Re: PC Morale (was Merchant organizations in Wild space)

> the Falcon wrote:
> >The last thing the PCs IMC are is scared . . .
>
	Yeah, that's usually the way things are IMC as well.  Sometimes it's
just absolutely frustrating trying to come up with ways to genuinely make
your players feel an actual emotion other than 'Hey, more XP's'.  And as far
as the scarier monsters go, it ends up turning into another bug hunt.  I did
come up with a few ways that actually do work though, to make not only the
players act like their characters were afraid, but to make them feel genuine
concern for their character's continuing existence.  The best tools IMO come
from the setting and mood tips in the Ravenloft campaign.  In fact, one of
my favorite moments as a DM was putting my players through a home-brewed RL
adventure set in a haunted house where one of the players actually asked if
we could take a break so he could pull himself together!  (The best part
was, they hadn't even faced anything yet.  Most of what they had gone
through was simply good setting descriptions)
		Another tool I find useful is creating your own monsters.
That's the only way I can guarantee my players have no idea what they're
going to be facing.  Another thing I do is have an NPC accompany them that I
make sure they know is almost, or just as, powerful as they are.  Then, when
it's time to unleash the beast on them, that NPC is the first to go.  And I
make sure it's in a dark place, like a ship's cargo hold, where they are
sure to see that NPC's demise, which more often than not should be quick,
messy, and doesn't offer that NPC even the opportunity to defend himself.
If the PCs still aren't frightened, who says that monster has to stick
around to fight them?  Especially if it's a creature that stalks its prey.
In fact, that's why I created the scrid entry I posted a few weeks ago.  It
may not fit into everyone's campaign, but for those who use it, I think it
should at least give even the most fearless character pause.
		The key, I think, to getting beyond the hack-n-slash
mentality is time.  It took my group years to appreciate the finer points of
role-playing, myself included.  And we've still got a long way to go.  At
the very least I recommend sitting down with the players and discussing how
you want to take the campaign in a new direction.  It doesn't have to be a
worldshaking event and it doesn't have to require the players to roll up new
1st level characters just so they are able to express more emotion.  The
whole point of level advancement is to allow the characters to grow, not
just in power and hit points, but in the more important aspects such as
personality and responsibility.  I don't mean to sermonize or lecture,
although I guess it kind of sounds like it.  I just like to see DM's happy.
Remember, even Aragorn knew when it was time to retreat.
		--Noah Bonebrake