Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mageworks 11-28-05, 05:26 PM	My DM wants to play a low power group, so he roled our stats for us. My problem is I do not know how to roleplay my character correctly. My Character is starting out as a 8 yr old tiefling male, luckily my race gives me a +2 to dex and int, and a -2 to cha. This makes my my stats a 3 str, 8 con,4 dex, 13 int,6 wis, 6 cha. I am 8 yrs old and have the str of a weasel, and the dex of a animateed object luckily my intelligence is good. But how do I roleplay my character, I do not care to give it a chance but just think if I had nothing to boost my stats like a human. Please help.
vezina 11-28-05, 05:52 PM	If you've ever watched South Park, play him like a smarter Cartman. Fat(or just non-physical if you don't want to be fat), clumsy, no common sense, and offensive to pretty much anyone you could think of. I'm not saying use the voice and the same personality, but the general idea fits; and the age is about right. Past that..wow..those stats are ridiculous. I thought I was harsh by keeping with the 3d6 rule of 2nd edition every once in a while.
JadeSpider9643 11-28-05, 06:35 PM	wow...just how "low power" IS this campaign? RerollingYour scores are considered too low if the sum of your modifiers (before adjustments because of race) is 0 or lower, or if your highest score is 13 or lower. your total modifers are -11, your highest stat is 13, you are so weak your own body is a heavy load, your wis is so bad you can only barely distinguish the difference between yourself and the lumpy cowpie in the street., and you have the social skills OF that cowpie. dude, you're a young Stephen Hawking!! You lose, roll again.
JadeSpider9643 11-28-05, 06:37 PM	wait a minute, I just noticed something....how do you have a 4 dex? with a +2 racial bonus, how did you roll a 2 on 4d6? or even on 3d6??
^Graff_EpsilonIX 11-28-05, 07:55 PM	Whee! Take a look at the second edition PHB, it has a lot to say about roleplaying ability scores.
Tiran 11-28-05, 08:07 PM	Why is an 8year old adventuring?
Trial by Fire 11-29-05, 12:18 AM	Commit seppuku. You bring dishonor to your family.
Jell_Moo 11-29-05, 12:32 AM	It's already been said, but... You have a net modifier of -11. By the DMG, you are entitled to a reroll if your net modfifer is +1 or worse... This character is so far beyond unplayable it just isn't funny. There is no character class you could play and survive any encounter with. Either your DM is joking around and playing a prank on you, or you have somebody that has no business DMing a game sitting in the captain;s seat. Ditch the character, roll a new one on your own. Or better yet, show your DM the section in the DMG detailing point buy. Only a masochist would play with stats like those.
Tuah 11-29-05, 06:16 PM	Suggest using the same system the RPGA uses: a 28 point buy. After all, those are about the stats a child would have. xP
Aliquid 11-29-05, 07:26 PM	It's already been said, but... You have a net modifier of -11. By the DMG, you are entitled to a reroll if your net modfifer is +1 or worse...And if the DM wants the rolls to stay, and he wants it to be a low powered game, then you are not entitled to a reroll. This character is so far beyond unplayable it just isn't funny. There is no character class you could play and survive any encounter with.Too many people freak out when a DM puts restrictions on their characters, and too often they use the argument "this character isn't playable". Sure it is, it just takes a bit more imagination. Either your DM is joking around and playing a prank on you, or you have somebody that has no business DMing a game sitting in the captain;s seat.Or maybe the DM has created an interesting adventure that will be fun and enjoyable to role play, and is specifically designed for low-powered characters. Ditch the character, roll a new one on your own. Or better yet, show your DM the section in the DMG detailing point buy. Only a masochist would play with stats like those.I say give it a chance, it might be fun. Unless the DM is a jerk, he will make a point of adjusting the CR level of all encounters, so you still have a fighting chance. He will also create encounters where you need to use your brain to get past the bad guys... not your sword.
CipherTheory 11-29-05, 07:51 PM	Let's analize this a moment. STR 3: According to the player's handbook, this gives you the ability to easily lift about 10 lbs. That make your character about the same as the really skinny kid everyone made fun of in gym class. Take his example and avoid physical combat at all costs. (I'm not sure what size catagory a tiefling is in, but the idea is still the same) CON 8: Chances are your character isn't in the best health. He's not terrible, though, but he's a bit below average none the less. Best keep him away from things that would want to hurt him. DEX 4: Hmmm. You character moves as though he's knocked back about five coronas before the adventure. Again, no sword for you. INT 13: You qualify as a genius by human standards. Congratulations! Stand up and be proud. This is your character's defining attribute. WIS 6: Your character has little if any common sense. While he may know alot and be good at cognative thinking, he has no ability to apply it. This means most of his knowledge will be utterly useless unless someone else can put two and two together for him/her. Think: trivia! CHA 6: Your character is homely and probably annoys others by being near them. Best keep him away from social situations in which he has to be seen or heard. ------------------------------ This character seems to be a really skinny, uber-smart, ultra dork. The analogy of the skinny, pizza-faced nerd with the thick glasses that everyone makes fun of really applies here. If you'e seriously planning on playing this character, make him a Wizard and keep him as far away from everything that could hurt him as humanly (tieflingly) possible. His best role would be to stand at the back of the group and dispense useful bits of trivia in every situation. Load up on Knowledge skills so you can do this without metagaming. Whatever you do, keep him away from all combat and social situations. Both are likely to get him killed very, VERY quickly.
Jell_Moo 11-29-05, 10:51 PM	And if the DM wants the rolls to stay, and he wants it to be a low powered game, then you are not entitled to a reroll. And I certainly hope the DM has a lot of fun sitting alone at a table and pretending that he has players. There is a reason that the section on hopeless characters exists in the DMG. And this is not a low powered camapaign. This is a case where the character cannot survive an encounter. Simple as that. An adventure featuring a physically challenged smelly dude with the decision making abilities of an eggplant but oddly good math skills is not low powered, it's pitiful. Too many people freak out when a DM puts restrictions on their characters, and too often they use the argument "this character isn't playable". Sure it is, it just takes a bit more imagination. No, it isn't playable. The lightest armor in the game, Padded, puts the character onto the cusp of a medium load. An other gear at all puts him over the top (21lbs is a heavy load!). The -4 to hot and damage in melee is a little off putting for a warrior type, isn't it? Luckilly ranged attacks are... What? -3 to hit? Hmmm. Look at that 13 Int though, you could make a Wizard! A 1st level Wizard with an AC of 7 and 3 hit points, yeah that'll survive long. This isn't the DM puting restrictions, this is the DM making a character for the player, and making the character so pitiful that it can't do anything well. Imagination is nice and all, but the fact is that this character is not playable. Or maybe the DM has created an interesting adventure that will be fun and enjoyable to role play, and is specifically designed for low-powered characters. Once again, this is not a low powered character. Crack open the DMG, a low powered campaign is categorized as 15 point buy. This guy is -8 point buy. Or check out the section on Random Average Characters where it says that any character with ability modifiers totaling -3 or lower gets a reroll. And it even says that this method makes for unplayable characters. I don't know about you, but when I think of fanatsy characters I'd like to play, I tend to think more along the lines of Gandalf, Conan or Robin Hood. Not Timmy from South Park. I say give it a chance, it might be fun. Unless the DM is a jerk, he will make a point of adjusting the CR level of all encounters, so you still have a fighting chance. He will also create encounters where you need to use your brain to get past the bad guys... not your sword. Adjust the CRs of encounters? What on earth is the CR of a dust bunny, since that is about all this character could face and have an even chance of beating. To the OP: Trust me, you don't need the torture of playing this guy. Tell the DM you do not want to play a gimp. If the DM won't budge, pick up and leave. There is no reason a DM should ever, *ever* force a player to play something they do not want to.
Aliquid 11-30-05, 11:37 AM	And I certainly hope the DM has a lot of fun sitting alone at a table and pretending that he has players. There is a reason that the section on hopeless characters exists in the DMG.Just because you would refuse to play with this DM does not mean that every other player out there would do the same. I have played in various campaigns where my character was seriously gimped.... I still had fun and so did the other players. Players do exist who will like this, but I admit it may be harder to find them. No, it isn't playable. The lightest armor in the game, Padded, puts the character onto the cusp of a medium load. An other gear at all puts him over the top (21lbs is a heavy load!). The -4 to hot and damage in melee is a little off putting for a warrior type, isn't it? Luckilly ranged attacks are... What? -3 to hit? Hmmm. Look at that 13 Int though, you could make a Wizard! A 1st level Wizard with an AC of 7 and 3 hit points, yeah that'll survive long.Well I think it is playable. It may not be playable by you... but that doesn't mean it isn't playable. As I said, just have some imagination, and think outside of the box. Once again, this is not a low powered character. Crack open the DMG, a low powered campaign is categorized as 15 point buy. This guy is -8 point buy. Or check out the section on Random Average Characters where it says that any character with ability modifiers totaling -3 or lower gets a reroll. And it even says that this method makes for unplayable characters.What the DMG and the PHB say doesn't really matter. If the DM want's his game to be different, he has every right to do that (it even says so in the DMG) I don't know about you, but when I think of fanatsy characters I'd like to play, I tend to think more along the lines of Gandalf, Conan or Robin Hood. Not Timmy from South Park.And this DM isn't asking you to play in his game, he is asking Mageworks. Maybe Mageworks is willing to experiment and try something new for a change. Personally, I prefer to play the heroic characters most of the time, but sometimes that gets boring and I want to try something different, I would give this campaign a chance. But then I’m not Mageworks either, it’s his call. I’ve been playing in a campaign (homebrew rules) now where we have been playing regularly for two years. My character started off as a physically disabled commoner, with zero class skills. I have levelled up three times in those two years, so I am still quite low with abilities, and the other payers are the same. Even so, it has been a fun and exciting game. It’s mostly skill use and role playing though, not much combat. Only one out of every 10 sessions has any form of combat. Adjust the CRs of encounters? What on earth is the CR of a dust bunny, since that is about all this character could face and have an even chance of beating.It depends on what the other characters in the party are like. Remember he isn’t fighting alone. If there are four of them in the party, and at least one of them has an above average con score, they could easily take on a kobold or two. There is no reason a DM should ever, *ever* force a player to play something they do not want to.Now this is a statement I totally agree with. If you don’t like your DM’s houserules, don’t play. Simple as that. I just think players should approach new games with an open mind and be willing to try something different. If it doesn’t work out that’s fine, but at least give it a chance, you might be surprised.
Neo_Leviathan 11-30-05, 11:53 AM	While it is true that this character could be playable, it's only going to be playable in certain circumstances. 1) Any form of combat and this guy dies, so campaigns where fighting will be anything above "very uncommong" will quickly lead to this guy's death. 2) Political. In a politics style campaign, this guy would be the "bumbling moron who screws up every situation and gets knifed for getting in the way". 3) Roleplaying. This is the only time when the character is really playable, if the campaign is almost totally roleplaying in a situation where his lack of social skills is only likely to annoy, not have him shot. However, I also would like to know how a Tiefling can have a *4* dex??
Tarrasque 11-30-05, 02:56 PM	I'm going to assume a few things here. 1. The majority of these penalties are in effect because of the age issue. So what we have here is a not-yet-fully-developed character. S/he has a lot to learn and has a lot of physical development ahead of him/her. Play this character as curiously as possible (I'm thinking kenderish) 2. Trust your DM. There's a reason s/he is doing this. I would guess this has more to do with character development (a more literal use of this phrase than normal) than it does with "the man" holding you down. 3. Your DM realizes that you don't have a heroic character (yet) and is out to challenge you in new ways. Be adaptable and keep in mind the underlying story. 4. Everyone in your party has characters with scores comparable to yours. try to stick to what you are good at and depend on the other party members to stick to what they do best. For you, this means stay out of melee. You've got no way to avoid being hit, no way to effectively return the favor to the bad guy, and no way to take even a modest amount of damage. What you do have is a respectable intelligence. Always look for the "brains-over-brawn solution" Don't let these munchkin-minded "roll" players (and you know who you are)tell you that this character isn't worth playing. If you stick it out, you may have the opportunity to have one of the most memorable characters ever. Remember: Raistlin Majere (the coolest character EVER in Dragonlance) had DISMAL scores when he began his adventuring career.
Dylan02 11-30-05, 03:15 PM	The last campaign I played we used a buying stat system, not the one from the book but our own. It was pretty tough playing my character, purely because i had STR 8 and CON 8. I hate to say it but bad stats can really hinder a character, even with a good role-player behind it, as soon as it comes to a dice role you suffer. I think your DM has made this campaign too low powered, adventurers are supposed to be tougher than the average peasant.
LadyAthena 11-30-05, 05:08 PM	If you don't want to play this character, then don't, Mageworks. It's as simple as that. The DM can set something up, and no matter how amazing of a campaign he has lined up, only the players can make it work. If you don't want to play this character, then don't. However, if you do, there have been several good points mentioned: 1)You're a kid, do kid stuff to help you level. Get odd jobs around town, become a messenger boy or an apprentice to build abilities and skills. 2)STAY OUT OF MELEE. Become a wizard and cast from the rear. Period. 3) Definately ask how it's even possible to have a dex of 4 being as you're a tiefling with the +2 modifier. It doesn't make sense, even for a kid. Kids, unless exceptionally overweight, tend to be at least as dextrous as adults. 4)The "nerdy" type is the best roleplaying role for you. You know a lot. When someone asks a question, you probably have an answer. Use that to your advantage. 5)If you don't like this character/style of play but the other players don't seem to mind, don't ruin it for everyone else by whining at the table. Just tell them that it's not your thing and politely leave the game. That's all it takes. Also, as far as the DM goes: 1) Yes, maybe he/she is a nutter. Maybe not. It's almost always worth giving a campaign a try before you pass the harsh judgement that he/she doesn't know what they're doing. 2) Talk to the DM before deciding to leave. Is this character final judgement for you? Is the DM willing to make some allowances? Talk it out. If the DM gets mad because you ask, he/she has no business being DM. It's a player's job to ask for way more than they're allowed to have :P
Good Agnostic 11-30-05, 06:11 PM	Ask him or her why the interest in a low power campaign? Emotional scarring from a grou p of power gamers? Perhaps you could ask the DM to allow a 28 point stat buy out of the DMG (don't have page number reference). THis would ensure low power and also allow players to craft teir stats- and thus encourage good roleplay. So your stat generation would look like this: 28 point buy, then racial mods, then age mods (if he wants you to start as a child). Then have at it!
CipherTheory 11-30-05, 07:45 PM	This character isn't entirely non-playable. He's just not playable in a story that involves combat... or delicate social interaction... or moving around. My statement about the character moving as though (s)he's knocked back a few beers recently stands. Even an eight year old should have around 8 dex (more if your race is particularly dexterous). Probably something to ask your DM about. If (s)he doesn't have an answer, stumble around alot and claim it's role playing ('cause it is). Anyway, if you're role playing a medieval version of middle-school this character will fit right in as a nerd stereotype. If you want him to be useful, even in that role, you should probably ask your DM about some better WIS and DEX scores. A normal person shouldn't have less than 8 in the common sense (WIS) area... unless that person is in the political sciences club ;) Also, a dex of 6 or so is probably required for using a pencil to write with. Probably ought to look into that a bit. Anyway, I stand by my statement that this character is playable... but just barely. Please post what your DM says when you ask him/her about these things. I'm really curious about this.
BoringInfoGuy 11-30-05, 08:23 PM	This could be an example of a DM trying to encourage Player growth. My early days of gaming were filled with comments like "If you don't have at least a 16 in one stat, your character is useless." Or, "I won't play a character with a negative modifier on any stat." It was heavily munchkin, and bothered me even back then. All games were high level, high power gaming. It would get old fast. Rarely would any game last past three sessions. This could be the DM trying to say you don't need multiple 18's to have a fun character. To me, low stats are better than high ones for developing a character. My characters that have a dismal stat tend to end up as the more interesting ones to play. Smashing your way through an encounter suited to your strengths is sweet, but sometimes struggling through one that plays against your weaknesses is more rewarding. The only thing that I used to think was bad to roll was all bland stats. Then I rolled a character who's stats were all 0, +1, or -1. Total modifier of +1. From those stats was born the most interesting rogue I've ever played. You've got all the advice you should need from the others on how to Role Play your character. As for the question people raise on whether or not you should play at all, ask yourself this. If you've played with him before, was it fun? Is picking your character for you a standard move on his part, or is he just trying something different to change the pace. If you and the others aren't enjoying this concept, how willing is he to drop or change it? How long will you be playing this character? Personally, I dislike having the DM pick out a character for me, much less roll one completely. A DM who does it once to break up the pace, or only for short games I'll put up with. But one who constantly does it? Player rule zero.
Ranslare 11-30-05, 08:57 PM	My DM wants to play a low power group, so he roled our stats for us. My problem is I do not know how to roleplay my character correctly. My Character is starting out as a 8 yr old tiefling male, luckily my race gives me a +2 to dex and int, and a -2 to cha. This makes my my stats a 3 str, 8 con,4 dex, 13 int,6 wis, 6 cha. I am 8 yrs old and have the str of a weasel, and the dex of a animateed object luckily my intelligence is good. But how do I roleplay my character, I do not care to give it a chance but just think if I had nothing to boost my stats like a human. Please help. Dude.. I thought my old Dm was crazed about low stats. I'd say, talk to your fellow players and the dm about it and see where everything falls. No one is going to have fun if they're all dissatisfied with their characters. Afterall, it's a game, you should be having fun.
MindWandererB 11-30-05, 09:05 PM	It looks like the DM penalized stats across the board for age. While I agree that an 8-year-old shouldn't have as much dexterity as an adult (you try giving an 8-year-old a delicate task and see how long it takes them to break something), a 4 Dex after a racial bonus is silly. A human child with a Dex of 2 can't even tie their shoes- heck, they probably can't dress themselves at all. 8-year-olds can play Little League, which means they have at least a little bit of Dex, and Str also. Wisdom, I'll grant, should be awful for a kid- that's the last thing to develop in a person, IMO. Intelligence should be pretty close to adult normal (since it represents learning as well as knowledge), but I'd give a "racial" penalty on Knowledge checks. Charisma should be full adult normal- kids may have trouble convincing adults of important things, but that's not a function of their charm, it's a function of the domain. Con is a tough one- kids older than infants are at least as resilient as adults to disease, but they sure can't take as much abuse. This kid is a slug. No strength, no dexterity, and not much charisma or wisdom. Furthermore, he's a tiefling. Man, if ever any kid got picked on in school, it's this one. Imagine the fat, unpopular kid from when you were in 3rd grade. Then give him horns, real horns. This kid would probably literally get killed. Good thing his Con is okay.... I would play this kid as fat, whiny, and obnoxious with anyone he can get away with. He's probably a bully when he can be, torturing animals and such. He's petty and hateful, a tattletale and a show-off. He probably had a very early interest in wizardly magic, since it's something he can do to hurt people, get revenge, and have power over people. I can imagine him using charm person on girls as an adolescent (if he makes Wiz1 by then), and cause fear and ray of enfeeblement on his enemies. From such stuff are characters like Raistlin made.
Rabid Dire Wolverine 11-30-05, 09:40 PM	Hey!!! Besides CHA, that's almost exactly my ability scores! Roleplaying example: lets say he gets Lil' Red Riding Hood's job. Trips 381 times (4 dex) and his basket with goodies is a pile of straw and mush that is a medium load (3 str). Gets knocked unconscious multiple times due to usually negligible tripping damage(8 con and probably a low HP), and since his cries for help sound like Vrocks being tortured (6 cha), he actually repels life. Gets to grandmas after getting lost a lot (6 wis), can't see through wolf's lies (6 wis) but still notices odd things (13 int). Disabled when the wolf rolls a 1 on his damage roll due to a +2 str modifier for 3 dmg, and is slaughtered soon after. There. Proves that his little demonic butt couldn't even deliver cookies. This still might be un to roleplay. Have him be really, really evil, and something funny is bound to happen as you fail miserably.
Shirosai 11-30-05, 09:44 PM	Torturing animals? Ha! A weasel could kick this kid's ass. I don't know about you, but I'm fairly certain the average 8 year old could hold his own against a tiny rodent. Hell, a rat could beat the living hell out of this kid. I think your DM underestimates 8 year old kids, Tieflings nonetheless. Is there any history AT ALL that even gives reason to why this walking turd is so... bad. I don't even think this thing could make it's way out of the birth canal. (Yeah, I may be overexaggerating here, but whatever. :D )
Rabid Dire Wolverine 11-30-05, 09:54 PM	That's a good point, this guy should be dead already, because if anyone has a pet that's larger than a hamster, and it bit/scratched him (no one lives to be 8 witout this happening) he has a pretty good chance of dying. And, considering that disease was a lot more common in the medieval ages, anything worse than the flu would be a mortal danger. Plus, probably he's been picked on a lot, and bullies would have to really pull their punches to avoid killing him. Especially if they throw rocks. Heck, Tiny Tim could beat the guts out of him while playing blindman's bluff.
Callista 11-30-05, 10:01 PM	I believe the DM is giving the character a -5 penalty on all scores for being a child. That would give him adult stats of: 8 str 13 con 9 dex 18 int 11 wis 11 cha Quite playable. Forget the notion of playing this guy as a kid. Start him out as an adult, or he isn't going to make it half an hour.
Milandros 11-30-05, 10:51 PM	Either the DM here is having a joke, because this character will have a very hard time in a "standard" D&D universe, especially if properly roleplayed, or he has something special in mind. I suggest you ask (politely) which it is. If it's the former, maybe you can try it, but I'm not sure it will be that much fun. If you're going on a "Lord of the Flies" adventure with other children who have similar stats, then things are balanced again and it could be quite fun to play. If he plans to put you up against standard CR challenges for your level, then you're in trouble. You're a bright, unpleasant kid who excels academically but probably smokes "'cos it's cool!" (low WIS). Physically weak and excessively clumsy, combat in any way is not your thing. The only real option is to be the party "sage". Lots of knowledge skills, and I'd suggest some rogue levels to hide with as well.
loaba 12-01-05, 10:56 AM	I believe the DM is giving the character a -5 penalty on all scores for being a child. That would give him adult stats of: 8 str 13 con 9 dex 18 int 11 wis 11 cha Quite playable. Wow, that is one seriously crappy 28pb array. Those stats are only remotely playable because of that 18. Honestly, this array (and the player) would be much better served by dumping the 18 to a 17 or 16 and then using those points to Dex or some other attribute. The idea is to give the player a choice, and right now he hasn't got one. It's a Wizard or nothing else for this guy.
Callista 12-01-05, 01:06 PM	Maybe he intends to play a wizard, and arranged the stats himself...
loaba 12-01-05, 01:19 PM	Maybe he intends to play a wizard, and arranged the stats himself... Per the OP, stats were prerolled and given to him and we still don't know if the DM really did apply a global -5 mod (for being a child) to all stats.
Mageworks 12-01-05, 08:29 PM	Well I will not know what is planned until sunday evening. I know the other characters have higher stats and mine were the lowest. The DM wants us to work on roleplaying but says we will have the choice of what class we want to be. The Dm knows I love rogues and I play them well. He wants us to start as children and work our way up. I know courts always need jesters but I am afraid the balls I juggle may fly and kill me if I can lift them. I see know other choice but becoming a wizard if I can lift a spell scroll, and work my fingers well enough to cast a spell. I hate the feelings when you already dread your roleplaying session. I will give it a chance. If anything maybe I will get scared of a mouse I teased and trip and die on a crack on the sidewalk. I pray for a blue lightning bolt.
Jell_Moo 12-01-05, 09:32 PM	Just because you would refuse to play with this DM does not mean that every other player out there would do the same. I have played in various campaigns where my character was seriously gimped.... I still had fun and so did the other players. Players do exist who will like this, but I admit it may be harder to find them. Oh, of course. Different strokes for different folks. I'm sure there are people who enjoy playing gimped characters. However, it does need to be recognized that it is out of the norm by a fair degree. And since the OP has shown a good deal of reluctance to play this character, I can only assume that he is not really the type to enjoy this. Well I think it is playable. It may not be playable by you... but that doesn't mean it isn't playable. As I said, just have some imagination, and think outside of the box. Imagination and thinking out of the box go so far I'm afraid. The game rule limitations on the character are so profound that unless the rules are more or less tossed aside, the character cannot survive or function in anything resembling a typical game of D&D. What the DMG and the PHB say doesn't really matter. If the DM want's his game to be different, he has every right to do that (it even says so in the DMG) Perhaps, but he really should have a good reason to take so much power out of the players hands, and make them play what he wants them to. The DMG gives the DM guidelines to make the game enjoyable. Straying too far from these guidelines can have large consequences. The DMG also talks about the repercusions of changing the way the game works. Page 14. The key thing is "Overall, is this change more players happy, or unhappy." And this DM isn't asking you to play in his game, he is asking Mageworks. Maybe Mageworks is willing to experiment and try something new for a change. Personally, I prefer to play the heroic characters most of the time, but sometimes that gets boring and I want to try something different, I would give this campaign a chance. But then I’m not Mageworks either, it’s his call. Of course. However, the only advice I can give to Mageworks is from my own experience, which is naturally going to reflect my own thoughts on the matter. Ultimately, it's up to the OP to decide a course of action. All I know is that I wouldn't play in this game (my time is limited and I don't want to waste it on a game I know I'll hate), and thus that's what I can say to Mageworks. I’ve been playing in a campaign (homebrew rules) now where we have been playing regularly for two years. My character started off as a physically disabled commoner, with zero class skills. I have levelled up three times in those two years, so I am still quite low with abilities, and the other payers are the same. Even so, it has been a fun and exciting game. It’s mostly skill use and role playing though, not much combat. Only one out of every 10 sessions has any form of combat. At the same time you have to realize that this is a somewhat atypical game. The fact is that D&D is 90% geared around combat. That's the 'meat and potatoes' of the game. In a game where there is little to no combat, you obviously have greater options for a physically weak character. At the same time, if a new player joins your group, and 9 sessiions in still hasn't seen a battle, it could very well seem to him that you aren't even playing D&D at all (a matter of perception). It depends on what the other characters in the party are like. Remember he isn’t fighting alone. If there are four of them in the party, and at least one of them has an above average con score, they could easily take on a kobold or two. If the other party members have a stat array similar to the OPs, then no, they couldn't take on a Kobold or two. Their one and only hope would be to nail the Kobolds with a Sleep spell (or equivalent), and hope for the best. And even then, this is a 4 person party struggling to take on two CR 1/4 creatures. With the DMG saying four level/CR equivalent encounters per day is the norm, the party would be in serious trouble. Also note that technically speaking, the OPs character has an ECL of 2. Now this is a statement I totally agree with. If you don’t like your DM’s houserules, don’t play. Simple as that. I just think players should approach new games with an open mind and be willing to try something different. If it doesn’t work out that’s fine, but at least give it a chance, you might be surprised. At least we agree on something! ;) My advice is different though. I say not to join the game. The DM has exibited signs of being a control freak type, and has presented something very different than what is a standard game of D&D. Originally posted by Tarrasque Don't let these munchkin-minded "roll" players (and you know who you are)tell you that this character isn't worth playing. If you stick it out, you may have the opportunity to have one of the most memorable characters ever. Remember: Raistlin Majere (the coolest character EVER in Dragonlance) had DISMAL scores when he began his adventuring career. #1) Thank you for insulting people! Thank you for hinting that my style of play is inferior to your own! Seriously though, if you want to call somebody who doesn't want to play a -8 point buy character a 'munchkin', you should seriously open up the DMG one day and read through it. #2) Raistlin was a litterary character. His outcome was pre-determined by the authors. Weis and Hickman didn't sit around with a dice bag while writing the books, and leaving it up to fate to see his future. \ He suirvived and prospered because that was the way it was written. In actual gameplay, his odds of survival would have been astronomically low. This is a horribly flawed example.
Gworraent 12-02-05, 07:08 PM	i'm going to assume that you're adventures will consist of making knowledge(history checks) to pass tests. combat dangerous rats in order to find you lost younger sibling and roleplaying with that cute girl at recess. oh yeah, the BBEG is the fat bully