Comments on: Villains, Aren’t We All: Evil and the Gaming World, Part 3 http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/ staying up late, playing games Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:13:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: mabmorrigan http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47 mabmorrigan Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:26:15 +0000 http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/#comment-47 That is a common problem with Vampire, IMO. I have more experience running WW games than any other rpg, and I have to admit some tiredness with the "I'm out for me, no one trust anyone" character vein. It's great to manipulate, but sucks for teamwork and comraderie. The inability to leave OOC knowledge out of IC play is probably the reason I'm against alignments being known as a GM. I don't even like to assign alignments right off the bat. I've seen players say "I'm Chaotic Good", and once you put them in play, they're the epitome of Chaotic Neutral. Sometimes alignments don't manifest until the kinetic influence of actual game-time. I'm going to go into more about alignments from the GM's pov in the next post. Why we bother, should we bother, who really needs to know, that type of thing. That is a common problem with Vampire, IMO. I have more experience running WW games than any other rpg, and I have to admit some tiredness with the “I’m out for me, no one trust anyone” character vein. It’s great to manipulate, but sucks for teamwork and comraderie.

The inability to leave OOC knowledge out of IC play is probably the reason I’m against alignments being known as a GM. I don’t even like to assign alignments right off the bat. I’ve seen players say “I’m Chaotic Good”, and once you put them in play, they’re the epitome of Chaotic Neutral. Sometimes alignments don’t manifest until the kinetic influence of actual game-time.

I’m going to go into more about alignments from the GM’s pov in the next post. Why we bother, should we bother, who really needs to know, that type of thing.

]]> By: Aidan http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Aidan Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:21:39 +0000 http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/#comment-44 I've played in a few games where the majority of the party has been good and there has been one "evil" character. Generally, these games haven't involved good roleplaying - everything is shaped by OOC knowledge. I played in a Vampire campaign for a year or so where everyone was selfish, and factions changed over the course of the campaign. That was interesting because at any one time no-one really trusted one another, but no-one had enough clout to say to the Prince of the city "I'm not working with him/her." I've also had characters "go bad" in game, which is fun for everyone involved - everyone knows what is happening so you can really go over the top if you want to. I’ve played in a few games where the majority of the party has been good and there has been one “evil” character. Generally, these games haven’t involved good roleplaying – everything is shaped by OOC knowledge.

I played in a Vampire campaign for a year or so where everyone was selfish, and factions changed over the course of the campaign. That was interesting because at any one time no-one really trusted one another, but no-one had enough clout to say to the Prince of the city “I’m not working with him/her.”

I’ve also had characters “go bad” in game, which is fun for everyone involved – everyone knows what is happening so you can really go over the top if you want to.

]]> By: matt http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-42 matt Fri, 24 Nov 2006 09:44:51 +0000 http://www.lategaming.com/2006/11/24/villains-aren%e2%80%99t-we-all-evil-and-the-gaming-world-part-3/#comment-42 I'll tell you right now, having an Evil character in your group can be a blessing in disguise. Not all of them are backstabbing, pickpocketing bastards. Some of them are just the sort of person you need to get the job done..... I’ll tell you right now, having an Evil character in your group can be a blessing in disguise. Not all of them are backstabbing, pickpocketing bastards.

Some of them are just the sort of person you need to get the job done…..

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