Post/Author/DateTime	Post
chinchy_mcchilla 03-28-06, 07:55 PM	Ok, I've played several campaigns with the same DM, and they usually go fairly well. He likes to play very high powered campaigns, and I mean very high, by the end of the last session we had become the gods of his campaign setting. It's never sat quite right with me, by my nature I like lower powered games, but he's the only DM who plays regularly besides me, so if I want to play, ever, I have to make allowances. Recently, we decided to start a new campaign in which he instituded a chart you could roll on on character creation that would give you a random advantage. Then you would roll on one that produced a random disadvantage. This sounded, in practice, fine to me, until I saw the characters that came from this. A fighter that recieves feats every two levels instead of three, for a net four extra feats, at the cost of -1 charisma? A wee bit unbalanced, I felt. So, I told them I did not want to play. After a bit, I calmed down (I probably should have mentioned, by the way, that I have an anger control disorder that I'm on prescription medication for. Unfortunately, I lost it about a week ago...) I decided that I really did want to play, and asked to be let back in. Keep in mind, the whole altercation lasted 15 minutes. But apparently 3/4 of the players thought that my disagreement was a serious enough offense to vote that I not be allowed back in. These are some of my best friends, keep in mind. So, at this point, my question is, who is wrong? me? the DM? the other players? Some sick, twisted combination of the three?
DaMullet 03-28-06, 08:05 PM	Well, all of you. Random Avd./Disadv. charts belong on Call of Cthulu, and nowhere else. That is the DM's problem. You probably shouldn't have flipped, though this part was less your fault and more your problem's fault. If these people REALLY are your 'best friends' then they wouldn't actually do this sort of thing. I would reccomend finding another group.
Tyler Do'Urden 03-28-06, 08:07 PM	Um... yes? There's a weird thing that happens with gaming groups. I've seen it in just about every long-term group I've come across to some extent. I think it has to do with the way roleplaying kind of requires you to open yourself up, kind of make yourself vulnerable to these people. You go to that place on a regular basis and after a while, you just sort of stay there. You just start taking things too seriously. Everybody's skin gets a little bit thinner and things that normal, sane people would be able to just shrug off become life-altering personal conflicts. My advice is to just sit this one out.
FireOpal 03-29-06, 01:04 AM	Don't sweat it, DnD makes us do strange things sometimes. Besides, to me a good gaming session involves some yelling, and tantrums are definitely par for course with my darling pcs. :weep: Where do you live? I could always use another player, and you would fit right in! :D
Tanin 03-29-06, 02:54 AM	Sounds really harsh. The last game I played we had to stop because everyone was fighting :( I live in the middle of Nowhere California with no one to play with. All I get to do is DM now :(
Stormthrone 03-29-06, 03:04 AM	Random Avd./Disadv. charts belong on Call of Cthulu, and nowhere else. Not even in CoC imho. Randomness when creating a character should be limited to the rolling for abilities - if you don't use a point buy system... I think it's ok to tell the DM what you think of his new idea, but you propably shouldn't have exploded. Being of the medication, I guess you couldn't help it though, and I really think your group, your best friends, should know that and let you play.
OravennasBrother 03-29-06, 10:51 AM	ANother possibility is that the incompatible preferences in gaming style had been building a core of dislike for playing with you. I know several people who I like but WILL NOT game with. They think that D&D starts at 15th level; anything less is a waste. I generally prefer play around 3rd to 6th level. So I am loathe to play in their campaigns. I also have friends I don't care to let play in my campaigns; generally the same friends whose campaigns I dislike. When I run they try every trick to "speed" advancement by gaining max XP per minute played; which distracts from the style I am comfortable running. So what cold have happened is that your preference for "low power" campaigns was distracting the other players from their enjoyment of the game and the catalyst of your explosion resulted in the decision. Unless you live in a remote area, I would suggest finding a new group. Otherwise decide if you want to beg for your place back in the old group. Before someone says that begging is undignified; in this case the OP would be the supplicant asking a favor for which he would have nothing to exchange.
chinchy_mcchilla 03-29-06, 11:05 AM	Well, I was let back in and I've decided to give it a shot, and its going all right so far, he seems to have beefed the monsters up somewhat to compensate. It's still not my style but really I can deal with it. I've decided to twink out as hard as I can though, just to see what the big deal is.
Lord_Snow 03-29-06, 01:35 PM	Remember, D&D is a GAME. Have some fun with it! :)
FeceMan 03-29-06, 01:48 PM	Ok, I've played several campaigns with the same DM, and they usually go fairly well. He likes to play very high powered campaigns, and I mean very high, by the end of the last session we had become the gods of his campaign setting. It's never sat quite right with me, by my nature I like lower powered games, but he's the only DM who plays regularly besides me, so if I want to play, ever, I have to make allowances. Recently, we decided to start a new campaign in which he instituded a chart you could roll on on character creation that would give you a random advantage. Then you would roll on one that produced a random disadvantage. This sounded, in practice, fine to me, until I saw the characters that came from this. A fighter that recieves feats every two levels instead of three, for a net four extra feats, at the cost of -1 charisma? A wee bit unbalanced, I felt. So, I told them I did not want to play. After a bit, I calmed down (I probably should have mentioned, by the way, that I have an anger control disorder that I'm on prescription medication for. Unfortunately, I lost it about a week ago...) I decided that I really did want to play, and asked to be let back in. Keep in mind, the whole altercation lasted 15 minutes. But apparently 3/4 of the players thought that my disagreement was a serious enough offense to vote that I not be allowed back in. These are some of my best friends, keep in mind. So, at this point, my question is, who is wrong? me? the DM? the other players? Some sick, twisted combination of the three? 1. I thought [know] fighters got [get] feats every two levels anyway...without a loss of charisma. What system were you playing? 2. When you say "I told them I did not want to play", do you mean that you said, "I don't really like this system, so I don't think I want to play," or did you--as your post suggests--start ranting and raving about the disbalanced nature of the game?
chinchy_mcchilla 03-29-06, 02:25 PM	1) they do. I meant that his normal, non bonus feats, that you normally get every three levels, are coming every two. 2) I did not rant, but I did make a comment referring back to the last game in which we became gods, basically voicing my expectancy that it would happen again. I did go a little overboard, that I admit.
Bruunwald 03-29-06, 02:40 PM	It sounds like you know the answer. If you have an anger control disorder for which you are prescribed medication, and everybody knows this and is your friend, then nobody really is to blame for this, and your friends ought to give you a break. You can't entirely help if you freak out on occasion (though I am sure we all expect a little control when you can manage it). These people ought to know that, and if they don't, you might want to try confiding in your friends and letting them know. Don't treat it like an excuse, only an explanation. Promise to do better. Meanwhile, the DM seems like a raving noodlehead and I would avoid putting myself in the position of having to put up with his weird game alterations. Now, that does not excuse yelling at him, but it does put him on the hook for complaints. He has to expect that something so off from center is going to get him a spanking now and again. Again, no excuses. He still didn't ask to get anger thrown at him. We all must do our best to maintain. But are you a bad person? Hells no. People get bent. It happens.
was_fired 03-29-06, 05:06 PM	You might not be a bad person, but from the sound of your post you are a liar. You stated that you have an anger disorder. You mentioned that this "conversation" lasted fifteen minutes, and then you mentioned that it was bad enough that they didn't want to let you back in. It sounds to me like you were yelling about it, and that you likely insulted a fair number of them for enjoying the kind of game they enjoy. It was bad enough that they thought back to all of your previous games and how you made them less fun than another NEW player might. So they didn't let you back in. Sounds fair to me.
pres_man 03-29-06, 05:40 PM	If you really can't control your anger with respect to a game, then perhaps you shouldn't be playing it. You have no right to play if you are going to make the rest of the group feel like they have to walk on eggshells around you because you might blow up because of some minor thing. Gaming is about having fun, if your condition causes the rest of the players to not have fun then you shouldn't be gaming with them.
Jagerhunde 03-29-06, 05:56 PM	Being a nomad and frequently living in small towns or cities with a low gamer density, I know how hard it is to seriously take advice like "just find another group". Sometimes that isn't an option, and it sounds like things've been bollocksed up for you with the only game in town. I'm not in a position to say who's right or wrong, here, because there's bound to be two sides to this. None of us were there; accordingly, none of us are qualified to judge guilt. Hell, most of us, knowing everything that happened, still wouldn't be qualified to judge guilt. That's the wrong question to ask. Your dilemma is what to do about this gaming situation. If your "friends" are serious about perma-banning you from their table for this, then there isn't much that can be done for you in the way of advice. If they're serious about this to the extent that you can never return, well, that's pretty screwed-up, actually. Some people - people who posted on this thread already, perhaps - are oversensitive to the extent that they were seriously butt-hurt over your anger; I tend to game with people who get angry from time to time, and I'd bet odds that I've played with much bigger crazies than you. If your group is willing to listen to reason - and you might want to give it a little time for any bad feelings to subside - then maybe you could propose running your own game. Just try to get them to try it out. See if the GM wouldn't mind taking a hiatus on his game or even just giving you equal time. If all that fails, well, your options are pretty low. I'd look for another group. If you're not having fun playing your buddy's game, there's no point in being there.
chinchy_mcchilla 03-29-06, 07:00 PM	Was_Fired, I enjoyed how you automatically disregarded everything you said, and in addition, added information that never occured. We've never had previous problems, so saying something like "all the other games youve made less fun" is not only innacurrate, but also hurtful. In addition, I did not yell, and I don't appreciate you making the arbitrary decision to believe that I am lying. In any case, most of the rest of you who suggested making up, thank you, and we've allready done so. They've even agreed to try to help me through the anger issues that may arise outside of the game, which is very helpful to me.
Jagerhunde 03-29-06, 10:34 PM	Glad to hear you were able to make peace with your buddies. It's a rotten thing when friends start splintering over things that are supposed to be fun, and I mean more than just roleplaying. You seem to have a good idea about gaming, and maybe a little difference would be a nice breather for your friends. I'd still try running a little side game; it might provide some release for you, as well.
chinchy_mcchilla 03-30-06, 12:14 AM	I'm definately thinking about it, I'm bouncing some ideas around in my head, we'll see what I come up with.