Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Centauri 08-30-05, 12:26 PM	I'm in a play-by-email (PBEM) game with two other guys. We each run two characters, with high stats, because the DM says the game is going to be tough. I have an elf Fighter and a human Bard, another has a human Fighter and an elf Rogue, the third has a human Ranger and a human Wizard. There's also an NPC human cleric. We've just entered the courtyard of a ruined moathouse, after fighting some giant frogs right outside. The Ranger has just invited the Rogue to go scouting with him, inside a nearby tower and around the courtyard to peek in the arrowslits we see. I emailed that my Fighter and Bard were going to check out the double doors at the top of the staircase on the corner opposite the tower. This brought immediate protest, in character and out, from the player of the human Fighter and Rogue. As the Fighter, the player said that discipline and caution are important and that he doesn't want to have to watch two scouting teams at a time. He "ordered" my characters to stop, though he wrote that the character hated giving orders. As the Rogue, the player invited my Bard to join the scouting. I appreciated that, and told him so, but I actually signed on to play a fighter, and I'll be disappointed if my Bard does most of the actual playing. I told him that my characters weren't going far in and just wanted to make sure nothing was going to jump us. I also said I'm willing to compromise and let the stealthy folks do all the scouting this time, but next time I'd like to try it my way. I know that characters have their iconic roles in a party. Rogues, Rangers, and Bards should be sneaky and Fighters should stand guard and rescue the sneaks, if needed. However, all things considered, including the fact that this is a PBEM game which is slow-moving by its very nature, I don't see anything wrong with my Fighter participating in the recon effort. I'll admit that it's a tad reckless, but as this is an adventure game I felt that taking a little more of a chance instead of playing the game utterly safe would be acceptable. I'm not trying to be difficult, but I am trying to stay active in the game. I should add that I feel a bit steamrolled by all the strategizing the others (even the NPC cleric. Ye gods.) are doing, and wanted to take some action of my own instead of having everything plotted out for me. Please let me know what you think.
Torack 08-30-05, 01:09 PM	They are your characters and if you want the fighter out scouting, have him go out scouting. He may not have the sneakish nature, but he should have the hp's to tough it out should he get into trouble. My advice would be to have the bard join the fighter and have the two of them running recon. I'd also ask the DM on his opinion. Technically speaking I doubt that there is any real reason why he would object, but inform him just in case.