Paranoid DM [Archive] - Wizards Community

Paranoid DM [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MiscDebris
03-01-04, 04:42 PM I'm a reformed powergamer (admitting it is well on your way to solving it heh), and I seem to have made a mistake. I used to be pretty bad. During that time, there were a few shining examples of my attempt to role play more, but those tended to annoy the DM I had at the time, and so they went down hill as well.

I just recently moved across the country, thus a new gaming group. The problem comes where I informed my DM of my past powergaming tendencies. So after I moved I thought I was being smart in informing my DM of that. Now I have a paranoid DM. Questioning every choice I made. Worried I'm exploiting some hidden rule, when all I really want to do is play the character. It bothers me more than a little as that out of all the players in the group, I am the only one getting this treatment.

Any ideas on how to go about getting around this? Beyond getting a new DM, of course. I've a pair of characters I am interested in playing, and I would prefer them un-nerfed.

TIA
MiscDebris
Dawnspeaker
03-01-04, 04:51 PM Really all you can do is make you characters by the book, don't seek the loopholes in rules and just stay standard for a little bit. Show by example....or bash him with a rusty frying pan and scream your reform to his bloody skull:devil:
Cynosure
03-01-04, 07:30 PM I would suggest speaking to your DM in private, if that's possible. Tell him that you don't appreciate being singled out and that you would like to be treated like the other players. He may not even realize he's doing it. Dawnspeaker's suggestion was a good one, especially if you loathe confrontation.
MiscDebris
03-02-04, 12:33 AM Swash 2, Bard 4, Lasher 10, Bard 8 (i'm only 6th right now). No loopholes. Nothing the DM doesn't approve of. Nothing broken. The whole concept is helping the other party members function better, and I've even nerfed that somewhat. And still the DM worries.

I've spoken to my DM several times, making it a point that very very soon, this will be a support character, and coming nowhere near the damage output of the other party members. I've even shown her the numbers. And still the DM worries.

I'm not going to be running off, as I like the party I'm with, but this is bothering me more than a little.

I appreciate the help I've recieved thus far. They are both very good ideas. I am open to trying anything anyone can think of.

TIA
MiscDebris
Ahnehnois
03-02-04, 06:52 AM Any DM should support min/maxing to the extent that is realistic. If he opposes prestige class loading to get 20 versions of rage that stack that's fine. If she opposes a support character multiclassing in and out of bard she is paranoid. Your character is perfectly reasonable and not by any stretch of the imagination is he overpowered.

The thing to do is have a private DM discussion and be completely frank. If the DM is taking the fun out of the game for you, she should be willing to look closely at her attitude.
Jaxian Redleaf
03-04-04, 01:04 AM You took the lasher PrC? you are not minmaxing! And you can tell your DM i said so...
Kaalan
03-05-04, 02:53 PM you dont have 3 level of swashbuckler?

no way in hell you are powergaming...
MiscDebris
03-05-04, 05:23 PM I am thinking about taking that third level later. I'm more for supporting the party (more spells and bardic music) and having my concept backed up by game mechanics (more skill points) than doing damage myself. At least with this character.

Lasher is all about flavor. It's an FR based campaign, and I recently re-watched Underworld. I know the lasher in the movie gets owned, but it's a stylin concept. And since the diety, Sune, has a whip as her favored weapon, I went with an art collector/fence/smuggler that works closely with the church of Sune.

Oddly, this makes me the fighter of the party. We have a ranger2/cleric4, a psychic warrior7/crystalmaster0 (he's going that way), a rogue6/shadowdancer0, and a wizard7/fatespinner0. In the not too distant future, we all basically become wizard support as far as damage goes. We've all good characters. All on concept, and not all that powerful. I would keep going, but then this would become character optimization instead of development.

Thanx for the help everyone.

Has anyone else has something similar happen?

TIA
MiscDebris
Cynosure
03-07-04, 05:30 AM I think in your situation, I'd be far less patient than you have been. I'd say "Alright, then... I'm going to play an expert in the next campaign." It won't be fun, but it might get the point across.

I actually had a character start at level 1 commoner so he could take survivor at level 2... lol. The funny thing was, he was the most broken char(defense wise) I have ever seen.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MiscDebris 03-01-04, 04:42 PM	I'm a reformed powergamer (admitting it is well on your way to solving it heh), and I seem to have made a mistake. I used to be pretty bad. During that time, there were a few shining examples of my attempt to role play more, but those tended to annoy the DM I had at the time, and so they went down hill as well. I just recently moved across the country, thus a new gaming group. The problem comes where I informed my DM of my past powergaming tendencies. So after I moved I thought I was being smart in informing my DM of that. Now I have a paranoid DM. Questioning every choice I made. Worried I'm exploiting some hidden rule, when all I really want to do is play the character. It bothers me more than a little as that out of all the players in the group, I am the only one getting this treatment. Any ideas on how to go about getting around this? Beyond getting a new DM, of course. I've a pair of characters I am interested in playing, and I would prefer them un-nerfed. TIA MiscDebris
Dawnspeaker 03-01-04, 04:51 PM	Really all you can do is make you characters by the book, don't seek the loopholes in rules and just stay standard for a little bit. Show by example....or bash him with a rusty frying pan and scream your reform to his bloody skull:devil:
Cynosure 03-01-04, 07:30 PM	I would suggest speaking to your DM in private, if that's possible. Tell him that you don't appreciate being singled out and that you would like to be treated like the other players. He may not even realize he's doing it. Dawnspeaker's suggestion was a good one, especially if you loathe confrontation.
MiscDebris 03-02-04, 12:33 AM	Swash 2, Bard 4, Lasher 10, Bard 8 (i'm only 6th right now). No loopholes. Nothing the DM doesn't approve of. Nothing broken. The whole concept is helping the other party members function better, and I've even nerfed that somewhat. And still the DM worries. I've spoken to my DM several times, making it a point that very very soon, this will be a support character, and coming nowhere near the damage output of the other party members. I've even shown her the numbers. And still the DM worries. I'm not going to be running off, as I like the party I'm with, but this is bothering me more than a little. I appreciate the help I've recieved thus far. They are both very good ideas. I am open to trying anything anyone can think of. TIA MiscDebris
Ahnehnois 03-02-04, 06:52 AM	Any DM should support min/maxing to the extent that is realistic. If he opposes prestige class loading to get 20 versions of rage that stack that's fine. If she opposes a support character multiclassing in and out of bard she is paranoid. Your character is perfectly reasonable and not by any stretch of the imagination is he overpowered. The thing to do is have a private DM discussion and be completely frank. If the DM is taking the fun out of the game for you, she should be willing to look closely at her attitude.
Jaxian Redleaf 03-04-04, 01:04 AM	You took the lasher PrC? you are not minmaxing! And you can tell your DM i said so...
Kaalan 03-05-04, 02:53 PM	you dont have 3 level of swashbuckler? no way in hell you are powergaming...
MiscDebris 03-05-04, 05:23 PM	I am thinking about taking that third level later. I'm more for supporting the party (more spells and bardic music) and having my concept backed up by game mechanics (more skill points) than doing damage myself. At least with this character. Lasher is all about flavor. It's an FR based campaign, and I recently re-watched Underworld. I know the lasher in the movie gets owned, but it's a stylin concept. And since the diety, Sune, has a whip as her favored weapon, I went with an art collector/fence/smuggler that works closely with the church of Sune. Oddly, this makes me the fighter of the party. We have a ranger2/cleric4, a psychic warrior7/crystalmaster0 (he's going that way), a rogue6/shadowdancer0, and a wizard7/fatespinner0. In the not too distant future, we all basically become wizard support as far as damage goes. We've all good characters. All on concept, and not all that powerful. I would keep going, but then this would become character optimization instead of development. Thanx for the help everyone. Has anyone else has something similar happen? TIA MiscDebris
Cynosure 03-07-04, 05:30 AM	I think in your situation, I'd be far less patient than you have been. I'd say "Alright, then... I'm going to play an expert in the next campaign." It won't be fun, but it might get the point across. I actually had a character start at level 1 commoner so he could take survivor at level 2... lol. The funny thing was, he was the most broken char(defense wise) I have ever seen.