Referring to a Character in a Solitaire

[Dhrrru]

dandelion said:

The more you talk about your playing style, Dhrrru, the more I want to play with you sometime.

Thanks for the compliment, Dandelion; it's nice to come across a kindred spirit in terms of playing style. The following may rise a wry smile (or even a chuckle), but I'm so keen on the "role play" aspects of T&T gaming that during a period in which I was restricted to playing the solitaires and became worried that my PC decision-making wasn't reflecting PC attributes, kindred type and imagined personality traits, I developed a "behavioural tendencies matrix" based on the kinds of decisions typically faced by a PC in a solitaire (like "turn left", "open the locked door", "go towards the sound of water"), then checked off the sorts of "behavioural tendencies" I felt a particular PC should have for solitaire play. Then, when the PC was confronted by a choice affected by a "tendency", I'd act in accordance with that "tendency". If the PC survived the negative effects of choices based on a starting "tendency" value, I'd let the PC "learn" and modify the "tendency" as a function of the PC's intelligence. Positive effects of choices based on a "tendency" reinforced the "tendency" (again, as a function of intelligence). Pretty screwy, huh?

[dandelion]

I don't know if it's screwy, Dhrrru. I haven't played enough solos or seen other people play solos to tell you what is or isn't screwy. When I was playing a few days ago, I spoke out loud like an Ogre talking to herself, which is certainly in-character for Dandelion whether or not Gynn talks to herself much. (I don't much, but I do type in the third person sometimes.)

So, to me, making tendency charts is just something that will go on my list of "ways other people play" and may serve as a guideline as I develop the way I play. (First I have to learn to run a combat scenario by myself.)

So, is it screwy? When I put "use tendency charts" on my list of possible techniques, should I put a footnote that says "screwy"? *grin*

[Dhrrru]

Thanks for the exaltation, Khaydhaik; glad you like the (no doubt screwy to some) idea of a "behavioural tendencies matrix" to aid role-playing in solitaire adventures.

Dandelion, the reason I suggest that the idea of a "behavioural tendencies matrix" is "pretty screwy" is that different gamers have very different degrees of commitment to the concept and practice of "role-playing" (i.e. actually trying to be the character, like being an actor in a play). For example, one of the longest running gaming circles I was in was fairly evenly split between amateur thespians (we all met through a local theatre group) and table-top/military sim gamers (the kind of guys who made GW's "Warhammer" franchise what it is today). The table-top/military sim guys were a little freaked that the thespians would turn up in costumes, put on funny voices or strange modes of speech, and get up from the table wildly gesticulating to demonstrate a combat move (not to mention mouthing incantations before spell casting). Similarly, the thespians found it odd that the table-top/military sim gamers would insist on the use of miniatures whenever and wherever possible (particularly during combats, which was actually very helpful). Over time, each group learned to live with the eccentricities of the other, and many hours of fun were had. But the table-top/military sim gamers found my idea of a "behavioural tendencies matrix" for improving "role-playing" in solitaires a bit "screwy" (because they weren't that into the role-playing side of things). But if you're so into the "role-playing" aspect of T&T that you're playing solitaires by reading them out aloud in character, you're going to find your solitaire play is enhanced by the use of "behavioural tendencies" (if you decide to give the idea a try). A "behavioural tendencies matrix" needn't add to the paperwork during a game because you set the matrix up before you start, and don't modify it again until you've finished a session or the solitaire itself. The FBI solos usually deal directly with SRs for attributes and game settings tuned to kindred or character type, so a "behavioural tendencies matrix" helps you flesh out the rest of a PC's decision-making processes (like fear of heights, aversion to water, religious belief, how they feel about Wyverns, etc).

Hope your first combat goes well, Dandelion; the combat examples for T&T 5E and 7E are really good, and should help you a lot in figuring out how to game a combat situation in T&T.

[dandelion]

I know how it is, Dhrrru; I'm just pokin' at you.

I've been regarded as freaky, screwy, and the like many times by many different sorts. (Though in only a limited context gaming-wise.) I take the attitude that "everyone goes about it differently, and if they think they're the norm and everyone else is doing it wrong, this doesn't reflect on me." I also tryt o take the various techniques I see and, regardless of others' opinions of them, give them a fair shake. So tendency matrixes will legitimately go on my list of options.

But, y'know... people have asked me why I play up the 'cute sexy girl' persona at cons, and it's exactly that. If my choices are to be a freakish misfit who can't play 'correctly' or a sex symbol, I'll take the more welcome of two evils, as it were. I'd really prefer to just be myself, but it doesn't always work out like that. It's just human nature, I guess, to lay eyes on a person and categorize him/her immediately.

As I get older, I'm less able to pull off the sex symbol persona, so more and more I have to settle for freakish misfit. I was having dreams about this last night. You may wonder why I even bother role-playing if this is my experience, but quite honestly, it's like this in every group, subculture, and community. Gamers are kinder than some.

[Dhrrru]

As I think Khenn Arrth says in "Troll Talk" in T&T 5E and 7E, there's no wrong or right way to play T&T, and "live and let live" is my personal creedo. Sadly, it does seem to be human nature to judge by appearances, but this is part of the reason why these kinds of forums are so worthwhile: people actually "listen to" (read) what you've got to say and take it in before judging it, whereas in "real life" what you say often doesn't matter because you've been sized up before you say it. (You're lucky you can get away with cute and sexy; me, I look quite a lot like Ronald McDonald, which puts cute and sexy way beyond my grasp. Oh well, ce'st la vie.)

[quoghmyre]

dandelion thinks "kinder", Dhrrru thinks "listen to" but really we're just rolling on our "behavioural tendencies matrix"