DM Favortism [Archive] - Wizards Community

DM Favortism [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rogue_Jedi_99
02-02-04, 09:40 PM What is a player to do about this? I have a DM who basicly has given one of the PC superhuman stats and powers i.e. His lowestest stat is on par with my highest. Also, this DM gives him extra role playing time and quests that don't involove the other PC's at all. He has his own personal adventuring party for when were not playing with them, and the DM has basicly proclaimed hime leader. Meanwhile when a couple of us other characters wanted to strike out in "catch up time"(essentially the time the DM has us catch up whrere the other Pc wanted to get ahead) we couldn't even recruit a healer to help us, and we faced a challenge well above our CR, and were berated by the "favored one".

We have tried to talk to the other PC and DM, but they don't see anything wrong. Can you help me to try to get them to see the light, because even though this campaign is sucking right now I like the people I play with and think the campaign could be saved.
trefrog66
02-02-04, 10:17 PM A) Kill his charector.

or

B) Remember that stats and powers in the grand scheme of things will get old and boring. If you make your charectors personality interesting then you'll just have a blast playing him and powers will slip away. For example, be the guy who accidentally gets the group into trouble all the the time. Then this "leader" has to deal with tough situations which could be fun. Whatever you do just give him a strong personallity and play it to the best of your ability. Love the fact that your stats arn't super. If your DM is giving you challenges that are too difficult, run away and enjoy where that may lead you.

Remember D&D isn't a game you can win. Its really about telling an interesting story. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippen had HORRIBLE stats compared to Aragorn or Legolas. But they were just as important to the story.

G.I.
Edymnion
02-03-04, 12:59 PM One good way to do it is to give that character enough rope and let them hang themselves.

Going up against a big opponent?
Fine, let the favorite run into battle by himself. All of you just hang back and watch. Don't attack, don't help the super-character, just let him do everything by himself, or get killed by himself. When they ask you why you did that, respond with something along the lines of "Well, you obviously like him more than you do us, and since you never let us do anything, we figured we'd just give you what you wanted."

If they don't get the hint, you can always just threaten to leave the game en masse. If the DM is giving one player so much and ignoring the rest, and knows he's doing it but doesn't care, he's not worth playing with. If everybody in the game but his little favorite person leaves, its probably going to be a big blow to his ego. Maybe he'll stop it just to keep you from leaving. If not, you can find another game. Heck, you can start one yourself.

Nobody ever said you had to stay in the same group, or put up with crap from anybody. If you aren't having fun, then you aren't having fun, period. If the DM is unwilling to fix that, then he doesn't deserve to be your DM.
Stormweaver
02-03-04, 01:16 PM There might be an explaination that didn't transpire from your post. If not, then your DM is sucking up big time to this guy. Does he give him lift, food, make him popular or anything else you can't give your DM ?

I often designate a player as "party leader" and give him some "special treatment". Most of the time this player is responsible enough to share his power, influence and gifts wisely. But this always has do to with in game situation (ie a monarch who LIKES paladin so he'll give him gifts and the like and special invitation to social events, a player born in high nobility). Those thing are never anything that translate into significant game mechanic bonus. In other words that would never transform the PC into an Ubber character. My special treatment is usually given to reward good role-play or create situation to foster role-play.

Now if your DM isn't soing this, I encourage you to gather the rest of the "unsatisfied custumers" and ask for explanation from the DM. If no explaination is provided, I say everyone should leave the table... that should give your DM a wake up call.
Thorak
02-03-04, 02:50 PM Being the 'best' character doesn't make you the character people remember the most. Most of my characters that I've grown fond of, and that people still bring up when talking about past games, have been the ones I deliberately gave a serious flaw to, and played that flaw to the hilt. Like the Dwarven Battlerager with the Int of 6, who became party leader because A> he was too impatient to wait while people thought about stuff and B> he was so bloody-minded and good at combat that he never ran up against anything that "run at it and hit it with an axe till it stops moving" didn't work on.

Being awesome at everything; boring. Being almost fatally flawed; fun as heck. Every Superman should have their Kryptonite and naivetee, every Batman should have their lingering Dissociative Identity Disorder. Without them, they're just too good to be interesting. Flaws create challenge, which create interest, which creates fun.
xirr2000
02-03-04, 03:08 PM I think Edymnion has the right idea. If you are not having fun then time to leave and find a new group who won't have you playing second fiddle all the time.

I can't imagine why this DM would be so blantant towards one player and uncaring towards others. Unless you are leaving some facts out of the picture. I played in a similar campaign, but the DM treated one player with a little more favoritism because that one player was the only one who regularly showed up for sessions. That I can kinda understand. If you know one player is gonna show up and maybe not the others, you are gonna tailor that session towards the players who don't waste your time as a DM. DMs have to put work in for every session and it is annoying when people don't show.

Not saying that is the case here though. If it is not and your DM is truly a clueless basterd with regards to player enjoyment then I would mosey.
Bacon and Eggs
02-03-04, 03:08 PM :(

Good luck with the favourtism thing. I've hit the same wall in other genres in life. It's going to happen and it may happen alot. In D&D it's also difficult to overcome as well, not many of us have the option to turf who we play with as there are limited backups.

I do however like the "let that PC do it all until they die approach".
Cyricist
02-03-04, 04:39 PM If the rest of your group has the same complaint about this character being uberpowered, just tell the DM as a collective. Get all the players together and talk things out. If he doesn't offer an explanation that is worthwhile or decides he won't change stuff, go on strike and let the ubercharacter do it's own thing while the rest of the group watches. He goes down? Leave him to die. Or you could just stop playing altogether as a group, sending a clear signal to the DM you dislike his favouratism. Do this, of course, after you tell him this. He may not be aware of it or maybe he has something very special planned you don't know about.
Rogue_Jedi_99
02-03-04, 04:52 PM I definatly got some good ideas here. Keep em coming please.
Xychotic
02-03-04, 09:54 PM Don't gang up on him!!! We hate that, it's far too hostile to get anything but resentment.

I'd suggest running your own game, asking for uber-abilities for yourself, or "not playing," or even "play hard."

By "not playing," I mean do what Edymnion suggests. But, instead of doing it all the time, do it when you meet an enemy boss. Just stop, and wait by the door. The resentment that is growing in the players has seen many a real-world equivalent. And it is known to ruin friendships and start wars.

From an in-game perspective, why are you traveling with this guy? Is it because he is really cool and powerful and gets phatty lewt? Is it because he is a terrific leader that you'd follow to hell? Is it because the rat-bastard seems to always be around when adventure comes to you? Or is it because he's another player...?

Your characters may very well grow resentful because this character seems to be stealing fame and fortune from the rest and seems to grow at a unproportionate rate. If that becomes the case, your characters may even choose to abandon him or see him as a villain. And, regardless of what the DM says, the feelings have real world equivalents and have fostered in others, and are beginning here.

By "playing hard," I mean grabbing the spotlight and not letting go. When the king submits a request, speak before the "hero" and proclaim that you and your allies will help (but the"hero" isn't included in this group). Get your fellow players to do the same.

Do everything over the top, and then, when the "hero" shows up, stop. Look around, and declare the cavalry has arrived and let him get himself creamed because you decided to challenge the castle at the gate and the "hero" is the single champion of their foes and you are the heralds. :rofl: :smirk:
Geethree
02-03-04, 10:03 PM I'll repeat it because it bears repeating: if you aren't having fun, something is wrong. Talk to your DM or the player in question. If things don't change, leave. There's no reason to waste several hours of your free time when there are better things to do.
raistlin_devreault
02-04-04, 10:20 AM My previous Dm was like that too.. We tried to speak to him and have him change for the sake of the game and he didn't.

So i learned the rules, grab half the crew and started my own Game.. Now they are playing with only 3 pc, the dm didn't get a clue and it still sucks..

For me, i have 6 pc, my game is fantastic (pc comments) and instead of complaining on mondays(we played sundays) cause of crappy rullling, favoritism and railroading, i hear good comments about my game.

Having a crappy Dm is only good for one thing, this is how I learned what not to do as a Dm...
Edymnion
02-04-04, 04:09 PM If you don't have another group in the area, and don't think you can start up a new one on your own, you can always try the 'net. Check the Roleplay Online link in my sig. Best darn place to play D&D on the net, period.
White Mage
02-06-04, 04:52 AM I agree with Geetree and Stormweaver. Issues like this are issues between players (and DM), not between characters. Therefore they should not be handled in-game.
Joe Khol
02-06-04, 08:25 AM Originally posted by Rogue_Jedi_99
We have tried to talk to the other PC and DM, but they don't see anything wrong. Can you help me to try to get them to see the light, because even though this campaign is sucking right now I like the people I play with and think the campaign could be saved.

What is wrong is that you and the other players are not enjoying the campaign as it is. The DM and his pet don't need to see it because you are telling them. This is a game and everyone playing should be enjoying it.

If the DM is unwilling to change things despite all but one player telling him they are not enjoying it then it's time for you to find another game or start up your own.
BrazilRascal
02-08-04, 12:56 AM My solution is simple, yet radical. Hijack the game. Get all the other players who are feeling left out and do your own thing; embark on your own quests, have a grand time role-playing with each other, and derail the uber-guy's joyride.

Pick a bad guy and start a small-time crusade agaisnt his forces. Find two rival factions and work a way to bring peace to the region. If your DM fusses, tell him he is not being a real DM and not descripting the world as you explore it. :D

Best of luck to you all.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rogue_Jedi_99 02-02-04, 09:40 PM	What is a player to do about this? I have a DM who basicly has given one of the PC superhuman stats and powers i.e. His lowestest stat is on par with my highest. Also, this DM gives him extra role playing time and quests that don't involove the other PC's at all. He has his own personal adventuring party for when were not playing with them, and the DM has basicly proclaimed hime leader. Meanwhile when a couple of us other characters wanted to strike out in "catch up time"(essentially the time the DM has us catch up whrere the other Pc wanted to get ahead) we couldn't even recruit a healer to help us, and we faced a challenge well above our CR, and were berated by the "favored one". We have tried to talk to the other PC and DM, but they don't see anything wrong. Can you help me to try to get them to see the light, because even though this campaign is sucking right now I like the people I play with and think the campaign could be saved.
trefrog66 02-02-04, 10:17 PM	A) Kill his charector. or B) Remember that stats and powers in the grand scheme of things will get old and boring. If you make your charectors personality interesting then you'll just have a blast playing him and powers will slip away. For example, be the guy who accidentally gets the group into trouble all the the time. Then this "leader" has to deal with tough situations which could be fun. Whatever you do just give him a strong personallity and play it to the best of your ability. Love the fact that your stats arn't super. If your DM is giving you challenges that are too difficult, run away and enjoy where that may lead you. Remember D&D isn't a game you can win. Its really about telling an interesting story. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippen had HORRIBLE stats compared to Aragorn or Legolas. But they were just as important to the story. G.I.
Edymnion 02-03-04, 12:59 PM	One good way to do it is to give that character enough rope and let them hang themselves. Going up against a big opponent? Fine, let the favorite run into battle by himself. All of you just hang back and watch. Don't attack, don't help the super-character, just let him do everything by himself, or get killed by himself. When they ask you why you did that, respond with something along the lines of "Well, you obviously like him more than you do us, and since you never let us do anything, we figured we'd just give you what you wanted." If they don't get the hint, you can always just threaten to leave the game en masse. If the DM is giving one player so much and ignoring the rest, and knows he's doing it but doesn't care, he's not worth playing with. If everybody in the game but his little favorite person leaves, its probably going to be a big blow to his ego. Maybe he'll stop it just to keep you from leaving. If not, you can find another game. Heck, you can start one yourself. Nobody ever said you had to stay in the same group, or put up with crap from anybody. If you aren't having fun, then you aren't having fun, period. If the DM is unwilling to fix that, then he doesn't deserve to be your DM.
Stormweaver 02-03-04, 01:16 PM	There might be an explaination that didn't transpire from your post. If not, then your DM is sucking up big time to this guy. Does he give him lift, food, make him popular or anything else you can't give your DM ? I often designate a player as "party leader" and give him some "special treatment". Most of the time this player is responsible enough to share his power, influence and gifts wisely. But this always has do to with in game situation (ie a monarch who LIKES paladin so he'll give him gifts and the like and special invitation to social events, a player born in high nobility). Those thing are never anything that translate into significant game mechanic bonus. In other words that would never transform the PC into an Ubber character. My special treatment is usually given to reward good role-play or create situation to foster role-play. Now if your DM isn't soing this, I encourage you to gather the rest of the "unsatisfied custumers" and ask for explanation from the DM. If no explaination is provided, I say everyone should leave the table... that should give your DM a wake up call.
Thorak 02-03-04, 02:50 PM	Being the 'best' character doesn't make you the character people remember the most. Most of my characters that I've grown fond of, and that people still bring up when talking about past games, have been the ones I deliberately gave a serious flaw to, and played that flaw to the hilt. Like the Dwarven Battlerager with the Int of 6, who became party leader because A> he was too impatient to wait while people thought about stuff and B> he was so bloody-minded and good at combat that he never ran up against anything that "run at it and hit it with an axe till it stops moving" didn't work on. Being awesome at everything; boring. Being almost fatally flawed; fun as heck. Every Superman should have their Kryptonite and naivetee, every Batman should have their lingering Dissociative Identity Disorder. Without them, they're just too good to be interesting. Flaws create challenge, which create interest, which creates fun.
xirr2000 02-03-04, 03:08 PM	I think Edymnion has the right idea. If you are not having fun then time to leave and find a new group who won't have you playing second fiddle all the time. I can't imagine why this DM would be so blantant towards one player and uncaring towards others. Unless you are leaving some facts out of the picture. I played in a similar campaign, but the DM treated one player with a little more favoritism because that one player was the only one who regularly showed up for sessions. That I can kinda understand. If you know one player is gonna show up and maybe not the others, you are gonna tailor that session towards the players who don't waste your time as a DM. DMs have to put work in for every session and it is annoying when people don't show. Not saying that is the case here though. If it is not and your DM is truly a clueless basterd with regards to player enjoyment then I would mosey.
Bacon and Eggs 02-03-04, 03:08 PM	:( Good luck with the favourtism thing. I've hit the same wall in other genres in life. It's going to happen and it may happen alot. In D&D it's also difficult to overcome as well, not many of us have the option to turf who we play with as there are limited backups. I do however like the "let that PC do it all until they die approach".
Cyricist 02-03-04, 04:39 PM	If the rest of your group has the same complaint about this character being uberpowered, just tell the DM as a collective. Get all the players together and talk things out. If he doesn't offer an explanation that is worthwhile or decides he won't change stuff, go on strike and let the ubercharacter do it's own thing while the rest of the group watches. He goes down? Leave him to die. Or you could just stop playing altogether as a group, sending a clear signal to the DM you dislike his favouratism. Do this, of course, after you tell him this. He may not be aware of it or maybe he has something very special planned you don't know about.
Rogue_Jedi_99 02-03-04, 04:52 PM	I definatly got some good ideas here. Keep em coming please.
Xychotic 02-03-04, 09:54 PM	Don't gang up on him!!! We hate that, it's far too hostile to get anything but resentment. I'd suggest running your own game, asking for uber-abilities for yourself, or "not playing," or even "play hard." By "not playing," I mean do what Edymnion suggests. But, instead of doing it all the time, do it when you meet an enemy boss. Just stop, and wait by the door. The resentment that is growing in the players has seen many a real-world equivalent. And it is known to ruin friendships and start wars. From an in-game perspective, why are you traveling with this guy? Is it because he is really cool and powerful and gets phatty lewt? Is it because he is a terrific leader that you'd follow to hell? Is it because the rat-bastard seems to always be around when adventure comes to you? Or is it because he's another player...? Your characters may very well grow resentful because this character seems to be stealing fame and fortune from the rest and seems to grow at a unproportionate rate. If that becomes the case, your characters may even choose to abandon him or see him as a villain. And, regardless of what the DM says, the feelings have real world equivalents and have fostered in others, and are beginning here. By "playing hard," I mean grabbing the spotlight and not letting go. When the king submits a request, speak before the "hero" and proclaim that you and your allies will help (but the"hero" isn't included in this group). Get your fellow players to do the same. Do everything over the top, and then, when the "hero" shows up, stop. Look around, and declare the cavalry has arrived and let him get himself creamed because you decided to challenge the castle at the gate and the "hero" is the single champion of their foes and you are the heralds. :rofl: :smirk:
Geethree 02-03-04, 10:03 PM	I'll repeat it because it bears repeating: if you aren't having fun, something is wrong. Talk to your DM or the player in question. If things don't change, leave. There's no reason to waste several hours of your free time when there are better things to do.
raistlin_devreault 02-04-04, 10:20 AM	My previous Dm was like that too.. We tried to speak to him and have him change for the sake of the game and he didn't. So i learned the rules, grab half the crew and started my own Game.. Now they are playing with only 3 pc, the dm didn't get a clue and it still sucks.. For me, i have 6 pc, my game is fantastic (pc comments) and instead of complaining on mondays(we played sundays) cause of crappy rullling, favoritism and railroading, i hear good comments about my game. Having a crappy Dm is only good for one thing, this is how I learned what not to do as a Dm...
Edymnion 02-04-04, 04:09 PM	If you don't have another group in the area, and don't think you can start up a new one on your own, you can always try the 'net. Check the Roleplay Online link in my sig. Best darn place to play D&D on the net, period.
White Mage 02-06-04, 04:52 AM	I agree with Geetree and Stormweaver. Issues like this are issues between players (and DM), not between characters. Therefore they should not be handled in-game.
Joe Khol 02-06-04, 08:25 AM	Originally posted by Rogue_Jedi_99 We have tried to talk to the other PC and DM, but they don't see anything wrong. Can you help me to try to get them to see the light, because even though this campaign is sucking right now I like the people I play with and think the campaign could be saved. What is wrong is that you and the other players are not enjoying the campaign as it is. The DM and his pet don't need to see it because you are telling them. This is a game and everyone playing should be enjoying it. If the DM is unwilling to change things despite all but one player telling him they are not enjoying it then it's time for you to find another game or start up your own.
BrazilRascal 02-08-04, 12:56 AM	My solution is simple, yet radical. Hijack the game. Get all the other players who are feeling left out and do your own thing; embark on your own quests, have a grand time role-playing with each other, and derail the uber-guy's joyride. Pick a bad guy and start a small-time crusade agaisnt his forces. Find two rival factions and work a way to bring peace to the region. If your DM fusses, tell him he is not being a real DM and not descripting the world as you explore it. :D Best of luck to you all.