Requesting stuff from me (Events/items/feats, etc): One simple rule!

[Machiavelli]

First off I should say that I speak only for myself, not the other DMs, but I suspect they're probably on the same page. Also, this relates to IC stuff, not to things like "I'm stuck in an area" or "my faction rep seems to have reset".

It's good for people to have goals for their PCs, and I like to help people realise them, or I wouldn't DM to start with. That said, here's how you can help me to help you.

Don't tell me your goal, tell me what you plan to do!

That might sound fairly minor, but the difference is in fact huge! I'm of the opinion that rules should make sense, so I shall explain myself.

Example 1

Telling me your goal: My PC wants to become a corrupt copper, can you run an event for me?

Translation of that request: Can you please, off the cuff, devise, set up, and run an event/RP for me? This is a big ask. I don't neccesarily know your PC that well, or have any ready made ideas up my sleeve for an appropriate RP. The chances that you'll get anything out of me with a request like that are virtually zero, not because I don't like you or don't want to help, but because it's asking a lot.

Now, let's alter the request slightly!

Telling me your plan: As part of his bid to become a bent copper, my PC would like to try and shake down the following shopkeep/tavern owner/whatever.

Translation of this request: Will you help me with a specific action I want to take? This is not a big ask (unless it's something like assassinating Abbot Proscus, or finding a dragon to play dice with). Something like this can be done off the cuff very easily. I can't speak for others, but once I get started on RPs then more ideas generally come to me and things often develop further.

Example 2

Telling me your goal: I want to obtain the following item, will you help me?

Translation: Please devise/run event/RP for me from scratch. Big ask.

Telling me your plan: (1) I'd like to try and steal it from person X with the following plan. (2) I'd like to speak to some merchants in the Exigo about finding such a thing. etc..

Translation: I'd like to take a specific action to try and achieve my goal. Not a big ask.

The same's true for getting feats and so forth (How are you going to try and get it?).

................

The difference between asking for something flat out, and presenting an intended course of action is enormous from a DM's perspective. One shifts all the work on to us, the other means that we can respond to what you're after.

This isn't in any way an attempt to put people off making requests, it's simply an attempt to explain what sorts of requests I'm likely to respond to, and the reasons why. If this is unclear, or seems unreasonable, please feel free to ask questions or raise concerns.

[Peridan]

Mach, Peridan wants to rule the world.

[Thief Of Navarre]

Mach, Peridan wants to rule the world.

Thats exactly the type of thing he is talking about -.- you could have at least forged a plan first.. just lazy!

[Kaeldorn]

Understood and agreed. In some cases though, like with those class prerequisite feats, it's in many cases logical that a player asks to (help) think of something to do. Only in case of the Assassin there is a really clear picture of what one has to do to earn the feat, for the others it's pretty vague. In those cases I believe it's better to write a request post in the forums meant for it, and discuss possible plans with DM's ahead of time.

[TheBrogueadier]

Oh! Oh!

I want to take over.. Umm... Somewhere, in the name of Auril..
And I want to do it with biscuits, biscuits with a frosting snowflake on. Evil frosting.

Or.. Annoy Sunnite's by ruining their precious flower displays with the awsome power of overnight frost.

On a serious note, sounds a very sensible approach to take regarding requests.. Beat's the "Entertain me!" approach.

[Phantom Lamb]

Seconded! I often find myself repeating to players, "what are your actions?" We won't make things appear out of the blue to meet your goals Tell us what you are going to DO to accomplish your goals, and we'll assist!

Don't forget the character request forum for these, too!

[Product of Void]

hmm so something like.

"I would like to summon a criter bond it to my will and have their minions attacking towns using their boss's name in hopes it would force folk to go to hell and slay the criter" are okay?

OR, I would like to aquire an evil artifact in hopes to bury it in a new grave so the whole thing raises from the dead creating panic, fear, and death.

[Machiavelli]

In some cases though, like with those class prerequisite feats, it's in many cases logical that a player asks to (help) think of something to do.... In those cases I believe it's better to write a request post in the forums meant for it, and discuss possible plans with DM's ahead of time.

This is also true. If you're unsure as to how to proceed with this sort of thing, the first step is to delve in the wiki, and if you're still without inspiration then feel free to ask for some advice.

[Azulfae]

This has been very educational. Thank you for putting such things in a clear perspective.

[Machiavelli]

No problems Azul. I just wanted to clarify my position on this. One thing which happens is that people will make requests of us, most likely not realising what they're actually asking us to do (thus the 'translations' above), and when nothing comes of it they get discouraged and assume that DMs aren't interested in assisting. This can lead to people being reluctant to pursue things which need DM assistance, or feeling ignored, and nobody wants that.

[Machiavelli]

hmm so something like.

"I would like to summon a criter bond it to my will and have their minions attacking towns using their boss's name in hopes it would force folk to go to hell and slay the criter" are okay?

OR, I would like to aquire an evil artifact in hopes to bury it in a new grave so the whole thing raises from the dead creating panic, fear, and death.

Missed this post before. My rule of thumb is 'simple and specific'.

Um, I didn't actually understand the first example you wrote there (maybe I'm just dense ). As for the second one; that's dicey. If I was to respond to that I'd have to figure out

(1) What the evil artifact is, what its back story is and where it's located. Not to mention making an appropriate prop (probably the easiest bit).
(2) How you might obtain it, how to initiate an event/RP (and it would be me initiating it, not you, because I just had to write the lore and background), and where that might lead.
(3) What NPCs might be required, quite likely neccesitating the creation of new ones.

That would be an example of asking to have a plot devised for you. All those things would have to be worked out before I could even begin. If your PC happened to know of an existing artefact of that type, then you could present a plan for acquiring it. Alternatively, if you wanted to try and track down something of that nature, then you could present some sort of plan for making contact with, for example, the Dark Advent. If you do domething like that, then there's an opportunity to get things going, at which point I can think on my feet as/if things progress.

Hope that's clear!

[Product of Void]

Yup basically keep with the kiss system on request and ponder the steps to aquire what you want and request the ladder.

As a player think of the goal "hmm I want to unleash an evil artifact that animates dead in the temple.."

Then ponder how to do it, "well first I would need to learn of the item IC, Perhaps I would research it, buy it a book off a shady merchant, or pray to a diety if my charactor is a cleric of faithful."

"next I would need to aquire the item and put it into the temple, that requires more then I can rp perhaps a dm will assist?"

Now you write up the history for the item and pm a dm seek to quest for it and attempt to put the item into the graves of the temple to raise dead and be evil.

The word "ATTEMPT" would probably be an important one to remeber in a dm event.

Seeing as a player the goal might be aquire it and put it in the tomb another PC might aquire it, or the Charactor might get caught trying to put it into the tomb. (or even more amusing DIE from the undead that raise from said item).

that more like it?

as for the request they were just ideas to test if I had it right or not.

[Machiavelli]

Now you write up the history for the item and pm a dm seek to quest for it and attempt to put the item into the graves of the temple to raise dead and be evil.

Right there you're asking for the introduction of new lore into the world (new lore might be created if a quest like this went ahead, but that'd be in the DMs hands as it progressed). What I was trying to get at is: From your overall plan, think of the first step, using lore/factions/NPCs that already exist within the world, ask me for help with that, and then see how things pan out! But generally, you've got the right idea there. Oh, and use the request forum rather than PMs unless a particular DM has said they'll work with you.

[Product of Void]

ah I think I am getting a better understanding, Could we perhaps get a few example of okay or events that have happened?

[Machiavelli]

Sure, I'll provide a hypothetical to illustrate (I gave a couple in the OP as well. I thought it was pretty clear, but I was probably wrong ).

Let's say your PC wants to join the EP. If they're a streetwise rogue and want to find the local underworld (whether or not they know exactly what it is), ask yourself how they might do it. Perhaps they could ask around in some of the seedier taverns about 'work' in the hope that it'll lead you to them. Maybe you could hang around the docks at night and look for people engaged in suspicious activities. Perhaps you could even engage in some freelance criminal work in the hope that it'll draw their attention (possibly a dangerous gambit, but it could work). You could start on all these things with simple requests like...

(1) I want to ask about jobs in seedy tavern X.

(2) I want to look for people doing dodgy stuff in area Y, and try to follow them/find out who they are.

(3) I want to see what I can learn by hanging around in place Z and watching people use cant.