thread: 2009-06-22 : Secrets: the Smelly Chamberlain
On 2009-06-24, Vincent wrote:
Callan, Simon: I don't think my example group is necessarily fucked up. Personally I think that spoofing on authority, especially in such a harmless way, is funny. Probably the GM showed some minor self-importance recently and this is how the group restores social equilibrium - in other words, he has it coming, but everybody knows he'll take his licks with good humor and no harm done.
In that case, Outcomes 2 (the GM reins it in), 3 (the GM fights, the players relent), or 4 (they never reconcile it, but so what) seem most likely to me.
Simon:
GM to Betty: In Fear Itself, the standard rules are that your character's mental illness is simulated by all the other players. Are you OK with this? If not, you can just act something out yourself [rules option].
Betty: I'm OK with it.
GM with group (no Betty) [negotiation over which mental illness - GM has final authority]
Betty continues playing, wondering when she might find out what her PCs mental issue is.
This is a striking, perfect example of "the game rules bias the group toward outcome 1 (Betty runs with it)."
If despite her up-front agreement Betty fights the conclusion, she will feel like she let everybody down, went back on her word, and broke the rules. Correctly!
