Give DM another chance? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Give DM another chance? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Great Alchemist
12-14-06, 08:40 AM A while ago I was in a game where I played a warrior-monk character. Well, technically he was a Cleric by D&D rules, but his in game role was like that of warrior monk.

Anyway, I played him with extreme faith and devotion to his religion, church, and moral beliefs. This at times caused a little bit of trouble in the party, not unlike that which a paladin might cause. Particularly when there were a few more mischevious characters in the group.

The DM starts to throw stumbling blocks in front of my character. Hard moral choices where his intense devotion force him to take a very difficult path that endangers himself and the party. This becomes more and more common as the game progresses and my character's life becomes more and more difficult as he suffers for his beliefs and the party suffers as well.

Eventually my character's home country and his church become inbroiled in an intense civil war - which my character had to take place in - not to do so would violate his every principle and belief. The other players wanted to go off and have fun and get money (think Haley in the early OotS). They also have absolutely no desire to get involved in the civil war that my character cares so much about.

So I decide to give up my character - one which I had really grown fond of - to the point of writting 25 of stuff about his nation and religion (available to read for those who are interested). But I give up this extremely moralistic and driven character for one who is more selfish and willing to go off in search of profit with the rest of the party. This character is an alchemist wizard varient who wishes to eventually become immortal - but also to enjoy life and aquire riches - all together rather an immoral character.

After I give up my Cleric character, my DM confides to me that he didn't like my old character because he was a religious fanatic and that he deliberately made things difficult for my character (and thus the party) in an attempt to get my character to become more moderate. Of course, I fond this bit of information rather upsetting, but I held my tongue and tried to get into my new character.

Around the same time, we lose our free wheeling fun loving bard character (and player) and pick up a new one. The new character is a norse style priest (also a Cleric). he is of course rather militant and into bravery in combat and such ideals as that.

As the game starts again after a brief hiatus, yhe direction of the campaign radically shifts. Our party comes across information regarding powerful forces of evil that will destroy the world - and this becomes the new center of the campaign. The militant priest we have in the party now gets to demonstrate his bravery multiple times against the forces of evil and shine as a hero. My selfish character tags along reluctantly hoping that he can gain riches or discover the secrets of immortality.

My character does manage to eventually discover an ancient library where a spell for immortal life is written - at least immunity to aging. The downside, however, is that it will prevent him from having an immortal soul - if he dies as a result of violence then that is that - no afterlife. My character uses the spell and becomes unaging.

Eventually, the ultimate finale (planned for months before) is revealed to the party. We are to do batlle with a dragon (more like an evil god in this campaign, not a standard dragon) and bravely die saving the world.

We fight the dragon to save the world (only in the middle of the fight do I realize it have infinite hit points and only can be killed through deux ex machina) and our new heroic priest character gets to activate said deux ex machina after the dragon has dispatched the rest of the party so that the dragon dies and the priest dies bravely to save the world.

At this point, I am quite ****** off. My previously character would have been wonderful in the later stages of this campaign and I would have liked nothing more than to be pitted against an evil creature and to die bravely to save others. But what I got was a selfish character forced into a heroic campaign and to eventually lose the only victory he ever gained which was his immortal life. This being particularly bad after the DM intentionally drove me away from playing my previous character.

Now that that campaign is over I consider playing with that same DM again but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. That priest character I had was one of my favorite charactes I ever had and all I ever wanted to do with him was for him to have the chance to play the part of the hero. I feel like that was stolen from me though and given to this other player.

Should I be mad at my DM for this or should I give him another chance?
Cameron_DuModre
12-14-06, 09:04 AM I think you can be both angry and still give him another chance.
BUT I think you should confront him (not aggressively) about the fact that you felt he was unfair towards your character (and YOU). See what he says, bring up the norse cleric.
Serrin
12-14-06, 11:13 AM Yes, be angry and give him another chance. It sounds like he's not a bad DM overall, he just had a malfunction when it came to your character for some reason. You deserve an apology, but you probably won't get one.

Actually, I don't know. That deux ex machina sounds rather lame. I think whether or not this DM is worth another chance is something only you can decide.
Matthew77
12-14-06, 12:33 PM Next time you make a character, discuss your character concept with the DM and the other players.

Don't reveal all your history and background, just say: "Guys, I want to play a noble, self-sacrificing cleric."

If the response is "Wow, that will work perfect in this campaign" you are all set.

If the response is "But we all wanted to play selfish, shifty mercenaries" save the concept for later and play something else.

Sounds like all you really had was a lack of communication. I bet the DM thought he was doing a good thing by giving your character hard moral choices to make, when you just wanted him to make it easier for you to find a reason to stay with the party.

Bottom line: Talk to the DM more during character creation, and if the plot choices presented seem to be obstacles to your character, discuss it with the DM asap, don't wait until you hit a breaking point.
Serrin
12-14-06, 04:19 PM After I give up my Cleric character, my DM confides to me that he didn't like my old character because he was a religious fanatic and that he deliberately made things difficult for my character (and thus the party) in an attempt to get my character to become more moderate.

Did you read this?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Great Alchemist 12-14-06, 08:40 AM	A while ago I was in a game where I played a warrior-monk character. Well, technically he was a Cleric by D&D rules, but his in game role was like that of warrior monk. Anyway, I played him with extreme faith and devotion to his religion, church, and moral beliefs. This at times caused a little bit of trouble in the party, not unlike that which a paladin might cause. Particularly when there were a few more mischevious characters in the group. The DM starts to throw stumbling blocks in front of my character. Hard moral choices where his intense devotion force him to take a very difficult path that endangers himself and the party. This becomes more and more common as the game progresses and my character's life becomes more and more difficult as he suffers for his beliefs and the party suffers as well. Eventually my character's home country and his church become inbroiled in an intense civil war - which my character had to take place in - not to do so would violate his every principle and belief. The other players wanted to go off and have fun and get money (think Haley in the early OotS). They also have absolutely no desire to get involved in the civil war that my character cares so much about. So I decide to give up my character - one which I had really grown fond of - to the point of writting 25 of stuff about his nation and religion (available to read for those who are interested). But I give up this extremely moralistic and driven character for one who is more selfish and willing to go off in search of profit with the rest of the party. This character is an alchemist wizard varient who wishes to eventually become immortal - but also to enjoy life and aquire riches - all together rather an immoral character. After I give up my Cleric character, my DM confides to me that he didn't like my old character because he was a religious fanatic and that he deliberately made things difficult for my character (and thus the party) in an attempt to get my character to become more moderate. Of course, I fond this bit of information rather upsetting, but I held my tongue and tried to get into my new character. Around the same time, we lose our free wheeling fun loving bard character (and player) and pick up a new one. The new character is a norse style priest (also a Cleric). he is of course rather militant and into bravery in combat and such ideals as that. As the game starts again after a brief hiatus, yhe direction of the campaign radically shifts. Our party comes across information regarding powerful forces of evil that will destroy the world - and this becomes the new center of the campaign. The militant priest we have in the party now gets to demonstrate his bravery multiple times against the forces of evil and shine as a hero. My selfish character tags along reluctantly hoping that he can gain riches or discover the secrets of immortality. My character does manage to eventually discover an ancient library where a spell for immortal life is written - at least immunity to aging. The downside, however, is that it will prevent him from having an immortal soul - if he dies as a result of violence then that is that - no afterlife. My character uses the spell and becomes unaging. Eventually, the ultimate finale (planned for months before) is revealed to the party. We are to do batlle with a dragon (more like an evil god in this campaign, not a standard dragon) and bravely die saving the world. We fight the dragon to save the world (only in the middle of the fight do I realize it have infinite hit points and only can be killed through deux ex machina) and our new heroic priest character gets to activate said deux ex machina after the dragon has dispatched the rest of the party so that the dragon dies and the priest dies bravely to save the world. At this point, I am quite ****** off. My previously character would have been wonderful in the later stages of this campaign and I would have liked nothing more than to be pitted against an evil creature and to die bravely to save others. But what I got was a selfish character forced into a heroic campaign and to eventually lose the only victory he ever gained which was his immortal life. This being particularly bad after the DM intentionally drove me away from playing my previous character. Now that that campaign is over I consider playing with that same DM again but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. That priest character I had was one of my favorite charactes I ever had and all I ever wanted to do with him was for him to have the chance to play the part of the hero. I feel like that was stolen from me though and given to this other player. Should I be mad at my DM for this or should I give him another chance?
Cameron_DuModre 12-14-06, 09:04 AM	I think you can be both angry and still give him another chance. BUT I think you should confront him (not aggressively) about the fact that you felt he was unfair towards your character (and YOU). See what he says, bring up the norse cleric.
Serrin 12-14-06, 11:13 AM	Yes, be angry and give him another chance. It sounds like he's not a bad DM overall, he just had a malfunction when it came to your character for some reason. You deserve an apology, but you probably won't get one. Actually, I don't know. That deux ex machina sounds rather lame. I think whether or not this DM is worth another chance is something only you can decide.
Matthew77 12-14-06, 12:33 PM	Next time you make a character, discuss your character concept with the DM and the other players. Don't reveal all your history and background, just say: "Guys, I want to play a noble, self-sacrificing cleric." If the response is "Wow, that will work perfect in this campaign" you are all set. If the response is "But we all wanted to play selfish, shifty mercenaries" save the concept for later and play something else. Sounds like all you really had was a lack of communication. I bet the DM thought he was doing a good thing by giving your character hard moral choices to make, when you just wanted him to make it easier for you to find a reason to stay with the party. Bottom line: Talk to the DM more during character creation, and if the plot choices presented seem to be obstacles to your character, discuss it with the DM asap, don't wait until you hit a breaking point.
Serrin 12-14-06, 04:19 PM	After I give up my Cleric character, my DM confides to me that he didn't like my old character because he was a religious fanatic and that he deliberately made things difficult for my character (and thus the party) in an attempt to get my character to become more moderate. Did you read this?