Friction and Character Stories

[GM Craig]

Folks. I just wanted to touch base with you to make sure everyone is in the loop on some stuff, OOC'ly.

Trax is exploring a personal story line that grew out of his experiences on Corellia. It's going to be difficult. He's going to be argumentative, and sometimes irrationally hostile. It's not personal, he's playing through elements of PTSD.

Keshani has had a troubled childhood. She's basically a good kid, but has never really had much cause to trust others. She's going to be difficult to get along with, at least in the short term, until she gets more comfortable with everyone and learns to trust.

Nim is working through some back-story stuff that I don't want to reveal just yet, but it's going to be difficult for her moving forward. She's also got some shorter-term issues as fallout from her back-story that are starting to manifest that will make her short and irritable.

Collan and Niil are dealing with Dark Side influences on them due to their tainted master. It's going to make their characters irritable, sometimes short-tempered. At the same time, they are exploring their developing Jedi skills while learning from a cranky teacher short on patience.

Nightshade is the only one who's really fairly together at the moment, though he's got unresolved issues over his banishment that he's going to have to resolve at some point.

On top of all of this, you guys are under an extremely stressful situation with the fate of the rebellion hanging in the balance.

I don't want to stop people from exploring their personal stories, but I'm concerned that personal stories are getting in the way, and getting folks irritated. I'm also concerned that in-character friction may be bleeding over into personal friction.

The Force is with you on this mission, as I've already established. So, let's allow the Force to calm nerves and emotions, and we bundle all that stuff up and set it aside until this mission is over.

Trax swallows his issues temporarily for the good of the mission, and recognizes that those who care about him are just trying to help. Keshani pretends to be an agreeable character without emotional scars and major trust issues for the time being, and focuses on cooperating so she can have help saving her friend and escape slavery. Nim applies a short-term fix to deal with her issues, temporarily. We nix the Dark Side influence on Niil and Collan (including the -1D).

I want to allow you guys to explore this stuff, but I'm worried the "butting heads" is getting in the way of the fun. And this is all supposed to be fun, right?

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

[Niil Spaar]

No problems here!  I'm just going with how Trax is being run, and taking (well, trying) into consideration that Nill's also dancing a dangerous tightrope strung over the chasm that is the Dark Side.   He's getting frustrated that he can't seem to get through to Trax, and he's getting the impression that Trax has no respect for him.  Which makes him try harder, and which seems to make matters worse for both sides.     I know that Ken's not the type of person to run a PC with the sole purpose of causing party friction.     And I know that you as a GM wouldn't stand for it if that was the unlikely case.

I know I might regret this on a crucial die roll, but at least on my part I'd ask that the -1D Dark Side penalty stay for Niil.  I accepted it as part and parcel of training with Ch'lana, and thought it would make things interesting for RP.  I'd suggest having the negative issues for all concerned (yup, Niil included!) get abruptly shelved in the next encounter through individual RP . . . just like the old adage that says life-or-death situations can bring out the worst in people - or the best in people.  I'm not saying we'd have to go to the other end of the spectrum and be all back-slappy and pledging undying fealty to each other in the aftermath, but at least have the intensity of the bad emotions die down considerably.

Just my two bits . . . 

[Collan]

I'm good with things as they are now. I can handle me versus Collan.

[Keshani]

I'm done causing trouble unless a reply is warranted to my latest post.

That being said I sincerely apologize if I have upset anyone OOC. I did not mean to hijack anything or cause any discord and I certainly did not mean to make things not fun for anyone.

I do kinda have a concern over the believability aspect if we just suddenly tone it down, but maybe give us a bit more time to temporarily "resolve" things among characters?

Again, my apologies if my IC actions had a negative impact on anyone else.

[Trax]

I want to put up one reply to Kesh and then I'm good.

Just a note for everyone though, Trax has always been amoral (and a smart ass as Niil is infinitely aware ).  In the past (and in game) he has tried to execute unconscious enemies.  This behavior is not as unusual for him as people seem to think.  It's just a lot more focused right now and a bigger issue because there are jedi in the group.

It was only fairly recently that Trax showed a small glimmer of morality when he saved that young imperial girl on the prison ship after she came after him and he shot her before he saw who his attacker was.  And please don't confuse his past concern for Mariah or his current concern for keeping Nim and Kesh safe with any type of morality.  Think of it more as an overly aggressive guard dog, any threats, real or perceived will be dealt with.  Pleading to his sense of morality or any sense of socially responsible behavior will not work.

[GM Craig]

Waiting for Ben and Michelle to weigh in.

[Nightshade]

It is still fun for me, so I will let y'all hash it out any way you see fit.  I think it is more fun to have in depth characters that are played well than shallow ones.  However I also understand the balance between getting bogged down in backstory and keeping the action going, so I am good with tabling this for resolution later.

[Nim Naja]

I'm good with whatever. I'd have joined in on the arguments earlier but haven't had time or patience for deep thinking.

Tried explaining my view but I'm busy drinking with my bro and its not working xD

[Keshani]

Dude. Can I fly over and join you?

[Niil Spaar]

Heh . . . I forgot that I had a bottle of Sailor Jerry spiced rum sitting on my shelf.  My friend and I made amends for that neglect.  Good thing his wife was driving instead of him . . . 

[GM Craig]

Ok, in the absence of any disagreement, feel free to continue exploring the messy stuff.

I would just like to remind everyone to keep character and player separate, and not to take the actions of a character personally against the player.

"Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times." <starts the roller-coaster>

[Niil Spaar]

Heh . . . this is starting to remind me of "Melrose Place".