Breaking the 4th wall?

RPGPundit · May 07, 2009, 01:01:21 PM

How often does this sort of thing come up in your games, where references are made in-game to the fact that the PCs are actually characters in a campaign; either in jest or in some other possibly more dramatic fashion? Or alternately, where in-jokes are made that have no sense in the campaign itself but that are jokes from other earlier (or concurrent) campaigns you are running?

If you're a player, do you enjoy it when the GM does this kind of stuff, or does it piss you off?

RPGPundit

JongWK · May 07, 2009, 01:09:39 PM

I enjoy them a lot, but like a good spice I try not to overdose or it kills the flavor.

PaladinCA · May 07, 2009, 01:23:33 PM

There seems to be a running gag in our games based on Captain Jack Sparrow's "Pirate" mantra from Pirates of the Carribean.

Everytime someone steals something or does something really brash and the rest of the party gets the deer in the headlights look, the offending player will jokingly shrug his shoulders and say, "Pirate."

It doesn't happen that often though, so it isn't overdone or too disruptive.

Haffrung · May 07, 2009, 01:33:56 PM

One of my players always plays clerics in D&D. And his clerics always make breakfast each morning in the game world. So after each period of rest, Steve says "I make up a big pile of huevos rancheros. Who wants huevos? Everybody loves huevos."

It was kind of funny the first couple of times. Now I find the relentlessly jokey and light tone more annoying, especially when it's often inappropriate.

kryyst · May 07, 2009, 01:45:30 PM

Like it's been said if it's not overdone it's entertaining.

Benoist · May 07, 2009, 02:09:11 PM

I'll add my voice to the others. It can be fun if not overdone.

I guess it's part of the metagaming that can make the whole experience enjoyable for everyone involved, particularly when you've played a long time together. I woudn't consider it the "point" of a tabletop RPG, but it isn't something to put down systematically. It can reinforce the feeling of a shared social activity and team building, which are both good things.

I don't think I would appreciate if it was constant and systematic, however. I see it as a normal feature inherent to social interactions around the game table, a consequence rather than a defining feature of what RPGs are.

Drohem · May 07, 2009, 03:01:04 PM

I've been playing with the same core group of guys since 1985, so, yes, we do have a lot of in-jokes that revolve around our campaigns, our characters, and the players. Although, this is all out-of-character jocularity. We don't do in-game references like you describe. The only instance where I think this would be 'fun' would be in a game of Paranoia, but, outside of that type of game, we don't engage this type of joking around in-game.

Idinsinuation · May 07, 2009, 05:54:52 PM

Fun in moderation pretty much sums it up. It's great for reminding yourself that you are in fact playing a game so there's no need to get frustrated.

David R · May 07, 2009, 10:27:55 PM

Sure, I don't mind if anyone around the table occasionally flirts with a bit of postmoderism.

Regards,
David R