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Break up a party in game?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Saranghae
Oct 16, 2011 12:26:09 I will soon be starting a brand new campaign with a friend (as soon as we recruit some more PCs). His goal for the campaign, is to be RP heavy. We were assigned to create a character and answer a series of questions about our PCs quirks, mannerisms, "what would your character do if...?", etc.

From what I understand, he will be putting us in situations where the characters might be at odds with eachother (ie, the Rogue thinks we should kill a witness, but my character is against the killing of anything unless it's unavoidable).

So my question is: RP-wise, if a situation were to come up where I'd have to turn against my allies to defend what I believe is right, how could I go about it but keep playing with the other PCs? If I was forced to say "**** you guys, i'm going to go help these Dwarves because I believe it's right," how can I continue to play with my friends if we're doing two completely different things in different places?

I'm sure the DM probably has a plan since he's the one that wanted to us to really use our character's personalities; but do you have any recommendations?

Edit: Also, I'm not going to lie, I am mostly just bored at work and really want to discuss the idea of this campaign, because I am very excited about it.
#2
warrl
Oct 16, 2011 12:45:58 You'd need to work with the DM and the other players, before the game starts, to identify the strong reasons the characters stay together, and a few ways that situations such as you describe can resolve.

Perhaps there's a trend that captives tend to attack your allies the moment you leave the room... is your character weak enough on Insight to buy it? Or perhaps your character sees through the charade, but decides that the party is pursuing some greater good of such merit that overlooking this problem is justified.
#3
Saranghae
Oct 16, 2011 12:49:56 I like the idea of "these guys suck, but we need to stick together if we want to make it across the mountain in one piece."

I suppose that pretty much resolves my question.
#4
wildefox
Nov 08, 2011 5:46:31
From what I understand, he will be putting us in situations where the characters might be at odds with eachother (ie, the Rogue thinks we should kill a witness, but my character is against the killing of anything unless it's unavoidable).

So my question is: RP-wise, if a situation were to come up where I'd have to turn against my allies to defend what I believe is right, how could I go about it but keep playing with the other PCs? If I was forced to say "**** you guys, i'm going to go help these Dwarves because I believe it's right," how can I continue to play with my friends if we're doing two completely different things in different places?

There is a difference between conflict and confrontation. Hopefully he has made you different, but not outright opposing. That being said, if your character wanted to help the Dwarves is it not reasonable to assume he has somewhat altruistic motives? Perhaps he is more interested in redeeming the Rogue than in simply fighting him because he is "wrong". Many good characters don't just unsheathe the mace at the first sign of alternate points of view, they do their best to bring the other character around to their way of thinking.

#5
miniaturegeek
Nov 09, 2011 15:36:45 There was a quote we used to say back when we played 3.5, "Lawful Good doesn't equal Stupid Stupid." Basically meaning you don't have to be a total goody goody, if you look at D&D through modern day laws then yes you should never do anything bad if your lawful good, but remember this is D&D medevil setting, your still a good person if you kill monsters to save princesses.

And in a 4e related story in the campaign I'm in now, I play a Paladin who worships the goddess of redemption. Some of the members of the party worship the Raven Queen, she hates undead. At first I was letting this get in the way of the group, my character constantly fighting with them to not just outright kill an undead character as soon as they encountered it. I decided to look into it and decided that as a Paladin I would be understanding of others religions and while we may come to disagreements it is not my sole responsability to defend every single undead outthere.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Saranghae Oct 16, 2011 12:26:09	I will soon be starting a brand new campaign with a friend (as soon as we recruit some more PCs). His goal for the campaign, is to be RP heavy. We were assigned to create a character and answer a series of questions about our PCs quirks, mannerisms, "what would your character do if...?", etc. From what I understand, he will be putting us in situations where the characters might be at odds with eachother (ie, the Rogue thinks we should kill a witness, but my character is against the killing of anything unless it's unavoidable). So my question is: RP-wise, if a situation were to come up where I'd have to turn against my allies to defend what I believe is right, how could I go about it but keep playing with the other PCs? If I was forced to say "**** you guys, i'm going to go help these Dwarves because I believe it's right," how can I continue to play with my friends if we're doing two completely different things in different places? I'm sure the DM probably has a plan since he's the one that wanted to us to really use our character's personalities; but do you have any recommendations? Edit: Also, I'm not going to lie, I am mostly just bored at work and really want to discuss the idea of this campaign, because I am very excited about it.
#2 warrl Oct 16, 2011 12:45:58	You'd need to work with the DM and the other players, before the game starts, to identify the strong reasons the characters stay together, and a few ways that situations such as you describe can resolve. Perhaps there's a trend that captives tend to attack your allies the moment you leave the room... is your character weak enough on Insight to buy it? Or perhaps your character sees through the charade, but decides that the party is pursuing some greater good of such merit that overlooking this problem is justified.
#3 Saranghae Oct 16, 2011 12:49:56	I like the idea of "these guys suck, but we need to stick together if we want to make it across the mountain in one piece." I suppose that pretty much resolves my question.
#4 wildefox Nov 08, 2011 5:46:31	From what I understand, he will be putting us in situations where the characters might be at odds with eachother (ie, the Rogue thinks we should kill a witness, but my character is against the killing of anything unless it's unavoidable). So my question is: RP-wise, if a situation were to come up where I'd have to turn against my allies to defend what I believe is right, how could I go about it but keep playing with the other PCs? If I was forced to say "**** you guys, i'm going to go help these Dwarves because I believe it's right," how can I continue to play with my friends if we're doing two completely different things in different places? There is a difference between conflict and confrontation. Hopefully he has made you different, but not outright opposing. That being said, if your character wanted to help the Dwarves is it not reasonable to assume he has somewhat altruistic motives? Perhaps he is more interested in redeeming the Rogue than in simply fighting him because he is "wrong". Many good characters don't just unsheathe the mace at the first sign of alternate points of view, they do their best to bring the other character around to their way of thinking.
#5 miniaturegeek Nov 09, 2011 15:36:45	There was a quote we used to say back when we played 3.5, "Lawful Good doesn't equal Stupid Stupid." Basically meaning you don't have to be a total goody goody, if you look at D&D through modern day laws then yes you should never do anything bad if your lawful good, but remember this is D&D medevil setting, your still a good person if you kill monsters to save princesses. And in a 4e related story in the campaign I'm in now, I play a Paladin who worships the goddess of redemption. Some of the members of the party worship the Raven Queen, she hates undead. At first I was letting this get in the way of the group, my character constantly fighting with them to not just outright kill an undead character as soon as they encountered it. I decided to look into it and decided that as a Paladin I would be understanding of others religions and while we may come to disagreements it is not my sole responsability to defend every single undead outthere.