The number of times one of the players has just announced that they are "done with this" and left. It's not that the players left the table, their character would just dramatically leave and their character was no longer on the board.
Why do none of my players ever act like idiots and do this? It would be a fantastic time for that lone character to run into an epic encounter, filled with grapplers no less, intended for the party.
Of course, the other alternative is dominate person. Dude only gets one save a day since he could pretty much do anything to the party and it likely not trigger the extra save.
Parties like this are so fractured that they are essentially begging to die. If you were the GM, I'd say to have villains give them insulting, yet oddly catchy, nicknames. Seeing how you are not the GM, I'd say to participate from a position that grants you the most safety while simultaneously appearing to be attempting to assist them as much as possible (E.G. use a bow, only heal people when they are at negatives HP).
All things considered, you can just use pronouns. If you don't want to do that, then calling people by specific aspects of their characters can work; you can call elves "ears," dwarves "beards," wizards get the adjective "magic" added before, .etc. If they get mad, tell them to suck it up until they give you a name.
This is more of your players being silly than anything else. Don't get me wrong, this could be outrageous fun (use pronouns for everything: all items are things with some sort of adjective added to them, E.G. "sharp thing for bladed weapons", and people are all he, she or it (if you can't tell what the character is supposed to be, some people get angry about this, it's hilarious—doubly so if they don't give you anything else to call them by).
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Don't leave.
Step 1: Buy a Scythe.
Step 2: Take the middle watch (yeah, you won't get your spells back)
Step 3: Coup De Grace "Sean" in his sleep. If the damage doesn't kill him That's a DC [10 + Damage(8-32), Average DC 30] Fort save or he still dies.
Step 4: Summon some monsters.
Step 5: The other players wake up and you help them kill the wandering monsters that killed "Sean."
Repeat Steps 2-5 until people start acting like a team or they kill you due to OOC knowledge. Start using a sleep or deep slumber spell after the first time to be sure everyone is out.
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Why am I fascinated by this? This is like a train wreck; horrible but I can't look away.
I would either
A)bail
or
B) sit back and watch the hilarity (this involves shutting off any emotional investment you have in this game and character.)
probably A, that's probably best
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I've played in a group like this before. my response was to make a super friendly, happy go lucky gnome bard.
me: "Hey there friend, whats your name?"
group member 1: "i'm not telling you, I don't know you"
me: "great, nice to meet you! I'm blentlefarthern the third. now you've met me"
them: "I'm still not telling you"
me: "Cool! brooding, i love brooding. Once I brooded for a whole ten minutes. Then my grandma brought me cake, and I got over it. Anywho, I'm gonna call you broods, because of how broody you are."
Them: "don't call me that"
Me: "okay whats your name?"
them "No"
Me:"Okay, but that could get confusing. No comes up a lot in conversation. I think I'm gonna keep calling you broods for now".
Later that same day:
"Okay team, lets roll out! come on Broods, Grumpy, Angry, Stabby and Frank!"
They pretty quickly came up with something for me to call them after that.
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I like Zedorlands suggestion, but seriously... the GM needs to man up.
Talk to him.
You can't have a 'hands off' approach to GMing, the job he has is to moderate the damn game!
Talk to your friends, and ask them why the new people are being included in the first place.
Also, consider just bailing, it may drive your point home, but at the very least it will save you the frustration of having to game with juvenile idiots.
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I skipped a post or two, so I may have missed this if it was already suggested.
This sounds like a case of the players believing they NEED to make an interesting character in order to create a fun game environment. In this instance, they all have very similar ideas of what an "interesting" character concept is. Something they don't seem to understand is that interesting (role played) characters come from the role playing, not the back story. I have a feeling that each of these players have a scenario in their heads (likely after some grand battle, closing some pivotal part of their back story) where they do actually open up to the group. See, they're all trying to be Mad Max - "I work alone; don't follow me, you'll only get yourself killed" - you, know, that shtick. Then by the end of the movie ("you never gave me your name...?") "...............Max." Audience goes "cool!" credits roll. What they don't understand is that they can't fulfill a roll like this in a cooperative rpg.
Finding a new group is probably your best bet in this case, but this isn't always as easy as that. If you're determined to stay with this group, here's my suggestion. In my opinion, these PC's aren't going to stop playing their 90's brooding superhero characters until they hit that ah-ha moment they're building up to. It'll suck, but you'll just have to wait it out. For your own sanity, ease back on the level of helpful you've been going at, and just let them do their thing. Refer to them as "hey, you". When the ah-ha moment happens, and they finally say "My name is Inigo Montoya. He killed my father. My life's mission was to see him die," give them a nod, and then say "I don't care." And then continue on with the game. Your complete lack of gratitude at finally sharing their character's name and back story (a precious commodity they were so sure you were dying to gain) will be like a slap in the face to them. They'll think long and hard the next time they consider making that kind of character.
I've played in a group like this before. my response was to make a super friendly, happy go lucky gnome bard.
me: "Hey there friend, whats your name?"
group member 1: "i'm not telling you, I don't know you"
me: "great, nice to meet you! I'm blentlefarthern the third. now you've met me"
them: "I'm still not telling you"
me: "Cool! brooding, i love brooding. Once I brooded for a whole ten minutes. Then my grandma brought me cake, and I got over it. Anywho, I'm gonna call you broods, because of how broody you are."
Them: "don't call me that"
Me: "okay whats your name?"
them "No"
Me:"Okay, but that could get confusing. No comes up a lot in conversation. I think I'm gonna keep calling you broods for now".Later that same day:
"Okay team, lets roll out! come on Broods, Grumpy, Angry, Stabby and Frank!"
They pretty quickly came up with something for me to call them after that.
Heck, even though my party DOES know each others names, we still don't actually use them. Nicknames all the way.
I can't think of any examples even in fiction of someone who would not give their associates a name/nickname/alias/designation and would not accept any designation from them. Even brooders don't appreciate being called "Hey, you!"
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I would point the GM to this thread and see if the GM can help resolve the issues. And if not then I would quit the game. No game is better than a bad game experience.
You can certainly try a couple of things others have suggested, namely: assign the other PCs unflattering names of your own; and/or only provide support to those who give you their names -- after all, why should you be so friendly to a bunch of strangers when they won't be?
But ultimately, I suspect these will fail to do the job and you'll be left with two options: (1) leave the group, or (2) seek therapy; if you stick with this bunch, you'll need it.
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Lots of expensive therapy at that.....no one needs a facial tick that goes off when anyone says the word "brooding" around them, nope, not at all.
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Give them the following nicknames, and always use them, in order:
Dark.
Brooding.
Mysterious.
Adventuring.
Stranger.
Make a few backup characters, ready for when they choose to kill you. Then have each backup character give them exactly the same nicknames.
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I've been a PC in The Curse of the Crimson Throne, one of 6 PCs and my "party" is full of such lone wolfs.
The campaign does a good job of bringing all the PCs together, but they just refuse to do basic party introduction things. NO ONE will tell anyone their names! Or each other their names, even though the GM is referring to them by their character names. I've repeatedly and respectfully asked how I should refer to them but they won't because "My character just isn't the sort to be so friendly".
Apparently giving their name requires an inalienable bond.
As they arrived one-by-one for the first meeting point I introduced myself "Hi, I'm John Smith..." and then of course they laughed like hyenas because I was repeating myself to the group chat with "hurr, Matt Damon" jokes even though in-character each was only hearing my introduction once.
When I refer to them by their character names they break character to say "You don't know what my character is called"
When I refer to them by their real person names they say "keep it role play"
When I refer to them by how they appear or act (non pejoratively like "cloaked fighter") they object to that characterisation, either out of character or directly threatening my character under pretext of "my character would be quick to anger over things like that".
Every time I tried to raise it gently with "I didn't catch your name?" they'd be reply snidely with words to effect of "that's because I didn't give my name". They are brooding in corners, constantly using stealth to hide from the rest of the group even though it's VERY well established we have a common cause. Refuse to share even the basics of their back story. It got weird like when we met the big bad one would cry out "What did you do with my sister!" a complete surprise.
Even though I'd asked earlier what beef that character had with the big bad. This was even after we'd committed to raid his headquarters. We've been through two combats and STILL they won't even tell me their names or...
I always find it easiest to just give players the game that they are making...meaning, make clear distinctions between the words you say being OOC, or RP, and let the story become what it will. Example: Player 1, 2, and 3 all want to be "shadowy mysterious figures" who refuse to offer their name, when approached for it through RP...no worries, have your character assign them names, even so simple as "nameless one", "nameless two"...and hold fast to the RP that develops. Don't let one of the players weasel out with "my character wouldn't like to be called that"...keep it RP and call their bluff "Well fine...I wouldn't want to be called such either, but since you refuse to offer such a simple thing as even a made up name, I will call you "Ted"". Sometimes character concepts don't mesh well with others, the Paladin in the group of morally challenged adventurers...and that is fine; It adds opportunities for both RP and for story growth beyond the scenario A to scenario B path. As long as the players are ok with the tension and are mature enough to understand that if they are wanting and determined to play a certain character concept, they may need to pay the piper and be willing to deal with the problems that they are causing. If the player doesn't understand that their character being a lone wolf sociopath with no common goals or desire to engage even the slightest bit socially with the group is a huge problem...well then you have found out where the issue lies.
Character concepts don't need to mesh perfectly to have an enjoyable game...but a player being unwilling to own up to the actions they are making their character do...and being unwilling to accept that affects how the story plays out, will absolutely kill enjoyment. Not saying that is what is happening, but if OOC conversations about the odd events so far all devolve into "well that's what my character would do", then let them do "that", and let it affect the game as it should. It could make for an adventure that ends quickly...and maybe the players will learn to "play nice" for the next adventure path.
I've played in a group like this before. my response was to make a super friendly, happy go lucky gnome bard.
me: "Hey there friend, whats your name?"
group member 1: "i'm not telling you, I don't know you"
me: "great, nice to meet you! I'm blentlefarthern the third. now you've met me"
them: "I'm still not telling you"
me: "Cool! brooding, i love brooding. Once I brooded for a whole ten minutes. Then my grandma brought me cake, and I got over it. Anywho, I'm gonna call you broods, because of how broody you are."
Them: "don't call me that"
Me: "okay whats your name?"
them "No"
Me:"Okay, but that could get confusing. No comes up a lot in conversation. I think I'm gonna keep calling you broods for now".Later that same day:
"Okay team, lets roll out! come on Broods, Grumpy, Angry, Stabby and Frank!"
They pretty quickly came up with something for me to call them after that.
+1
While the GM should fix this... And you should prompt him to fix this...Until then - the best you can do is play your character as if their insane behavior has no affect on you.
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Heck, even though my party DOES know each others names, we still don't actually use them. Nicknames all the way.
Gajolob Gorum posting from beyond grave. Him not pay attention people give names, so make up own. Party start using nicknames too. Much funny. Then Gajolob Gorum start know party. Them real people. Them heroes. Gajolob Gorum start paying attention, learn names. Start using them. Sign of respect.
Then heartless GM make TPK.
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...Out of curiosity, did any of them actually take the Mysterious Stranger archetype? If they kill your current character, you could take that and try to outdo all of them for sheer mysteriousness.
Refuse to tell them your name, class, race, gender, appearance, or reality. "I attack the orc... that is, if I exist... I might not!"
I not only have no name, my character has no STATS, HA!
Mystery.....I has it!
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I would point the GM to this thread and see if the GM can help resolve the issues. And if not then I would quit the game. No game is better than a bad game experience.
This. Best chance of salvaging the game. If not this, find another game.
That or just roll with it. There's no way a game like this can be played seriously so.. don't. Be as ridiculous as they are and try to have fun with it.
I not only have no name, my character has no STATS, HA!
Mystery.....I has it!
Ooh, I like where we're taking this! Hire a guy to take your place at the gaming table. Now you're not even there; how mysterious :)
Squiggit does make an interesting point, one could just, pardon the pun, roll with the insanity, and what ever happens, happens...
Would at least maybe make the best of an otherwise bad situation.
The Sphinx is really good at being terse and stoic, once even laconic, I like it! (avoided the dreaded double post, that was close)
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Personally, I'd go with completely unfitting nicknames. Instead of broody, mumbles, and skulky, I'd call them Sir Happypants, Sunshine Smiley, Captain Fun, Super Friend, and so on.
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If being called Captain Fluffy Smoochblade doesn't get 'em to actually give you a real name, nothing will....
You could ask them IC what you should call them, although that only works if they are willing to put a little effort into being a party.
otherwise leave the game.
OR stop caring, sit back and get ready to survive the inevitable TPK
Press the GM to allow you to make Knowledge (local) or Diplomacy checks to gather information so you can find out their names from other sources. The DCs might be kind of high at lower level, but as characters become higher level, the DCs should go down as they gain notoriety. Once you find out the name (or what people have been referring to them as), start using that in-character.
If nobody knows the PCs names, then clearly they should have a reputation as being murderers and would be known by some alias. PCs don't exist in a vacuum, after all.
We've been through two combats and STILL they won't even tell me their names or...
Awesome. They don't want to be referred to by name, then have your character give them nick names that refer to a character attribute (so, "Red" for a guy/gal with red hair, or "Stinky" for the last one to snidely respond to your attempts to get a name.)
I'm also fond of "Boots", "Dandy", "Squeaky", "Cooter", "Bubba" and "Gus."
Do make sure to support their characters as much as you can. Buffs, help them to flank... anything, really. Odds are, it'll annoy them too.
It's so hard being hard-boiled, when people are... nice.
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i would do the following:
A) talk to your friends offline and see why everyone is playing so odd.
B) If they don't come around, be patient. Stock up on self preservation spells like invis and mirror image. Wait until they are in a tough fight and are all badly hurt. Cast fire resistance and then drop the 20x20 fireball in the 20x20 room, and end the adventure as you walk out the burning room.
C) Find a new group to play with.
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.... murder
Dump this party and search for a new one on Roll 20. There should be plenty there. Nicknames will only add to the stress level.
Sounds like they've watched too many movies. The whole "lone wolf who doesn't trust anyone" works in fiction, because the writer can build up to chemistry and cooperation happening when they want it to. It works a lot less well in a cooperative role-playing game that depends on everyone having a reason to work together from the outset.
That's the only rule I give players when I GM: you have to have a reason to work with the party. You can be any alignment, any class, any personality, but if your character concept doesn't have a reason to work with the other PCs, think of something else.
If you're really invested in this game, I'd suggest talking to one of the people you're closer to in the group to see if they have any insights. Are the other players new to Pathfinder/tabletop RPG? If so, a discussion might help.
But honestly, their behavior seems kind of silly. I'd find another group unless you're really enjoying the game otherwise.
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Having been in a similar situation before, that's rough.
If the GM doesn't know how to help out and is unwilling to try, and you don't want to leave, my suggestion would be to ask one of the other PCs what they call or think of each other.
"How can we trust this guy? He's been holding out on us."
"He's never met either of us halfway. I don't feel safe, the way he just ran away for no reason."
In the best case, one or two of them will try to open up to each other, notice your encouraging responses, and eventually become one big sneaky strike team instead of six takes on "me & the rest".
At the worst, suspicion will ignite into full-on team-killing. Hopefully, having been there for the others and avoiding aggression will stop them from aiming for you. Then the GM will have an easier time insisting on figuring out some group cohesion.
If most of you aware friends, there should be a way to work this out without coming to blows. I just hope the players aren't as solipsistic as their characters.
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Again, just leave the group.
Even if you provoked them by some powergamer/antisocial behavior, they are not justified in this.
If they come to this forum, they will doubtless have some excuse as to why they behaved as they did.
But...there is really no excuse...for not introducing yourself to your party...
I would just ditch them and try for a better group. If you are doing Roll20, the whole world is your oyster, so you should be able to find someone.
Leave the group in real life. These are toxic people.