On the Sanity of PCs

[Spook205]

I know they're all a little crazy. I mean intense magical power. Nightmares about aboleths, goblins lighting everything on fire.

I don't just mean the following questions in regard to the 'things that a PC has seen' angle, but I mean them also in a disturbing trend I tend to see floating around this board.

What kind of person wears his armor 24-7? Who gets up every morning and casts a cocktail of spells like Howard Hughes popping pills? Do normal people keep knifes strapped to their legs when they go to the market or their cousin's wedding? Do they suffer from monophobia such that they need their buddies (who they might not even like) to accompany them to even the most bizarre or personal of places? Is crippling neurosis a requirement for hero?

Essentially, my sense of verisimilitude keeps getting trashed by some of the comments I've heard on channel about mages who walk around with a daily protective cocktail that should make them glow like a raver from Chernobyl, odd followers, mages who disappear into rooms to fret over tiny objects for years (well maybe that one), people wearing ridiculous equipment for marginal statistical gain, etc, etc.

If your 17th level fighter lives on a tower in the desert, thats one thing, if he wants to be a part of society, I'd wager he's probably going to be suboptimal in his daily gear and routines.

Does anyone question why the cleric has thousands of gp worth of dust sitting around on the off chance he 'wants to make his skin stone'?

Essentially, my question for all of you is...

Am I just missing something? Is this all in fact totally normal and within verisimilitude? Or is there something else in play between the "game" and "rp" aspects.

Again, this isn't an accusation, I just figured I'd ask about how people explain it, or see if there's any commiseration.

And again, to the poor forum guardians, if I've posted in the wrong forum, boot me to the appropriate one.

[Doug's Workshop]

There are several reasons for this behavior.

Wall of Text:

First, who wants to go through all the trouble of having a different character sheet for every situation? Leisure sheet, Adventuring sheet, Going out for a night on the town but might be attacked by rival murder-hobo gang sheet . . . etc.

Second, the "story" usually surrounds the activities where one would wear full armor, have full complement of buffing and protective spells, and carry massive amounts of weapons. Adventuring is the basis for most of the "story" in this game, so it makes sense that whenever a "scene" occurs, the players will be prepared as they would for any other scene (fully decked out and ready to fight).

Third, there are a lot of players who get penalized for not wearing armor 24/7. Many GMs don't understand pacing or story development, and when notified that the fighter is wandering around town in nothing more than a linen jerkin and some trousers, will do everything in his power to have something attack the character. If you have this happen to you enough, you start wearing your armor all the time. After all, it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. On the flip side, how ticked are you gonna be if a street thug crits your warrior and a few points of AC would have changed the result?

Fourth, equipment is often an identifying feature of the characters. Power balance in games is usually determined by equipment carried. Feats for a fighter depend on having the right weapon with you. A wizard still has his spell complement and maybe even some meta-magic feats he can apply, and a fighter without his armor and preferred weapons is at a significant disadvantage.

I'm sure there are other reasons.

For myself, I like a game where I can take the day off and have my wizard take in a little local color without doping up on magical opiates prior to setting out. In one game I played, our characters were relaxing in a tavern, when we were attacked by our rivals. My dwarf proceed to get hit very hard, and the GM said something to the effect of "I thought your AC was higher than that?" My reply? "Not right now it isn't." He grumbled. On my attack, I declared that my warrior would punch the nearest bad guy with his mug of ale. The GM got mad at me for not taking his game seriously. He couldn't understand why I wouldn't want to use my armored-up dwarf for this encounter, and never realized that there are times when the armor comes off.

I still want to play in a game where I don't have to be all blinged out for every encounter, but the only time that occurs is because our characters were set upon during the night while they slept.

But in direct answer to one of your questions, yes, people do keep knives on their persons at all times. Even weddings. It's one of the hallmarks of medieval society, and likely more important in a magical medieval society.

[darkwarriorkarg]

By the numbers:

Item 1:

Quote:

I know they're all a little crazy. I mean intense magical power. Nightmares about aboleths, goblins lighting everything on fire.

And dangerously genre-savvy. You just know that when you ride into the creepy little town something will come hunting or the villagers will sacrifice you to their Elder God. Think of them as a very experience team of elite special forces.

Item 2:

Quote:

I don't just mean the following questions in regard to the 'things that a PC has seen' angle, but I mean them also in a disturbing trend I tend to see floating around this board.

Item 3:

Quote:

What kind of person wears his armor 24-7?

Barring some special feats or items, this can only be done without penalty in light armour. Now, who does this? The kind of people who get attacked overnight by orc or ogre bandits, goblins, undead and other horrors lurking in the dark.

Item 4:

Quote:

Who gets up every morning and casts a cocktail of spells like Howard Hughes popping pills?

See item 3

Item 4

Quote:

Do normal people keep knifes strapped to their legs when they go to the market or their cousin's wedding?

In real medieval society, knives weren't even considered a weapon. They were an eating utensil.

Do not confuse the mock-medieval world with our own. The safest places in Golarion are about as safe as Baghdad.

In Pathfinder, not having weapons at hand when something attacks can make you almost useless. And you just know (see item 1) that something will happen. It always does.

Item 5

Quote:

Do they suffer from monophobia such that they need their buddies (who they might not even like) to accompany them to even the most bizarre or personal of places? Is crippling neurosis a requirement for hero?

No, and they should not need to do so normally in a relatively safe environment. There is, however, safety in numbers when you are in an unknown environment.

Item 6

Quote:

Essentially, my sense of verisimilitude keeps getting trashed by some of the comments I've heard on channel about mages who walk around with a daily protective cocktail that should make them glow like a raver from Chernobyl, odd followers, mages who disappear into rooms to fret over tiny objects for years (well maybe that one), people wearing ridiculous equipment for marginal statistical gain, etc, etc.

I think you our confusing the real world with the world of Golarion. Social rules differ somewhat. Those mages? they have demons and other mages as enemies. Think of them as captains of industry. Many have bodyguards. This is something similar.

Item 7

Quote:

If your 17th level fighter lives on a tower in the desert, thats one thing, if he wants to be a part of society, I'd wager he's probably going to be suboptimal in his daily gear and routines.

That 17th level fighter will be suboptimal, not naked. Chances are he has an enchnated mithril shirt or something like folding plate available. he'd be expected to carry his weapon around at that point, (it's almost badge of office) or have a glove of storing handy.

Item 8

Quote:

Does anyone question why the cleric has thousands of gp worth of dust sitting around on the off chance he 'wants to make his skin stone'?

Thousands? Stoneskin? The it's probably not taking up much room in his haversack. Plus all you need is one or 2 doses if you're on downtime.

Item 9

Quote:

Essentially, my question for all of you is...

Am I just missing something? Is this all in fact totally normal and within verisimilitude? Or is there something else in play between the "game" and "rp" aspects.

The world is built along certain tropes and expectations that almost have the force of nature. Eberron, for example, was built differently with a more modern feel, so you weren't expected to walk around expecting an imperial assault.

[johnlocke90]

A similar discussion came up about a fighter having his bow in his hands at all times while traveling. Several real life soldiers chimed in saying that they always had their weapon out while traveling and always had it on their person. To the point where its common for soldiers to develop arthritis from holding their weapon so much.

When lives are at stake, people go to extreme measures. If their is even a small chance they might be attacked, then yeah they will walk around in full armor and keep up buffs whenever possible. They would constantly stay on high alert, be very careful with their food and have their weapon either in hand or in arms reach.

Will they develop mental illnesses? Absolutely! Real soldiers frequently do. However, this is a fantasy game and most players don't find it fun to roleplay Post dramatic stress disorder.