| From: | Pete Sims <petesims@********.demon.co.uk> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Oh Dear, hate mail...:) |
| Date: | Sun, 22 Sep 1996 02:01:07 +0100 |
>Steven Ratkovich wrote:
>> >All in all, the run netted them 12,000 each, and cost them in excess of
>> >75,000 - 100,000 each to replace vehicles and equipment. I was quite
>> >pleased with the result, but for some strange reason I've been getting
>> >hate mail ever since.
>> >
>> >Anyone got any ideas why????
>> >
>> Oh, you are an evil GM... Tinner's fond of doing the same thing. My
>> character had spent several months in game time and I personally spent
>> several hours in real time designing and buildinga heavily modified GMC
>> Bulldog combat vehicle. I also spent in exgggcess of 500,000 nuyen, money
>> that I'd been saving for a LONG time. Well, the first run we take it on, I
>> assume my character (intelligence 8) would be smart enough to automatically
>> set the security sustem on the vehicle (rating 8 at the time). I didn't
>> bother specifically saying I was arming trhe security system, though. I
>> really should know better.
>
>I handle my players the same way, I never assume on the part of their
>characters. I must be informed of actions taken. Just ask them about the
>other night. The just finish a hit on Renraku for which they were hired
>by Kyle Morgan. Now Kyle (and Perianwyr) is more then well acquainted
>with three members fo the group, after taken a sveral story fall back in
>Maria Mercurial. Knowing this still doesn't inform me of doing anything
>(like picking up weapons or armor) during the two hour window befor
>going to meet with Kyle and pick up "payment" for their job in an
>abandoned warehouse in the shadows of the archology. I should also add
>they group had also hit a well known fixer's casino for 25,000,000Y and
>has a bounty out on them, is believed to have a bio-chemical warfare
>sample Renraku and the UCAS want badly, and so on.
>
Absolutely, I agree 100%, there are very few actions that the GM can
safely assume about character actions, bowel movements are one - except
in certain circumstances. 8-) I never fail to be amazed at some of the
things I'm supposed to assume, like ammo load outs, equipment carried
actions taken etc. After nearly a year of punishing the PCs mercilessly
for assuming that I assumed they did certain things, they now make sure
that I know what their characters are doing.
I also, had a considerable problem with OOC comments being made in the
game, and various insults, actions etc, followed with the comment, "I
didn't do that really!" After I got fed up with it, and started taking
actions literally, based on what was said, including having the party
munchkin shoot two players in the back (he *said* he was going to do it)
the players now make sure I now they're OOC by using a very obvious time
out sign. Strangely, after loosing five characters over five runs,
killing a couple of team members, a considerable amount of out of game
talking/instruction, and generally being victimised by other players,
the munchkin has turned into a very good player, with a strangely warped
mind and imagination, I'm finding it an interesting match to keep ahead.
>Still they didn't inform me or any preparations, so I let them stroll
>right into to the trap unarmed, unarmored, unwitting...
>
Yep, done that, been there, damn near killed them all. They learned not
to do that again.
>A GM has to know certain things...
>
Too right. And the more we know, the better we can act on that
knowledge - to the *benefit* of the players, of course. 8-)
>
--
Pete Sims
Civilisation advances by extending the number of important operations which we
can perform without thinking about them.
