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The Tabletop RPG Equivalent of the Fat Guy In the Elf Suit

Started by RPGPundit, February 22, 2008, 11:01:17 AM

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RPGPundit

You know? The LARPer guy who weighs 300lbs and has trouble breathing through his nose but is trying to convince you that he's a member of the delicate immortal race of elves?

Or what in Cosplay is the equivalent of this:



The person who in NO FUCKING WAY resembles what they're trying to portray.

Do you think there's an equivalent in RPGs too? Does it happen in your gaming group? Does it tie in with a lot of the "asshole" players? Does it explain them?

RPGPundit
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blakkie

Quote from: RPGPunditDo you think there's an equivalent in RPGs too?
Yeah, most players. Only they know it and do all of us the service of not trying to 'help' out our imaginations by dressing the part. :keke:
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity

jgants

OK, Pundit, you owe me a new set of eyes now.

And some psychiatry bills will likely be headed your way, too...  :D
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B.T.

This thread is the reason why these forums are better than the WotC forums.
Quote from: Black Vulmea;530561Y\'know, I\'ve learned something from this thread. Both B.T. and Koltar are idiots, but whereas B.T. possesses a malign intelligence, Koltar is just a drooling fuckwit.

So, that\'s something, I guess.

Nicephorus

Well, there are those players who are incapable of playing any personality other than their own with a side of metagame and self interest.  Oh sure, they may say that they're a ranger this time out to save the gnomes but their character winds up the same as all of their other characters.

RPGPundit

Quote from: blakkieYeah, most players. Only they know it and do all of us the service of not trying to 'help' out our imaginations by dressing the part. :keke:

Well, I meant what is the non-dressing equivalent.  Since we regular non-insane RPGers don't dress the part, the equivalent would be somewhere in the realm of acting the part.

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Stumpydave

For me its politics.  I cannot do a political character.  I'd love to, the wheeling and dealing, the secrets and betrayals, the smoky rooms and machinations of real power.

But I get bored, I want to be the action hero, I want to bust in guns blazing and   chase the bad guys down the freeway at 120mph.

Somehow I can't see Francis Urquhart toting a twelve bore and kicking in doors, but for my sins, other people might.
 

blakkie

Quote from: RPGPunditWell, I meant what is the non-dressing equivalent.  Since we regular non-insane RPGers don't dress the part, the equivalent would be somewhere in the realm of acting the part.
I don't play with professional actors (though I do play with someone that does, so maybe I will) or even active amateurs. Therefore my answer.  The only ones that don't fall into it are the few that:
1) always play the same PC (name may vary)
2) that character is the player very thinly veiled....but with an axe :)
3) or never speak in the 1st person (this I find rare, and I find it more annoying than crappy 'acting')
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity

Pseudoephedrine

Neither myself, nor my current DM can play "good" PCs. We can play PCs who do good things every so often, but not good characters.
Running
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Gronan of Simmerya

Quote from: StumpydaveSomehow I can't see Francis Urquhart toting a twelve bore and kicking in doors, but for my sins, other people might.


You might say so.  I couldn't possibly comment.
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James J Skach

The OP always reminds me of the saying "You can't stick a fork in your mind's eye..."

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Blackleaf

Quote from: blakkieor never speak in the 1st person (this I find rare, and I find it more annoying than crappy 'acting')

Really?  Will the say something like:  Thrag says "Have you seen the wizard?" -- or do they just not do dialogue and say: Thrag asks the innkeeper if he's seen the wizard.

Personally I'd rather hear the other players do either of the above than engage in bad 1st person acting.

jeff37923

Quote from: RPGPunditOr what in Cosplay is the equivalent of this:


The least you could do is put a warning label on the thread. Something like "Sanity-blasting imagery ahead! Caution!"



Some people, like me, dig the acting and can get into it and do a good job (used to do Summer Stock at the local theater). Some people just don't want to get that much into the role-playing and that's cool to. Some people try to role-play and just can't act to save their life, that's OK with me because my thespian sensibilities can take the punishment as long as role-playing their character doesn't mean fucking over the entire party and pissing people off for their own amusement.

I'm just really easygoing on this one while I'm gaming, because as long as we're all having fun then it's OK.
"Meh."

pspahn

Quote from: blakkie1) always play the same PC (name may vary)
I hate ninjas and martial artists for this reason.  I had one player who insisted on playing the oriental monk/ninja/mystic martial artist in every game we played, and what's worse, he always played him as a soft-spoken Carradine clone.  As a strange aside, I ended up running an oriental adventures campaign and he was the only one who decided to play the gaijin European fantasy character.  Go figure.  

Quote3) or never speak in the 1st person (this I find rare, and I find it more annoying than crappy 'acting')
It's funny, but as a GM I almost never speak in first person.  I find it kind of  hard to protray the scene correctly, so I usually say something to the effect of "Carlton says" or "Carlton takes a deep breath and looks at you."  I think I'm scarred from an early GM who wanted everything done in-character, including an attempt I made to seduce a young woman.  I've said it before, but there's something kind of unsettling about trying to seduce a fat bearded guy who's acting coy and batting his eyelashes at you.  :)

Pete
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dar

I prefer playing third person style. I do lapse into acting out imporant NPC's though, I tend to start and not realize it, just trying to get accross what is going on.

I think a nice short hand for threads with links like in the the OP would be like the NSFW label cept 3D6SL for 3d6 San Loss.