How to treat mood killers?

[Inya]

This is a tricky question, isnt it?

We all have our personal ideas of how the story should progress, or at least what kind of setting we should be in. And then In comes someone who singlehandedly kills twenty badguys and make up totally unrealistic things for his/hers way overpowered character. Often this kind of player also creates characters without flaws and weaknesses (even tho the rules clearly states that every character should be balanced...)

So how do you treat the situation? I personally find it very annoying and think that this kind of thing really takes away the fun...

[Makazo]

hmmm well i guess that would be the overseer's department. Now if you wanted to help point the way.....

[Marric Laster]

I'm not in favor of naming the person in mind publicly. Inya, I suggest that you write a friendly PM to the person, stating what it is you're having trouble with.

Even though I know it's not really your department I think it's okay to do that, if done politely offcourse.

Marric alias Zoltan

[Inya]

It was actually more of a general question, not directed at anyone here since the situation occured on another board.

Im not in envy of the overseer that have to make these decisions and probably speak with the persons involved. What makes it tough is that everyone got their own private view on what is cool and exciting, and I suppose it is hard or almost impossible to make everyone happy.

I dont want to make it sound like I find this to be a big problem, cause I dont, but it's still interesting to hear how you think it should be handled.

Myself, I think I would be a bit angry if someone told me that my ideas were wrong and didnt fit into the world concept... probably a bit sad also.

[Marric Laster]

Well, that should also be open to discussion, even though I think it should all come at the moment, as naturally as possible.

If there are really specific things you wouldn't like getting dragged into, we all should pay extra mind to that. But don't forbid us to drag ourselves into it

It really is a toughie, you know... It's life...

[Makazo]

might i make a suggestion? perhaps an OOC thread where we can discuss current story lines and make sure that things are going in a particular direction? Everybody has a certain idea about how things should go, including myself and i don't want anyone feeling like someone else is hijacking a threat or quest. This way we can kinda discuss things without finalizing anything.

[Inya]

I kinda enjoy not knowing what particular twists and turns the story might take as long as it follows the general "feel" of the world... The key here is of course how detailed the world is and how much freedom the players are given.

A made up example: In a fantasy game (aka Tolkien) one of the players suddenly write about aliens that land with a giant spaceship. The aliens attack the local town with beam weapons and performs experiments on animals.

This would kill the mood for me, as for most people I suppose. Now, it might have been interesting if it had been part of the lore or some kind of major plot, but it would truly ruin the fantasy feeling. It would not be impossible since noone said there was a rule against it. The player that wrote it regarded it as good fantasy (in his mind).

As I see it there are two possible remedies for this situation. Either by using a moderator or by having detailed background information for the players to base their threads. Another possible idea would be to let the player that started the thread become the storyteller for that thread, and although that wouldnt stop him/her from writing the thread it would be quite possible to ignore by not joining it.

During Zoltans and Inyas adventures into the troll riddled crypt (The Oak and the Grove) we send a few pm's back and forth during the thread. Mostly to clarify the general direction of the story. The details were still unknown and made the story take unusual twists. When we ended up on the small island in the underground river I truly didn't know how to get us out of there... I actually felt like Inya when she saw the butterfly lit up by the beam of sunlight in front of her, when I suddenly came up with the idea on how to escape the crypt.

[Arin-Skylis]

I think generally PMs are a good idea if you have something in particular in mind, something to do/not do.

I don't think it would be considered rude to write a polite PM or (OCC: Line) in a thread that YOU have created if you're unhappy with things...I mean it's not like we sometimes don't have a clear idea of certain things we'd like to happen.

I guess we should bare it in mind and if we're unsure of anything, PM the thread starter.

I know I certainly wouldn't take offence if I had posted into SOMEONE else's thread and killed the mood/direction, and they let me know, I'd be happy to correct my posts and discuss the direction.

Also, there's no rules about discussing potential plotlines and story with other members in off topic. Feel free to post up any ideas you have or anything.

I hope that's helpful.