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How to work around players whose backstory goes against the story?
What is all the backstory in an Adventure Path for if the players never see it?What to do about a morally ambiguous character heading towards evil?Helping a player who states “I have very little imagination” enjoy the game more?How do I go about running a Microscope game with a large group of beginners?Encouraging a shy player to immerse themselves and play their charactersKeeping it simple for new playersHow to build an Archer PriestBrawler fighting against Undead
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$begingroup$
I've been playing Pathfinder with friends for about a year and a half now, and I tell other friends that haven't played dnd how much I enjoy it. I piqued their interest in the game and offered to DM for them.
I have two new players that are engaging in my NPCs and combat very well! However, I have a player who's playing a Cleric, and tells me that killing people is against his religion, which I understand but, he has spells do damage to people and he requested a weapon.
Problem
I prompted to my players an organization that will help them get around my homebrew world easier and allow them to easily get quests, like bounty hunting, dungeoneering, city protection, etc. It would also allow me to easily generate story, but my players just aren't interested. The cleric isn't interested because he fears the organization's bounty hunting will go against his character's religion. I'm afraid that my player's religious background is going to affect future ideas of mine, and I'm not sure how to work around it.
How do I work around players whose backstory goes against the story?
Background
My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
Edit
I confronted my cleric player about being a pacifist in my campaign and how it might not work out well for him, and how he may not enjoy the combat based quests I have planned, so he said he would take on more of a "support" role, and would assist in our monk's combat instead. Also, they said that they would join the organization I created to assist them if it would help the narrative, so that was a nice bonus :) I want my players to have fun with their characters, and I hope that I can help them to do so.
pathfinder-1e new-players
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
I've been playing Pathfinder with friends for about a year and a half now, and I tell other friends that haven't played dnd how much I enjoy it. I piqued their interest in the game and offered to DM for them.
I have two new players that are engaging in my NPCs and combat very well! However, I have a player who's playing a Cleric, and tells me that killing people is against his religion, which I understand but, he has spells do damage to people and he requested a weapon.
Problem
I prompted to my players an organization that will help them get around my homebrew world easier and allow them to easily get quests, like bounty hunting, dungeoneering, city protection, etc. It would also allow me to easily generate story, but my players just aren't interested. The cleric isn't interested because he fears the organization's bounty hunting will go against his character's religion. I'm afraid that my player's religious background is going to affect future ideas of mine, and I'm not sure how to work around it.
How do I work around players whose backstory goes against the story?
Background
My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
Edit
I confronted my cleric player about being a pacifist in my campaign and how it might not work out well for him, and how he may not enjoy the combat based quests I have planned, so he said he would take on more of a "support" role, and would assist in our monk's combat instead. Also, they said that they would join the organization I created to assist them if it would help the narrative, so that was a nice bonus :) I want my players to have fun with their characters, and I hope that I can help them to do so.
pathfinder-1e new-players
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
Have you explained to the player that your campaign is a combat-focused game, and that a pacifist character may feel out of place?
$endgroup$
– MikeQ
8 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
Have you had some kind of session 0 or other agreements on the playstyle before you started? Please let us know what preparations you did before your game began.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm learning the layout of this website, so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong. My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Is it only playable races he has an issue with harming? Does he have the same qualms about killing animals or monsters? Either way I think you could make the bounty hunting thing work by specifying that the targets can be apprehended dead or alive.
$endgroup$
– Luck
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@luck He had no problems with killing monsters and a few rats! It seemed like "intelligent life" was what he had a problem with killing. I am explaining to them that it's cool to do a bounty without killing!
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
6 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
I've been playing Pathfinder with friends for about a year and a half now, and I tell other friends that haven't played dnd how much I enjoy it. I piqued their interest in the game and offered to DM for them.
I have two new players that are engaging in my NPCs and combat very well! However, I have a player who's playing a Cleric, and tells me that killing people is against his religion, which I understand but, he has spells do damage to people and he requested a weapon.
Problem
I prompted to my players an organization that will help them get around my homebrew world easier and allow them to easily get quests, like bounty hunting, dungeoneering, city protection, etc. It would also allow me to easily generate story, but my players just aren't interested. The cleric isn't interested because he fears the organization's bounty hunting will go against his character's religion. I'm afraid that my player's religious background is going to affect future ideas of mine, and I'm not sure how to work around it.
How do I work around players whose backstory goes against the story?
Background
My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
Edit
I confronted my cleric player about being a pacifist in my campaign and how it might not work out well for him, and how he may not enjoy the combat based quests I have planned, so he said he would take on more of a "support" role, and would assist in our monk's combat instead. Also, they said that they would join the organization I created to assist them if it would help the narrative, so that was a nice bonus :) I want my players to have fun with their characters, and I hope that I can help them to do so.
pathfinder-1e new-players
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I've been playing Pathfinder with friends for about a year and a half now, and I tell other friends that haven't played dnd how much I enjoy it. I piqued their interest in the game and offered to DM for them.
I have two new players that are engaging in my NPCs and combat very well! However, I have a player who's playing a Cleric, and tells me that killing people is against his religion, which I understand but, he has spells do damage to people and he requested a weapon.
Problem
I prompted to my players an organization that will help them get around my homebrew world easier and allow them to easily get quests, like bounty hunting, dungeoneering, city protection, etc. It would also allow me to easily generate story, but my players just aren't interested. The cleric isn't interested because he fears the organization's bounty hunting will go against his character's religion. I'm afraid that my player's religious background is going to affect future ideas of mine, and I'm not sure how to work around it.
How do I work around players whose backstory goes against the story?
Background
My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
Edit
I confronted my cleric player about being a pacifist in my campaign and how it might not work out well for him, and how he may not enjoy the combat based quests I have planned, so he said he would take on more of a "support" role, and would assist in our monk's combat instead. Also, they said that they would join the organization I created to assist them if it would help the narrative, so that was a nice bonus :) I want my players to have fun with their characters, and I hope that I can help them to do so.
pathfinder-1e new-players
pathfinder-1e new-players
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
Sadcardboardcat
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
SadcardboardcatSadcardboardcat
285 bronze badges
285 bronze badges
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
$begingroup$
Have you explained to the player that your campaign is a combat-focused game, and that a pacifist character may feel out of place?
$endgroup$
– MikeQ
8 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
Have you had some kind of session 0 or other agreements on the playstyle before you started? Please let us know what preparations you did before your game began.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm learning the layout of this website, so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong. My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Is it only playable races he has an issue with harming? Does he have the same qualms about killing animals or monsters? Either way I think you could make the bounty hunting thing work by specifying that the targets can be apprehended dead or alive.
$endgroup$
– Luck
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@luck He had no problems with killing monsters and a few rats! It seemed like "intelligent life" was what he had a problem with killing. I am explaining to them that it's cool to do a bounty without killing!
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
6 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
4
$begingroup$
Have you explained to the player that your campaign is a combat-focused game, and that a pacifist character may feel out of place?
$endgroup$
– MikeQ
8 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
Have you had some kind of session 0 or other agreements on the playstyle before you started? Please let us know what preparations you did before your game began.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm learning the layout of this website, so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong. My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Is it only playable races he has an issue with harming? Does he have the same qualms about killing animals or monsters? Either way I think you could make the bounty hunting thing work by specifying that the targets can be apprehended dead or alive.
$endgroup$
– Luck
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@luck He had no problems with killing monsters and a few rats! It seemed like "intelligent life" was what he had a problem with killing. I am explaining to them that it's cool to do a bounty without killing!
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
6 hours ago
4
4
$begingroup$
Have you explained to the player that your campaign is a combat-focused game, and that a pacifist character may feel out of place?
$endgroup$
– MikeQ
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Have you explained to the player that your campaign is a combat-focused game, and that a pacifist character may feel out of place?
$endgroup$
– MikeQ
8 hours ago
4
4
$begingroup$
Have you had some kind of session 0 or other agreements on the playstyle before you started? Please let us know what preparations you did before your game began.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Have you had some kind of session 0 or other agreements on the playstyle before you started? Please let us know what preparations you did before your game began.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm learning the layout of this website, so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong. My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm learning the layout of this website, so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong. My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
8 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Is it only playable races he has an issue with harming? Does he have the same qualms about killing animals or monsters? Either way I think you could make the bounty hunting thing work by specifying that the targets can be apprehended dead or alive.
$endgroup$
– Luck
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is it only playable races he has an issue with harming? Does he have the same qualms about killing animals or monsters? Either way I think you could make the bounty hunting thing work by specifying that the targets can be apprehended dead or alive.
$endgroup$
– Luck
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@luck He had no problems with killing monsters and a few rats! It seemed like "intelligent life" was what he had a problem with killing. I am explaining to them that it's cool to do a bounty without killing!
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@luck He had no problems with killing monsters and a few rats! It seemed like "intelligent life" was what he had a problem with killing. I am explaining to them that it's cool to do a bounty without killing!
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
6 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Get on the same page
Your literal question asks about problems with one specific character background, but you later suggest several of your players are expressing a lack of interest in the plot.
If there is a lack of interest, especially from several players, it may help to step back and have a group conversation about the type of game you want. Once you have explicit acceptance, or better yet enthusiastic buy-in, the lack of interest and any problem that is originating from a subtle lack of interest, is likely to fade.
Make requirements for a new character
As the GM/DM it is perfectly reasonable to put restrictions on the backstory of characters, especially if you make them clear before character creation.
I frequently start new campaigns with a quest giver that will provide the initial quest for the characters and I require the PCs to establish some sort of relationship with the quest giver in their backstory that would make it reasonable for the quest giver to demand an initial favor immediately.
Your case is slightly different, but if you want to center your campaign around an bounty hunting organization it is quite reasonable to demand that the players create characters that are willing and able to be bounty hunters.
Reasonable self-imposed character restrictions can create interesting drama
Sometimes it helps to let there be some tension between the character concept and the premise of the game. That can help create drama.
In your particular case, a bounty hunter that refuses to kill could be interesting. There are bounty hunters in real world America right now and they very rarely kill and can only justify it with reasonable self-defense/defense of others when they do. Obviously, in a DnD type-setting many more bounties will be of the "dead or alive" kind, but even then a completely non-lethal bounty hunter could work if it is built with subdual in mind. Or perhaps it is a support character who helps out the others that are more willing to use lethal options when appropriate. It could also be interesting to see how far they can be pushed before they start compromising that religious code more.
As an anecdote, I played a completely non-lethal elemental adept in Shadowrun for a while. It created some tension, but it worked out because my character was tightly optimized on subduing and supporting spells and didn't object too much when the others killed during the missions.
Of course, such restrictions should be cleared with the GM and possibly even the other players, first for best result. A certain amount of tension between character and premise, handled in a way that doesn't keep the spotlight on only that one character too much, can add drama and aid in fun. A complete mis-match between the two or a restriction that keeps the other players out of the spotlight is a real problem.
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
One thing comes to my mind: Hacksaw Ridge (2016) movie.
If your player based his background very well based on the Pathfinder world and it's dieties lore (Sorry I'm not familier with it, only DND a bit), then do not restrict his choises.
Instead you can challange his belief in story, maybe making it his personal story arc. For whatever reason he has to join the adventuring party, he has to make a choice how he resolves conflict when he meets combat. Maybe after a serious confrontation he will change his opinion about killing or give up adventuring (and make a new character)
You can warm him that your world is not suited for pacifists, just don't say "No, you can't play that character".
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
add a comment
|
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Get on the same page
Your literal question asks about problems with one specific character background, but you later suggest several of your players are expressing a lack of interest in the plot.
If there is a lack of interest, especially from several players, it may help to step back and have a group conversation about the type of game you want. Once you have explicit acceptance, or better yet enthusiastic buy-in, the lack of interest and any problem that is originating from a subtle lack of interest, is likely to fade.
Make requirements for a new character
As the GM/DM it is perfectly reasonable to put restrictions on the backstory of characters, especially if you make them clear before character creation.
I frequently start new campaigns with a quest giver that will provide the initial quest for the characters and I require the PCs to establish some sort of relationship with the quest giver in their backstory that would make it reasonable for the quest giver to demand an initial favor immediately.
Your case is slightly different, but if you want to center your campaign around an bounty hunting organization it is quite reasonable to demand that the players create characters that are willing and able to be bounty hunters.
Reasonable self-imposed character restrictions can create interesting drama
Sometimes it helps to let there be some tension between the character concept and the premise of the game. That can help create drama.
In your particular case, a bounty hunter that refuses to kill could be interesting. There are bounty hunters in real world America right now and they very rarely kill and can only justify it with reasonable self-defense/defense of others when they do. Obviously, in a DnD type-setting many more bounties will be of the "dead or alive" kind, but even then a completely non-lethal bounty hunter could work if it is built with subdual in mind. Or perhaps it is a support character who helps out the others that are more willing to use lethal options when appropriate. It could also be interesting to see how far they can be pushed before they start compromising that religious code more.
As an anecdote, I played a completely non-lethal elemental adept in Shadowrun for a while. It created some tension, but it worked out because my character was tightly optimized on subduing and supporting spells and didn't object too much when the others killed during the missions.
Of course, such restrictions should be cleared with the GM and possibly even the other players, first for best result. A certain amount of tension between character and premise, handled in a way that doesn't keep the spotlight on only that one character too much, can add drama and aid in fun. A complete mis-match between the two or a restriction that keeps the other players out of the spotlight is a real problem.
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Get on the same page
Your literal question asks about problems with one specific character background, but you later suggest several of your players are expressing a lack of interest in the plot.
If there is a lack of interest, especially from several players, it may help to step back and have a group conversation about the type of game you want. Once you have explicit acceptance, or better yet enthusiastic buy-in, the lack of interest and any problem that is originating from a subtle lack of interest, is likely to fade.
Make requirements for a new character
As the GM/DM it is perfectly reasonable to put restrictions on the backstory of characters, especially if you make them clear before character creation.
I frequently start new campaigns with a quest giver that will provide the initial quest for the characters and I require the PCs to establish some sort of relationship with the quest giver in their backstory that would make it reasonable for the quest giver to demand an initial favor immediately.
Your case is slightly different, but if you want to center your campaign around an bounty hunting organization it is quite reasonable to demand that the players create characters that are willing and able to be bounty hunters.
Reasonable self-imposed character restrictions can create interesting drama
Sometimes it helps to let there be some tension between the character concept and the premise of the game. That can help create drama.
In your particular case, a bounty hunter that refuses to kill could be interesting. There are bounty hunters in real world America right now and they very rarely kill and can only justify it with reasonable self-defense/defense of others when they do. Obviously, in a DnD type-setting many more bounties will be of the "dead or alive" kind, but even then a completely non-lethal bounty hunter could work if it is built with subdual in mind. Or perhaps it is a support character who helps out the others that are more willing to use lethal options when appropriate. It could also be interesting to see how far they can be pushed before they start compromising that religious code more.
As an anecdote, I played a completely non-lethal elemental adept in Shadowrun for a while. It created some tension, but it worked out because my character was tightly optimized on subduing and supporting spells and didn't object too much when the others killed during the missions.
Of course, such restrictions should be cleared with the GM and possibly even the other players, first for best result. A certain amount of tension between character and premise, handled in a way that doesn't keep the spotlight on only that one character too much, can add drama and aid in fun. A complete mis-match between the two or a restriction that keeps the other players out of the spotlight is a real problem.
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Get on the same page
Your literal question asks about problems with one specific character background, but you later suggest several of your players are expressing a lack of interest in the plot.
If there is a lack of interest, especially from several players, it may help to step back and have a group conversation about the type of game you want. Once you have explicit acceptance, or better yet enthusiastic buy-in, the lack of interest and any problem that is originating from a subtle lack of interest, is likely to fade.
Make requirements for a new character
As the GM/DM it is perfectly reasonable to put restrictions on the backstory of characters, especially if you make them clear before character creation.
I frequently start new campaigns with a quest giver that will provide the initial quest for the characters and I require the PCs to establish some sort of relationship with the quest giver in their backstory that would make it reasonable for the quest giver to demand an initial favor immediately.
Your case is slightly different, but if you want to center your campaign around an bounty hunting organization it is quite reasonable to demand that the players create characters that are willing and able to be bounty hunters.
Reasonable self-imposed character restrictions can create interesting drama
Sometimes it helps to let there be some tension between the character concept and the premise of the game. That can help create drama.
In your particular case, a bounty hunter that refuses to kill could be interesting. There are bounty hunters in real world America right now and they very rarely kill and can only justify it with reasonable self-defense/defense of others when they do. Obviously, in a DnD type-setting many more bounties will be of the "dead or alive" kind, but even then a completely non-lethal bounty hunter could work if it is built with subdual in mind. Or perhaps it is a support character who helps out the others that are more willing to use lethal options when appropriate. It could also be interesting to see how far they can be pushed before they start compromising that religious code more.
As an anecdote, I played a completely non-lethal elemental adept in Shadowrun for a while. It created some tension, but it worked out because my character was tightly optimized on subduing and supporting spells and didn't object too much when the others killed during the missions.
Of course, such restrictions should be cleared with the GM and possibly even the other players, first for best result. A certain amount of tension between character and premise, handled in a way that doesn't keep the spotlight on only that one character too much, can add drama and aid in fun. A complete mis-match between the two or a restriction that keeps the other players out of the spotlight is a real problem.
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Get on the same page
Your literal question asks about problems with one specific character background, but you later suggest several of your players are expressing a lack of interest in the plot.
If there is a lack of interest, especially from several players, it may help to step back and have a group conversation about the type of game you want. Once you have explicit acceptance, or better yet enthusiastic buy-in, the lack of interest and any problem that is originating from a subtle lack of interest, is likely to fade.
Make requirements for a new character
As the GM/DM it is perfectly reasonable to put restrictions on the backstory of characters, especially if you make them clear before character creation.
I frequently start new campaigns with a quest giver that will provide the initial quest for the characters and I require the PCs to establish some sort of relationship with the quest giver in their backstory that would make it reasonable for the quest giver to demand an initial favor immediately.
Your case is slightly different, but if you want to center your campaign around an bounty hunting organization it is quite reasonable to demand that the players create characters that are willing and able to be bounty hunters.
Reasonable self-imposed character restrictions can create interesting drama
Sometimes it helps to let there be some tension between the character concept and the premise of the game. That can help create drama.
In your particular case, a bounty hunter that refuses to kill could be interesting. There are bounty hunters in real world America right now and they very rarely kill and can only justify it with reasonable self-defense/defense of others when they do. Obviously, in a DnD type-setting many more bounties will be of the "dead or alive" kind, but even then a completely non-lethal bounty hunter could work if it is built with subdual in mind. Or perhaps it is a support character who helps out the others that are more willing to use lethal options when appropriate. It could also be interesting to see how far they can be pushed before they start compromising that religious code more.
As an anecdote, I played a completely non-lethal elemental adept in Shadowrun for a while. It created some tension, but it worked out because my character was tightly optimized on subduing and supporting spells and didn't object too much when the others killed during the missions.
Of course, such restrictions should be cleared with the GM and possibly even the other players, first for best result. A certain amount of tension between character and premise, handled in a way that doesn't keep the spotlight on only that one character too much, can add drama and aid in fun. A complete mis-match between the two or a restriction that keeps the other players out of the spotlight is a real problem.
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
answered 7 hours ago
TimothyAWisemanTimothyAWiseman
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
21k2 gold badges47 silver badges102 bronze badges
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
My other player isn't a problem! He's willing to fight and do whatever. My cleric is really the only one I'm needing to work around with backstory. This organization I created doesn't just do bounty hunting, they can can do little things like helping a town or specific NPCs with non-lethal actions. I will explain to them your advice though! I do think it would be interesting to have my players follow through with bounties without killing, it would be interesting. If they continue to refuse to join, I will try to work around this with finding new quests to give them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Sadcardboardcat Two observations: firstly, it's generally considered polite to wait 24 hours or so before accepting an answer to give people at work or on different timezones a chance to answer. You might get better answers too. Secondly, try to be grateful for a new player that is engaged with the game and actually wants to roleplay a character. As Timothy says, there may be some good RP opportunities there. Thirdly, welcome to the site. Oh wait, that's three things...
$endgroup$
– richardb
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@richardb Thank you for letting me know! I'll do that in the future! Also I'm really grateful for the participation from my players, I just wanna make sure that they're happy with my story and I'm not stepping on their characters boundaries.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
One thing comes to my mind: Hacksaw Ridge (2016) movie.
If your player based his background very well based on the Pathfinder world and it's dieties lore (Sorry I'm not familier with it, only DND a bit), then do not restrict his choises.
Instead you can challange his belief in story, maybe making it his personal story arc. For whatever reason he has to join the adventuring party, he has to make a choice how he resolves conflict when he meets combat. Maybe after a serious confrontation he will change his opinion about killing or give up adventuring (and make a new character)
You can warm him that your world is not suited for pacifists, just don't say "No, you can't play that character".
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
One thing comes to my mind: Hacksaw Ridge (2016) movie.
If your player based his background very well based on the Pathfinder world and it's dieties lore (Sorry I'm not familier with it, only DND a bit), then do not restrict his choises.
Instead you can challange his belief in story, maybe making it his personal story arc. For whatever reason he has to join the adventuring party, he has to make a choice how he resolves conflict when he meets combat. Maybe after a serious confrontation he will change his opinion about killing or give up adventuring (and make a new character)
You can warm him that your world is not suited for pacifists, just don't say "No, you can't play that character".
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
One thing comes to my mind: Hacksaw Ridge (2016) movie.
If your player based his background very well based on the Pathfinder world and it's dieties lore (Sorry I'm not familier with it, only DND a bit), then do not restrict his choises.
Instead you can challange his belief in story, maybe making it his personal story arc. For whatever reason he has to join the adventuring party, he has to make a choice how he resolves conflict when he meets combat. Maybe after a serious confrontation he will change his opinion about killing or give up adventuring (and make a new character)
You can warm him that your world is not suited for pacifists, just don't say "No, you can't play that character".
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
One thing comes to my mind: Hacksaw Ridge (2016) movie.
If your player based his background very well based on the Pathfinder world and it's dieties lore (Sorry I'm not familier with it, only DND a bit), then do not restrict his choises.
Instead you can challange his belief in story, maybe making it his personal story arc. For whatever reason he has to join the adventuring party, he has to make a choice how he resolves conflict when he meets combat. Maybe after a serious confrontation he will change his opinion about killing or give up adventuring (and make a new character)
You can warm him that your world is not suited for pacifists, just don't say "No, you can't play that character".
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
answered 4 hours ago
MarkoszMarkosz
11 bronze badge
11 bronze badge
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Markosz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Oh yeah I don't have a problem with him playing the character, it just didn't come up when we were making his character that he would be a pacifist. I want to challenge my players choices and make them figure out what their moral choices are, but I also don't want to say "don't play this because it doesn't fit in my world." It's only the start of the story and the campaign! So, I have some time to throw more serious confrontations at them.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
4 hours ago
add a comment
|
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sadcardboardcat is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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$begingroup$
Have you explained to the player that your campaign is a combat-focused game, and that a pacifist character may feel out of place?
$endgroup$
– MikeQ
8 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
Have you had some kind of session 0 or other agreements on the playstyle before you started? Please let us know what preparations you did before your game began.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm learning the layout of this website, so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong. My prep for the game was mostly the mechanics of the game, how to roll dice and make a character and create a proper character sheet. I went over the backstories with my players a week before we started. My other player, a monk, said he had no backstory and that I could work with whatever. He isn't a huge issue. The cleric explained his backstory and why he became a cleric, but didn't clarify he would be a pacifist.
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Is it only playable races he has an issue with harming? Does he have the same qualms about killing animals or monsters? Either way I think you could make the bounty hunting thing work by specifying that the targets can be apprehended dead or alive.
$endgroup$
– Luck
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@luck He had no problems with killing monsters and a few rats! It seemed like "intelligent life" was what he had a problem with killing. I am explaining to them that it's cool to do a bounty without killing!
$endgroup$
– Sadcardboardcat
6 hours ago