Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nicholcm 09-05-06, 07:25 AM	Hi Guys Just a but of a rant with no particular point, just want to get this example of player sillyness off my chest. Any comments welcome. My Character: Lvl 23 Wizard, Lvl 5 Arcmage (and a couple of hundred XP from next level) I had been invited to participate in a game that my DM is running for a new group who seems to be having problems roleplaying so he invited me along to help them get into character. My briefing was simple, join up with the PC’s and give limited assistance in their mission (deal was I would get discretionary roleplaying experience only and maybe an in character reward in the form of a new lead in my overall objective – revenge for the death of my entire town and family due to my older brother, I’ve got close a few times but never been able to get to him face to face). As usual, the opening setting was in a tavern that the party is using as a base of operations (and is also my old stomping grounds). The party is already at the tavern and the DM gives a full description of me entering the tavern. I go up and talk to my old friend the barkeep (good 10 minutes game time of PC-NPC conversation with a one of the PC’s finally getting involved – he apparently likes the spotlight and because he saw that I was getting it by talking to the barkeep he joined in – OOC the DM and I thought it was a good start, at least one of them were willing to roleplay). One of the PC’s who seemed to be getting bored decided to use an illusion spell to make a demonic tail grow out of my backside (Please note that my PC and the barkeep had been talking about old times and included how my friends and I had saved the town from a demonic attack a few years back, this should also have hinted that I wasn’t a weak wizard), this was probably not the best move to make. Those in the town started to panic worried that I had sold my soul, been possessed, demon in disguise and many other options. I informed them that I wasn’t and passed my Diplomacy check (we did consider using Bluff because the towns folk thought I was a Demon at this point, even though I wasn’t). I informed the PC wizard in character that the town had been attacked by demons in the recent past and that he would be well advised not to do something like that again. The PC, instead of any attempt at roleplaying, challenged me to a mage duel (he thought he was hard because he was level 6 and the rest of the party was level 4). OOC I rolled my eyes, looked at the DM and with his slight nod I sighed and in character accepted (we believe that the player was under the thinking that the DM wouldn’t put him up against something he couldn’t handle). At this point we had a food break and I spoke to the DM and told him that roleplay wise my character would just wipe this guy quickly with a single spell, but from a game point of view should I give him a gentle taste to make him realise that he was totally outclassed and give him a chance to back out. DM asked if I wouldn’t mind doing that. Onto the mage duel, I let him take the first move. He launches a fireball at me and rolls well for damage. I’m still standing with plenty of HP left. I then cast reflective armour (an Epic Level created Spell, powerful mage armour combined with the ability on a successful SR check to allow me to cast one of my spells of equal level or lower to the one cast at me at instant speed – and yes it took three quests to get the information etc. I needed to create the spell). He then launched another fire ball (doesn’t this guy have any imagination was my thought at the time), I made the SR check and cast prestigitation (sp?) to make some fireworks to please the crowd (yes my PC is a show off in character), I also made a few comments about how I didn’t know I was fighting him as it was such a waste of time and how I had known 1st year students with more talent than him and that if he was half as smart as he thought he was he would give up before I wipe him from the face of the planet. Some magic missiles this time, my character yawns and does another prestigitation to conjure up a chair to sit on. At this point the PC is hopping mad at me (can’t think why) as says how I’m humiliating him (at last some roleplaying!) and makes some comments about my parents (a sore subject for my character) so I launch an elemental ball (another epic spell that makes a fire ball look like a simple card trick). Players face pales when he see’s the number of dice I’m picking up. I came to an agreement with the party that I would arrange for a true res if they did a quest for me (am still working on it, I’m to DM). On the plus side they seem to be roleplaying better now. Ian
Shaggy_Shaggs 09-05-06, 07:36 AM	Double posting cross forum is bad, m'kay? (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=696774) :P