GBX Rant - In Response to News Post of Max Level

[GodBeastX]

New topic for my Rant, why no one EVER gives into demands.

Yesterday I had a vampire say "I'm in a good mood, so I'll spare you all if you hand over your jewelry." Person after person, as I expected, said "Hells naw!" Then Kaldaris shrugs, and passes over some copper jewelry, a silver necklace, and a gold ring. The Vampire scoops it up and spares them. He got bonus experience

Why did I give bonus experience? I have YET to see someone give into demands of something that doesn't like them. In all the time DM'ing, that was like, the first time I ever saw it XD I was shocked. I mean, yeah, a few people would be scared out of their wits, and you'd go "Leave" and they'd leave, but that's about it. I mean, I have seen it all!

I watched Lord Colibrus, for example, walk into the Viridale Border, kill a bunch of guards, then be like "Leave" to the PCs. Let's see, this guy just killed basically an army, then offers you a way out... do you:

A) GTFO IMO
B) Stand around asking why should you?
C) Wet yourself

Everyone chose B... ... ... Wow... I was on another NPC going "Please... just... do what he says for the love of god!"

Someone please explain that to me. What is this need to defy your enemy no matter what? I remember saying "Just bow to me and you will won't die." Nobody around, the character was T/N and a rogue, I figured it was something easy to do to save his skin. No, he'd rather die. So I killed him.

It's pretty retarded to me. Is life meaningless to people? I'm about ready to raise the price of ressing people from 1000 to 20,000 at temple, and clerics 10,000 per casting.

[Rhifox]

I give into demands! In fact, I give into them so much that the characters who give said demands usually yell at me for being too weak. My attempts at appeasement never work. *Cries*

And raising the cost of ressing people would be awesome. I would run away even more than I do now.

[GodBeastX]

I give into demands! In fact, I give into them so much that the characters who give said demands usually yell at me for being too weak. My attempts at appeasement never work. *Cries*

And raising the cost of ressing people would be awesome. I would run away even more than I do now.

You dealt more with echelon than me for demands though I mean for me personally.

[Machiavelli]

I seem to remember choosing option D (the unlisted one in the Colibrus situation, assuming this was the same massacre ). I think I tried a pathetic attempt at deceiving him into thinking that I'd make a good minion, but I don't remember too clearly... it's entirely possible I did one of the other stupid things listed above as I know for certain I got squashed .

I'll admit to being guilty of this sort of attitude on occasion, my characters have stood up to things when it was a really bad idea (though not always). Though I've given in quite a few times as well to be fair.

On a more constructive note! I think this is actually an extension of one of the original topics from the start of your rant rather than a genuinely new focus. I think it relates to the whole 'character concept' thing on page one (something about being 'always tough', or whatever).

[Infernal_Havok]

I give into demands! In fact, I give into them so much that the characters who give said demands usually yell at me for being too weak. My attempts at appeasement never work. *Cries*

And raising the cost of ressing people would be awesome. I would run away even more than I do now.

Good cause josephine's life is going to get a bit harder......

[ThePaganKing]

I was one of the people that the vampire asked for jewerly. I made a couple actions that go along with my halfling/rogue/chaotic neutral/everything is interesting and he hates boredom concept.

1. I said "jewerly?"
2. I hid behind Tamryn, thus thinking I at least had a couple seconds to run if she fell.
3. I didn't have any jewerly on me anyway
4. I was very curious why this vampire had turned up and wanted jewerly, so I was the "rubbernecker at a crash site."

It was fun, but unfortunately I couldn't stay to see the end because of family responsibilities.

[GodBeastX]

I was one of the people that the vampire asked for jewerly. I made a couple actions that go along with my halfling/rogue/chaotic neutral/everything is interesting and he hates boredom concept.

1. I said "jewerly?"
2. I hid behind Tamryn, thus thinking I at least had a couple seconds to run if she fell.
3. I didn't have any jewerly on me anyway
4. I was very curious why this vampire had turned up and wanted jewerly, so I was the "rubbernecker at a crash site."

It was fun, but unfortunately I couldn't stay to see the end because of family responsibilities.

I don't mind giving this as a spoiler. The vampire was a bratty noble in life. Loves ritzy things, so wanted some jewelry. Hence when she reappeared she was wearing the gold

[Scavar]

I usually chuckle, chuckle nervously, make a bad joke, ask about pants, pull out my journal and so something with it, try to spout tactics that don't work, hit things at random, offer to draw them, or run.

I would probably have run and/or offered to be the artist for the massacre, and give jewerly to teh vampire. Probably my Fencer's ring if I didn't have anything else on me.

[Xanderleo]

Since I was involved in the first encounter, I'll weigh in here.

First, unfortuntely, I ran to get a drink and I came back and scrolled back to the question.. hence why Sigrun didn't actually provide and answer when the question was asked.

However.

He'd have said no anyway.

Here's why from his point of view:

Standing before him is one vampire basically shaking his party down on the road in what he considers his forest (not literally, but you know what I mean).

Standing next to him he has a powerful mage, a powerful paladin, himself, another capable ranger, another ranger who is not so capable yet, a halfing something or other and a random elf.

Doesn't seem like long odds considering he doesn't know who she is other than a random vampire. He doesn't know how powerful she actually is or not ... how would he? (unless this was all explained while I was away pouring myself a drink)

To Sigrun's detriment, he solves alot of situations through force. This doesn't mean lack of fear, or that he won't back down, he has and does ... but often he takes it to the last word before doing so.

~ In the case we were given specifically last night I don't think its particularly reasonable to have a decent size ... very capable party just throw their hands in the air and drop all thier loot on the ground in front of single vampire when two people in the group are hardened battlers, one of which is a Paladin. Also, all three of the most powerful characters were already buffed up!

Sigrun has also fought enough undead at this point to know where their soft spots are (favored enemy undead... which has some in game history behind as well -- Sylloven).

That's my take.

Now as for Colibrus. Have you ever seen Sigrun turn and run so fast!? I haven't. I was laughing my ass off, he didn't even stop walking .. he just changed direction and sped up shouting "SHIT!" "RUN!"

Why the difference? He knows who Colibrus is, what he's capable of and that he just got finished fighting a wagonload of werewolves, which doesn't do much to help morale.

[rustediron]

Well, I am guilty of being one of those idiots actually
But I couldn't just pass up a chance of going head to head with Lord Gan'Deimos, lol.

I'm not sure about harsher monetary rez penalties, one side feels it might be a good thing, the other's not so sure.

I could definitely live with it quite easily though.

[Scavar]

How about a compromise, make it 2000! That's kind of like 20,000....

[Raksha]

Ahem.

Tamryn gave Jeshana's mom the dress to make her leave, didn't she?

One of the few times where she knew that the threat really -could- kill everyone, and she -wouldn't- be able to do anything about it.

Every other time, she's not been convinced that the threat was strong enough to kill everyone present before it can be dealt with (she knows Kaldaris prepare's Bigby's, and she doesn't know that OOC factions prevent him from using them), and it's more or less her lot to be the one who stands up to the big bad evil guy.

In fact, other DMs have ridden on me before for making Tam -too- willing to compromise or leave.

While it's a nice change for characters to give into demands, it's also OOC for some of us.

[GodBeastX]

I seem to remember choosing option D (the unlisted one in the Colibrus situation, assuming this was the same massacre ). I think I tried a pathetic attempt at deceiving him into thinking that I'd make a good minion, but I don't remember too clearly... it's entirely possible I did one of the other stupid things listed above as I know for certain I got squashed .

I'll admit to being guilty of this sort of attitude on occasion, my characters have stood up to things when it was a really bad idea (though not always). Though I've given in quite a few times as well to be fair.

On a more constructive note! I think this is actually an extension of one of the original topics from the start of your rant rather than a genuinely new focus. I think it relates to the whole 'character concept' thing on page one (something about being 'always tough', or whatever).

I can accept Malaclypse way of doing things, cuz he seemed to have the "Crap, I think I might have choose the wrong option" which is essentially not as bad XD

I just think people don't genuinely fear death because they know we're not trying to perm people, but I think if we made it so people started losing levels for death and it costed alot for people to revive, it might start pricking people when they die

[GodBeastX]

Ahem.

Tamryn gave Jeshana's mom the dress to make her leave, didn't she?

One of the few times where she knew that the threat really -could- kill everyone, and she -wouldn't- be able to do anything about it.

Every other time, she's not been convinced that the threat was strong enough to kill everyone present before it can be dealt with (she knows Kaldaris prepare's Bigby's, and she doesn't know that OOC factions prevent him from using them), and it's more or less her lot to be the one who stands up to the big bad evil guy.

In fact, other DMs have ridden on me before for making Tam -too- willing to compromise or leave.

While it's a nice change for characters to give into demands, it's also OOC for some of us.

She did, didn't she? That was pretty funny XD I forgot about that. Maybe I'm just remembering all the people who don't give in. Which is a crap load.

I can see you not giving in to something weaker than you though. That's not the times I'm talking about. Why would anyone give into Devasha's demands? Lol. But if something uber is staring you down, you have to wonder what people are thinking?

Maybe this is as Machavelli said People just want to stick to their OOC design. It gets boring with so many rigid characters. Impossible to tempt, impossible to sway. I mean, we all saw the wishmaster movie. How many of us, despite knowing the thing is evil, wouldn't try to get our wish and specify all these constraints, hopeful we'll get it? That's essentially what a devil contract is in the end. A wish that you try to make in your favor. I'm sorry, even I would be tempted in RL.

Today also made me think with the whole Talona deal. Wouldn't people pay lip service to Talona to keep plagues at bay? They do to the furies to stay destruction, they do to Beshaba to avoid bad luck. Everyone is like "Why would she stop plagues?!" because her power over plagues is what keeps people worshipping her. The best thing that could happen is she plagues people until they pray to her to end it. To me, Neutral people would likely jump at the chance to get an evil god to leave them alone. I guess, in the end, I see most the neutrals as good people who picked neutral so they could do evil things whenever they felt like, instead of someone who honestly doesn't care

[Xanderleo]

Sigrun gave in to Nathaniel (the dark monk - he backed down and was unsettled)

Sigrun gave in to the Witch King (he backed down and was scared)

Sigrun was ready to turn and run from Gen Deimos but he didn't want to ditch Hlaine who was staying. (in the end he backed down and was scared)

He gave into Sethryn (Intimidated and bluffed out)

He learned from not giving into the Reaper. He was fearful, but he didn't, and he got wrecked for it.