What is your "Magic Deer"? No, I am not talking about which authority figure shackles and oppresses you. What element of an established setting really bothers you? Be it for reasons of shattering disbeleif, making statements you don't agree with, or any other thing that makes the setting annoying for you?

Edit: Emphasized SETTING details. SETTING. Not system.

Exalted, basically the whole setting just bothers there hell out of me. I just don't see how playing what mounts to gods would be any fun.

I really hate real world current day settings. I especially don't like GMing those. One time I was running this 'secret occult invasion' plot set in the modern world, and one player -- instead of engaging the various mystery elements kept going to the police.

Quote from: McrowExalted, basically the whole setting just bothers there hell out of me. I just don't see how playing what mounts to gods would be any fun.

Yeah.  I'm with you.

Because of some bad experiences in my youth, I despise and cannot tolerate anything associated with D&D.  In fact, for a long time, I had a huge hate-on for TSR in general.  It reached a crescendo when TSR sued GDW into non-existance.

But, even after TSR was sold to WotC and subsequently WotC sold to Hasbro, I'm still unable to consider anything associated with D&D worth of my time and I work hard not to mock and ridicule those who appreciate anything Hasbro has done to (IMHO) nearly destroy the hobby industry that I love.

I really strive to keep these things as hidden as possible from casual observers and try very hard to be tolerant of Hasbro/D&D/D20 and their (misguided) devotees.  (I'm trying to be honest, please don't burn me at the stake...)

Quote from: Abyssal MawI really hate real world current day settings. I especially don't like GMing those. One time I was running this 'secret occult invasion' plot set in the modern world, and one player -- instead of engaging the various mystery elements kept going to the police.

:jaw-dropping:

:stick:

But then, if this was a tv show, no doubt the police would soon come to think of him as a wack-job and he would soon have the police as a second obstacle.

Quote from: Abyssal MawI really hate real world current day settings. I especially don't like GMing those. One time I was running this 'secret occult invasion' plot set in the modern world, and one player -- instead of engaging the various mystery elements kept going to the police.

Well, there does have to be a credible in game reason not to do so or suspension of disbelief flies right out the window.

I would expect characters to go to the police and think about what would happen, it's just a really obvious thing for them to do.

In that setting, the obvious solution is for the police to conclude he's a nutjob and not spend any time on him.  At best I suspect he'd end up in custody for wasting police time or taken into protective custody for psychiatric evaluation.

Quote from: VellorianBecause of some bad experiences in my youth, I despise and cannot tolerate anything associated with D&D.  In fact, for a long time, I had a huge hate-on for TSR in general.  It reached a crescendo when TSR sued GDW into non-existance.

Interesting. but really not in the spirit of the thread. Sort of looking for traumatic setting elements, not traumatic gaming experiences (well, unless your traumatic experience was Elminster or something. )



Anyway, my "magic deer" is the Virus in Traveller: The New Era. A virus that pysically transforms at a distance at once compiles modern day naivete about computer viruses with placing ill disguised handwavey magic in a hard-ish SF game.

Quote from: Caesar SlaadBut then, if this was a tv show, no doubt the police would soon come to think of him as a wack-job and he would soon have the police as a second obstacle.

You think in real life the outcome would be any different?

I don't think one should ever blame players for doing what logically is the most obvious thing to do.

QuoteBut then, if this was a tv show, no doubt the police would soon come to think of him as a wack-job and he would soon have the police as a second obstacle.

This is kinda what I ended up doing. But I had to fold the game pretty quick. I couldn't force the issue other than have the police treat his PC like he was crazy (which didn't jibe with his background and annoyed him).

It was like this:

"Ok. Your'e pretty sure the cultists have summoned a deep one at the old abandoned boathouse.."

"I get on the phone and call the police!"

"Uhm.. they didn't beleive you when you told them about the ghosts, so what are you going to tell them?"

"I .. tell them there's a fire at that location. Then I hang up and we all wait outside for the police to arrive"

The only solution is to totally railroad them. And I can't do that.. so I just ended the game after one session. The real world sucks as a setting.

Non-spontaneous spellcasting in D&D.

No, I can't explain this.  It just annoys the hell out of me.

Quote from: BalbinusYou think in real life the outcome would be any different?

Well, it might be a bit more tense/adventurous/satisfying (e.g., while sitting at the detectives desk, he overhears something about calling in a psychaitristic, giving him a chance to slip out.)

QuoteI don't think one should ever blame players for doing what logically is the most obvious thing to do.

Well, since you bring up the chance that the police might consider him crazy IRL, that's something they should consider too.

Quote from: Abyssal MawThis is kinda what I ended up doing. But I had to fold the game pretty quick. I couldn't force the issue other than have the police treat his PC like he was crazy (which didn't jibe with his background and annoyed him).

It was like this:

"Ok. Your'e pretty sure the cultists have summoned a deep one at the old abandoned boathouse.."

"I get on the phone and call the police!"

"Uhm.. they didn't beleive you when you told them about the ghosts, so what are you going to tell them?"

"I .. tell them there's a fire at that location. Then I hang up and we all wait outside for the police to arrive"

The only solution is to totally railroad them. And I can't do that.. so I just ended the game after one session. The real world sucks as a setting.

There are ways to deal with that, but if he is getting antsy about his character being treated as a loon they won't work.

On that example, the police turn up and several are killed by deep ones.  Now the PCs have those deaths on their consciences.  Alternately, the deep ones hear the approaching sirens and flee by gate, leaving no obvious sign of exit.  Result, the police conclude their time was wasted again and don't respond next time.

But the player getting annoyed they treated his character as crazy?  What did he expect?  It sounds to me more a player issue than a setting issue.

Quote from: BalbinusOn that example, the police turn up and several are killed by deep ones.  Now the PCs have those deaths on their consciences.  Alternately, the deep ones hear the approaching sirens and flee by gate, leaving no obvious sign of exit.  Result, the police conclude their time was wasted again and don't respond next time.

That'd be my "tv show logic" response.

Quote from: BalbinusBut the player getting annoyed they treated his character as crazy?  What did he expect?  It sounds to me more a player issue than a setting issue.

It WAS a player issue. He had this character background that his PC was a "special police informant" and that specifically "the police always believe him" because he's so attuned to strange events. And this didn't just cause problems for me, it caused problems for the other 3 guys playing who wanted to go in and investigate.

But I just let it drop after one adventure so I guess it's fine now.

Quote from: Abyssal MawIt WAS a player issue. He had this character background that his PC was a "special police informant" and that specifically "the police always believe him" because he's so attuned to strange events. And this didn't just cause problems for me, it caused problems for the other 3 guys playing who wanted to go in and investigate.

Yeah, that's a problem.

I'll remember to come back to this thread next time to topic of player choice being the ultimate chargen design goal comes up.