No offense to Player 3 here, but if your players can call you out SO clearly within the first few minutes of an adventure, maybe you need to shake things up a bit? I get that everyone’s been a callous but your aren’t helping things when they get back and its “generic adventure number 837” again. I was really hoping that he would have a decent hook when they get back but I would already be going to get something from the fridge at this point.
True, a good hook is cool and all, and honestly some official campaigns have very, very bad ones. But at some point, you can also try to be a nice person and play along, even if the hook or plot isn’t 100% original. Not all of us GMs are actual Hollywood screenplay writers, you know – and to be fair, all of us players also aren’t exactly Hollywood actors (we probably come more from Bollywood, most of the time :D). So maybe you should stop having unrealistic expectations of your GM’s ability to reinvent something else than the whell and… Read more »
I have a great deal of respect for my GM and all the work they put into it. If anything, the GM I usually play with is A LOT like Player 3. That being said, if they brought out “peasants in the woods” as an opening hook, i would 100% call them out on it. I’m not saying it needs to be a “Hollywood screenplay” but from the looks of things the “Generic peasant” is a played out trope even within their own games. I don’t think its unrealistic to wonder why their “thousands of hours” was spent on such… Read more »
I’ve DMed a bit, and also been in several campaigns. Despite your downvotes… you’re not wrong. The DM’s job isn’t just reading descriptions and managing encounters and coming up with characters; it’s understanding your players and what will engage with them. It’s ultimately their story, not yours.
With that being said. Players ALSO need to work and put in effort. It’s Three’s job to make something fun and interesting; it’s not his job to make them give a damn. Everyone has to work together. And from what I see here, Three is the only one trying.
One of my favourite groups had a rule: “Enthusiasm is mandatory!”
It was there to say ‘if it isn’t so much fun, get in an roleplay or in other ways make it better’.
As to Bollywood… no. That’s still to high. You’re really thinking of cable news all access after 2 am slot…. (the singing part automatically rules out Bollywood… the dance might rule out a lot too…)
Sure, on the other hand the previous campaigns hae shown the rest are idiots that would not spot a clue if their lives depended on it so I have a hard time blaming the hamfisted approach in this case.
Agreed and I can see where you’re coming from. First impressions are important and, if your group is beginning to drift, you can’t just put in the generic plot hook. ……………… BUT, in some ways, that’s what a GM should rely on. Some may remember my stories on why I eventually quit my gaming group but one thing that we didn’t rely on much is conventional story hooks. As such, maybe it’s just me but I wouldn’t be calling the GM out for the peasant hook so much as my head would be on a swivel. Example: They start walking… Read more »
GeorgeV
9 days ago
Let’s be practical here. Whatever monster they want some adventurers to slay is likely more threatening than the peasants. Whatever reward they’re offering is also presumably less than the total amount they are carrying. Furthermore, there clearly aren’t any protective authorities around, while there is a convenient scapegoat nearby to blame should these peasants ‘disappear’ for some reason.
The reward doesn’t matter though. The funny thing is that I’ve had evil characters that will voluntarily help random peasants with bullshit. Why? Because they’ve learned that peasants are basically a compass that leads to things that are actually worth it. If the peasants are having a problem, that problem is probably something that’s worth fighting for either the XP or the treasure or both.
This is why the loot is usually in the beasts lair.
Gonfrask
8 days ago
That’s the spirit…kinda…
Robert 'CockRoach' Archer
8 days ago
Id be sus on the npcs if assuming the DM described the approaching peasants as being so pale skinned and brownish-red eyed. As a GM myself i’ve done this to my players at times and even after all these years i still get the drop on them with some details like this some less obvious then a pale skinned brown-red eyed human etc. They love it no matter our setting used or system used. They’ve been everything from a bunch of murderhobos, to goody too shoes, to everything must die but us evil villains and anything mixed in between. So… Read more »
R E V
8 days ago
Took me a minute to realize that he has walked past her in the last frame. I thought it wasn’t just perspective, that she really was getting bigger and bigger. Like, maybe the bbeg is right there, is not a guy, and she’s probably hungry!
Crestlinger
7 days ago
Make the quest giver the boss and let the fun begin!
24
The husband looks like he’s done with her.
No offense to Player 3 here, but if your players can call you out SO clearly within the first few minutes of an adventure, maybe you need to shake things up a bit? I get that everyone’s been a callous but your aren’t helping things when they get back and its “generic adventure number 837” again. I was really hoping that he would have a decent hook when they get back but I would already be going to get something from the fridge at this point.
True, a good hook is cool and all, and honestly some official campaigns have very, very bad ones. But at some point, you can also try to be a nice person and play along, even if the hook or plot isn’t 100% original. Not all of us GMs are actual Hollywood screenplay writers, you know – and to be fair, all of us players also aren’t exactly Hollywood actors (we probably come more from Bollywood, most of the time :D). So maybe you should stop having unrealistic expectations of your GM’s ability to reinvent something else than the whell and… Read more »
I have a great deal of respect for my GM and all the work they put into it. If anything, the GM I usually play with is A LOT like Player 3. That being said, if they brought out “peasants in the woods” as an opening hook, i would 100% call them out on it. I’m not saying it needs to be a “Hollywood screenplay” but from the looks of things the “Generic peasant” is a played out trope even within their own games. I don’t think its unrealistic to wonder why their “thousands of hours” was spent on such… Read more »
I’ve DMed a bit, and also been in several campaigns. Despite your downvotes… you’re not wrong. The DM’s job isn’t just reading descriptions and managing encounters and coming up with characters; it’s understanding your players and what will engage with them. It’s ultimately their story, not yours.
With that being said. Players ALSO need to work and put in effort. It’s Three’s job to make something fun and interesting; it’s not his job to make them give a damn. Everyone has to work together. And from what I see here, Three is the only one trying.
One of my favourite groups had a rule: “Enthusiasm is mandatory!”
It was there to say ‘if it isn’t so much fun, get in an roleplay or in other ways make it better’.
As to Bollywood… no. That’s still to high. You’re really thinking of cable news all access after 2 am slot…. (the singing part automatically rules out Bollywood… the dance might rule out a lot too…)
Sure, on the other hand the previous campaigns hae shown the rest are idiots that would not spot a clue if their lives depended on it so I have a hard time blaming the hamfisted approach in this case.
I mean, isn’t that a good reason to make something less generic than “peasants in the woods seeking succor”?
Well, no because then your whole session would be spent with them attacking the gazebo.
Yes! “Pheasants in the wood seeking succotash!” ;-P
Agreed and I can see where you’re coming from. First impressions are important and, if your group is beginning to drift, you can’t just put in the generic plot hook. ……………… BUT, in some ways, that’s what a GM should rely on. Some may remember my stories on why I eventually quit my gaming group but one thing that we didn’t rely on much is conventional story hooks. As such, maybe it’s just me but I wouldn’t be calling the GM out for the peasant hook so much as my head would be on a swivel. Example: They start walking… Read more »
Let’s be practical here. Whatever monster they want some adventurers to slay is likely more threatening than the peasants. Whatever reward they’re offering is also presumably less than the total amount they are carrying. Furthermore, there clearly aren’t any protective authorities around, while there is a convenient scapegoat nearby to blame should these peasants ‘disappear’ for some reason.
The optimal course of action is obvious.
The reward doesn’t matter though. The funny thing is that I’ve had evil characters that will voluntarily help random peasants with bullshit. Why? Because they’ve learned that peasants are basically a compass that leads to things that are actually worth it. If the peasants are having a problem, that problem is probably something that’s worth fighting for either the XP or the treasure or both.
Plus having good PR when you’re a meanie is beneficial too
“Sure, Lord Peasant Grinder the Uncouth is a complete tool, but at least he’s guaranteed to save us from those bandits!”
There’s a difference between being evil and being completely evil after all
Besides… what if you want an evil empire? You’ll need an army to keep it… and what better place to conscript soldiers than the village you “rescued”?
Save them now so you can use them as pawns later.
Ugh, don’t be a murderhobo.
This is why the loot is usually in the beasts lair.
That’s the spirit…kinda…
Id be sus on the npcs if assuming the DM described the approaching peasants as being so pale skinned and brownish-red eyed. As a GM myself i’ve done this to my players at times and even after all these years i still get the drop on them with some details like this some less obvious then a pale skinned brown-red eyed human etc. They love it no matter our setting used or system used. They’ve been everything from a bunch of murderhobos, to goody too shoes, to everything must die but us evil villains and anything mixed in between. So… Read more »
Took me a minute to realize that he has walked past her in the last frame. I thought it wasn’t just perspective, that she really was getting bigger and bigger. Like, maybe the bbeg is right there, is not a guy, and she’s probably hungry!
Make the quest giver the boss and let the fun begin!