Bitr_Haag
March 1st, 2006, 23:08
I'm curious if any DM's out there would find value in having a player log into their campaign and play the monster's role in an encounter? If the player is on "standby" (via AIM?) and is told when to log in with a character portrait of the monster (use goblin as an example below).
GOBLIN logs in and his token is placed on the map. Knowing the stats before-hand, the player plays the goblin to the best of his abilities and tries to behave like a goblin would (ie fight with dirty tactics until deciding to flee).
Meanwhile, the Monster PC can also provide some "flair" for the PC's (ie "The goblin curses as his swing clangs uselessly against the warrior's shield").
I imagine it might serve a couple of purposes:
1. free the DM up to manage the rest of the battle (ie provide color commentary, manage other monsters, etc...).
2. freak the other PC's out as they realize there's an actual "non-DM person" trying their best to kill the PC's (or at least that's what the DM tells them).
3. Allow a non-regular player the flexibility of participating in a game on occassion.
My personal challenge, as a DM of 4 PC's, is that I never play the monsters as best I could. I always forget a special ability or tactic b/c I'm running the battle, controlling the monsters, managing initiatives, etc... If there was a "helper" rolling dice, choosing when to grapple, etc... It would free me up to do more.
My group of players was not very supportive of the idea but I'm still curious if it would work. If there is a DM out there who wants to try it, respond to this and lets see if we can coordinate our schedules for one night.
Oh yeah... it may not be obvious, but as a DM, I appreciate not wanting your players to die all the time so if there were restrictions, like not actually killing a PC, no sundering their weapons, or flee once you loose 1/2 life, etc... I'd be perfectly OK with that. I'm just trying to suggest an added element of fun for everyone!
Bitr
GOBLIN logs in and his token is placed on the map. Knowing the stats before-hand, the player plays the goblin to the best of his abilities and tries to behave like a goblin would (ie fight with dirty tactics until deciding to flee).
Meanwhile, the Monster PC can also provide some "flair" for the PC's (ie "The goblin curses as his swing clangs uselessly against the warrior's shield").
I imagine it might serve a couple of purposes:
1. free the DM up to manage the rest of the battle (ie provide color commentary, manage other monsters, etc...).
2. freak the other PC's out as they realize there's an actual "non-DM person" trying their best to kill the PC's (or at least that's what the DM tells them).
3. Allow a non-regular player the flexibility of participating in a game on occassion.
My personal challenge, as a DM of 4 PC's, is that I never play the monsters as best I could. I always forget a special ability or tactic b/c I'm running the battle, controlling the monsters, managing initiatives, etc... If there was a "helper" rolling dice, choosing when to grapple, etc... It would free me up to do more.
My group of players was not very supportive of the idea but I'm still curious if it would work. If there is a DM out there who wants to try it, respond to this and lets see if we can coordinate our schedules for one night.
Oh yeah... it may not be obvious, but as a DM, I appreciate not wanting your players to die all the time so if there were restrictions, like not actually killing a PC, no sundering their weapons, or flee once you loose 1/2 life, etc... I'd be perfectly OK with that. I'm just trying to suggest an added element of fun for everyone!
Bitr