We’re 3 game sessions deep into a Vampire the Masquerade chronicle. I’ve just heard from one of my players that they feel like they’ve put a bit too much of themselves into their character, and they’re starting to get uncomfortable with it. As such, they’d like to roll up a new char sheet and bring their current character out of the game. We’ve talked a little bit about whether they want their character to die, or to permanently leave the party, and that’s still up in the air.
This is my first time as GM, and I’d like a few pointers on how to work with this. From an “off the table” perspective, I’ve already had a conversation with this player about what their needs are. I’m confident that the overall game is still fun for them, and that this isn’t about any player-player dynamics.
From a narrative perspective, I’d love to hear how others have dealt with this before. In the past 3 sessions, I haven’t had the chance to bring out the kind of enemies who could kill a PC outright (bloodthirsty elders, second inquisition deathsquads, conniving underlings). I don’t want the player to have to go through several more sessions with a character they dislike just because it would have more punch further down the line.
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Unless they specifically asked me to do this, it would feel like twisting a knife in the player. If they tell me that they feel like the character is too connected to their IRL personality, then turning them into an NPC would make the problem worse. Not only might they still feel like the character is a reflection of themselves, but now they can’t even exercise control over the actions of that character, thus possibly internalizing those actions negatively on themselves. Best case scenario: they think I’m an asshole. Worst case scenario: they take it personally.
Good instinct, and I’d say given their reason for making the change that would be very insensitive.