Is this fair for the narrator to do?

[Tobian]

LOL yeah that's something my players do.. We are all in the Burn me once... i shall run and hide in a cave and never come out, and go in a huff, then bitch about it to people behind that damned GM's back, then plan to build an all Borg arm with a built in phaser, and then bitch about it when the GM says no, then go in the huff......... Ad infinitum!

I have had the scenario where the players have tried to do EVERYTHING from the bridge, and have pointedly refused to go down planetside and interact with anyone, and try and do it all using ships sensors and transporters. Sometimes being heavy handed with a point can cause players to react accordingly.. If someone punches you in the face, what would you do?

[LUGTrekGM]

I've been a participant in this thread for some days now.

I just realized something:

...I have outlined one of my players being captured by an unknown alien race and put through a series of tests to see what humans are capable of in endurance and fighting styles. One of the tests is combat in a Roman-style arena settling against a few opponents with swords or some other hand held item...

What is the purpose of these tests? To teach them the combat system?

I am trying to discover the theme here if any, that you are implying, by running the above scenario.

Is it something like "We are aliens, and we are as curious about you, as you are about us?"

Just wondering.

[Jerod]

I've been a participant in this thread for some days now.

I just realized something:



What is the purpose of these tests? To teach them the combat system?

I am trying to discover the theme here if any, that you are implying, by running the above scenario.

Is it something like "We are aliens, and we are as curious about you, as you are about us?"

Just wondering.

This scenario was supposed to be a test were the aliens are studying human combat techniques. To kind of see what they are up against should they go after the crew or humanity, etc...

But in all honesty, I have decided not to go that route. After reading everyone's posts and after some serious thinking, I am going to come up with some other situations that don't require me to deliberately handicap a character (unless the player does it to himself/herself).

I am waiting on my group to get together and create their characters before I start writing up an "episode."

[Tobian]

Glad you're going down this route! It can often be quite constructive to allow players to dictate the direction of the game, to a limited amount... See what they produce, then stage the adventures round them. They may design a bunch of characters which are entirelly inapropriate for your adventure! Character driven adventures can be very rewarding for both the GM and the players: and can provide that essential B plot for an adventure (Trek shows always have an A plot and B plot!

[BouncyCaitian]

I also tend to say when I run a certain genre how things will generally work. Like with Star Wars RPG, I err in favour of the players because the setting is heroic and players should do heroic things and reap the rewards.

Babylon5 I tend to run straight as the book suggests and my players have learned to get sneaky and cagey like the heros in the game.

L5R I tend to run brutal and quick when the blades come out, and the system backs me up in quick character deaths. But I always reward character deaths in style and fitting the setting. makes for better drama

Cyberpunk....well. I have no scruples and no mercy if the players are being stupid. They deserve what they get

Again, it depends on the setting. I don't work to 'get' my players. The tend to get themselves in enough trouble as it is so I needn't go after anyone.