That’s true. I also often got:“My character is actively avoiding every other character as well as engaging with the multiple plot hooks dangling right in front of them, because they have a busy social life, a day job and are naturally suspicious of anything new. No, I want to play. It’s just what my character would do.”
That’s also a kind of almost metagaming, because they know, as a player, that they can only pull that crap, because another player or the DM will have to do all the extra work of bringing the party together and on track.
I’ve had players do that kind of counter-productive behavior. I usually tell them that we’re here to engage with the game’s premise. If the game’s premise was “we’re going to rob a bank”, your character needs to have reasons to engage with that. You can write a book about Jimmy the Marketer that works a 9 to 5 and has a rich social life, but that’s not what we’re here to explore.
If i’m running the game, I really make sure to hammer on this stuff during session 0. I also don’t typically approve “you all met in a tavern” setups. Your characters should have history together when we start. I don’t want to have to handwave “wait, why would i trust this guy I just met to take first watch?” again
That’s true. I also often got:“My character is actively avoiding every other character as well as engaging with the multiple plot hooks dangling right in front of them, because they have a busy social life, a day job and are naturally suspicious of anything new. No, I want to play. It’s just what my character would do.”
That’s also a kind of almost metagaming, because they know, as a player, that they can only pull that crap, because another player or the DM will have to do all the extra work of bringing the party together and on track.
I’ve had players do that kind of counter-productive behavior. I usually tell them that we’re here to engage with the game’s premise. If the game’s premise was “we’re going to rob a bank”, your character needs to have reasons to engage with that. You can write a book about Jimmy the Marketer that works a 9 to 5 and has a rich social life, but that’s not what we’re here to explore.
If i’m running the game, I really make sure to hammer on this stuff during session 0. I also don’t typically approve “you all met in a tavern” setups. Your characters should have history together when we start. I don’t want to have to handwave “wait, why would i trust this guy I just met to take first watch?” again
I gave subverted ‘you all met in a tavern’ in some fun ways, but I will jot run it straight.