RE: Why we play certain backgrounds less.

[Steve Ames <steve>]

> I wouldn't say that everyone can participate in combat. I have found on
> several occasions (and certainly not just when playing a non-combat oriented
> character) that I have no chance to make any effect on combat. For a number
> of reasons I have been unable to do anything during a combat, and that gets
> frustrating. I also know that this happens to everyone every now and again.
> Think about the last game you ran when nobody once said "punt" when you
> asked them for their action.

Gotta say its been a while... and they only say it once. Because thats
when you as a GM make the determination that one of a few things is
happening here:

1) the player is confused. You the GM then go out of your way to fill in
   gaps to questions that haven't been asked to try to get the player back
   on track as far as adventurer/opponenent placement and situation. This
   is often due to a GM oversite to begin with.

2) The player is just a lame ass. Screw 'em. Focus on people who are there
   to have fun.

3) The player can't really do anything. Sometimes this happens. Often you
   can throw the player a bone. Let them round up the villains horses while
   the rest of the party slaughters... give them a perception check to notice
   something that the others (who are focued on survival/killing) would miss.

> There are people who quickly slip from interested, excited player to bored
> person who just sits there and waits for combat to end.

Double fault in most cases. They should try to do something. Scout around
looking for any other signs of danger (all too easy for an archer to kill
the party during a combat if no one is watching their backs), etc... Also
the GM can give them something to do.

						-Steve