players' hearts.

Slightly more on-topic, Pokemon is about as tame a setting world as you can get. Which means that it is about as consequence-free a setting world as you can get - especially if you can defeat (or out-game) any potential fights. This means some pretty exceptional potential for chaos with little ramifications. In D&D, PCs could get eaten by a random wandering dragon or wizard. In Fallout, PCs could get eaten by a random wandering ghoul or deathclaw. In Pokemon, the worst PCs need to worry about is Officer Jenny beating them up and sending them to the Pokemon Center. Okay, maybe not, but the consequence is much less. And with what are effectively superpowered elementals at their complete control, with no magic restrictions in place anywhere, there's not much stopping them from simply digging, flying, surfing, cutting, and teleporting themselves wherever they might like in the city.

I fail to see how a pokemon game needs to be based on the Anime and not the Manga version (which is much darker). My last pokemon game was facing a Mobster inspired team rocket (with guns, not just pokemon) and battles with them were usually to the death of both pokemon and trainer.

[Kymme]

Congratulations, OP, your players are quickly discovering their true calling - being Team Rocket. This doesn't actually sound like murderhobo behavior (not that I find that term particularly useful to begin with). It sounds like you've given them some freedom to stretch their wings and do what they want, and they're rewarding you by doing whatever strikes their fancy to have as much fun as possible. It might also be the case that they're embracing the natural goofiness of the setting. It sounds like you're all having a great time!

In a one-shot where they don't expect to face consequences for their actions (Long tearm) it's only natural that this would occure. Instead, you could try to implement some short tearm consequences like imprisonment or loss of limbs etc. This should discourage them from murderhobo behaviour.

OP: my players are engaging in some shenanigans
First comment: chop off their characters' limbs

Ah, classic Giantitp. Never change, forum. Never change.

[MysticSkyWhale]

Congratulations, OP, your players are quickly discovering their true calling - being Team Rocket. This doesn't actually sound like murderhobo behavior (not that I find that term particularly useful to begin with). It sounds like you've given them some freedom to stretch their wings and do what they want, and they're rewarding you by doing whatever strikes their fancy to have as much fun as possible. It might also be the case that they're embracing the natural goofiness of the setting. It sounds like you're all having a great time!

True. We had a blast.

[Nymrod]

Honestly I don't think there is anything wrong with the occasional murderhobo campaign as long as everyone is into it. If your players (not the OP's, anyone's) want to be murderhobos, embrace it and just create a campaign where they can just murder things and get fun rewards for doing so. The game is about having fun.

[LecternOfJasper]

Ah, classic Giantitp. Never change, forum. Never change.

But I thought classic Giantitp was getting into 30 page arguments as to whether "murderhobo" is even a useful term, what, if anything, counts as anything else, and whether the exact definition of an extraneous word in the flavor text has any effect on the usage of an ability?

[Kymme]

But I thought classic Giantitp was getting into 30 page arguments as to whether "murderhobo" is even a useful term, what, if anything, counts as anything else, and whether the exact definition of an extraneous word in the flavor text has any effect on the usage of an ability?

This forum contains multitudes. The only thing that's certain about the Playground is that people will ignore any possibility that the systems they use for their games might have flaws, and will instead create 30+ page threads to try to convince you to lose your faith in humanity.

[Mordar]

This forum contains multitudes. The only thing that's certain about the Playground is that people will ignore any possibility that the systems they use for their games might have flaws, and will instead create 30+ page threads to try to convince you to lose your faith in humanity.

Wait...you had faith in humanity before you came here?

On topic - OP, do you think they were trying to subvert the "sanitized child cartoon" just to break it?

- M

[Bacon Elemental]

But I thought classic Giantitp was getting into 30 page arguments as to whether "murderhobo" is even a useful term, what, if anything, counts as anything else, and whether the exact definition of an extraneous word in the flavor text has any effect on the usage of an ability?

Ahh, give it time!

[MysticSkyWhale]

On topic - OP, do you think they were trying to subvert the "sanitized child cartoon" just to break it?

- M

Nah, I think they were just having fun in a setting they know and love.

[oxybe]

I fail to see how a pokemon game needs to be based on the Anime and not the Manga version (which is much darker). My last pokemon game was facing a Mobster inspired team rocket (with guns, not just pokemon) and battles with them were usually to the death of both pokemon and trainer.

Even based on the games remember that Team Rocket is literally just the PokeMob.

In Red/Blue alone they:

Steal fossils
Threaten a kid who shows battling potential into joining their gang
Stole a TM they could use to bypass overground barriers after ransacking a house they broke into
Run a totally legit casinogame center with (likely stolen) pokemon as prizes as a front for one bases
Steal the Silph Scope (likely one of the final prototypes before manufacturing begins)
Murdering Cubone's mom for being in their way
Kidnapping the old guy in the tower
Attempted to steal the Masterball (another Silph Co. item and probably a prototype/difficult to make)

yeah gen 1 Rockets weren't nice people by any metric.

[ngilop]

Attempted to steal the Masterball (another Silph Co. item and probably a prototype/difficult to make)

I read that as Attempted to steal the Meatball and was both unexpectedly angry and confused.

[ComicSansSeraph]

There's something about Pokemon RPGs that innately causes chaos.
Gyarados-powered airship chaos.

[Eldan]

Either that or they don't want to deal with the ramifications of chopping off the players' hands.

...that is what you meant, right?

- M

Eh, you only need one hand to throw Pokeballs and shout commands.

[Easy e]

Eh, you only need one hand to throw Pokeballs and shout commands.

In a pinch, you could kick one towards your foe, and shout the commands too.

It is better to make them Mute, than chop off their hands. That will learn'em!

[Mordar]

In a pinch, you could kick one towards your foe, and shout the commands too.

It is better to make them Mute, than chop off their hands. That will learn'em!

Bonesaws, tin-snips and staples...the true inventory of any would-be Pokemaster.

- M

[137beth]

But I thought classic Giantitp was getting into 30 page arguments as to whether "murderhobo" is even a useful term, what, if anything, counts as anything else, and whether the exact definition of an extraneous word in the flavor text has any effect on the usage of an ability?

I thought the GitP forums were all about, as Oppyu said,

There is nothing more emblematic of this forum than three or four pages of debate between people who, as it turns out, pretty much agree with each other.