So I'm doing a game about virtual reality mmorpg in a dystopic future. The theme of the game is the danger of escapism and I rp both the party's life inside the game as well as outside of it. My issue is that, I originally had them make two sheets, one an npc class character for their real life character and then one non npc class character to use as their in-game avatars. This posed a few problems
1. Some players want to play characters who are different in real life and in-game (ex. a charismatic type person who enjoys playing big dumb barbarians) and this wasn't a problem until we realize that when your in-game avatar performs diplomacy, it should still be the person talking, therefore using the stat of the player
2. When attempting knowledge checks, should you use the int modifier of the player or the avatar? Logic says the player, but then it means your dumb barbarian doesn't get penalized for dumping int stats.
How would you guys do it? Do you use two character sheets for the avatar and the player, or do you stick with one? (Therefore not allowing players to play in-game avatars that are too different from their real selves)
Not at all. Probably closer to Log horizon, but instead of being trapped in the game, I show the contrast of how easy life is in the MMORPG and how depressing it is in the real world, thus escapism.
I did have a fakeout at the end of the first session where an npc claims he can't log out, but it turns out to just be lag.
You're probably right about the mental stats though, but should they use the character's skill rank or the avatar's?