Comments on: Bribing the GM http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:46:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: longcoat000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9427 longcoat000 Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:48:41 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9427 I'm with you, Martin. We did use rampant bribery back in Jr. High / High School, for stuff like bonus XP, magic items, or an extra Psionics roll (back in 1st Edition), but looking back on it years later, it seems pretty silly. Then again, back then we were more about the munchkin than the role-playing, which has been completely reversed these days. The more I think about it, the more I realized our early games were EXACTLY like KotDT. Anyone else have that feeling? I’m with you, Martin. We did use rampant bribery back in Jr. High / High School, for stuff like bonus XP, magic items, or an extra Psionics roll (back in 1st Edition), but looking back on it years later, it seems pretty silly. Then again, back then we were more about the munchkin than the role-playing, which has been completely reversed these days.

The more I think about it, the more I realized our early games were EXACTLY like KotDT. Anyone else have that feeling?

]]> By: Frank Filz http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9410 Frank Filz Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:28:35 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9410 Back in college in the Cold Iron games, we had cookie crit pro. It was awarded for supplying the GM (or even the group) with snacks. What it was good for was reducing the effect of a critical hit on your character, one time only. I don't actually remember it being used, though I'm sure it did get used. I think it has a minor beneficial effect. With players who are still learning social graces, it helps reinforce the idea that when someone is presenting to you, it doesn't make sense to make everybody wait while they run down stairs to get a soda (cookie crit pro was offered most often in my game for people to run and get me a soda, I usually even paid for it). Jeff: Yea, that's a different category. How can you expect a GM to run the game without all the rules? I have even heard of players bribing GMs to run a new game this way ("Here nice GM, here's a copy of Monster Slayer 2000!"). For a while, back in college, when I was short on cash, and running lots of modules, we as a group decided to have the group chip in and buy modules. After we were done with the modules, they were offered to the players. Obviously at some point these things become power trips for the GM, though as long as all the players are comfortable, what's wrong with it? Frank Back in college in the Cold Iron games, we had cookie crit pro. It was awarded for supplying the GM (or even the group) with snacks. What it was good for was reducing the effect of a critical hit on your character, one time only. I don’t actually remember it being used, though I’m sure it did get used.

I think it has a minor beneficial effect. With players who are still learning social graces, it helps reinforce the idea that when someone is presenting to you, it doesn’t make sense to make everybody wait while they run down stairs to get a soda (cookie crit pro was offered most often in my game for people to run and get me a soda, I usually even paid for it).

Jeff: Yea, that’s a different category. How can you expect a GM to run the game without all the rules? I have even heard of players bribing GMs to run a new game this way (“Here nice GM, here’s a copy of Monster Slayer 2000!”). For a while, back in college, when I was short on cash, and running lots of modules, we as a group decided to have the group chip in and buy modules. After we were done with the modules, they were offered to the players.

Obviously at some point these things become power trips for the GM, though as long as all the players are comfortable, what’s wrong with it?

Frank

]]> By: nephlm http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9408 nephlm Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:33:45 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9408 Hmmm... I'm not sure which side of this divide I'm on. I do receive bonus xp from my GM for such things as bringing food/beverages and early arrival, but although the GM instituted the system, he doesn't have much subjective control over the giving of the xp. There is a standard reward which the gm adjusts as we level and if you meet the criteria (bringing food, early arrival, beat the gm, scribe, others) you get the reward. So at this point is it bribery or part of the game system we play? Hmmm… I’m not sure which side of this divide I’m on. I do receive bonus xp from my GM for such things as bringing food/beverages and early arrival, but although the GM instituted the system, he doesn’t have much subjective control over the giving of the xp.

There is a standard reward which the gm adjusts as we level and if you meet the criteria (bringing food, early arrival, beat the gm, scribe, others) you get the reward.

So at this point is it bribery or part of the game system we play?

]]> By: Jeff Rients http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9407 Jeff Rients Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:19:25 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9407 My standing rule is that I only allow classes, races, feats, and spells out of D&D books I own. This has resulted in some players buying me copies of books they want to use. I don't consider that bribery since all the players can take full advantage of the book, but others might interpret the situation differently. My standing rule is that I only allow classes, races, feats, and spells out of D&D books I own. This has resulted in some players buying me copies of books they want to use. I don’t consider that bribery since all the players can take full advantage of the book, but others might interpret the situation differently.

]]> By: ScottM http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9406 ScottM Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:15:00 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9406 It has never come up seriously in the groups I've played it, though we do joke about it. I suspect that's Munchkin bleed over, but it's still amusing. It has never come up seriously in the groups I’ve played it, though we do joke about it. I suspect that’s Munchkin bleed over, but it’s still amusing.

]]> By: BluJai http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9404 BluJai Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:40:54 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9404 I used to play with the Camarilla, White Wolf's LARP organization. I don't know if it was common outside our area, but players were eligible to receive Prestige (a player-level XP allowing you greater clout and character abilities) for bringing food and beverages to games. Providing a game site also gave such benefits. I don't recall it ever being used for character XP, but there was plenty of other cheesiness going on with that. I used to play with the Camarilla, White Wolf’s LARP organization. I don’t know if it was common outside our area, but players were eligible to receive Prestige (a player-level XP allowing you greater clout and character abilities) for bringing food and beverages to games. Providing a game site also gave such benefits.

I don’t recall it ever being used for character XP, but there was plenty of other cheesiness going on with that.

]]> By: Calybos http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9403 Calybos Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:55:46 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9403 I encourage GM bribes; heck, I once even posted a bribe/rewards table on my GM screen! The rewards range from bonus XP (chocolate) to godhood (sex). Now, I do make sure that the reward for bribes is something minor that doesn't really affect the game balance: in 7th Sea, candy for the GM gets you extra Drama Dice, for example. But basically, it's harmless fun. I encourage GM bribes; heck, I once even posted a bribe/rewards table on my GM screen! The rewards range from bonus XP (chocolate) to godhood (sex).

Now, I do make sure that the reward for bribes is something minor that doesn’t really affect the game balance: in 7th Sea, candy for the GM gets you extra Drama Dice, for example. But basically, it’s harmless fun.

]]> By: Rick the Wonder Algae http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9402 Rick the Wonder Algae Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:42:23 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9402 <i>Martin Says: “Give me a backrub with a happy finish, and I’ll give you an extra level.” Wow, that puts a whole new spin on this, blackheart! </i> My wife refuses to be bribed like this on the grounds "For it to be fair, you'd have to give ALL the players that option." Martin Says:
“Give me a backrub with a happy finish, and I’ll give you an extra level.” Wow, that puts a whole new spin on this, blackheart!

My wife refuses to be bribed like this on the grounds “For it to be fair, you’d have to give ALL the players that option.”

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9400 Martin Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:37:51 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9400 "Give me a backrub with a happy finish, and I'll give you an extra level." Wow, that puts a whole new spin on this, blackheart! ;) “Give me a backrub with a happy finish, and I’ll give you an extra level.” Wow, that puts a whole new spin on this, blackheart! ;)

]]> By: blackheart5 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9399 blackheart5 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:30:00 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9399 Yeah, I've done that before as a joke plenty of times, but rarely did anyone actually do it. Probably because they knew it was a hollow joke. I've dated a couple of my players in the past, it actually worked most of the time in their case. :) Yeah, I’ve done that before as a joke plenty of times, but rarely did anyone actually do it. Probably because they knew it was a hollow joke. I’ve dated a couple of my players in the past, it actually worked most of the time in their case. :)

]]> By: Abulia http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9398 Abulia Sun, 11 Feb 2007 18:12:16 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9398 I've been known to play games of chance for the opportunity to gain some tangible benefit in-game. Had one DM who was ultra-competitive and through a challenge at darts, got my druid in his game some special shapeshifting abilities. In another dart game I let him, the winner, select the class of starship to be used in our upcoming <i>Star Trek</i> campaign. I’ve been known to play games of chance for the opportunity to gain some tangible benefit in-game. Had one DM who was ultra-competitive and through a challenge at darts, got my druid in his game some special shapeshifting abilities.

In another dart game I let him, the winner, select the class of starship to be used in our upcoming Star Trek campaign.

]]> By: drow http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/bribing-the-gm/comment-page-1#comment-9397 drow Sun, 11 Feb 2007 07:42:52 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=628#comment-9397 dang. its like a whole new world, opening up to me... ;) dang. its like a whole new world, opening up to me… ;)

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