Roleplay Mistakes

The Roleplay is the art to play a Character so as to enliven it. However, this interaction between the Player and the Game Master takes place among the other Players though the situation may be different (for instance, the Character is far form other Characters!). Then, Roleplay Mistakes may occur. We'll try to sum up them in this page. We also provide advices for Players and Game Masters to avoid them!

Taking into Account

The setting : a Player (or a group of Player) is lonely from the other members of the group. The Player carries on an action or may learn informations. Suddenly, Players whose Characters cannot know the infomation act as if they knew it : this is a Rolaplay Mistake.

The Player Aaron is separated from the group composed of Bruce, Caroline, Dora,  Eleanor and Fred. Aaron finds a map which indicates  that one of the six-hundred statues located in an area that the other will reach in the same time contains a secret drawer full of gold pieces, treasures or a magical chocolate box. The group doesn't know this information. However, Dora tries to open the good statue absolutely : this is an obvious mistake (and probably voluntary!).

More difficult, let's have a look to an inquiry scenario. Aaron was examining a witness of the murder of a NPC and learn that the vile Georges Sauron, helped by Ricky Saroumane, killed the poor Amelie by suffocating her with photos and a mask of Zorro. During this time, the other Players are searching clues while Aaron searches his friends or runs at Georges Sauron's house, 23, Mordor Street. Caroline is in front of the house of suspect N°2, Ricky Saroumane. She dashes in his living-room and yells : "Freeze! You're under arrest for murder!". Although she's right, she forgot to learn this information, because she short-circuited Aaron's information. In fact, she doesn't have the proof yet! This is a mistake and probably unvoluntarily.

Game Masters  : if you have to cope with this situation, remember your Players that they can't know the information and cancel their action. Sometimes, you may not realize the error : be merciless : cancel the actions and all the consequences. However, if it's too late, well, it's your fault, be careful next time! One alternative consists in speaking with Players alone while the others block up their ears. In this way, they won't be able to make any mistake! 

Players : if you're a beginner, this error is understandable and you're forgiven! If you realize that you made a mistake, tell it! If you're an experienced Player : two solutions :you're a mediocre Player or you did it on purpose, then you're a  vile trickster!, If I was you, I would be ashamed!

The "Surknowledge"

This error is often associated with experienced Players, or with beginners or with young Game Masters or stupid Game Masters. It consists in using the Player's knowledges instead the Character's knoiwledges.

Aaron, Bruce, Caroline, Dora, Eleanor and Fred arrives in a dungeon with their level 1 Characters. As they come into a dark room, a floating creature comes in. It has a skeleton torso and a skull with glittering red eyes. The Game Master describes it as a fearsome Banshee but he also mentions something unusual : the Banshee has a yellow square in the middle of the forehead. Bruce the Barbarian exclaims : "Oh, My God! It's not a Banshee, but a Northern Banpshouff from the Rubicund Swamps of Eternal Melancholy which are at four billion miles from here. It's shriek is worse than death : first, your stomach swells, then it releases the air in stinking flatulences. Then you die from diarrhoea because it's shriek forces you to make retro-assimilation (cf. South Park). The only way to avoid this fate is to hop while shaking your butt and saying : "Praout! Praout! Nyarlhatopete!" and the Banpshouff will be definitively banned from this plan" there's a little mistake even if the events described by Bruce are real!

More difficult, Aaron, Bruce, Caroline, Dora, Eleanor and Fred arrives in front of the door of a NPC they met with other Characters. However, the NPC is out. Spontaneously, Fred picks up the key under the doormat. He thinks that it'll be more pleasant to wait inside because it's freezing outside! Another Roleplay Mistake!

Game Master  : if a Player says something too intelligent for his Character, just ask him : "How can your Character know that?" and refuse pretexts! You can admire the Player's knowledge, then let him be the Game Master... Never say your Players to learn the Bestiary  or the rulebook : it's not logical and it's your work to teach them the informations inside these books!

Players : you may be a living sourcebook because you learned a lot about your favourite RPG but you may bore the other Characters by preventing the GM to surprise them. If you need to show your incredible knowledges, let's go! Be the Game Master!

The Ubiquity

Players divides. Whenever one of them discovers something interesting, a Player always says that he is near the last speaking Player and if another Player finds something, then the same Player says he was with him.

Bruce and Eleanor are exploring the rooms of a dark manor while Caroline, Dora and Fred are exploring the neighbourhood. Aaron is visiting the caves form the manor, searching a good bottle of wine. As Bruce searches in the master's room, he find a chest. After succeding a lockpicking test, he manages to open it. Suddenly, Aaron exclaims : "I look into the chest!". The Game Master remembers him that he is in the caves, not in the room. Then Dora finds a sword, Aaron shouts : "I take it and look for magic on it!". as you understand, there's a little error in Aaron's roleplay.

More difficult, Aaron, Bruce, Caroline, Dora, Eleanor and Fred are in a great house. Every one is at a different floor. Nevertheless, Aaron speaks regularly and tries to search with his friends. This mistake, in the action, remains often unseen by the Game Master.

Game Master : some Players try to be omnipresent. It may be linked to the youth of the Player. Try to describe precisely the situation. In the case of  egomaniac Players, calm them and force them to remain silent. Another solution consists in letting the Player be omnipresent. In this case, he will set off the traps!

Players : beginner Players are innocent  and forgiven. Experienced Players are unforgivable. With this habit, you're stealing time to your friends. Try to think : it's not logical, if you are in the kitchen you can't be in the living-room at the same time.

Critical Hits and Critical Failures

In some RPGs, there are Critical Hits and Critical Failures. If a Player rolls a Critical Failure in Tracking, for instance, you will hear  the other Players saying : "Hey! Are you really sure! No, really! You're sure?" or something like "Don't you want to let me have a look?" or "Didn't you fail?" (and this, without even rolling dices!). On the other hand, you'll never hear that for a Critical Hit : these are Roleplay Mistakes.

Game Master : be merciless! If a Player say something like "you made a mistake!" let them go in the wrong way and forbid any corrective roll. You can also be evil : have the way shown by the Critical Failure be the good way! In a way, your Players (and you) will have a boring scenario, but comments on Critical Failure is nothing else than cheating.

Players : be honest! If you say "Aren't you wrong?" to a Player only because you saw it was a Critical Failure, you must also say that for any roll, otherwise you're cheating. Remember that in fact, your Character isn't aware of rolling a Critical Failure or that your friend rolled a Critical Failure. Play the game! You'll become a good  Player!

Helping other Players

A great polemic exists around helping other Players. Theoritically, Players whose Characters are absent can't comment actions of Playing Character. We think that it's a little bit harsh. We use just one rule : FORBIDDEN TO INTERACT DURING A ROLEPLAY! The Game Master is totally free to accept that Players help themselves. We prefer flexibility, but some Game Masters are firm with this. We won't criticize their attitude. Their position is acceptable.

Other questions? Send us an e-mail!