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From: rainbow@ihlts.UUCP (Robert)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: RE:multiple characters(PART 1)
Message-ID: <686@ihlts.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Dec-85 19:05:45 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlts.686
Posted: Fri Dec 27 19:05:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 04:39:14 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 71


> riccb!rjnoe
>> deneb!ccs007

>> But first, allow  me to confront a question upon which I thought all people
>> were in agreement - The concept that AD&D works best when played with one, 
>> and only one, player character per person.

> Most good role players are good because (in part) they have that flexibility
> of mind which allows them to see things differently.

I suppose everyone has their own opinion. Personally, I think it seriously
detracts from the enjoyment of the game if players are allowed to roll play
more than one character. I do not like doing it. And I wouldn't allow others
to do it. I am rather firm in this belief from what I have seen and experienced.
Its sort of like dating two women at the same time. It isn't fair to either one 
of them and it effects your involvement/commitment. But then again if you 
just want to fool around and not be serious, I suppose its okay. In both cases.
But thats not me.

>> It requires all of a player's attention to play ONE character to the best
>> of their ability. . . .

>That statement is so broad it seems preposterous.  People do differ in
>their ability to concentrate on items. 

I am sure some people can play two characters better than others. But regardless
of how well they can do it, it won't be done as well as if they had one character.
I can not see anyone convincingly argue to the contrary. I can do two things at 
the same time better than most. Ask anyone who knows me to verify. But looking
back at the times Ive played two characters, I can no longer clearly differentiate
what happened to which character or even their individual personality traits.
As for the times Ive played one character, I can remember every detail of their
life story. I don't think I need to say which of those characters leave the
fondest memories. Clearly the single characters have given me the greater
enjoyment.

>> No matter what the intentions of the player, knowledge seems to 'seep'
>> from the brain of one character to the other . . .

Irrelevant point. Knowledge seems to seep to all the PC's even if they
are run by different people. This illegal data flow is usually lightly 
enforced. It makes little difference if the same player runs both PC's 
since the information would quite likely be known to all anyway.
What I tend to dislike is that when one character gets into trouble, the other
character is used to help out the first even if its totally against the nature 
of the second. Also, there is complete trust between the two of them. Magic
items are "borrowed" back and forth, etc. This close comradery is never seen
between PC's run by different players. Then there is always suspicion and
doubt and distrust. The latter case is the more realistic case.

>> Favoritism always rears its ugly head.  I have yet to see a player who is
>> running two PCs consider them both equals.

>Would you like to meet such a player? You might find it an enlightening experience.

Yes I would like to meet that player. I would have chosen a much stronger word
than enlightenment though. Revelation perhaps. I would rate such a meeting
equivalent to seeing God face to face during my earthly lifetime. Odds are not
very good that either will occur. I would definitely be in awe.
I can always predict which of two characters will take a risky action if one
is needed. I can always predict which of two characters will get the better
magic items. etc. I call this favoritism. If everyone has one character, its
a big discussion over who will take the risky action. With two, someone just
goes and does it. The former is much more realistic. With one character each,
its a big dicussion over who will get the magic item. With two, the number
of claimants is cut in half. The latter is totally unrealistic. I don't
enjoy this kind of artificial role playing when each has two PC's. If you do,
thats okay.

Robert