"My Guy Syndrome"
-
@Tez said in "My Guy Syndrome":
What do you think this looks like in practice?
I think maybe we’re just using different definitions. I’ve literally never heard of yes-and outside of improv acting. Here are a few quotes that reflect how it’s always been explained to me:
a rule-of-thumb in improvisational theater that suggests that an improviser should accept what another improviser has stated (“yes”) and then expand on that line of thinking (“and”)… one should not reject the basic premises introduced by the other person (Wikipedia)
There are no wrong ideas in improv. Every suggestion, no matter how outlandish or seemingly insignificant, is an opportunity to explore and create. By saying “yes, and,” improvisers open themselves up to endless possibilities and tap into a wellspring of creativity. It’s not just about agreeing with your scene partner; it’s also about building on their ideas, no matter how wacky they may seem. (Backstage)
That is just so far from my experience MUSHing I can’t even.
ETA: This “yes and” thing has probably tangented too far to be useful, but the reason I was brought it up originally is because I really don’t think this is the default MU behavior. Folks will consider other players, sure, but mostly they just do what’s fun for them, within the bounds of what they think their character would do. I think that’s why you get a lot of straying over into “my guy” territory.
-
@Faraday said in "My Guy Syndrome":
This “yes and” thing has probably tangented too far to be useful, but the reason I was brought it up originally is because I really don’t think this is the default MU behavior.
I agree it’s not the default, but I’m not sure default MU behavior is what I want out of a MU at this point in my time with the hobby (especially given all of the interesting new RP I’ve done outside of MUing and the few times I’ve done improv on stage).
-
I don’t know if “yes and” is the default of most MUSH players but it certainly is the default in my own play style and the play style of those I actively enjoy playing with. There are many people who will just respond to the prompt and offer nothing in return. When I play, I choose to play with people I can riff off of and will riff back, and I enjoy the whacky shenanigans we get into by expanding on one another’s poses.
More on topic, I find people who are willing to ‘yes and’ are less likely to be a My Guy, because they aren’t really trying to be the main character all the time but truly enjoy having fun with other people and just want to play.
-
Improv stuff aside, what is meant by “My Guy Syndrome” is a particular ordering of priorities. A true “My Guy” player’s priorities have Characterization in some order above “the fun of others” and even above “my own fun”.
A true “My Guy” player is not politely deciding to sit out a session that they just aren’t feeling into. A true “My Guy” player is sitting there staring longingly through the glass wishing they could participate but they feel they cannot because it would contradict Characterization. They signed up for the trip to the dangerous planet, got there, and realized “My guy would stay on the ship” and feel genuinely disarmed and rendered powerless by this realization. That’s what we’re talking about here.
-
I tend to be (I hope) rather nice, understanding and malleable as a player. I tend to yes and for the most part. Which is how one of my chars got married in a pub on a quasi-maybe-date. It leads to some great RP. I also try to go towards the funny and just see what happens.
That said.
I have also played a very arrogant full of himself asshole. He was a great character to play, but he also had money and power behind him so it made him more than a little insufferable. I would OOC disclaimer that as the pilot of my char, I could come up with a reason for him to be there. I can’t guarantee it’s going to be enjoyable for a few different reasons. I was also willing to tone down or full send the jerkfaceness depending on the OOC person and I did check in a lot, BUT the char was designed a certain way. If you weren’t part of his chosen few, you weren’t worthy of air in his eyes. I still had amazing RP and one of his IC best friends started as one of his nemesis at the beginning. It means I can see the ‘my guy’ as also writing for the the story line and where/how your char fits into the story.
