Sense Motive

[Thief Of Navarre]

Sense Motive used to be one of my most often used skills in social/conversational RP, even if it was just to get a hunch if someone was 'telling me everything' or not. It's easy to just assume your character always perceives everything the same way you do as a player, paranoid as we are, but it's not necessarily more fun. Sometimes, rolling the dice and playing your character as ignorant of the situation can provide better RP. And once people find out you are willing to RP such weakness, they will also be more cooperative if you make an arranged roll and you do succeed.

Still, whether it should be used or not whilst keeping it fun is really up to the players involved. Just rolling and telling the other player he is obliged to answer = not cool.

Totally agree, if everyone showed some IC weakness (regardless of whether you took a level in badass it might open up RP for even the lower level players in the same environment!

[TheBrogueadier]

Totally agree, if everyone showed some IC weakness (regardless of whether you took a level in badass it might open up RP for even the lower level players in the same environment!

Woah there! How can I win Sundren if I show weakness... What kind of cockamamy outfit do you think this is?

[DM_Equinox]

Don't make me smite you, Brog

[TheBrogueadier]

Don't make me smite you, Brog

You ain't got the guts, toots... As the saying goes:

What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?! Courage.
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?
Whatta they got that you ain't got?

Courage.





Ahem.. *braces for impact*



On a more serious, and on topic, note...

Now, I'm all for character flaws; they give plot hooks, interest, room for development and, well, character. Thankfully blemish-free paragons of whatever are rare on Sundren, possibly because of the skilled player base, or possibly because their teflon-esq coating of dullness repels the stains of interest and development.

But! There is a massive difference between a build, and the character.

The engine that provides the means for us to play also encourages strong, combat orientated, building practices - After all, the combat portion of the engine is an almost every day occourance and is strictly enforced. The social skills however have no enforcement at all outside of npc conversations.

It is impossible, thanks to the engine, to ignore the mechanics of a goblin trying to stick a sharp metal object into your character, but it is very very possible (and frequently is, if Exigo conversations are taken as a standard) to completely ignore the social skills - How many times have we seen fighters, wizards and what not, discussing in detail, the minutae of a religion, demonstrating a beyond encyclopedic knowledge of the religion, it's practises, aims and ideals. Normally when the character has 0-1 skill points in Knowledge: Religion.

Creating a 'Power Build' is purely a reaction to the nature of the game; combat skills are essential, social skill points (aside from the ones used in combat) are an ignorable luxery.

All that aside, everyone has different focuses - Some optomise everything into one hulking killing machine, others are happy enough to sit around the fire and chat... Neither one is the right way; just do what you enjoy and don't assume everyone see's the world as you do.

It's why there are so many clerics on the server.

[DM_Equinox]

You ain't got the guts, toots...

You. My office. NOW.

[GodBeastX]

So what you're saying is I should kill clerics... interesting...

Like I said, "Personality". I Don't care if people are power builds, as long as they've got character

[Doubtful]

Clergy should behave appropriately.

Paladins and Blackguards have tenants to uphold, the clerics and priests of each faith have their tenants as well. If you take these classes but fail to uphold the dogma of your deity, don't be surprised if your prayers and spells suddenly go unanswered.

Edit: It's an old thread, but well worth absorbing:
http://www.sundren.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5494


Got to agree with snoop. Personality over build wins out with me.

[Phantom Lamb]

[richardleitch5]

Edit: It's an old thread, but well worth absorbing:
http://www.sundren.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5494

i like this thread