A Game To Easy??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Game To Easy??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dryder
10-24-03, 08:33 AM I just wonder, if it is good or bad if my game is sometimes too easy?! I mean, my players seem to have fun, but I always have the feeling this is not the way it should be!

Ok, I think I have the same problem as other DMs have, that is - I'm actually on the players side.

During fights they are somtimes like action heros, fighting with getting just a few scratches! It's no monty hauwl campaign, and the players are not abusing the rules, but I get the feeling, that it is too easy. Still, my players have fun.

Now my question - Is an easy game bad, good or something in between...
Mattfs5
10-24-03, 08:40 AM Your question is very subjective. Personally, I get bored pretty quick playing in a game that's not challenging to me or my character. Keep in mind that "challenges" can encompass a lot more than just combat.

Of course, I think the bottom line is that if everyone's having a good time, you're doing it right (for your group, at least).

--Matt
PenderGrass
10-24-03, 09:34 AM Now my question - Is an easy game bad, good or something in between...

Something in between.

"Bad" - why? because if there is no challenge, I would get bored fairly quickly and I would force the extremeness of my PCs actions in your game - just to force you into a situation where you would either obviously favor the PCs or adhere to the dire consequences of my PCs actions. If you backed down I would probably quit because I would know that I own you!

"Good" - again, why? because a game need not be hard 100% of the time - in fact, if it were it would also stand the chance of becoming boring, but sometimes it is nice to set out on something simple and have the DM look at you, smile and say - "Okay, you have enough time to brew that potion without being disturbed - now, what do you wanna do?"

"In Between" - At least you aren't letting it become a huge Monty Haul game - least, that is what you WANT us to think - hmmmmmm...........................:smirk :
Dryder
10-24-03, 09:54 AM Originally posted by PenderGrass

At least you aren't letting it become a huge Monty Haul game - least, that is what you WANT us to think - hmmmmmm...........................:smirk :

Oh, be sure it isn't a Monty Haul!!! :ayyyy!:

And it's not that the challenges are too low... They are sometimes exactly from the modules, and the PCs are of the appropriate levels. It's just... well, they almost always have only small problems with them.

However, maybe it's just the :dice:

I think I will just ask my players what they think, and how they like the sessions, next weekend!
StormKnight
10-24-03, 04:23 PM Ok, I think I have the same problem as other DMs have, that is - I'm actually on the players side.
That is never, EVER a bad thing. Being on the player's side is the mark of a good GM.

Personally, my goal is to leave the charcters beaten, mangled, and within an inch of death...and victorious. Of course I want them to win! I think its better if they have to struggle to achieve it, but in the end the game is all about the PCs. If I wanted to fight against them we'd be playing a wargame, not an RPG.

Some people really like a challenge. They like having to fight and work and sometimes losing to enhance the feeling when they do win. That's a fine thing.
Some people like things easy. They want to focus on roleplaying and building a character, and find that having to stress too much over victory means they can't truly focus on the character. That's a fine thing.

As long as you and your PCs are all having fun, you are doing things right!
xect
10-24-03, 05:33 PM If your players really seem to like it, that's fine. If you're not sure they like it, you might want to ask. As long as they enjoy it, go on. Maybe they enjoy the roleplaying more than the dangerous fights.
MinusInnocence
10-24-03, 05:49 PM Absolutely. If they enjoy it, you must be doing something wrong. Ask them, though, if they feel the same way: that sometimes, emerging victorious from every encounter can become dull.

If they disagree... if they prefer stomping all over the baddies... then by all means, continue! The success of a DM is directly proportionate to the enjoyment of the players under him.

P.S. Good to see you again, buddy!
fistanthius
10-24-03, 07:40 PM As long as everyone is having fun, your doing a good job. I'd only call bad DMing if people are getting upset. If you think its too easy, fudge some die rolls to make the monsters hit more often, or beef them up a bit.

Its a game, if everyone is having fun, you are playing it just fine.
Maraxus
10-24-03, 10:50 PM Easy combats are good, if you play roleplay-based, while action-based games need heavy combats but simplyfied NPC-Interaction and Puzzels.
killedquickly
10-25-03, 12:40 AM I agree wholeheartedly with stormknight. I want my players to feel that the only way they can save one of their party members is to set him on fire( had many little frogs holding him down and stabbing him at the same time). They should walk away from encounters, but be in serious need of healing afterwards.
Searchin'
10-25-03, 12:44 AM Happy players + Happy DM = good game.

Just be sure that their happiness is not feigned because they don't want to criticise your hard work.
Shadowslayer_Canada
10-25-03, 01:11 AM As long as everyone's having fun, then its all good. But since you asked, one mistake that some DMs make is just lining the opponents up to get hacked down.

Bear in mind that although the ELs and CRs etc may be in line for your party's level, you may not be playing the monsters to their full potential. (in my own experience, this is a downside to games that don't use a battle grid of some type) Use every feat they have. Exploit their strengths and intelligence...for example, you know that any group of intelligent monsters is going to target the biggest perceived threat, such as a spellcaster or big ugly fighter type. They will probably gang up on someone, rather than splitting off to go 1 or 2 monsters on 1 PC. If they use missile attacks, they will probably concentrate their fire. If they have buffing up spells, they're gonna use them. They will use flanking. They will sneak attack. If the battle goes badly, they will either run away, go get help, or retreat to terrain more advantageous to them. etc etc.

(I don't know how you do things and am not passing judgement, I'm just offering food for thought.)

But like others have already said...if your group is having a good time, then I wouldn't sweat it too much.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dryder 10-24-03, 08:33 AM	I just wonder, if it is good or bad if my game is sometimes too easy?! I mean, my players seem to have fun, but I always have the feeling this is not the way it should be! Ok, I think I have the same problem as other DMs have, that is - I'm actually on the players side. During fights they are somtimes like action heros, fighting with getting just a few scratches! It's no monty hauwl campaign, and the players are not abusing the rules, but I get the feeling, that it is too easy. Still, my players have fun. Now my question - Is an easy game bad, good or something in between...
Mattfs5 10-24-03, 08:40 AM	Your question is very subjective. Personally, I get bored pretty quick playing in a game that's not challenging to me or my character. Keep in mind that "challenges" can encompass a lot more than just combat. Of course, I think the bottom line is that if everyone's having a good time, you're doing it right (for your group, at least). --Matt
PenderGrass 10-24-03, 09:34 AM	Now my question - Is an easy game bad, good or something in between... Something in between. "Bad" - why? because if there is no challenge, I would get bored fairly quickly and I would force the extremeness of my PCs actions in your game - just to force you into a situation where you would either obviously favor the PCs or adhere to the dire consequences of my PCs actions. If you backed down I would probably quit because I would know that I own you! "Good" - again, why? because a game need not be hard 100% of the time - in fact, if it were it would also stand the chance of becoming boring, but sometimes it is nice to set out on something simple and have the DM look at you, smile and say - "Okay, you have enough time to brew that potion without being disturbed - now, what do you wanna do?" "In Between" - At least you aren't letting it become a huge Monty Haul game - least, that is what you WANT us to think - hmmmmmm...........................:smirk :
Dryder 10-24-03, 09:54 AM	Originally posted by PenderGrass At least you aren't letting it become a huge Monty Haul game - least, that is what you WANT us to think - hmmmmmm...........................:smirk : Oh, be sure it isn't a Monty Haul!!! :ayyyy!: And it's not that the challenges are too low... They are sometimes exactly from the modules, and the PCs are of the appropriate levels. It's just... well, they almost always have only small problems with them. However, maybe it's just the :dice: I think I will just ask my players what they think, and how they like the sessions, next weekend!
StormKnight 10-24-03, 04:23 PM	Ok, I think I have the same problem as other DMs have, that is - I'm actually on the players side. That is never, EVER a bad thing. Being on the player's side is the mark of a good GM. Personally, my goal is to leave the charcters beaten, mangled, and within an inch of death...and victorious. Of course I want them to win! I think its better if they have to struggle to achieve it, but in the end the game is all about the PCs. If I wanted to fight against them we'd be playing a wargame, not an RPG. Some people really like a challenge. They like having to fight and work and sometimes losing to enhance the feeling when they do win. That's a fine thing. Some people like things easy. They want to focus on roleplaying and building a character, and find that having to stress too much over victory means they can't truly focus on the character. That's a fine thing. As long as you and your PCs are all having fun, you are doing things right!
xect 10-24-03, 05:33 PM	If your players really seem to like it, that's fine. If you're not sure they like it, you might want to ask. As long as they enjoy it, go on. Maybe they enjoy the roleplaying more than the dangerous fights.
MinusInnocence 10-24-03, 05:49 PM	Absolutely. If they enjoy it, you must be doing something wrong. Ask them, though, if they feel the same way: that sometimes, emerging victorious from every encounter can become dull. If they disagree... if they prefer stomping all over the baddies... then by all means, continue! The success of a DM is directly proportionate to the enjoyment of the players under him. P.S. Good to see you again, buddy!
fistanthius 10-24-03, 07:40 PM	As long as everyone is having fun, your doing a good job. I'd only call bad DMing if people are getting upset. If you think its too easy, fudge some die rolls to make the monsters hit more often, or beef them up a bit. Its a game, if everyone is having fun, you are playing it just fine.
Maraxus 10-24-03, 10:50 PM	Easy combats are good, if you play roleplay-based, while action-based games need heavy combats but simplyfied NPC-Interaction and Puzzels.
killedquickly 10-25-03, 12:40 AM	I agree wholeheartedly with stormknight. I want my players to feel that the only way they can save one of their party members is to set him on fire( had many little frogs holding him down and stabbing him at the same time). They should walk away from encounters, but be in serious need of healing afterwards.
Searchin' 10-25-03, 12:44 AM	Happy players + Happy DM = good game. Just be sure that their happiness is not feigned because they don't want to criticise your hard work.
Shadowslayer_Canada 10-25-03, 01:11 AM	As long as everyone's having fun, then its all good. But since you asked, one mistake that some DMs make is just lining the opponents up to get hacked down. Bear in mind that although the ELs and CRs etc may be in line for your party's level, you may not be playing the monsters to their full potential. (in my own experience, this is a downside to games that don't use a battle grid of some type) Use every feat they have. Exploit their strengths and intelligence...for example, you know that any group of intelligent monsters is going to target the biggest perceived threat, such as a spellcaster or big ugly fighter type. They will probably gang up on someone, rather than splitting off to go 1 or 2 monsters on 1 PC. If they use missile attacks, they will probably concentrate their fire. If they have buffing up spells, they're gonna use them. They will use flanking. They will sneak attack. If the battle goes badly, they will either run away, go get help, or retreat to terrain more advantageous to them. etc etc. (I don't know how you do things and am not passing judgement, I'm just offering food for thought.) But like others have already said...if your group is having a good time, then I wouldn't sweat it too much.