So recently I joined a new campaign that my friend had created. Its his first time as DM and as the primary DM for our group I have helped him with a ton of stuff. However, I know nothing of the plot or story that he is creating.
He started us out at level 10 and since I was experienced in writing detailed backstories, my character went something like this... Level 10 Halfling Barbarian. Path of the Totem Warrior. Eagle Aspect. I was orphaned at a young age and grew up a street urchin. I had a mentor, an older homeless fellow who taught me how to survive and contact my spirit animal.
After he passed away, I joined a faction called The Caravan Of Shadows. (I of course ok'd this with my friend first since the Caravan of Shadows is a rogue organization.) They are essentially a caravan of circus performers who travel around putting on shows to distract the nobles while the halflings in the organization rob them.
He said that was ok since I was already level 10 and therefore must have some level of experience.
Jump to session number 2. The first time we meet up with the caravan. I go off all secret like and ask the leader if theres anything i can assist with.
"Oh yeah," my dnd responds in secret, "our star performer is threatening to leave the caravan and expose our secrets. Any advice?"
My character, being not too bright and not wanting to straight up kill anyone says, "could we give her something to make her more complacent,"
Dm has the caravan leader hire an assassin to begin poisoning her mind. Works for me.
Jump to session 5. We meet up with the caravan yet again. And are able to witness them in action. The show goes flawlessly. I make big bucks. And then our group pushes their way backstage. Primarily toward the star performers tent.
After several great perception checks by our group our DM describes them spot a man poisoning the star performers drinks.
Group immediately takes action to subdue and begin questioning the man.
I immediately think "oh no. If he spills the beans, the group will turn on me and the caravan." My character's family essentially. I attempt to silence the man.
It does not succeed as one party member rolls critical success to spot me stab the man in the ribs.
Just then the DM describes the star performer enter the tent and immediately runs to tackle me.
Whole group looking at me like wtf dude. I enter barbarian rage to kick her off me. She critical success pins me to the ground.
The man who isn't talking dies but its too late. My cover is blown???
I assume the woman recognized me as a caravan member and she is aware of the poisoning. Since she was not in the tent to see me stab the man.
Our group questions her and me. A long confusing discussion of motives takes place. Long story short. I end up convincing them that I knew someone was poisoning our performers, and i was asked to kill the man responsible. Group believes this man was a pawn and theres a bigger conspiracy going on. Star performer now knows she is being poisoned and the group knows I am a caravan member.
What advice would you guys have for myself as a player to reduce the risk of player versus player?
Should I confess that i know more?
How do you think the new DM is handling his first campaign?
My most basic advice is "Don't let whatever happens come to blows. Don't engage in any line of play that ends with players fighting other players." There are a million ways to handle a situation where things don't immediately have to be resolved by throwing dice and numbers at each-other until one player or another feels like they are being ganged up on or killed. Go into the situation trying everything in your power to deescalate things. Apologize, explain, do whatever, but do not let the game devolve into players fighting other players.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
This is a fun situation, I would love to have something like that happen in one of my sessions, or for me as a player. I don't think you'll need to stress the PvP bit quite as much as you think. In many cases players don't actively seek trying to kill another player's character. This is, your situation, the best form of PvP as it seems the problem is purely in-game, so it's not an extension of real life issues cropping up.
You: Stick with your story. You know enough of the whole story to use the information in a way that can make, and keep, it believable. As long as you don't present PvP as an opportunity for forward progression, then it shouldn't come to blows. Also talk to your DM outside of the game, out of earshot of the other players, to make sure he's aware of your concerns.
Your DM: It is as much up to him to keep an eye on the progress and steer people away from PvP. If the two of you talk it out, you should be able to come up with some deterrents to a nasty situation. Some well placed NPC interference, maybe he'll come up with a plot twist, or simply negating the option if it's truly distasteful at the table.
I appreciate the feedback. Our group doesn't take things outside the game too seriously. We were laughing about it after last session joking about how I need a new character. However my group is very much "if my character would fight you, even if I as a player would rather talk it out, I will do what my character would do in the situation and i will fight you." Which makes it very difficult to convince players who are dedicated to role-playing, to forsake their characters opinion.
It often leads to character deaths, usually not from PvP, but from pve sure, so we kinda get used to switching often. But if It comes to the point of PVP my plan is to just turn myself in, and request a trial or something to that extent.
Were I the DM in your group I'd play it where the caravan leader would put you in a moral dilemma, keep the secret or we'll disown you and you'll be the one the fingers point to.
Were I in your shoes, I'd do everything in my power to shift the blame back to the caravan leader. The party should have my back, so I'd do everything to make myself look like I was coerced into making the decisions I did.
My only concern with throwing the caravan leader under the bus is that it could very easily come to light and i could be banned from caravan anyway for being a snitch. And as it stands I get bonuses for being in the caravan such as +1 on sleight of hand and deception. As well as increased profit when i sell them stolen goods.
So I would most definitely like to keep the secret. However the finger is already pointing at me. And that's worrying.
My character, being not too bright and not wanting to straight up kill anyone says, "could we give her something to make her more complacent,"
Dm has the caravan leader hire an assassin to begin poisoning her mind. Works for me.
What you "meant" was that you give her more of a share or more time off to make her more complacent, not to drug her! When you found out someone was drugging her you became enraged and killed the guy. You wanted her there and happy, but of her own free will. It just got lost in the translation and the vile assassin is now dead thanks to your good deed! Yay!
If your DM is giving you bonuses for being part of a faction then kudos to them!
In this situation all I can say is play it low, you need to mitigate putting yourself into a position where your party can insight check you and find out you aren't telling the truth.
For all you know, that poisoner could've just been a rando that was upset about getting something stolen from him...
It might also not be a bad idea to invest some money and find an item that will let you teleport away/disappear for a while. You never know when you'll need it and sometimes it's best when you're party wants to gang up on you. When you disappear it'll give you time to come up with a story and protect yourself from giving away any threatening information.
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So recently I joined a new campaign that my friend had created. Its his first time as DM and as the primary DM for our group I have helped him with a ton of stuff. However, I know nothing of the plot or story that he is creating.
He started us out at level 10 and since I was experienced in writing detailed backstories, my character went something like this... Level 10 Halfling Barbarian. Path of the Totem Warrior. Eagle Aspect. I was orphaned at a young age and grew up a street urchin. I had a mentor, an older homeless fellow who taught me how to survive and contact my spirit animal.
After he passed away, I joined a faction called The Caravan Of Shadows. (I of course ok'd this with my friend first since the Caravan of Shadows is a rogue organization.) They are essentially a caravan of circus performers who travel around putting on shows to distract the nobles while the halflings in the organization rob them.
He said that was ok since I was already level 10 and therefore must have some level of experience.
Jump to session number 2. The first time we meet up with the caravan. I go off all secret like and ask the leader if theres anything i can assist with.
"Oh yeah," my dnd responds in secret, "our star performer is threatening to leave the caravan and expose our secrets. Any advice?"
My character, being not too bright and not wanting to straight up kill anyone says, "could we give her something to make her more complacent,"
Dm has the caravan leader hire an assassin to begin poisoning her mind. Works for me.
Jump to session 5. We meet up with the caravan yet again. And are able to witness them in action. The show goes flawlessly. I make big bucks. And then our group pushes their way backstage. Primarily toward the star performers tent.
After several great perception checks by our group our DM describes them spot a man poisoning the star performers drinks.
Group immediately takes action to subdue and begin questioning the man.
I immediately think "oh no. If he spills the beans, the group will turn on me and the caravan." My character's family essentially. I attempt to silence the man.
It does not succeed as one party member rolls critical success to spot me stab the man in the ribs.
Just then the DM describes the star performer enter the tent and immediately runs to tackle me.
Whole group looking at me like wtf dude. I enter barbarian rage to kick her off me. She critical success pins me to the ground.
The man who isn't talking dies but its too late. My cover is blown???
I assume the woman recognized me as a caravan member and she is aware of the poisoning. Since she was not in the tent to see me stab the man.
Our group questions her and me. A long confusing discussion of motives takes place. Long story short. I end up convincing them that I knew someone was poisoning our performers, and i was asked to kill the man responsible. Group believes this man was a pawn and theres a bigger conspiracy going on. Star performer now knows she is being poisoned and the group knows I am a caravan member.
What advice would you guys have for myself as a player to reduce the risk of player versus player?
Should I confess that i know more?
How do you think the new DM is handling his first campaign?
Should he do anything to mitigate the PVP?
Help.
My most basic advice is "Don't let whatever happens come to blows. Don't engage in any line of play that ends with players fighting other players." There are a million ways to handle a situation where things don't immediately have to be resolved by throwing dice and numbers at each-other until one player or another feels like they are being ganged up on or killed. Go into the situation trying everything in your power to deescalate things. Apologize, explain, do whatever, but do not let the game devolve into players fighting other players.
This is a fun situation, I would love to have something like that happen in one of my sessions, or for me as a player. I don't think you'll need to stress the PvP bit quite as much as you think. In many cases players don't actively seek trying to kill another player's character. This is, your situation, the best form of PvP as it seems the problem is purely in-game, so it's not an extension of real life issues cropping up.
You: Stick with your story. You know enough of the whole story to use the information in a way that can make, and keep, it believable. As long as you don't present PvP as an opportunity for forward progression, then it shouldn't come to blows. Also talk to your DM outside of the game, out of earshot of the other players, to make sure he's aware of your concerns.
Your DM: It is as much up to him to keep an eye on the progress and steer people away from PvP. If the two of you talk it out, you should be able to come up with some deterrents to a nasty situation. Some well placed NPC interference, maybe he'll come up with a plot twist, or simply negating the option if it's truly distasteful at the table.
I appreciate the feedback. Our group doesn't take things outside the game too seriously. We were laughing about it after last session joking about how I need a new character. However my group is very much "if my character would fight you, even if I as a player would rather talk it out, I will do what my character would do in the situation and i will fight you." Which makes it very difficult to convince players who are dedicated to role-playing, to forsake their characters opinion.
It often leads to character deaths, usually not from PvP, but from pve sure, so we kinda get used to switching often. But if It comes to the point of PVP my plan is to just turn myself in, and request a trial or something to that extent.
For what it's worth:
Were I the DM in your group I'd play it where the caravan leader would put you in a moral dilemma, keep the secret or we'll disown you and you'll be the one the fingers point to.
Were I in your shoes, I'd do everything in my power to shift the blame back to the caravan leader. The party should have my back, so I'd do everything to make myself look like I was coerced into making the decisions I did.
My only concern with throwing the caravan leader under the bus is that it could very easily come to light and i could be banned from caravan anyway for being a snitch. And as it stands I get bonuses for being in the caravan such as +1 on sleight of hand and deception. As well as increased profit when i sell them stolen goods.
So I would most definitely like to keep the secret. However the finger is already pointing at me. And that's worrying.
If your DM is giving you bonuses for being part of a faction then kudos to them!
In this situation all I can say is play it low, you need to mitigate putting yourself into a position where your party can insight check you and find out you aren't telling the truth.
For all you know, that poisoner could've just been a rando that was upset about getting something stolen from him...
It might also not be a bad idea to invest some money and find an item that will let you teleport away/disappear for a while. You never know when you'll need it and sometimes it's best when you're party wants to gang up on you. When you disappear it'll give you time to come up with a story and protect yourself from giving away any threatening information.