Some people in the past have accused me of gatekeeping the hobby. But the only time I have was with family members and other immature twats that wouldn't play by the rules and respect the role of the GM.

Those are exceptional cases. Which led me to creating a personal rule. Where I won't game with immediate family. I just view it as being not worth the drama or the frustration.

It saves me from chugging the bottle of Advil to cope with tension headaches.

Players who refuse to buy into the games and its premises in the first place are not worth my time. Which described my immediate family members exactly. They would troll and cheat all they could to get under my skin. Which would sabotage the whole concept of playing games to relax.

I just don't want to deal with the cheating and bad sportsmanship. And that's why it gets under my skin so much. The nonstop barrage of crappy behavior. It's been what I wanted to escape.

So when I encounter misbehaving gamers. It really gets under my skin.

No. I don't think someone is clever when they rape the character generation rules. I see it as infringing on everybody else's time and fun. Which is unwelcome to say the least.

I don't play with assholes. I refuse to.

(reads OP knows the behavior of the OP in that he has no real intention of wanting an discussion, instead demands another validation, backslapping feel good thread. Runs away)

"RPGs, you're tearing me apart! Oh, hi multipower..."

So you had your Authorized GM Robes on when you let them through the Gaming Gate and spanked them for bad behavior right?

Was it over the knee and bare-ass or did you just whip them with a belt or a switch? If the latter - did you make them go collect their own switch?


BAD PLAYERS! BAD!

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;1110478No. I don't think someone is clever when they rape the character generation rules. I see it as infringing on everybody else's time and fun. Which is unwelcome to say the least.

I don't play with assholes. I refuse to.

Ah I see, it's not so much cheating but people playing by the rules and not respecting your houserules.

Play better games asshole.

Quote from: Rhedyn;1110507Ah I see, it's not so much cheating but people playing by the rules and not respecting your houserules.

Play better games asshole.

Well soon he can show us all his mighty wisdom as Hero Games is starting up a community content program called Hall of Champions. They are even allowing material for any editions of the Hero System including the 1st edition of Champions.

EC rules!

Quote from: cenmarik;1110497"RPGs, you're tearing me apart! Oh, hi multipower..."

Easily the best post on this board all year.

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;1110478No. I don't think someone is clever when they rape the character generation rules. I see it as infringing on everybody else's time and fun. Which is unwelcome to say the least.

I don't play with assholes. I refuse to.

What do you see as "raping character generation rules"?  I personally like making powerful characters.  I can't help but be intrigued if X goes with Y as well as it looks like it does, and Especially when something is explicitly allowed, I think it would be fun to explore.  Meanwhile another guy I game with literally chooses his race and class by rolling for it randomly, and seemingly goes out of his way to avoid picking anything actually powerful, instead scatter shot choosing anti-synergistic talents, weapons, abilities, and so forth.  His character contributes basically nothing to the group, and he's just kinda along for the ride.

In my eyes, there's nothing wrong with either approach.  Having the two of us in the same party forces the DM to either buff him while leaving my character alone (what the DM of the campaign we're in together does, by the way) or otherwise makes balancing combat difficult, but not an insurmountable challenge regardless.  Personally I'd like to have a bunch of PCs like myself and have us all contribute strongly, so we can overcome any and all challenges set before us, no matter how difficult.  Others might prefer we have characters randomly built and see if we can struggle through regardless.  As long as everyone is having fun, it's all good.  I go out of my way when we're in game to defer to him and make sure he's included, and will wait until others have had a chance to voice their opinion and plans to voice mine, because I want Everyone to have fun.  But don't get me wrong, I want to have fun too, and part of the way I have fun is in developing well fleshed out characters which are interesting to roleplay.  Another part of how I have fun is in crafting powerful characters that absolutely wreck things when in the field of their specialty.  Does that make me, in your eyes, an "asshole"?

I mean, there are definite pitfalls with playing with certain family members and more than one, at that. You bring in all the social undercurrents and pecking orders tied to those familial relationships, which can absolutely complicate the table environment.

Quote from: cenmarik;1110497"RPGs, you're tearing me apart! Oh, hi multipower..."

LOL.

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;1110478Players who refuse to buy into the games and its premises in the first place are not worth my time. Which described my immediate family members exactly. They would troll and cheat all they could to get under my skin. Which would sabotage the whole concept of playing games to relax.

If you and the players have different ideas of what the game should be, you might enjoy surrendering to their vision.  If they want to go off-the-wall bonkers, run with it.  Let them get it out of their system.  Let the game world crash and burn if that's what they want to do.  See where it goes.  

You can enjoy a bad movie just as much as a good movie.  You just have to walk in with a different set of expectations.

Is the OP ever happy when it comes to rpgs. Maybe it's me he just seems miserable all the time.

Quote from: deadDMwalking;1110530If you and the players have different ideas of what the game should be, you might enjoy surrendering to their vision.  If they want to go off-the-wall bonkers, run with it.  Let them get it out of their system.  Let the game world crash and burn if that's what they want to do.  See where it goes.  

You can enjoy a bad movie just as much as a good movie.  You just have to walk in with a different set of expectations.

Yeah! Just let it happen. Don't fight it. It'll all be over soon...

wait.. what?

I have plenty of happy gaming experiences. And I am grateful for them when I find them. But they are also like rare flowers. Something that has to be appreciated while they are there. Because they will inevitably die-off.

After several years of a break, I have decided to return to GMing. With a game system that is more simple and resistant to abuse than the game system I originally focused on. It's looking very positive so far. And I have players who are 100% in with the genre and feel I am focused on presenting. I haven't felt this positive about running a game in a very long time.

Quote from: Giant Octopodes;1110518What do you see as "raping character generation rules"?  I personally like making powerful characters.  I can't help but be intrigued if X goes with Y as well as it looks like it does, and Especially when something is explicitly allowed, I think it would be fun to explore.  Meanwhile another guy I game with literally chooses his race and class by rolling for it randomly, and seemingly goes out of his way to avoid picking anything actually powerful, instead scatter shot choosing anti-synergistic talents, weapons, abilities, and so forth.  His character contributes basically nothing to the group, and he's just kinda along for the ride.

In my eyes, there's nothing wrong with either approach.  Having the two of us in the same party forces the DM to either buff him while leaving my character alone (what the DM of the campaign we're in together does, by the way) or otherwise makes balancing combat difficult, but not an insurmountable challenge regardless.  Personally I'd like to have a bunch of PCs like myself and have us all contribute strongly, so we can overcome any and all challenges set before us, no matter how difficult.  Others might prefer we have characters randomly built and see if we can struggle through regardless.  As long as everyone is having fun, it's all good.  I go out of my way when we're in game to defer to him and make sure he's included, and will wait until others have had a chance to voice their opinion and plans to voice mine, because I want Everyone to have fun.  But don't get me wrong, I want to have fun too, and part of the way I have fun is in developing well fleshed out characters which are interesting to roleplay.  Another part of how I have fun is in crafting powerful characters that absolutely wreck things when in the field of their specialty.  Does that make me, in your eyes, an "asshole"?

It's the same as the concept of exploiting the perceived weaknesses of the character generation rules to a player's own advantage. They immediately stop being there for the campaign that the group has gotten together for. But focus only on optimization to their own personal advantage. They step out of it being a group activity. And focus only on their own selfish desires.

I've seen and dealt with extreme examples of it constantly over my years of gaming. And it honestly sucks the fun out of the whole experience for me.

GMing might be a rough ride for you, DK.

I mean, I don't know your players... but setting expectations is very much part of the GMing gig. But also learning to indulge *any* level of investment a player is willing to take in order to get their asses into the chair without damaging your game - is pretty normal. You then groom their behavior in accordance with your style of gaming.

That's why setting those expectations upfront is important. And it *might* cost you players, and you have to accept that, and do it without being bitter. Just go find your crew that wants what you're offering. I've had this belief for years, really really good GM's do it because it's kind of a calling in some ways. It's work. Often thankless work. You have to derive pleasure from squeezing rocks and herding cats and teaching the horses to drink.

If that's going to take the fun out of it for you - then don't get in the saddle.

- Wisdom of the D.O.N.G