Player or Watcher? Which do you choose?

[mocachild]

So just out of curiosity, do you prefer to be a Watcher or a player? (or both). And as a player do you have a favorite character that you like to run?

For me, I like both, but with my play group I prefer to be the Watcher (but that has to do with the fact that everyone is brand new to RPGs and so they need a lot more experience to be a good Watcher right now . With that said though, I love to play as a character a lot too. My favorite character to run (at least recently has been Black Widow, not just because of her datafile but because I really got into her character and just pulled off some really fun narratives with her. She was MVP for one of my play sessions. It was a blast.

[Supplanter]

So just out of curiosity, do you prefer to be a Watcher or a player? (or both). And as a player do you have a favorite character that you like to run?

For me, I like both, but with my play group I prefer to be the Watcher (but that has to do with the fact that everyone is brand new to RPGs and so they need a lot more experience to be a good Watcher right now . With that said though, I love to play as a character a lot too. My favorite character to run (at least recently has been Black Widow, not just because of her datafile but because I really got into her character and just pulled off some really fun narratives with her. She was MVP for one of my play sessions. It was a blast.

I enjoy both. I probably prefer playing. Being a MURPG Watcher involves somewhat more prep than, say, Leverage - at least if you want to run original events, and I'm a pretty lazy GM.

I've enjoyed playing every character I've tried except Sentry. So, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Luke Cage, Iron Man and Magnitude (original hero in our ongoing campaign).


Jim

[mocachild]

sweet Supplanter. I'm with you. Being a Watcher for this game does take a lot of prep. Although I have thrown together some "winging it scenarios" and they have worked fairly well (definitely not as good as well planned one, but hey at least we got to play ).

[EldritchFire]

Both.

I'm an altoholic, or someone who likes to play loads of different characters. Being Watcher, I can get my fix with each NPC I play.

Being a player, it's cool that I can change datafiles between events. I always love playing the Iron Man clone, so actually playing him is EPIC!!!!1!1!1!1!!!!!1!1!ONE!!!1!1!1!1!!!

I really want to try out Cyclops, since he only has one power set, while Ms. Marvel has a cool backstory that I wouldn't mind delving into. And let's face it, who doesn't love Spider-Man?

-EF

[Doc_Nova]

I enjoy being a Watcher more than a player, and that goes with nearly any game. I love watching players' faces light up when they figure things out, or seeing their energy ramp up as they pull off a cool maneuver or kick the bad guy's face in. I get a real hoot out of challenging them creatively, pushing their characters to the limit, and cheering them on when they pull off the impossible. I have no hang-ups on losing my NPCs. Like Doritos, I'll just make more.

As a playable data file, however, I have to say I enjoy the myriad of influences and battlefield controls that Mister Fantastic brings to the tabletop. That one seems to scream "ingenious, outside the envelop gameplay is a MUST!" to me.

[salsa]

I've been a GM for a myriad of games since I was 12 (and I'm 29), first game was Toon. And the thing is, for the first time, I don't feel so comfortable at Watchering (lol, new verb) this particular game. The reason is simple, just because my Marvel knowledge is so scarce I'd feel bad if I said something that defies cannon or common sense in the marvel universe. So, for now I prefer to play it.

[chaosnet]

I enjoy being the Watcher as I can get my multiple personality fix in. I also prefer to have players create their own characters to integrate into the story.

The only issue that I have is with the XP system. In my mind, unless you are intentionally creating a novice character and using xps to increase your power sets then most characters should be pretty much as is. Spiderman's power set has been the same since his inception (pretty much) but he has probably earned LOTS of xps, enough in fact to have increased all of his power traits to D12.

I had a conversation with one of my players and told him that just because you CAN increase your Radiation Control D10 to Radiation Mastery D12, it doesnt mean that you SHOULD. IF it fits your character concept then I as the Watcher am fine with it, but if it doesnt he shouldnt raise it.

For this player it worked, but for other players im not so sure that it would. How do I apply the breaks to having a player become an "All D12 Power Trait God"?

[Roman Virtue]

Reset stats between events.

[EldritchFire]

Chaosnet: unlockables and Plot Points. Remind players they can spend 1XP for 1PP. For the instant gratification folks, that'll get them through just one more encounter.

For the players who want to invest in their character, find out what they're looking for in the game and give them unlockables that satisfy their cravings. Do they want to rise in ranks at SHIELD? 5XP gives them one SHIELD agent, 10XP gives them a squad of agents, and 15XP gets them a promotion.

Things like that.

-EF

[Thorguild]

I'd rather play as a PC, but most of the time I end up as a GM.

Often I find that I want more control over the game world when I've played as a PC for a while. I think "Wouldn't the game be cooler if this happened?". Or I think, "That result didn't make sense to me."

That's what has me excited about MHR: the players are the Writers of their characters! If I want my PSI character to stop a battle I don't have to bludgeon the baddies to a stop, or spurt their brains out of their ears. I can say "I'm appealing to his reasonable side, while influencing him towards calm". D8 mental stress; when he gets to d12+ he stops fighting. Sweet!

Thorguild