Buffing in front of NPCs: merchants

[olwentheold]

Here's a recent scenario that says it all


Alino Mard: *starts buffing his INT and appraise score* I'm sorry, I don't have time for this. Please show me your wares.

Ander Huntsilver (Merchant): go away *Ander runs away from his would-be client*

Alino Mard: well that was rude

Mystor (War Wizard 2nd Circle): *laughs*

Alino Mard: *shrugs*

Mystor (War Wizard 2nd Circle): i think he's realized what you were doing, fella. he was asking me a few days back about it why adventurers kept coming up to him.

Alino Mard: he offers good prices, usually

Mystor (War Wizard 2nd Circle): and putting on rings and belts and drinking potions in his face *winks*. aye, I think he's grown wise about your little tricks with magical help and bargaining *laughs*

Alino Mard: i guess so

Mystor (War Wizard 2nd Circle): of course it doesn't help that he know me too *chuckles*

Alino Mard: *sighs*

Mystor (War Wizard 2nd Circle): here boobie boobie *wanders off looking for his birds*.



Morale of the story is: threat your NPCs as living entities who can learn and realize what you're doing. If you're going to cheat them, try to do it discreetly

[DM Hawk]

*Fails Will save*


I gotta say it...



Boobies! ;D

[mastersenge]

it was pretty funny though. I wasnt sure what to say when he just ran off and then the wizard walking off saying here boobie boobie really left me at a loss for words haha. It is kinda odd though for everyone to go to that same merchant but he does offer a good bit more than any of the other ones I know of. Would be nice if a few other merchants offered close to what that one does.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

I think you might be missing the point. We are not talking about how much he pays but the fact that people are not treating npc's like they are real people.

[TermaForever]

NPC = Non Playable Character

They are still characters. And if the dm's are around they are going to own you in some manner ;D

[ManyAsOne]

Yup. This means that doing things like discussing evil plans in front of an NPC, escaping jail and ignoring the guard NPCs, and, hey, even buffing in front of a merchant (he'd probably view it as magically trying to charm and swindle him) are all in poor form. If a DM sees you doing something like this, chances are that NPC will suddenly react.

[mastersenge]

well all i did there was drink a potion i didnt cast any buffs. Im not arguing it or anything I just dont want it to sound like i was standing infront of him casting spells or changing clothes or anything.

[Toreavamp]

... I don't really see the point in hanging a named charater's actions out in a thread like this, and frankly I find it a bit disguesting.

I don't agree to buffing right in front of a merchant, I don't agree to changing clothing right in front of the merchant, I don't even agree to people using Garrot's bedroom to change (that's almost more silly than changing in front of him).

That said. The merchant in question couldn't really see if it was a bottle of water or if it was a fox's cunning potion, could they ?

Love
Hanne

[Kronos]

Mystor (War Wizard 2nd Circle): i think he's realized what you were doing, fella. he was asking me a few days back about it why adventurers kept coming up to him.

I think that explains it really ... the merchant saw him drink a bottle and suspected something was up. Even if he didn't know it was magical or not.

As for "hanging" a named characters actions out in public it could have been masked to keep his identity secret but I feel what the player did wasn't anything particularly shameful or wrong, it was just an example to get a point across.

[mastersenge]

I'm not so worried about my characters name being there. I was only concerned that it made it sound like I was doing some ooc behavior infront of an NPC. I agree with so many people going to him and if they all drink potions infront of him then maybe he is a little insane and paranoid and would run off when someone drinks from a bottle i guess. I just wanted to clarify that there was no other buffing going on other than drinking one potion.