Narcissistic Author Wants to be the Perfect Main Character - RPG Horror Stories

[@kcollier2192]

Well, being a Published Author, Mary would of course be The Main Character. I mean, she IS a Published Author- the same way Brian Griffin is a Published Author...and probably just as good

[@WyvernLostThePlot]

You give her to much credit, she could never match Brian Griffin.

[@Tytoalba777]

Somehow this story went backwards. Most of the time, the players tell DM's to go write a book if they're so insistent about telling "their story." This time, we got someone who wrote books barging in on a campaign and looked to conform the story to her will.

[@CrispysTavern]

Yeah, that’s why this one caught my attention so quickly. Nice to have a change of pace

[@badtoyhouse]

10 personalities is actually pretty reasonable for an actual person with dissociative identity disorder, but definitely a nightmare of character relationship management, ESPECIALLY for a first time player. Also the absolute ARROGANCE of calling the LA By Night team amateur. The GM is literally one of the developers of the entire goddamn game.

[@davidspring4003]

Something to remember: everyone is the main character in D&D. They each have abilities that help them be badasses, have their own backstories and reasons to he adventuring. Now, maybe as the time goes by, one of you might organically become the defacto leader of the party, but that doesn't actually make you the main character any more than Captain America is the main character of Avengers movies.

[@AuntLoopy123]

This is SO true! And an excellent comparison. They get their own stories, and then they come together and blend for an adventure together.

[@jmrggrmj9330]

I’m pausing right now the video as soon as I heard YA author, narcissist in the title and Mary Sue in the thumbnail, it all just clicked I already know the path of this but can’t help to check anyway.

[@dead_vibes]

"Mary, it'll have a deeper meaning" ah yes quite the riddle.

[@Ottibean]

I really feel for the first DM. I had a close friend of mine, sigh, stand up and say, "Yeah this kinda sucks. I'm gonna head out." It made me terrified of DMing and I'm no longer friends with that person.

[@AuntLoopy123]

At the character concept creation, OP should have said, "This is your first game. Please choose ONE character to play. You can get more complex after you have more experience under your belt. Perhaps we can have something traumatic trigger you FORMING an extra personality. That would certainly be dramatic and interesting. But remember, the point of the backstory is to establish the BASICS of your character. The REAL character development comes DURING the story. If you start out too high, you'll have nowhere to climb." At the first "He should have been a sniveling puppy at my feet!" OP should have told her, "No. You do NOT control other characters. You do NOT control the world or the lore. You control yourself. ONLY yourself. You did a great job controlling yourself in this little adventure! Great job! Stick with that! You're doing well." Because she was, other than the "I think your NPC should be like this, which is an absolute No-No in RP games, and she SHOULD be told that ASAP." And don't be afraid to break immersion, in the moment, to tell your player, "No. That is incorrect. There are no other Anarch fledglings needing to be rescues. Remember: You control YOUR character, and ONLY your character. If you want ME to change the lore, you contact ME and *I* will let you know IF I will change the lore. I'll let you know IN GAME." Buuuut, she probably would have gone all "victim/martyr" on you at that point, because "I KNOW BETTER." She knows how to write a book. THIS is not a book. This is a collaborative game, and she is not THE protagonist. She is A protagonist, among several, and she needs to SHARE. I would have called a break during that talk-over-everyone introduction to the Prince. During the break, I would have said, "Mary, I love that you're really getting into your character. However, do you see that you are upsetting the other players? Please be aware that you are not the star of the story. You are one of several. And you need to be polite to the other PLAYERS, if not to the other CHARACTERS. They're different, but it can be confusing. See, your CHARACTER is a talk-over-interrupting type. You need to let the PLAYERS know that your character has this flaw, but YOU do not, and you do not want them to feel that you are running roughshod all over them, so please break out of character from time to time, and say, "Sorry, Roger. I'm not talking over YOU. My character is talking over your character. This is an opportunity for character development, as we learn to work together, through our flaws. Perhaps our characters can have a discussion later, about how my character's behavior was problematic, and how we should work together in the future." Either that, or you can have your character be more interested in working together, and cooperating from the get-go. We could go back and start this scene over, if you'd like." After all she did, I don't blame OP for just dropping it. And then, Lily TRYING to help, being called a "dick move" was just the last straw. Her "Woe is me! People don't think I'm perfect and suck up to me! I'm SORRY! Except I'm not really, because it's your fault for not sucking up to me, and not at all my fault for not following the rules," would have driven me round the bend. I hope OP GMs again, for better people.

[@mikaneko]

Honestly I feel like OP should have just kicked Roger and his Sue girlfriend out period before things escalated to the point that it did because then they could still have run a campaign, gotten some new, better players, and not been left with a bad taste in their mouth. I do like your breakdown points though.

[@GrievousFrom]

The weird-sounding "classes" are just what "house" of vampire you are. Based on their skills and background and all that, each vampire will fit in best in a particular house.

[@JD-mh8be]

Very first story if my "friends" pulled that stunt I'd probably reconsider our friendship

[@DrPluton]

Most new players to VtM end up with something simple like a Gangrel drifter or a Brujah street thug. Multiple personalities and making up lore? Throw the whole woman away.

[@todo9633]

It'd be interesting to play a Malkavian who had multiple personalities(10 seems a bit much tho lol) and believed in a whole bunch of made up lore or remembered a fake backstory, it'd need to be okayed with the GM but it'd be interesting watching the other players try to navigate the minefield of crazy and misinformation.

[@nvfury13]

My first VtM character was a Toreador musician and painter.

[@dorca9308]

Pro tip: if someone thinks that writing a book is like writing for a ttrpg, they are very wrong

[@notoriouswhitemoth]

This was Vampire: the Masquerade, not D&D - but the principle still applies. Cooperative multiplayer.

[@davidspring4003]

Maybe competitive multi-player (which VtM is more geared towards), but yeah, no one played character is more main than any other.

[@notoriouswhitemoth]

@@davidspring4003 ... no it very much is not, and I can prove it: "It is your responsibility to take on a role that's not detrimental to the coterie." 20th anniversary edition, core book, chapter 3, section 3, paragraph 6; p. 79. The very idea of all the players being on the same team is fundamentally antithetical to competitive multiplayer.

[@davidspring4003]

@@notoriouswhitemoth i'm just saying a lot of people do play it with intrigue and backstabbing in mind and it's a system that's more geared towards that than D&D. And even if it was ALL about the backstabbing (which, even at it's backstabbiest, it isn't), it would still require some level of cooperation in order to do ANYTHING.

[@notoriouswhitemoth]

@@davidspring4003 D&D attracts a lot of edgelords and murderhobos too - and from what I've heard, the way Gygax ran it, D&D 1e was explicitly asymmetrical competitive multiplayer ... which doesn't make sense, because realistically, the only possible way for the GM to lose is to forfeit.

[@davidspring4003]

@@notoriouswhitemoth oh, yeah, no, not saying otherwise XD

[@marybdrake1472]

Geez, Mary just sounds like a toxic nightmare.

[@LordSvzklx]

The “those poor souls” bit at the end has honestly made me wonder if Roger and Mary have been the subject of any other horror stories, we just don’t realise with the code names and all…

[@360entertainment2]

I kind of assume a lot of the antagonists of these stories are also antagonists elsewhere after jumping to different groups!

[@Eantrin]

Huh, Luthor Harkon is the thumbnail, probably not relevant. *10 different personalities vampire pc* Aaaahhh, cheeky.

[@marcusreading3783]

I'm something of an amateur writer myself and I'm hoping to get a real book published at some point in the future (considering my habits when it comes to writing, probably sometime around the heat death of the Universe), but I'd never approach a TTRPG the same way as I approach my writing...mostly. I do approach my characters backstory like that, but I'd always check with my DM before adding anything in. For example, with my current one, my character comes from a small island famed for healing potions and skilled Monks. The DM was fine with it, but if they werent, I'd have shuffled some things around to make it work. I also would never try and make my character the centre of the story.

[@Theokal3]

Nah, the pronounciations are good^^ and if you need help, basically here are the short summaries: * Lasombra: dark aristocrat vampires with shadow powers * Malkavian: insane vampires with the ability to induce madness into others * Toreador: Sexy vampires with a good taste for art * Ministry (or Settite): Evil tempter vampires with snake powers. Hopefully that helps^^

[@sovest555]

The snapping at the DM while also sneaking in 'apologies' kind of manipulation reminded me a lot of a player I had for a Ravnica D&D campaign once. I did allow her a bit more story relevance since she was the only one in the party that cared enough for MtG lore, but there were times when she was obviously misinterpreting the rules to make herself seem more awesome and complaining when stuff didn't go her way (while of course backpedaling with 'apologies' when called out for it). The icing on the cake was, eventually when I was rid of her, I apparently heard that she had grown disdainful of TTRPGs because 'they had too much RNG'. Funny, considering she was also talking about starting her own campaign at one point...

[@Michaeljack81sk]

Props to OP for trying his best to work with Mary at every point. I mean, she had every chance...

[@Xyros11]

Ahah, the blood runs cold We take our loot but don't get old

[@lavender317]

Huh, ableism is certainly a new one, but it doesn't surprise me that at least one of these stories covers it

[@Tirath]

Anyone else confused by how much RP took place BEFORE session zero?

[@brandonletzko4239]

For the whole making up lore for the campaign bit. I'd be tempted to run with her ideas only for them to turn out to be a developing psychosis within that characters mind.

[@AuntLoopy123]

This is COOL! Especially when you consider that she did the classic "I gave my starting character a complete pre-adventure NOVEL, and now my character has nowhere to go." The thing about these TTRPG games is that you are supposed to be TELLING the origin story, not say, "Well, Superman is well established, and he's doing this, now." That's for a second campaign, same players, or at least later in the long-running campaign.

[@thunderflare59]

Is that "writer" aware TTRPGs aren't books?

[@kikiblair5132]

She seems like the type of person who thinks Empress Theresa is a good book.

[@hdnfbp]

She write YA novels mate, she probably wrote smt as good as ET

[@kikiblair5132]

@@hdnfbp are you actually familiar with the book I mentioned? KrimsonRogue does like a 6 hour review of it.

[@hdnfbp]

@@kikiblair5132 Yes i'm too much familiar with that painful masterpiece, it was my ironic entertainment for ages

[@kikiblair5132]

@@hdnfbp I watched Krimson's entire review and it's insane. I'm still trying to make it through his coverage of Onision's books.

[@hdnfbp]

@@kikiblair5132 i saw each and everyone like 2 or 3 times, play some game like "How will they do it" or "Will this be that bad" make it so much more bearable, tho you will end up purging all from your memory real quick anyway

[@Til_I_Collapse]

Mass narcissism is definitely on the rise. Mary, get over yourself.

[@easiestcc6451]

Agreed

[@SpinaTube1]

Imagine being so boring of a dm that the ENTIRE group taps out to play cards against hunanity and you think they're the issue lmao

[@ironnoah9461]

Still rude AF though

[@stevdawizard392]

So in Vampire instead of classes you got clans and each one is different and they all (somewhat) cater to what kind of character you want to build, there's even an option to just not pick one

[@xartancebaldus6902]

You're pronouncing the Clan names pretty well.

[@themastigosqueen3280]

I mean honestly in defense of Roger immediately falling in love is still kinda in line with a Malkavian

[@ebanker1]

The slight issue I've found with any tabletop games and writers is that they write a character to be the center of attention and a main character... when tabletop games are made too be a team based game and they get annoyed that others get the spotlight.

[@nvfury13]

Oh man…I’ve got a VtM horror story I haven’t thought about in a while. If you heard Mr. Ripper tell the “stupid character death” story of “Dollar Store Elric” it was that same player back when we were in Basic Training together.

[@celiand2618]

Am afraid but LA by Night is pretty good... Nice character interactions, the actors/players know their lore... They are the Critical role for VtM ? Pros making a show to give you some roleplay lessons ? Twilight is NOT a sourcebook. Even for changelings.

[@hdnfbp]

I love how he murder every name to the point that he spell "Seneschal" wrong

[@kevinkrueger7479]

I love how you murdered this sentence, spelling "murdered" and "spelled" wrong, in addition to neglecting the period at the end. Really? I won't even address the shit grammar. Ignorant, arrogant and stupid is no way to go through life.

[@hdnfbp]

@@kevinkrueger7479 yeah, i think you got the joke mate

[@nvfury13]

11:15 Well, Malkavian is the “we all have mental disorders” Clan, so a weird sudden obsession makes sense…

[@SolrSurfr3]

I’m now genuinely curious to skim through one of Mary’s books just to see how bad it is, but I wouldn’t want to support such a narcissist by actually paying money for it.

[@byronsmothers8064]

D&D is a group system with no functional pvp system, VtM is a protagonists encouraged system that expects you to turn on each other in the endgame. 'EVENTUALLY', your goals may conflict with other characters, as is the nature of the clans, but to conspire on session 0 for a full party slaughter, because you want to be the only character playing in session 1...

[@AuntLoopy123]

Yeah, I would have booted them right then, if I'd heard about it.

[@talkingwithadam812]

Ive written books and written dnd stuff. They are vastly different styles of writing. Book: has plot, setting, and interesting characters, and a conclusion Dnd dm: write plot and setting, leave conclusion open ended. Dont write main characters. Dnd player: just write an interesting character

[@wolfherojohnson2766]

8:35 I don’t know what to say here…

[@ivorydungeons3064]

Well that was a new kind of crazy

[@ondrejhavlina2293]

I used to just get the hardest main character syndrome I thankfully got out of that but my cousin still hates me for it and always is a bit cautious when playing dnd with me

[@todo9633]

It sounded like she wanted to play a Malkavian, acted like one too lol.

[@MaeljinRajah]

Sounds like she was literally ripping off Typhoid Mary from Marvel

[@schwarzerritter5724]

A young adult novel author wants to play a character with 10 separate personalities and a lot more power and influence the should have. Yeah, that checks out.

[@gary-from-smiths-across-th9641]

Lasombra = Aristocrats with shadow powers Toreador = hedonistic artists and/or art critics Malkavians = crazy vampires with MPD (though sometimes there is truth in their madness ...)

[@JoshtheOverlander]

I just read this one a couple days ago! XD

[@trinstonmichaels7062]

Trinston was here. .

[@OverlordARG]

Car meal...haha

[@dcgamer_14s.o.s.85]

If someone told me this was the same author of "The handbook for mortals", I would believe them. Besides how much of a bad player and friend she is, she seems like an horrible author and person all together. The main character sindrome hurts my soul in a deeper level.

[@proteanvixen]

By the time she announced a second personality who was a woman but also somehow a drag queen, i'd have been out. That's not a drag queen, that's just a trans woman. Way to go with the massive transphobia, Mary.

[@WyvernLostThePlot]

i've seen women do drag makeup and dress, is that still considered a drag queen or no?

[@Necromancer1230]

@@WyvernLostThePlot Biqqueens (Which is a term I've seen used for ciswomen who participate in drag) do exist and well they aren't super prominent to my knowledge (as someone with only a passing knowledge of drag from having watched other people I know discuss it).

[@nozhena]

L.A. by NIght is impressive. Jason Carls storytelling is absolutely great. Sure, some Minor Characters aren't that great at acting (looking at the cringy biker chicks... ^^"), but the main cast (minus one, maybe) is really great.

[@AmrodRamas]

Same story narrated by CritCrab, Den of the Drake and Crispy...same outcome 😆

[@gh0s7-704]

me: "I'm genderfluid" what people think I mean: *whatever that character was*

[@WyvernLostThePlot]

don't you know? genderfluid = multiple person in brain

[@theuncalledfor]

It's like a cat, except gender, because cats are also liquid. (I am joking.)

[@gary-from-smiths-across-th9641]

It didn't click on first viewing but whose brilliant idea was it to let the new player play as the clan of former Set worshippers?

[@kiravremyanoi4772]

double personality...masquerade universe..female character..wonder if I heard that before.Jokes aside,if your player is straight up copying everything up from somewhere,they probably will put as much effort into the game as much as they did into the creation.

[@attentivechair3248]

I would not read her books.

[@WyvernLostThePlot]

I wanna know what they are just to see if there worse than that character

[@SomeRandomNub]

TEAM MALKAVIAN BABY

[@realrealwarpet]

Why would i be down for a dnd game of CAH. Make all players RP as their characters playing the game. DM is always dealer

[@angelamurao8273]

What. Just what.

[@chantelle9156]

Lol. The way he is mispronouncing all these Vampire: the Masquerade terms.