Forums of the Megaverse®

One thing I've noticed while browsing these forums is the tendency of otherwise reasonable players to become psychopathic killers once they get in the game.

Any ideas why this is?

Blowing off steam from a bad day at work/school, still mad at at braking up with girlfriend/boyfriend, acting out there inner madman, who knows.

Must be that post apocalypse vibe.

Bestarium wrote:When you encounter players like this DO NOT equip important NPC's with good equipment unless you want the players to kill them.

Of course, when they are flaunting that one of a kind rune weapon they murdered for, the family and friends of the late victim can find them so much easier.

danboals wrote:Must be that post apocalypse vibe.

Maybe that's it. I've seen players do somewhat psycho things in other games, but the worst I've ever heard about comes from Rifts. Maybe it's the setting, where life is so cheap and all that matters is who has the nicest toy.

After all, in a world where the Coalition is mankings last best hope, maybe it makes sense that the heroes are even worse.

Now, here's a question: Has anyone ever had a game where the players went psycho and managed to save the game? Not just killing the characters off and starting over, or radically altering the game by turning it into an "evil" game, but actually managed to get it more or less back on track? If so, how?

Bestarium wrote: When you encounter players like this DO NOT equip important NPC's with good equipment unless you want the players to kill them.

Just give the NPCs some powerful seeming, but very cursed items.

Crazy players, as opposed to people who play Crazies, pop up anyways.

Best thing to do, is get them to RP more. And certainly (as one of yous mentioned, with the vengeful family) have them face consequences. Moreso if the victim was innocent.

Ween them of their violent ways, and they'll realize there are better things to do besides kill'em all.

talmor wrote:Now, here's a question: Has anyone ever had a game where the players went psycho and managed to save the game? Not just killing the characters off and starting over, or radically altering the game by turning it into an "evil" game, but actually managed to get it more or less back on track? If so, how?

Yes. Change the way xp are awarded. Decrease xp for monsters killed to almost nil. Make the main xp come from solving problems, interacting and role playing as well as for achieving goals that fit the campaign.

Tyciol wrote:Rifts: Because you can't rape a caravan of virgins in real life.

I didn't think this was particularly funny.
Alot of people maintain the same mores {or lack there-of} they have in real life... and often I question people who do certain things in-game.
For the most part, I think they play to much "first-person-shooter" type video games to really enjoy an actual RPG... that's just what I've seen in groups I've been in. usually when they find their actions aren't condoned, they get better... or bored and leave.

To break them of this kill-crazy habit, run them in a few games where their behaviors lead to their own destruction. Call of Cthulhu works wonders.

Vrykolas2k wrote:

Tyciol wrote:Rifts: Because you can't rape a caravan of virgins in real life.

I didn't think this was particularly funny.
Alot of people maintain the same mores {or lack there-of} they have in real life... and often I question people who do certain things in-game.
For the most part, I think they play to much "first-person-shooter" type video games to really enjoy an actual RPG... that's just what I've seen in groups I've been in. usually when they find their actions aren't condoned, they get better... or bored and leave.

I like fisrt person shooters... why did you have to bash video games... you must be some kind of heartless monster

I'm not currently playing any palladium games right now (wish I was) but I'm playing in a D&D campaign (as a cleric) where I saved the "bad guys" life after combat only to have the Dm kill him later....snipers, seems to be the solution to all life problems

Agent_gir wrote:

Vrykolas2k wrote:

Tyciol wrote:Rifts: Because you can't rape a caravan of virgins in real life.

I didn't think this was particularly funny.
Alot of people maintain the same mores {or lack there-of} they have in real life... and often I question people who do certain things in-game.
For the most part, I think they play to much "first-person-shooter" type video games to really enjoy an actual RPG... that's just what I've seen in groups I've been in. usually when they find their actions aren't condoned, they get better... or bored and leave.

I like fisrt person shooters... why did you have to bash video games... you must be some kind of heartless monster

I'm not currently playing any palladium games right now (wish I was) but I'm playing in a D&D campaign (as a cleric) where I saved the "bad guys" life after combat only to have the Dm kill him later....snipers, seems to be the solution to all life problems

You made me cry.
LOL. Seriously, I play those things on my X-Box as well, it just seems that some people can't seperate RPGs from that. it's the same type of mentality as the idiots who say that because someone is disturbed, blame games for it; the people were disturbed BEFORE they played whatever game is being blamed for their deviant behaviour.

won't roleplay, ok I kill you!! Seriously give them stuff that they can't kill their way out of. Making them think even if you have to make it a little boring, I mean unless they are total psycos and will just kill thing at random in which case break out the adult dragons and whip their buttS! Kill them off and stary again making it clear you don't want Hack and slash, and don't be afraid to kill them again if they start again. I only ever had to kill a group twice to get the point across. Oh an there always the girl gamer trick, find a girl to join you game and make sure the guys know that she will want to roleplay not kill things. Warning this can back fire because she might want to play to kill things. It like Girls that like playing counter strike [headshot]

Groth One-Eye wrote:It's like that line from the old TV show The Critic.
Jay Sherman: How do you sleep at night?
Rainer Wolfcastle: On a huge pile of money, with many beautiful women.

Heh, your confusing characters. Ranier Wolfcastle is from the Simpsons, not the Critic. I don't remember exactly who said that line in the Critic, but it probably would have been either Jeremy Hawke (the Australian actor frind of Jay's), or his boss Duke.

PigLick

Groth One-Eye wrote:Actually Wolfcastle appeared on both shows. Perhaps you remember the time Jay told him his shoes were untied? On closer inspection these are loafers. Hilarious.

Yah, you know after I wrote that, I started to think about it and I did seem to remember him being on both shows. I was too busy to edit myself though, hehe. Oh well.

PigLick

GlitterMan wrote:It was a crossover episode. Jay appeared on the Simpsons and interviewed Ranier since he is the Simpsons version of Schwarzahweveryouspellit.

Yah, that's what I thought. I didn't remember Wolfcastle ever actually being on the Critic, but I did remember that interaction between them, and knew that Jay Sherman had been in a Simpsons episode.

PigLick

BrokenChild wrote:Also, what am I doing wrong here?

You're too soft on them.

Is this my fault for them acting this way?

Yes.

what tricks do you use?

Cattle Prod.

Reminds me of a strip from Kotd. The boys were hell bent on killing another lowly creature when Sarah (?? whatever her name is) convinced them to let her character talk to it. The creature was so surprised and appreciative, after telling it's life story, it led them along the easy route directly to it's master's hoarde and helped them cart it off.

Seems evil overlords aren't always loved by their minions either.