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Myself and 5 friends (one of whom is DM) are playing Warhammer. Increasingly, 3 members want to engage in criminal activities like burglary and robbery, while myself and another party member are scrupulous, honest types, who refuse to turn into common criminals (this is from our character sheet backgrounds, not just our personal opinions).

What's a good way to reconcile this difference? The way it's going at the moment, it won't be long before the 3 wannabe criminals just start leaving me and the other "good" guy alone to go off and burgle some noble's mansion.

We are all good friends in real life, and are "mature" (late 40s/early 50s), and we can all take a fair bit of ribbing, abuse, joking etc - I don't think anyone is close to storming out. The problem really is that we spend a lot of each session arguing about what to do.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Ingame, what is keeping your team together? \$\endgroup\$
    – Erik
    Sep 14, 2020 at 13:38
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    \$\begingroup\$ Is creating new characters an option, or are you and your friend really not interested in a game where you all role play a criminal gang? \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Sep 14, 2020 at 13:46
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    \$\begingroup\$ @MaxWilliams Have you had this Out of Character conversation with the other "good guy" yet? \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Sep 14, 2020 at 14:13
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    \$\begingroup\$ I have not, he said, adding pointless characters to his comment to get past the limit. \$\endgroup\$
    – Max Williams
    Sep 14, 2020 at 14:18
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    \$\begingroup\$ Are you arguing in character or out of character? \$\endgroup\$
    – divibisan
    Sep 14, 2020 at 16:33

2 Answers 2

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Speaking from experience with a mixed alignment party: a common goal in game, is a great way, to help ensure player co-operation. Even a mix of evil (lawful and neutral - chaotic is a no) and good. As it's within the mutual interest of both to work together for it, even if for different in-character reasons.

But if there's no at least starting common goal, they can split away. As seems to be the problem.

For a very broad example, of the sort of thing I mean: there is some bad NPC. He's causing a lot of trouble for innocent civilians. Thus, the two good aligned PCs have an investment in stopping them. But, this NPC is also causing problems for the more crime-orientated PCs. His activities are increasing guards, or he is an active competitor or rival to who they work with, etc. Meaning they also will have an investment in stopping him.

Thus both could work together. Despite personal differences.

Long-term, what happens during this enforced mutual co-operation can help it happen again in the future. The characters all know each other through something big and there could be character and/or plot development which helps facilitate this: but that is less set/guaranteed. As it depends on how it goes.

But, this would likely need to be something that is taken up out-of-character with the GM. Since they are the one with the power to implement something like this. Discuss potentially, if there is the possibility, of some sort of plot-hook which can force this diverging band together.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Thanks - I think that's the answer, that we're splintering because we don't have a clear quest any more. Hopefully the DM can help us find it. I have a feeling we've been given hints to find it but haven't managed to do so. \$\endgroup\$
    – Max Williams
    Sep 14, 2020 at 16:15
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    \$\begingroup\$ Chaotic Evil can work, as long as the player is willing to have random bouts of cooperation. I played a CE fighter in an evil campaign; the LE cleric and wizard tried to politic control of the group from each other, but both worried about the fighter that rolled 19 and 20 to shrug off Will saves and could out-fight the entire party. When the fighter caught on, he laughed, chugged a beer, and walked out of the meeting to get laid. He was the CE glue of that group. \$\endgroup\$
    – ValhallaGH
    Sep 15, 2020 at 2:38
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    \$\begingroup\$ After some email chat we've agreed on some shared goals, one of which (I think) will lead us on to an actual from-the-book quest, so thanks for the advice. \$\endgroup\$
    – Max Williams
    Sep 16, 2020 at 10:07
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See if there is a way to achieve both goals at the same time. On the face of it, it seems incompatible.

But what is the "criminal" group really interested in? Maybe they just want to be evil, then it's not going to work.

But probably you could be spies/agents for a righteous cause, and everyone could enjoy it.

The "criminal" elements get to act like thugs sometimes, intimidate somewhat evil people, break into stuff, maybe even rob, ahem I mean confiscate some stuff. You can participate grudgingly seeing the necessity of it, and send a letter to get them reimbursed from the crown.

Basically you do a lot of stuff thats normally criminal/immoral, but because you are sanctioned by the crown and it's for the greater good of the realm it's OK. This even has some support in the Rulebook, one of the backgrounds is Spy.

Based on my experience of playing as a Rogue, and wanting to do Rogue stuff.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Good advice, thanks. As it turned out, we didn't go and become thieves, and for that reason we took about a month longer to finish the adventure than we perhaps could have. \$\endgroup\$
    – Max Williams
    Jan 15, 2021 at 17:06

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