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Playing as a non-human

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Wed, 2011-11-16 20:42

HyveMynd

Playing as a non-human

Fellow Transhumans, Greetings and salutations! I'll be running a short (2 to 3 session) game of EP for my group early next January (why does real life always get in the way of gaming?) so we all can try out the system and setting. Since this will not be a campaign game, I am giving my players (somewhat strict) guidelines to follow when creating their characters to make sure they are all connected to one another right from the get go. With only 3 sessions max, I feel there won't be time for them to role-play getting to know each other in game, and I really want to avoid both the "I don't trust him so I won't help him" or the "I know he's a PC so I'll just follow him" issues. To achieve that, I'm asking that all of my PCs work for the same hypercorp , only use bio- or pod morphs, and that they all be human. No AGIs or uplifts this time around. That last requirement has rubbed one of my players the wrong way, as he was really hoping to play either an AGI or an uplifted octopus. He argues (quite validly too) that part of RPing is playing as something that you are not. I agree with him, but explained that I wanted to focus on the horror aspect of the game. I argued that playing a non-human allows a player to 'shrug off' horrific or disturbing situations, by simply saying "an AGI wouldn't find that scary" or "an octopus wouldn't be creeped out by that". Now I'm not saying that my player would do that, only that the potential for it exists. I would rather cut out that potential all together. He explained that he could play both the AGI or the uplift as human, since both are raised, programmed, and/or genehacked to act, think, and emote along human lines. I said that if he was going to play an AGI or uplift so that they were no different than a human, then he should just play as a human instead. He didn't really like that. He's accepted the fact that for this adventure he can't be a non-human. But we're still arguing about this in principal. So I'm wondering if anyone out there has any experience or advice they can give me on either playing as a non-human (which I will pass on to him) or on running a game that has a non-human PC. Thanks in advance.

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Wed, 2011-11-16 21:38

Tyrnis

Re: Playing as a non-human

If you're running this for a friend of yours who you know and trust, why _not_ let him play an uplift? If 'an octopus wouldn't be afraid of this' comes up, explain that because of his human socialization, he still does have many of the same fears and stressors as a human, though they may manifest outwardly in different ways, be it eating his own limbs or spraying ink when he panics. He can still be an employee of the hypercorp (or an indenture working for it), so there's no issue on that front. Have both of you read the uplifts chapter in Panopticon? That might help to ease your concerns about having a non-human along in the group somewhat, and would also provide him with some additional information about uplift culture and general treatment of uplifts.

Wed, 2011-11-16 23:34

Yerameyahu Yerameyahu's picture

Re: Playing as a non-human

On the other hand, why not be cool and give the poor GM a break this time? :) It's not an easy job, and the worst part about it is the constant nagging for just a little more, and a little more. If he says he wants to do a more human-horror game, roll with it and do something else next time. I think you made the right call, GM. I don't think the game *couldn't* be run with an octopus, but the GM's comfort level is important—even if he's 'wrong'.

Thu, 2011-11-17 16:09

nezumi.hebereke nezumi.hebereke's picture

Re: Playing as a non-human

I've run with both, and played an uplift (monkey, specifically). In my limited experience, the octopus seems more likely to result in some goofiness, and the AGI is likely to be played as cold and calculating. Of course, this depends wholly on the player, and a good player can play any character appropriate to the story. But without knowing more details, I would agree with your GM call for the sake of a one-shot horror game. Playing non-humans is great, but in a horror plot, it's distracting. If you are playing a campaign, it may be more appropriate, as long as the AGI isn't playing 'stone cold, heartless computer' (similarly, the humans shouldn't be playing Rambo). In a campaign setting, you have time to explore those side themes without it cramping the horror. But again, it depends on having a mautre player. Not something I'd trust to someone who might go off the handle.

Fri, 2011-11-18 17:55

Herbo

Re: Playing as a non-human

Tell your player to sell you on it. It's not good enough to simply want that thing that people aren't supposed to have. That's a knee-jerk reaction for a LOT of humans when they see something with a "not allowed" next to it. If he can come up with a concept that you like then let it roll. Cool characters are win-win. However, if he just keeps spouting off "well I could probably do a good job of it" with no real definitive idea of WHO his space-octopus is going to be, then that's probably all the backup you need to stick to your guns. If he throws a fit about it...he'd have thrown a fit about something when you got going anyway so at least you're getting the tantrums out early.

Fri, 2011-11-18 19:09

Xagroth

Re: Playing as a non-human

Depending on their starting resources, they might have been in the same Gatecrashing group in the past (and that usually creates pretty deep bonds... or sole survivors XD). There isn't really a problem about the terror in a uplift Vs human Vs AGI psyche... if the terror is of the right kind. That is, Event Horizon style, Terminator style, or, in general, ANYTHING related to TITANs and their tech. AGIs and uplifts are "raised" with the sole goal of integration with human society. So they would have almost the same fears than any human might have. AGI's "Real World Naivetè" might pose a problem, however, if the player goes for the "I'm totally inept when it comes to social exchanges" (remind them than Savvy 15 is the average for a 20th century human). Let's see... If you know the "Glory" scenario, any character regardless of his origin would need to make SANity checks when faced with the... triad people. Specially when they see the "matriarch". "Continuity" has another: when the players see their other versions... On a general way, a wandering swarm of nanotech, devouring a friend, and then using him to build some alien tech...

Fri, 2011-11-18 23:18

CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture

Re: Playing as a non-human

Xagroth wrote:
(remind them than Savvy 15 is the average for a 20th century human).

Psst. Savvy 10 would be the average for a 20th century human. 15 is the average for an upgraded transhuman. *ninjabombs away*

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Sat, 2011-11-19 00:20

HyveMynd

Re: Playing as a non-human

Just for the record, I don't have a problem with uplifts or AGIs in general; I think they're pretty neat-o. There's no problem at all with having a non-human in the group, it's not a question of whether a non-human would fit the story or that the other characters won't accept him. I's a question of role playing. I've read the uplift chapter of Panopticon a few times, and while I understand that both uplifts and AGIs are "raised" to function "normally" in transhuman society, I think that kind of allows a player to play an uplift character no differently than they would a human. "I was raised by human parents, so I think, act, and feel exactly like a human would." is not something that I really want to hear in my game. If you're going to have the same fears, stressors, and reactions as a human, why are you *not* just playing a human then? I also tend to run "serious" games, so having my octopus player say "Yikes" I guess I spray ink all over the place!" would kill the tone I'm trying to achieve. I'd be more inclined to let him experiment if this were a campaign, as he'd have more time to get into character. But since this is a three-shot to try and sell my group on a possible EP campaign, I'm inclined to say no. You have given me a lot to think about for when the same player asks to be a space-octopus again if/when the campaign starts.

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Sat, 2011-11-19 06:09

GreyBrother GreyBrother's picture

Re: Playing as a non-human

HyveMynd wrote:
If you're going to have the same fears, stressors, and reactions as a human, why are you *not* just playing a human then?

What sprang to my mind when i read this: Simply put, even if you have the same fear, stressors and reactions as a human, you are still a different race, look different and probably have other modes of thinking. Avian and Cetacean uplifts for example are better at thinking in three dimensions, etc. Compare it to human races. Compare the problems of poor black people and poor white people. Uplifts face racism, enforced poverty or even lack freedom altogether in many places. Conclusion: For truly alien mindsets, your mercurials probably do already belong to the Mercurial faction. And Even when your mercurial is integrated into human society because he had basically no contact with other uplifts (regardless of how realistic that would be, PCs aren't statistic. They simply are), s/he would still show signs of that. Be that loner-tendencies in an cephalopod or favoring a female authority figure for an orca.

Wed, 2016-07-20 10:11

#10

Marijn

Re: Playing as a non-human

If he would be willing to let go of the associated uplift morph, you would already lose a lot of the possible plucky comic relief, keeping your scenario intact. Therefore what is left, is the alienating feeling one gets from interacting with someone who is just a tad... off. This could be easily employed by the [abbr=Game Master]GM[/abbr] to cultivate an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia, which is very conducive to an horror campaign. Especially when the Player decides that the [abbr=Player Character]PC[/abbr] hides the fact that he is an Uplift from his co-workers in order to prevent the effects of Social Stigma (Uplift). An [abbr=Artificial General Intelligence]AGI[/abbr] is an entirely different story. Where the Octopus Uplift sees a lot of use by the clownesque players, the AGI sees employ by the more cerebral and/or stoic characters. At least at what I can conclude from my own table. They often know what they do and a test of character concept as proposed by Herbo, seems to be the most suitable way to find out if your player indeed has the needed understanding to bring justice to such a background or will play merely a glorified calculator.

Thu, 2016-07-21 09:55

#11

jackgraham jackgraham's picture

It's kind of unfair to the

It's kind of unfair to the other players who're following the guidelines. Does he not care about that? (Ah, gamers...) Possible compromise: octo ego in a human body?

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J A C K G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth! http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham

Wed, 2016-07-27 08:29

#12

Panoptic

Both uplifts and AGIs are

Both uplifts and AGIs are normally socialised to fit in with human mores and society. Even the mercurial faction has had only so long to try and drift from those norms. I think an uplift or AGI could be played seriously in a horror game. But that really is down to the player and character in question. If you as a GM are not convinced, then you are in your rights to disallow such.

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