Back to basics. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Back to basics. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Liwmial
06-02-05, 06:45 AM Well, three of my players are excellent about knowing what I expect out of them. But alas, one is not; and yes, I feel it is my fault for not setting guidelines.

Opening day he showed up with a Scout, which I dodn't mind, just wish he had consulted. But recently, he showed up with a shiny new +3 bow and a +4 sword that he bought in the down time. (I prefer downtime shopping, as it eats away less game time, and thus we can move stories along.)

So now I am wondering, how do I get this back to basic core rule book stuff, and get the magic weapons under control? (level 3 scout)

I will be sending out an email to the group, but what should I do about his weapons. I am running a bare bones style campaign, although I did front load it with gp, just to get it rolling. Should I just hope that the critical miss chart I use will destroy his weapons and balance the group, or should I try and write him into a position to lose them? (and I only do this to balance out the group, no spite, and somedau he will have all the shiny weapons that he wants.)
Eliza_Stormwhisper
06-02-05, 06:51 AM Admit to the players that you made a mistake. If they're reasonable, they'll understand. If they're unreasonable, find new players.
yeknom
06-02-05, 07:05 AM Well, three of my players are excellent about knowing what I expect out of them. But alas, one is not; and yes, I feel it is my fault for not setting guidelines.

Opening day he showed up with a Scout, which I dodn't mind, just wish he had consulted. But recently, he showed up with a shiny new +3 bow and a +4 sword that he bought in the down time. (I prefer downtime shopping, as it eats away less game time, and thus we can move stories along.)

So now I am wondering, how do I get this back to basic core rule book stuff, and get the magic weapons under control? (level 3 scout)

I will be sending out an email to the group, but what should I do about his weapons. I am running a bare bones style campaign, although I did front load it with gp, just to get it rolling. Should I just hope that the critical miss chart I use will destroy his weapons and balance the group, or should I try and write him into a position to lose them? (and I only do this to balance out the group, no spite, and somedau he will have all the shiny weapons that he wants.)

Why not say that weapons he purchased were stolen and send someone to get them back? You could force him into melee combat with a rust monster. Have a wizard (or cleric with the destruction domain) cast shatter on his bow and/or sword. Have the group mugged and beaten by bandits only to wake up later with nothing in some deep dark cave. As a DM you made a mistake, now the best thing to do is to correct your mistake. The key here is to make the players feel like they are learning/gaining something even though they may be loosing some items. You could make an entire adventure out of the loss of the weapons.

In the future set better guidelines for what eq the players can and can't purchase and try turning shopping into a roleplaying session.
Merestil Haye
06-02-05, 07:25 AM I need to ask a few questions.

Downtime shopping is OK if thats the campaign you want to run, although I strongly advise against it. I suggest though that you institute three rules.

Firstly that the character have liquid funds available for anything he wishes to purchase in downtime shopping mode. No barter deals.

Secondly, if he has an item he wishes to sell in order to get the nice shiny new goody, he receive exactly ½ the market price, and you confirm what he can get before finishing the session.

Lastly that you the DM approve each and every single item obtained this way, including verification of the price, before he be allowed to add them to his character sheet.

The other thing I wanted to check was that I understood corretly. A third-level character has access to enough cash to buy a +3 weapon and a +4 weapon? Sounds like you have handed out way too much treasure to me.
VirgilCaine
06-02-05, 08:55 AM Opening day he showed up with a Scout, which I dodn't mind, just wish he had consulted. But recently, he showed up with a shiny new +3 bow and a +4 sword that he bought in the down time. (I prefer downtime shopping, as it eats away less game time, and thus we can move stories along.)

So now I am wondering, how do I get this back to basic core rule book stuff, and get the magic weapons under control? (level 3 scout)

If he acutally had the tens of thousands of gold for this stuff, you need to REALLY rethink the amount of treasure you give out.
MarkB
06-02-05, 09:52 AM First of all, a +3 and +4 weapon cost over 50,000gp between them - that's equivalent to about 10th-11th-level total character wealth. That's not just front-loaded with GP, it's massively overloaded.

Second, if that character bought those weapons, what did the others do with their money? Put it in a trust fund? If they had equal loot, they should be just as tricked-out at this point.

If you really did give the character the resources to purchase these items, are you sure you want to just grab them back from him?

If the answer is yes, the method is simple. He's carrying around a treasure even a well-off 8th-level party would envy, and if he bought them commercially word will get around. Just hit them with a band of brigands of around 5th-8th level, who are deliberately setting out to grab his weapons and any other excess treasure the party has. They'll be kitted out to disarm, snatch and run away, and this isn't even metagaming because unless he paid extra for confidentiality, this character essentially announced that he and his party have more wealth than their current experience will let them hold onto. With 10th-11th-level character wealth, it's only natural that they attract the attention of EL10-11 bandits.

Just keep in mind that even if this is a legitimate tactic, it's not a pleasant one for the players. Giving out shiny new toys - either directly or via disposable wealth - and then snatching them back because you find them inconvenient is not something most players will appreciate.
snowlynx
06-02-05, 10:07 AM Don't destroy the weapons in game or anything like that...consult him about it. Tell him you don't want the items in your game (although if he somehow has the gold to buy it, then I don't see why such items should not be available...)
If he understands, you can just claim he bought lesser items, and give him the gold back for these incredibly expensive purchases, or you and him can work something into the story that involves him losing the items somehow.

Like the others, I am confused about where he got the money for these items.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Liwmial 06-02-05, 06:45 AM	Well, three of my players are excellent about knowing what I expect out of them. But alas, one is not; and yes, I feel it is my fault for not setting guidelines. Opening day he showed up with a Scout, which I dodn't mind, just wish he had consulted. But recently, he showed up with a shiny new +3 bow and a +4 sword that he bought in the down time. (I prefer downtime shopping, as it eats away less game time, and thus we can move stories along.) So now I am wondering, how do I get this back to basic core rule book stuff, and get the magic weapons under control? (level 3 scout) I will be sending out an email to the group, but what should I do about his weapons. I am running a bare bones style campaign, although I did front load it with gp, just to get it rolling. Should I just hope that the critical miss chart I use will destroy his weapons and balance the group, or should I try and write him into a position to lose them? (and I only do this to balance out the group, no spite, and somedau he will have all the shiny weapons that he wants.)
Eliza_Stormwhisper 06-02-05, 06:51 AM	Admit to the players that you made a mistake. If they're reasonable, they'll understand. If they're unreasonable, find new players.
yeknom 06-02-05, 07:05 AM	Well, three of my players are excellent about knowing what I expect out of them. But alas, one is not; and yes, I feel it is my fault for not setting guidelines. Opening day he showed up with a Scout, which I dodn't mind, just wish he had consulted. But recently, he showed up with a shiny new +3 bow and a +4 sword that he bought in the down time. (I prefer downtime shopping, as it eats away less game time, and thus we can move stories along.) So now I am wondering, how do I get this back to basic core rule book stuff, and get the magic weapons under control? (level 3 scout) I will be sending out an email to the group, but what should I do about his weapons. I am running a bare bones style campaign, although I did front load it with gp, just to get it rolling. Should I just hope that the critical miss chart I use will destroy his weapons and balance the group, or should I try and write him into a position to lose them? (and I only do this to balance out the group, no spite, and somedau he will have all the shiny weapons that he wants.) Why not say that weapons he purchased were stolen and send someone to get them back? You could force him into melee combat with a rust monster. Have a wizard (or cleric with the destruction domain) cast shatter on his bow and/or sword. Have the group mugged and beaten by bandits only to wake up later with nothing in some deep dark cave. As a DM you made a mistake, now the best thing to do is to correct your mistake. The key here is to make the players feel like they are learning/gaining something even though they may be loosing some items. You could make an entire adventure out of the loss of the weapons. In the future set better guidelines for what eq the players can and can't purchase and try turning shopping into a roleplaying session.
Merestil Haye 06-02-05, 07:25 AM	I need to ask a few questions. Downtime shopping is OK if thats the campaign you want to run, although I strongly advise against it. I suggest though that you institute three rules. Firstly that the character have liquid funds available for anything he wishes to purchase in downtime shopping mode. No barter deals. Secondly, if he has an item he wishes to sell in order to get the nice shiny new goody, he receive exactly ½ the market price, and you confirm what he can get before finishing the session. Lastly that you the DM approve each and every single item obtained this way, including verification of the price, before he be allowed to add them to his character sheet. The other thing I wanted to check was that I understood corretly. A third-level character has access to enough cash to buy a +3 weapon and a +4 weapon? Sounds like you have handed out way too much treasure to me.
VirgilCaine 06-02-05, 08:55 AM	Opening day he showed up with a Scout, which I dodn't mind, just wish he had consulted. But recently, he showed up with a shiny new +3 bow and a +4 sword that he bought in the down time. (I prefer downtime shopping, as it eats away less game time, and thus we can move stories along.) So now I am wondering, how do I get this back to basic core rule book stuff, and get the magic weapons under control? (level 3 scout) If he acutally had the tens of thousands of gold for this stuff, you need to REALLY rethink the amount of treasure you give out.
MarkB 06-02-05, 09:52 AM	First of all, a +3 and +4 weapon cost over 50,000gp between them - that's equivalent to about 10th-11th-level total character wealth. That's not just front-loaded with GP, it's massively overloaded. Second, if that character bought those weapons, what did the others do with their money? Put it in a trust fund? If they had equal loot, they should be just as tricked-out at this point. If you really did give the character the resources to purchase these items, are you sure you want to just grab them back from him? If the answer is yes, the method is simple. He's carrying around a treasure even a well-off 8th-level party would envy, and if he bought them commercially word will get around. Just hit them with a band of brigands of around 5th-8th level, who are deliberately setting out to grab his weapons and any other excess treasure the party has. They'll be kitted out to disarm, snatch and run away, and this isn't even metagaming because unless he paid extra for confidentiality, this character essentially announced that he and his party have more wealth than their current experience will let them hold onto. With 10th-11th-level character wealth, it's only natural that they attract the attention of EL10-11 bandits. Just keep in mind that even if this is a legitimate tactic, it's not a pleasant one for the players. Giving out shiny new toys - either directly or via disposable wealth - and then snatching them back because you find them inconvenient is not something most players will appreciate.
snowlynx 06-02-05, 10:07 AM	Don't destroy the weapons in game or anything like that...consult him about it. Tell him you don't want the items in your game (although if he somehow has the gold to buy it, then I don't see why such items should not be available...) If he understands, you can just claim he bought lesser items, and give him the gold back for these incredibly expensive purchases, or you and him can work something into the story that involves him losing the items somehow. Like the others, I am confused about where he got the money for these items.