I'd welcome some input! I've been running for a long time, but we all make mistakes- especially in service of upping player choice and drama... or it's just hubris.
A BBEG swept the heroes into a vision, and told them they were too late, their small victories mean nothing, what has begun can't be undone, etc. "Better to serve me and be rewarded." Figuring that as a group they'd of course say "screw you BBEG," I and the BBEG thought to divide them then and there, and offer each of them, individually, the opportunity to serve... and even if none of them took the offer, then there'd be suspicion sown among the party.
Turns out that when spoken with individually some players took the offer, and others didn't.
I have a stated but rarely needed policy on "Open Secrets" aka "Characters keep secrets, players share them."
If you want a rivalry or to pickpocket some bauble as a joke from a player, ask that player first and if y'all are into it, or cool letting the dice decide etc, good.
But this is a bit more than "my character wants to plant a rotten egg in your pack" or "roll insight vs my deception to see if you notice that I'm going to kill this goblin after we're done here."
I suggested the "open secrets" thing and checked with each player if they're cool sharing what they chose and separating the meta knowledge from their characters knowledge. Almost everyone was cool with it- but one wasn't; they thought it'd be better for the story and consequences if it was kept secret from players, that people would make different choices etc.
The entire intent of the "open secrets" thing is to prevent PvP, friction between players, etc. My players are all mature, in our 30s or older.. but folks still get emotionally invested in what happens in the game.
A BBEG swept the heroes into a vision, and told them they were too late, their small victories mean nothing, what has begun can't be undone, etc. "Better to serve me and be rewarded." Figuring that as a group they'd of course say "screw you BBEG," I and the BBEG thought to divide them then and there, and offer each of them, individually, the opportunity to serve... and even if none of them took the offer, then there'd be suspicion sown among the party.
Turns out that when spoken with individually some players took the offer, and others didn't.
I have a stated but rarely needed policy on "Open Secrets" aka "Characters keep secrets, players share them."
If you want a rivalry or to pickpocket some bauble as a joke from a player, ask that player first and if y'all are into it, or cool letting the dice decide etc, good.
But this is a bit more than "my character wants to plant a rotten egg in your pack" or "roll insight vs my deception to see if you notice that I'm going to kill this goblin after we're done here."
I suggested the "open secrets" thing and checked with each player if they're cool sharing what they chose and separating the meta knowledge from their characters knowledge. Almost everyone was cool with it- but one wasn't; they thought it'd be better for the story and consequences if it was kept secret from players, that people would make different choices etc.
The entire intent of the "open secrets" thing is to prevent PvP, friction between players, etc. My players are all mature, in our 30s or older.. but folks still get emotionally invested in what happens in the game.