Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nani? 07-20-05, 12:21 PM	Questions: 1) What do you think of Unearthed Arcana (Regardless of your opinion)? 2) Do you do allow Prestige classes and under what circumstances (Regardless of your opinion)? 3) Race: Is a Wild Elf O.K.? Tiefling? How about Centaur? How about a Vampire/Dragon Paladin (Quit asking when the discomfort level of DM becomes apparent, match to your level of comfort)? All the Best? Nani?
fallabel 07-20-05, 12:40 PM	Questions: 1) What do you think of Unearthed Arcana (Regardless of your opinion)? So...the DM is supposed to give his opinion of UA without regard to his opinion?
rbrt_Spade 07-20-05, 12:51 PM	what does that have to do with it?-i dm and dms are to make adventures to the taste of the group and try to get them to have fun!
Wenin 07-20-05, 01:14 PM	I believe Nani is trying to outline a list of questions that you can ask your DM to see if his play style will match yours. When Nani says "Regardless of your opinion", he means the opinion of the person asking the question. Spade, that is the entire point of Nani's post.... If a player's taste is to play X PrC, and the DM isn't comfortable or even willing to allow such a character.... then the DM can't meet your desires... so you move on. to Nani, I believe the person needs to style the questions after what that person cares about. Another important question to ask. Do you have any house rules? If so, what are they?
Zorminster 07-20-05, 01:47 PM	i dont think thats gunna give a real accurate representation for most people Consider questions like 1) What supplements do you allow? 2) Do you tend to focus on roll or role play? 3) Do you have the campaign world designed and fleshed out? / If we chose to go somewhere other than what youve planned, will you railroad us or are prepared enough for something like that? 4) Can we buy magic items in your world? 5) How many sessions a week? 6) How long are the sessions? 7) How many players will you have? 8) How would you feel about a social get together as the first session where no playing happens- just so I can see if im comfortable with the players and think I could enjoy it? (This one can be tossed if you already know everyone) 9) If I play XXX class for a few levels, would you let me multi into xxxx? Make the two diametricly opposed (Say, a rogue and a paladin)- this will give you an idea of whether or not hes gunna hold you in terms of, rules or roleplaying. 10) Definately ask about house rules 11) Also ask about IRL, OOC rules such as, bring your own food, if your late one session your banned, stuff like that.
Ut-Napishtim 07-20-05, 01:56 PM	1. I'm assuming you're talking about the book, what exactly are you looking for? Gestalt characters? Heck no. Optional class variants that swap one ability for another like the Druidic Avenger or variant specialist Wizard options? Sure. Spell points system? If you can get the other casters in the party on board with it sure. Everyone has to be on the same page though, I'm not running a game where some folks are using slots and others are using points. 2. Sure I allow PrC's, but you need to let me know which one you're looking at in advance so I can okay it. That way you don't screw your character over at the start by building towards something I won't allow because it's specific to another setting or simply not appropriate towards this one. 3. Well the game's starting at third level, so whatever you can squeeze into that from core that actually has an info block on using them as PC's is okay. Keep in mind that if you're evil or undead you will be detected as such if someone gets the urge, and it's not my job to protect your freakshow from the other PC's or fearful NPC's. Races of Faerun? We're not playing on Faerun, but I'll take a look. Don't get your hopes up though, I prefer to keep setting-specific materials in their own settings quite frankly.
Phrennzy 07-20-05, 03:50 PM	it's not my job to protect your freakshow from the other PC's or fearful NPC's That's awesome.
Ni! 07-20-05, 04:13 PM	what does that have to do with it?-i dm and dms are to make adventures to the taste of the group and try to get them to have fun! lol rotfl omzorz taht 1s so l77t lol teh colooestest psot evar.
Cloud Clone 07-20-05, 05:31 PM	From what I've seen of the classes and races, and from what I've seen posted around the boards, Unearthed Arcana is to Forgotten Realms as DC is to the Marvel Universe. God moding BS. Seriously, why would any PC who isn't insane even think of playing a character who's heritage is dragon/giant/pixie/elf/demigod/Chosen one and plays the classes of hexblade3/soulblade4/mageblade6/frenzied berserker2/Unfettered3/Warmain2? Ludicrous, I say!
Ut-Napishtim 07-20-05, 11:55 PM	That's awesome. Thanks man, my players usually find it pretty funny as well actually. From what I've seen of the classes and races, and from what I've seen posted around the boards, Unearthed Arcana is to Forgotten Realms as DC is to the Marvel Universe. God moding BS. You should check it out. There are a lot of gamebreaking things in there that are pretty much intended to "kick it up a few notches" and all. It's one of the few supplements I've actually bought though, and there are some other less well known additions that are fairly well-balanced IMHO and are worth at least cheaking out. Like most supplements it's content is a spectrum designed to offer something for every DM and players own prefered power level.
weasel fierce 07-21-05, 12:54 AM	Questions: 1) What do you think of Unearthed Arcana (Regardless of your opinion)? Does this question make sense ? I think its great. More options is good. Not all of them are good, but having alternative ways to play is great 2) Do you do allow Prestige classes and under what circumstances (Regardless of your opinion)? I dont DM 3.x, but if I did, it'd be exceptionally limited, except for paladins. 3) Race: Is a Wild Elf O.K.? Tiefling? How about Centaur? How about a Vampire/Dragon Paladin (Quit asking when the discomfort level of DM becomes apparent, match to your level of comfort)? An elf is an elf. Centaurs could be okay, but the game would have to take place somewhere where they can actually be usefull and fun to play. No idea about tieflings. If its some sort of half-hybrid thing, then no. No monsters either. If the character cannot function in human society, then its right out, as the campaign setting I run is heavily humano-centric. The rules we currently play with, are not D&D, but the races available to PC's are humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, ducks (yes), and, if you've played for a bit, catfolk, wolfmen and karkions (ancient winged spellcasting catpeople.. rather odd). The rules allow any humanoid race to be a PC, but most wont fit in the current campaign
UltimateReality 07-21-05, 12:55 AM	I generally start with these: 1. "Tell me about your last campaign." This reveals about 75% of the time that they are playing something they call D&D but really is only based off 25% or less of the rules (the rule of 75-25). If they are playing D&D, how he describes the campaign will say a LOT about his style -- the kind of adventures he runs, the type of characters the players make, etc. 2. "What setting and houserules do you use?" If it's homebrew, I ask to see a handout. The mechanical mods made to the homebrew and/or houserules steer me quickly away from bad DMs or ones with an axe to grind. Houserules longer than a page means I probably won't play. 3. "How many players do you have?" Anywhere from 3 to 7 is okay with me... 4. "Do you allow evil? Why or why not?" Valid answers for me include 'no, I think it's a heroic game and characters should be good aligned' and 'yes, my players are mature enough'. If the answers are yes or no for any other reason, I thank them politely and walk out the door. 5. "So...where's one of your players?" Talking to the other players gives me a different perspective on the DM. I also get the inside information on the rest of the group and see if I'll fit in with the players. === Really, I haven't had to go through this process too formally yet. I was introduced to gaming by my then-boyfriend (now fiance) and the DM was a sane, reasonable friend of his. The other players were acquaintances, although our playstyles grew apart and sadly some personal differences resulted in the group splitting. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to game only with my very good friends. The only other group of strangers I gamed with was another acquaintance who hosted a character creation day...it became quickly apparent all the other players were of high school angsty!goth!punk age, maturity, and general demeanour. No disrespect to punk or goth there, but the whole high school thing really, really put me off. I knew right away it wouldn't work: they were so busy flirting with each other and talking about who got arrested for what that they didn't have time to pick their maximum amount of flaws to gain their bonus feats. :rolleyes: Oh, another thing that put me off: that DM ran mods. Mods are okay if you're strapped for time, or as a fun thing, but...she had books and books and books of prefabs. I prefer my DMs a little more creative than that. It challenges me. :)
Vacerious 07-21-05, 02:22 AM	what does that have to do with it?-i dm and dms are to make adventures to the taste of the group and try to get them to have fun! lol rotfl omzorz taht 1s so l77t lol teh colooestest psot evar. :heehee :rofl: Ni! We Are Not Worthy! We Are Not Worthy! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
celtredleg 07-21-05, 10:43 AM	You would ask questions of any other group you wanted to join. Ask the same sort of things of DND. Powerlevel/magic items are often a big thing. I allow many things others wont. Monsters, animals, dragons halfvampires. I wont allow Evil charecters, Psionics, party on party charecters. I know many that do, just not me. On a side note. Some will say" no evil but vampires???" Read Fred Saberhagens Holmes/Dracula file. The whole series is a very good look at a nuetral to good vamp.
SonsOfKyuss 07-22-05, 02:03 AM	i dont think thats gunna give a real accurate representation for most people Consider questions like 1) What supplements do you allow? 2) Do you tend to focus on roll or role play? 3) Do you have the campaign world designed and fleshed out? / If we chose to go somewhere other than what youve planned, will you railroad us or are prepared enough for something like that? 4) Can we buy magic items in your world? 5) How many sessions a week? 6) How long are the sessions? 7) How many players will you have? 8) How would you feel about a social get together as the first session where no playing happens- just so I can see if im comfortable with the players and think I could enjoy it? (This one can be tossed if you already know everyone) 9) If I play XXX class for a few levels, would you let me multi into xxxx? Make the two diametricly opposed (Say, a rogue and a paladin)- this will give you an idea of whether or not hes gunna hold you in terms of, rules or roleplaying. 10) Definately ask about house rules 11) Also ask about IRL, OOC rules such as, bring your own food, if your late one session your banned, stuff like that. This is a great list of questions! As I read them I found myself thinking about what my own answers to the questions would be and I kind of found myself not liking the answers I would give. So, really, this is also a good tool for DMs to see if they should be running a campaign. Good work! I really like the questions brought up so far, so please share more! (Feel free to not answer the questions though, I really don't care :))