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Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Dec 2002 : 22:16:10
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Has anyone had a session in which they were truly moved? Either by being truly "in character" or by skill of the DM's descriptive talents?
I have had a couple of truly great sessions which I will remember forever, I was wondering if this is unusual or not.
I get the impression that most players are "at arms length" kind of role-players.
Has anyone out there really felt the story? If so what did it?
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Artalis
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Ditalidas
Learned Scribe
Netherlands
127 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2002 : 23:05:30
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A character of mine once had to sacrifice Mumadar's character.
I felt everything my character should have felt. I was nervous and sweating. I cast a feign death and drove a trident through his chest. I was really afraid that I had killed him. It was not my intension to do that though.
He was accused by one of the party members that he had killed some of the lizardmen who had captured us. In fact he had not, but he took the blame. He had to be sacrificed.
I convinced the lizardmen priest to let me do it. And so I did. And then the stupid priest decided to toss Mumadar’s assumed death character in the water, where he was out of my reach and I couldn’t save him… my hearth stopped. I though: Gods! Now he’s gonna drown! And I went trough my spells like a mad woman. I was very relieved to find a watery fist I had memorized and cast it to lift him out of the water.
I believe we tricked the lizardmen into believing that it was the hand of their god that lifted him out of the water. The rest of the story is a bit vague, but I will never forget that particularly part.
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'All that is' is also 'All that is not' for the one cannot exist without the other.
Sweet Water and Light Laughter |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2002 : 23:23:12
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This is taken from another of my posts (http://www.candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=80) and was one of the most memorable for me as a DM. The effect it had on the characters was fantastic!
I remember once running a campaign and adventure up in Daggerdale where the adventurering party were attempting to get into Dagger Falls which was heavily occupied by the Zhentarim at the time, they had to be smuggled in on a caravan, most were in the back amongst crates and barrels, whereas one character sat up with the driver (a mute NPC). To cut it short I played a very persistant Zhentilar guard who fired questions on the character as to his business in Dagger Falls etc. The player was totally taken off guard and unprepared for this and struggled to stay calm and give answers.
After the ordeal the Zhentilar let the caravan pass, the player was mentally exhausted and at that point we had to take a break
I loved every second seeing them all actually sweat for the fear of being caught!
I could go into detail to paint a fuller picture but im sure you can get the idea already  |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Edited by - Lord Rad on 23 Dec 2002 23:24:43 |
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Feanor_Karnil
Learned Scribe
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 24 Dec 2002 : 04:34:13
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| Being only 15 I have not yet had a moving experience I have played very few DnD games but I plan on being an experienced DM one day, perhaps later on I will have awesome DnD experiences. |
We live in a bleak world my friend, where heroes are few and shadows stalk us around every corner.
-Mikai Daerni |
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Frey
Learned Scribe
130 Posts |
Posted - 24 Dec 2002 : 08:23:46
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I often feel what my character is feeling. I try to crawl inside his skin time and again, to sense what this PC is going through. Sometimes it's quite remarkeble this way (I come up with quite different reponses than from thinking alone). Note that I'm only playing by mail (PBeM) so I've the time do do this.
A surprise for me was when my character's master left my char to go into the dark city (while she was threatened). I'd expect my char to be sad on this master's decision to leave. When I felt it over I felt mainly his frustration and powerlessness (answering your question, this moved me) and ... the anger.
And I really did cry when I first read the full background story of my PC (though I wrote it all myself, so no surprises were to be expected). |
- Imagine ... there's no imagination. -
(remember Frey is just a PC) |
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Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 24 Dec 2002 : 13:21:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Frey
I often feel what my character is feeling. I try to crawl inside his skin time and again, to sense what this PC is going through. Sometimes it's quite remarkeble this way (I come up with quite different reponses than from thinking alone). Note that I'm only playing by mail (PBeM) so I've the time do do this.
A surprise for me was when my character's master left my char to go into the dark city (while she was threatened). I'd expect my char to be sad on this master's decision to leave. When I felt it over I felt mainly his frustration and powerlessness (answering your question, this moved me) and ... the anger.
And I really did cry when I first read the full background story of my PC (though I wrote it all myself, so no surprises were to be expected).
Since so many have favored me with a reply to this thread I will share one of my most "affecting sessions"
It was Artalis and the entire session took place at an Inn that he frequented. He had saved the in from roving bandits and from poverty and was considered an honored guest wheneve he stayed there.
Unfortunately the Innkeeper a lady named Bura and her daughter had both fallen in love with him, and it became a very dicey situation.
Artalis was very fond of both of them, and didn't want to hurt their feelings yet did not share their intense emotions.
Over the course of 3 hours of realtime I made impassioned speeches to the girl and her mother seperately, explaining my respect, admiration and genuine affection for them both.
I had to explain to the girl that she was in fact mistaking infatuation with love and explain to her why and what the differences were. Finally I was able to get thru to her.
Her mother was more difficult, this was no young girl in the throes of infatuation, Bura knew exactly what it was that she felt and was not so easily dissuaded.
Finally I had to settle for explaining that to me she felt more like a sister, and that I would always make sure that she and her children would be provided for and protected, and that she deserved better than some wandering warrior with no ambition or drive and a fiery temper.
I was sweating and my heart was pounding by the time all was said, and I never forgot that session. Even though it was 10 years ago or more.
Those ladies were real to me if they hadn't been it wouldn't have been a situation and I could have just walked out.
But they were and I couldn't |
Artalis
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Salius Kai
Learned Scribe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 24 Dec 2002 : 16:44:31
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| No, I pretty much just follow my alignment (which is usually chaotic neutral). Any time I think the games about to get "moving" I just leave. |
"Welcome to these walls of infinite knowledge."
Salius Kai |
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Frey
Learned Scribe
130 Posts |
Posted - 25 Dec 2002 : 14:33:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Salius_Kai
No, I pretty much just follow my alignment (which is usually chaotic neutral). Any time I think the games about to get "moving" I just leave.
Have it your way, ... but I sincerely think you do yourself short* this way.
*) Is this a correct English expression? I think so, but none of my dictionaries seems to agree .
Anyway. It might cost you something if you stayed in such a situation (I don't know, but one might), but I'm sure you'd absolutely gain from proceeding!
Especcially when it gets 'moving'.
It's a bit like leaving the table after the soup and missing the main course.
hmm, perhaps I'm exaggerating now  |
- Imagine ... there's no imagination. -
(remember Frey is just a PC) |
Edited by - Frey on 25 Dec 2002 14:34:14 |
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Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2002 : 03:54:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Frey
quote:
Originally posted by Salius_Kai
No, I pretty much just follow my alignment (which is usually chaotic neutral). Any time I think the games about to get "moving" I just leave.
Have it your way, ... but I sincerely think you do yourself short* this way.
*) Is this a correct English expression? I think so, but none of my dictionaries seems to agree .
Anyway. It might cost you something if you stayed in such a situation (I don't know, but one might), but I'm sure you'd absolutely gain from proceeding!
Especcially when it gets 'moving'.
It's a bit like leaving the table after the soup and missing the main course.
hmm, perhaps I'm exaggerating now
I do not think you are exaggerating, and once again I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly with you Frey. I believe the moments of drama, suspense and intrigue are the high points of the game. It doesn't really matter what I roll on a 20 sided die, or how many orcs one manages to kill. Any character with sufficient time in can kill hordes of creatures if desired. The thing that makes them unique and special is the choices they make and the way they interact with other pc's and npc's. I sense a kindred spirit here....
Oh, I believe the expression you are looking for is "selling yourself short" ie. cheating yourself out of an extremely good experience. |
Artalis
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Frey
Learned Scribe
130 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2002 : 19:54:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Artalis
I believe the moments of drama, suspense and intrigue are the high points of the game.
high points of life, I gather. |
- Imagine ... there's no imagination. -
(remember Frey is just a PC) |
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sabre
Acolyte
Turkey
47 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2002 : 08:30:35
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Ýt was my first game.We were playing a very dangerous campaign in a forest.My character was a arrogant elf ranger and ,god he hated orcs very much.Our party was trying to sneak out of a part of forest full of goblinoids.Then there it was an orc torturing an elf-maid.Ý was clearly gone insane in and out of the game and so Ý charged like a ferocious beast.Ý screamed and screamed,gave blow after blow,all
my body was covered with blood and i killed and killed.Then Ý realized that the orc wasn't killing elf-maid but healing her.So i killed a good orc,prevented him from rescuing the elf-maid,listened her dying screams to death and got my party almost captured.My character and Ý couldn't come to our senses for many days in and out of the game.
Then Ý was that elf ranger in and out of the game. |
sabre |
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zemd
Master of Realmslore
France
1103 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2003 : 15:30:09
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The latest session in which i was truly moved was the last one, 5 days ago. I was the dm and during the battle of the elven court (714DR) all my players nearly died at the same time from diferrent threats. (a balor, a mind controlling spell i created and a marilith) they had to think about how to survive by any means, they really had to look for the right spell, the right feat to use, ...
It's a pity i don't speak english better,... i just can't explain excatly the emotion around the table |
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Echon
Senior Scribe
Denmark
422 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2003 : 13:55:31
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I suppose the original idea with this thread was about truly wonderful experiences. However, bad ones can be moving, too. One of my current players, a girl, in an game she once participated in, experienced the DM having her character raped. Of course, she took it very personally and was very [CENCORED], [CENCORED] and definately [CENCORED] and it is with a doubt the most idiotic thing I have ever heard a DM do. Even better, there was absolutely no way for her to avoid it.
-Echon |
"If others had not been foolish, we should be so."
-William Blake |
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Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2003 : 16:06:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Echon
I suppose the original idea with this thread was about truly wonderful experiences. However, bad ones can be moving, too. One of my current players, a girl, in an game she once participated in, experienced the DM having her character raped. Of course, she took it very personally and was very [CENCORED], [CENCORED] and definately [CENCORED] and it is with a doubt the most idiotic thing I have ever heard a DM do. Even better, there was absolutely no way for her to avoid it.
-Echon
Sounds to me like the DM forgot about the purpose of the game. It is supposed to be a positive experience for all involved.
I would have no issue with the DM going over the plot point with the player for it's inclusion in the game. But it is a GAME after all, and the players are supposed to be having a good time. In some cases having something terrible happen to your character is good "meat" for roleplaying, but things like that should not happen without the players' involvement.
I consider any situation where the player is given no chance to avoid a terrible situation to be the actions of someone who DM's to fulfill some meglomaniacal need to impose his will on others. |
Artalis
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Kitira Gildragon
Learned Scribe
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2003 : 16:53:16
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| Feanor, age has no bearing on this. I am only three years older than you and i can say I've felt the story. I put my personality into my character and that way we are one. I feel what she does and she feels me too. I guess right now I'm feeling it in the Silver Marches campaign run by none other than our learned scribe Mumadar. My character got nailed by a javelin and I felt that. I feel worry for Gwen being with Grey alone, and I'm thankful that Lleuad was kind enough to heal my character- I think that sums it up for now |
-Space for rent- |
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Alexis Merlin
Learned Scribe
USA
115 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2003 : 18:02:01
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Hi all,
I don't know how much this counts but I have always got pretty 'involved' with my BG and BG2 games...often 'adding' my elements into the game by writing an additional travellogue on the side
Probably the most 'moving' experience I had was the 'Redemption of Brage' quest in Nashkel in BG1, in BG2 I find the romance plots to be rather involving (sad I know but I really need to find my Jaheria now... ...guess that's what happens when you can't find an AD&D group in your area...)
I have done a lot of other RPG's though and can more than sympathise with the tales of meglomanic DM's and bad situations 
P.S. This is one of the most interesting threads I have read  - keep those tales coming! |
It is knowledge that influences and equalizes the social condition of man; that gives to all, however different their political position, passions which are in common, and enjoyments which are universal.
(Benjamin Disraeli)
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2003 : 21:18:23
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I haven't even done as much as Alexis has done . . . well, I did do a mental fill-in-the-gaps when playing Menzoberranzan, but not to the extent told about here. I think I'm really missing something, from what I can tell.  Well, maybe I'll join one of Mumadar's PBeMs after the semester is over . . . . |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2003 : 09:36:30
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Uh-oh... allowing a Mithril (or as per Salvatore a Mithral) Dragon in my PbeM's... I'll have to think about that one...
I would almost wish DM-ing would be a paid job, it starts to get towards a full time job... time consumption wise. No complaints though... |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2003 : 09:43:09
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| *sigh* Okay, I'd settle for half-elf. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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zemd
Master of Realmslore
France
1103 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2003 : 14:35:03
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I think that recently one of my players had a moving experience (at the end of the cession he was telling me: "i'll expose this character on the wall of my room!")
It was just a simple adventure (save the world as usual ) and they killed a devil which introduced himself in Myth Drannor (you know my 714 DR campaign) they discovered him (it was hard and slow) and killed him. One of the players did a very good work, he's a Palladin of Tyr, so the church of Tyr decided to make in rise in rank. So he became Avenger, he was also permitted to enter the Knights of the Merciful Sword. That was a lot, but i decided to give him more if he made a good score on a d20... he made a 18 so he is now
Avenger Lacach, Knight of the Merciful Sword, member of the Hammers of Grimjaw... hey what a name!!! (by the way, Lacach is his name)
Maybe it seems a little bit 'too much' but i made his life a hard one (VERY hard) so, i decided to pay him back for his efforts. |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2003 : 16:49:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
*sigh* Okay, I'd settle for half-elf.
Care to be more specific Seems I'm already contemplating letting you in...
Actually I'm thinking of having a co-DM in the game... there's 20+ players now or so in the Silver Marches... and I still have open requests to join. |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2003 : 04:53:11
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quote:
Originally posted by zemd
..."i'll expose this character on the wall of my room!")...
Ahem . . . "expose" in that sense means something else in English (American English, anyway). I think you mean he wanted to frame the information for the character and hang it on his wall. That's how I would put it, anyway . . . .
quote:
Originally posted by Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Care to be more specific
Um . . . that's the thing. I don't really know how to create a character. Like Zemd said elsewhere, I need to pick up the Player's Handbook (at the very least).
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Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
Edited by - Alaundo on 13 Mar 2003 08:32:54 |
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zemd
Master of Realmslore
France
1103 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2003 : 18:13:33
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| What's the right word then? i'm always happy when i learn a new word... I'd like to live in USA, so i must learn |
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Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2003 : 19:41:50
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quote:
Originally posted by zemd
What's the right word then? i'm always happy when i learn a new word... I'd like to live in USA, so i must learn
You are probably looking for the word "frame" though it is slightly slang-ish it fits with what you were trying to say.
That the character (sheet) would be hung on the wall in a place of honour. (like in a picture frame). Similar in a fashion to what is done with diplomas and certificates of achievement. |
Artalis
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zemd
Master of Realmslore
France
1103 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2003 : 19:52:29
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Thank you Artalis, and sorry Bookwyrm i didn't see that you already answered the question.
To go back to the subject, Artalis did you finally manage to fight Lolth. It surely was/will be a moving experience |
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Artalis
Senior Scribe
USA
444 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2003 : 20:52:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
quote:
Originally posted by zemd
..."i'll expose this character on the wall of my room!")...
Ahem . . . "expose" in that sense means something else in English (American English, anyway). I think you mean he wanted to frame the information for the character and hang it on his wall. That's how I would put it, anyway . . . .
quote:
Originally posted by Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Care to be more specific
Um . . . that's the thing. I don't really know how to create a character. Like Zemd said elsewhere, I need to pick up the Player's Handbook (at the very least).
"Ooops sorry there Bookwyrm, didn't mean to step on your post..err toes." |
Artalis
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2003 : 23:41:22
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quote:
Originally posted by zemd
I'd like to live in USA...
Well, at least one of the French doesn't hate us! With the news lately it can get to feeling that way . . . . But France has some good things, like the food, Zemd, and the city of Carcasonne (love that place!) |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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zemd
Master of Realmslore
France
1103 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2003 : 13:28:54
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I live near Carcassonne. Yes really great town (there's Cassoulet, a french meal, DELICIOUS)
And don't be a fool, all French don't hate americans, and those who hate americans just because they live in USA are stupid, how can you judge people before knowing them? |
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Kitira Gildragon
Learned Scribe
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2003 : 14:20:24
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| *dances a small jig* Zemd, you have no idea how happy your last statement just made me! *hugs zemd* |
-Space for rent- |
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zemd
Master of Realmslore
France
1103 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2003 : 14:44:41
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What hug means?
Zemd looks above her shoulder to see if Alaundo is coming to make us stop to discuss about non FR related subject |
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Drummer Boy
Senior Scribe
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2003 : 01:42:43
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quote:
Originally posted by zemd
What hug means?
Zemd looks above her shoulder to see if Alaundo is coming to make us stop to discuss about non FR related subject
I'm glad to see what you said as well. It annoys me to see that so many people (French and American both) overgeneralize saying that people are evil or whatever without even knowing anything about them. It's like when drow and elves are racist toward humans. (see, I'm still on topic.)
By the way, a hug is when a person wraps his/her arms around another in an embrace. It's usually done when the people are emotional, like happy or sad, etc, or when two people meet after not having seen each other for a long time. |
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A moving experience?
