Author Topic: Would you want a Cugel like PC in your game?  (Read 1737 times)

Offline Agrippa

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Would you want a Cugel like PC in your game?
« on: August 30, 2013, 03:26:03 PM »
I should explain that I first posted this on Gian in the Playground forums a few days ago. I've gotten quite a few replies so I've decide to come and get your perspective on this topic.

Now I'm not sure how many of you know, but one of the early inspirations for thief class, which later became the rogue was Jack Vance's Cugel the Clever. Of course he also mistreated just about everyone around him, including a young woman who got exiled from her village because of him. He then sold her as a sex slave to a gang of bandits for safe passage and a raft. Now that's among the least of his sins. So the question is this, would you want or allow a Cugel-like player character in a campaign you run? How about as one of your PC's party members?

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Would you want a Cugel like PC in your game?
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2013, 03:34:53 PM »
It would definitely depend on the game, and the other people at the table. I've been in games with lots of evil characters, and games with paladins (both as DM and PC). He'd be fine at one, and not at the other, obviously.  ;)
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Offline Kasz

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Re: Would you want a Cugel like PC in your game?
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2013, 05:02:06 PM »
I've played a Conman so slick he could bluff people in languages he didn't speak...and he wasn't above selling "magic" swords to both sides, to settle an argument he created so both sides were at fault and neither side would negotiate peace. Afterwards he strolled back into town selling funeral caskets and medicines. (well... snake oil)

If your party is okay with it... then great, if you're with anyone with a moral compass...it doesn't really work as they sell you out the moment they notice you're a hustler.

Offline Dkonen

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Re: Would you want a Cugel like PC in your game?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2013, 02:32:19 AM »
Depends on how he plays it.

I ran a campaign with a guy who did some pretty not-able-to-type-here stuff, (high priest of Asmodeus), but he had a theme and consistency of behaviour. He wasn't just random jerkface getting away with everything just because.

I did have one of those as well. I tolerated it for a bit, but he pushed it even to the point of suiciding his characters to screw over the party and the plot. Eventually he crossed one last line and he became persona non grata until I was satisfied he cleaned it up (he was coming off of a seriously rough patch in his life). He doesn't even remember most of the stuff he did and when it's pointed out he's admitted that he was ... behaving poorly.

The first character is a lot more likely to squidge on the basis of immorality, but it was the second I banned, because there's a difference between evil and destructive. Evil characters can be amazingly well done.  Destructive characters are just obnoxious people there trying to ruin everything, like a spoiled child.

I'm not their parent, they want to act up, they can go home and do that crap.

If however, you want to play a smoother than smooth immoral conman...well don't break any of the basic rules of engagement and we're good. (mainly being; if it starts to look like folks are getting uncomfortable, wrap it up, and next time be a bit less graphic; don't take up all the table time in the session; be constructive to the party)

((that last is merely because PvP is a PitA to mitigate as a DM. I prefer to just leave it in it's closet until it cries itself out and goes back to sleep))
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