Today's comic

[Lunaroki]

The thing is that way of thinking doesn't come naturally to many people. Sure it's a better way to play, if you know how to do it. But how do you think to do something like that if you've never seen it done? In a lot of people's minds it's an either/or situation. Either you get into character and pretend to be them or you roll dice to see whether your character's efforts are paying off. The two are so different it's not exactly easy for some people to integrate them like that. When I roleplay I usually wind up having the GM tell me when they want a dice roll because it isn't natural for me to think that way when I'm in character. On the other hand, when it comes to combat and the dice-rolling gets pretty heavy my roleplaying suffers bigtime. It becomes a struggle to make the dice rolls meaningful in the context of the game.

[Thunderhowl]

That is the trick, isn't it. I think it's safe to say that when the dice-slinging starts, role playing tends to take a backseat. That's the difference between roleplaying and acting though, right? Slinging dice or throwing rock/paper/scissors is the mechanic, and I think the point we are all complaining about is when the DM/GM/ST tries to force roleplaying when mechanics will suffice and vice-versa. I think it's safe to say that no one wants to babble through some lame conversation with a convenience store clerk when a dice roll will keep the pace and drama of the story flowing. By the same token, people don't play RPGs to become mindless dice-chucking machines. There are boardgames for that.

The key is a balance, and the irritation comes when you get a player who refuses to do anything other than rattle his dice cup or a GM who insists that every single interaction be acted out.

The best example I can think of is the "animal attraction" rules in Werewolf: the Apocalypse. Werewolves have an easier time hooking up with normal people due to their Rage. It makes them "dangerously sexy". According to the rules, it's a die roll based on the Garou's Rage rating. I'm playing in a low Rage pack (our highest Rage is 5) and so whenever our characters are blowing off steam in a nightclub, we just take it as read that the characters, if they are so inclined, can pick up some giggidy whenever they want. Sure we could roleplay it (....awkward....) or throw dice (boring) but instead we all just laugh and the characters get an extra notch on their bedpost...unless the ST has plot-screwage, and then all bets are off.

I really think that knowing when to leave a mechanic out or replace roleplaying with a quick mechanic is a result of experience, and is gauged by how much fun the scene is. If no one wants to stop roleplaying for a mechanic, they don't have to, and if the roleplaying will make everyone uncomfortable, use a mechanic instead.

Comments? Agreements? Am I totally on crack?

[Narf the Mouse]

In the last panel, Joel looks like a stereotypical sorcerer-villian.

Look at those hands. 'Let me tell you my eviiil plan...'

[Dinky]

I must confess I absolutely love goading my fellow geeks into spittle lipped spleen venting.

It is a very good thing to do when you wish to refill your wine glass and think out an in game problem.

[Tom the Fanboy]

It is a very good thing to do when you wish to refill your wine glass and think out an in game problem.

Yeah, I really love cupcakes with PINK FROSTING.

[Punstarr]

Player advantage codes FTW!

[Narf the Mouse]

Confusion FTH?

[Tom the Fanboy]

In Knights of the Dinner Table (wiki it, it is awesome) the players came up with a list of code words called Player Advantage Codes. they were terms and phrases you'd slip into your in game or out of game conversation to pass information between other players at the gaming table to keep the GM from catching onto your plans.

PINK FROSTING is the most commonly used and most memorable of the codes. It means that the players need to make an excuse for a game break and then have a quick huddle to talk about what's going on in the game.

My gaming group had an underground railroad for passing notes without the GM's knowledge. He would routinely grab and read and sometimes amend notes that we passed. We took an empty Magic card deck box and punched holes in the sides and ran a string beneath the three tables we played at from me to the other primary schemer. We got a couple of good transfers until the DM stretched mid-pass and the box bumped his knee.

[Alina P]

spittle lipped spleen venting

Wow. That is an incredibly descriptive depiction of a geek rant...

[Narf the Mouse]

In Knights of the Dinner Table (wiki it, it is awesome) the players came up with a list of code words called Player Advantage Codes. they were terms and phrases you'd slip into your in game or out of game conversation to pass information between other players at the gaming table to keep the GM from catching onto your plans.

PINK FROSTING is the most commonly used and most memorable of the codes. It means that the players need to make an excuse for a game break and then have a quick huddle to talk about what's going on in the game.

My gaming group had an underground railroad for passing notes without the GM's knowledge. He would routinely grab and read and sometimes amend notes that we passed. We took an empty Magic card deck box and punched holes in the sides and ran a string beneath the three tables we played at from me to the other primary schemer. We got a couple of good transfers until the DM stretched mid-pass and the box bumped his knee.

Heh.

[Sir Ritalin]

"Two words, dude. Dragonborn."

Well, it is two words if both of them say it...

[Tom the Fanboy]

Ha ha! I read the comic and I said to myself "When I open the forums the top two posts threads will be today's comic and the 4th ed thread."
BAM!

Oh my, hooray for topical geekiness!

[Sir Ritalin]

Is Joel's character's name Meyers or Myers? I think it's always been Myers up till now.

[Lunaroki]

The big question is what's his first name, Oscar?

[Xaq]

Yeah, that's a typo. My fault. I'll get Alina to fix it tonight.

Myers is a ripoff of a character from a Shadowrun game I ran back in 2002, who was just called "Daniels". It's JUST the kind of street name a former Corp-type would take when he goes independent... unimaginative and non-descriptive.

[Thunderhowl]

I remember that game with much fondness.

[Narf the Mouse]

So...Now we get to know how things went wrong? Hmm...

[Grtdrgn]

Great reveal, Alina. Keep up the awesome work.

[Sir Ritalin]

Mitsuhama rhymes with drama!

Also, Solace = sole ace = lone expert. I just noticed that.

Very interested to see where this goes. Excellent plotting!

[Narf the Mouse]

Wierd, random, totally out of left field idea: Jess and Dustin.