| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ok, so my playgroup is currently involved in a campaign in which combat is INCREDIBLY scarce. Having built a combat heavy Monk, I feel very useless when not in combat, and I want to fix this but have no idea about how to go about fixing it. Does anyone have an idea of what I can do in order to project some usefulness to my character?
rank up diplomacy and knowledge local!
I get a plus 18 to diplomacy, so I pass most diplomacy checks. The real problem is that there is a player in my group who is able to accomplish most tasks easily by himself, and as such it makes it harder for me to accomplish much myself. If combat was a little more prevalent, I wouldn't be feeling so down about it, but we have gone through around 8 sessions with only one combat that only lasted around 2 or 3 rounds
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Start punching the NPC who is talking, instant combat. Now you are very useful!
Seconding Sense Motive, as well as Perception and Heal. My Monk is set up as Snake Style using for combat, which also makes him a human lie detector, and enchantments and such never escape my attention. It's pretty fun when nobody can even hope to lie to you.
I get a plus 18 to diplomacy, so I pass most diplomacy checks. The real problem is that there is a player in my group who is able to accomplish most tasks easily by himself, and as such it makes it harder for me to accomplish much myself. If combat was a little more prevalent, I wouldn't be feeling so down about it, but we have gone through around 8 sessions with only one combat that only lasted around 2 or 3 rounds
By the sounds of it, you have a Skill Monkey (probably a Bard) who's either too invested in his job (and he's probably feeling the way you would while in combat), or he's using Diplomacy and Intimidate and such to keep the party from combat.
I mean, in my group I'm a Mobile Fighter (and now currently the Party Leader), and all I'm currently good at is Bluffing and Sense Motive; my other skills are Acrobatics, Profession (Soldier) [given from a Trait, can't change it], and a split between Climb and Swim. I hardly cover all the other important stuff, which includes Knowledges, Perception, Diplomacy (if I get more skill points, I'll put points into this), etc. And the rest of the party covers that.
Honestly? I'd say you play "Fill in the Blanks" with your skills compared to his. Whatever skills he's not invested in, you invest in instead. So if he doesn't have Perception, or Knowledge (X), or Sense Motive, or Bluff, or whatever, that's where you come in.
Initiating myself is a problem...I'm lawful neutral, and have been playing my character as a somewhat timid man with good persuasion (hence the diplomacy). My sense motive is high as well, a 16. Perception is an 18 as well. That said, I say that I feel useless because this other party member usually takes control of any situation that we find ourselves in. I feel as though this lack of combat may stem from the control that she is displaying over the rest of the party
Initiating myself is a problem...I'm lawful neutral, and have been playing my character as a somewhat timid man with good persuasion (hence the diplomacy). My sense motive is high as well, a 16. Perception is an 18 as well. That said, I say that I feel useless because this other party member usually takes control of any situation that we find ourselves in. I feel as though this lack of combat may stem from the control that she is displaying over the rest of the party
Well, is she the Party Leader? I think this may possibly be solved by having an out-of-character as well as (most likely) an in-character discussion about what's going on, as well as your group's current composition, who's what, etc.
A classic spotlight player can be wretched to play with over time. You could focus on strengthening your role-playing presence to earn a spotlight of your own. Alternately you could simply say to her, while it is going on, "You're not the only person here. We would all like turns."
We have done this, and the player shrugged it off and continued what she was doing...it ended with us hightailing out of the BBEG's lair when the party barbarian and I could have killed him if given the time.
Seems like the perfect time for our timid, but persuasive Monk to start working out his confidence issues and taking charge more.
How would I do this? Just one day have him decide "hey...I feel like leading the party today?" I feel like that's a little bit odd
No, have him gradually A.) Get fed up with being bossed around because he's the humble sort, B.) Start to work through whatever issues have caused him to have low self-esteem/confidence, C.) Find something he believes passionately in as part of the plot and roll with it, or D.) All of the above.
How would I do this? Just one day have him decide "hey...I feel like leading the party today?" I feel like that's a little bit odd
There is no reason that your feelings of being useless at the moment could not translate into some characterization. If you're feeling marginalized then there is no reason your monk would not be as well, especially if the skill monkey is dominating every encounter right off the bat. That would be plenty of reason for him to start trying to be more active in the party dynamic.
Failing that, take any chance you have to temporarily separate your character from the party leader. Split up during investigations and that sort of thing. You can cover more ground and it'll give you a chance to go more in depth with your characterization.
How would I do this? Just one day have him decide "hey...I feel like leading the party today?" I feel like that's a little bit odd
How about you bring out the Lawful side of him; it will break him out of his timid habit. The Law is hardly timid; they aren't just some passive clown who just sits there and lets the crimes go on. They take action. It's not like we have Police Officers patrolling streets and such just so they can pick their nose while some Sergeant guy sits there with his corruptness laughing at them. They do so to catch bad guys and exact justice as the Law appropriately gives them.
If the BBEG has done something horrible and is punishable by a Law of the Land or of the City or whatever, then have your Monk be all like "Listen, I'm not going to sit here and let this criminal/bad guy get away. It's time he's paid for what he's done, and if you're going to condone what he's doing, then you're only getting in the way of my duty to the people of the Land/City."
It's not that he doesn't like combat. He is just of the school of thought that he shouldn't have to resort to violence to solve every problem. Were you ever told as a child to keep your hands to yourself unless someone else hit first...if you're attacked then all bets are off? Because that's sort of where my character's view is at this point.
Yeah...our fighter is kinda useless outta combat as well, but his ONLY application is combat, so he is feeling the same with our lack of combat. It's a fun campaign with a great setting, but with our relative uselessness compared to our skill monkey...
How would I do this? Just one day have him decide "hey...I feel like leading the party today?" I feel like that's a little bit oddWell one thing to consider is that just because you aren't the best talker, doesn't mean you can't talk. Even though we have a sorcerer in the party, my 5 charisma goblin still talks to NPCs. Sure, I sometimes get negatives on my diplomacy checks, but my character isn't the silent type, so I have him voice his opinion.
Oh, I do talk, and I have gotten our party out of quite a few rough spots, including one with a very VERY angry pair of paladins and their cleric leader.
|
It's about roleplaying. I am in a similar situation, except that I am not optimized for combat, yet the inquisitor in the group is better at everything, combat, skills, what not.
What I had to do first is check the ego. Once I stopped trying to one-up him, it became about figuring out what you can suggest. Take the lead, on occasion, especially when it is something that is meaningful to your character. Roleplay, not roll-play. ^_^
I wish you the best of luck! It's not always so easy to deal with players that have to be better than everyone else. (Of course, remember that you deliberately made your character to be bad-@$$ at combat, and some things might suffer...
Good luck sir!
It's not that I'm trying to one-up her...it's that with the lack of combat it makes it hard to find anything for me to do...she has almost everything covered. While during combat she has almost nothing to do, I have almost the same outside of combat.
It will slow the game down (more than likely at least) but perhaps you and your fighter friend could go talk to someone else that could be important. Socialite talking to the captain of the guard? Talk to another soldier or citizen or merchant nearby and maybe get something out of it (more info, new quest, etc..). Like I said it does slow down the game as the DM would need to split up attention between characters, but it could help you feel more useful and give you something to do.
Alternatively, perhaps you could ask your DM to throw in some kind of gladiator system. You get to go fight, maybe make some money while the other person talks up someone, somewhere else. A bit much I know, and not really possible in APs I'm sure, but just a thought.
Talk to your DM perhaps. Maybe he/she'll understand and have certain NPCs take a liking to your character or someone else's more than the one that does most of the talking.
"How are you good sir?!"
"Uh? Oh. Who's that quiet looking man in the corner? He seems like an interesting fella'."
"Oh him? He doesn't do much really."
*Ignores the talker and walks over to the monk*
"What's your name fella?"
*Opens up possible conversation meant for the Monk and this NPC*
Anyways, just some thoughts, good luck.
I seem to have made my character seem like a wall flower. haha He isn't that in the slightest. He does participate in conversations whenever he can. The skill monkey, however, dominates them and often "shushes" others when they try to talk in order to interject her own opinion.
I seem to have made my character seem like a wall flower. haha He isn't that in the slightest. He does participate in conversations whenever he can. The skill monkey, however, dominates them and often "shushes" others when they try to talk in order to interject her own opinion.
Old Man Fu advice: "She who shushes most, shushes first."
*bow*
|
Talk to the DM and voice ur concerns. Nothing will change unless u try to change it ur self.
In regards to the other player simply ignore her when she speaks while ur talking and if she persist tell the DM that u are trying to get a word in and would not like to be interrupted while trying to advance the story.
Also play ur alignment being LN. Fallow the word of the law to the letter and make it known that those that get in the way of enforcing the law then they will be charged with obstruction of justice and will be judged as aiding and abiding the culprit and will be detained by force if need be. In which case u can have the fighter act as ur assistant. To do this though u best take the time and join the local law enforcement and get ur self ranked high enough to be the equivalent of a FBI agent in order to back what u do by the law.
I seem to have made my character seem like a wall flower. haha He isn't that in the slightest. He does participate in conversations whenever he can. The skill monkey, however, dominates them and often "shushes" others when they try to talk in order to interject her own opinion.
Skill Monkey: [dismissively] Shush!
Monk: [agitated] Excuse you?
Maybe I'm reading into your complaint too much, but you need to assert yourself. Seriously. My group has its faults like any other, but we would not put up with what you have described.
I have a suggestion that has actually worked at a table I played at in a similar situation. It works VERY well with a monk. The next time you are in a decent sized town/city check with some of the more shady NPCs and ask if there is/are any "underground" fighting pits. Tell them you're more than rudimentarily skilled with your fists, and you'd like to pick up a little coin. Then, and this is the key part. If none of the shady NPCs know of any such thing, you start one. You get together some of the more nefarious NPC types and tell them you'd like to start a secret pit fighting enterprise. Any greedy NPC is going to jump at the chance because a lot of money changes hands in those situations for betting purposes, liquor purchasing, prostitutes, etc. In addition, not that I am advocating "testing" your GM, this will let you know whether your GM is playing the world realistically, or just railroading everyone wherever he/she wants to go.
Another key to this is telling the GM that you want to spend some time meandering through the city/town on your own. Whether that be after the rest of the party has cashed in for the night, or just while they are doing something else, doesn't matter. Just so long as your character gets to do some negotiating with shady NPC types all on his own.
Is your character getting bored, or are you?
Out-of-game issues need to be resolves out-of-game.
Just because she is the party leader does not mean she controls your character. This sounds like it needs to be solved out of the game, but if that fails, just don't follow orders.
Example: You guys are in the BBEG hideout, she sounds the retreat. Monk McMonko doesn't like the sound of that as he cannot allow this evil to go unchecked and he needs to prove himself in combat as he worries his training is getting rusty.
"No, I'm not going to leave, you can come with me, or wait here, but we will not run today."
If like you say the other combat players are feeling bored with all the talking, they'll be on board and you guys can RP the power shift away from the Bard.
Keep in mind, a leader is not infalliable, if you never pay attention to the needs of your people they will stop following you and you're just someone going for a walk. Next time she shushes other people's input, your monk hits her for non-lethal with a cup upside the head and a gentle "Mind your manners".
Maybe adopt her into your combat style: While she's chatting up the baddy, you casually approach and attack, resulting in a surprise round. It should work perfectly as clearly in your games villains prefer chit-chatting than villianizing and in your world, combat is a scarce thing that will be highly surprising to everyone involved :)
It's not that he doesn't like combat. He is just of the school of thought that he shouldn't have to resort to violence to solve every problem. Were you ever told as a child to keep your hands to yourself unless someone else hit first...if you're attacked then all bets are off? Because that's sort of where my character's view is at this point.
Stop being a Shaolin Monk:
"The wild boar runs from the tiger, knowing that each be well-armed by nature with deadly strength, may kill the other. Running, he saves his own life and that of the tiger. This is not cowardice. It is the love of life.""You are a man. You must be angry. To hide such a feeling is to increase its force a thousand times."
It's not that he doesn't like combat. He is just of the school of thought that he shouldn't have to resort to violence to solve every problem. Were you ever told as a child to keep your hands to yourself unless someone else hit first...if you're attacked then all bets are off? Because that's sort of where my character's view is at this point.
You tell this person that even though it's a nice thing to talk your way out of trouble, Pathfinder has an extensive combat system that you'd like to USE once in a while, and everyone likes to roll dice and count up damage.
And then if he continues to talk you out of trouble, talk your group back into trouble.
Alternatively, initiate combat yourself and kill this sonuvab!@#$.
I think one thing to remember is that your characters mindset is not set in stone. Even the most stubbornly unchanging person can change teir nature over time if subjected to the right kind of pressure...
Perhaps his frustration has been growing to the point he is beginning to consider altering his relatively pacifistic nature? (The whole I won't hit you unless you hit me first) and allowing himself to become more aggresive? Maybe he one day just outright snaps even...
You: (saying something to NPC)
Bard: Shush!
You: I swear to god if you shush me one more time my iron fist is literally goin through your face!
.. or some such
Have you talked this over with your GM?