Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pizzini3000 02-05-07, 08:27 AM	In one way or another. First, I'll give a list of my characters in my current game and how they are gone. Gnome illusionist: other player complained about him apparently not doing anything. (ya right...there's more to combat than damage) So I decided to get rid of him, and he died (don't remember how) in-game. elven Bard: honestly, I just got sick of him. So he was secretly killed by the drow since it fit. Human Spirit Shaman w/ vow of poverty: The DM didn't like vow of poverty, but not because he thought it was broken. he didn't like it, because he couldn't give it awsome gear. So he was gone. This was about the time that I realized All characters don't need to die, so he stayed in the last town as an advisor. (cuz he had high wisdom n' stuff) FMA based alchemist (class by nightscreamer on the classes forum): Not broken at all. At this point we had gestalt characters. I made a dwarven alchemist/rogue --->alchemist/dungeon delver. We just happened to go into the underdark. The DM felt threatened by the fact I had infinite stoneshape and we were in the underdark. He NEVER used traps or locks or anythign like he said we was going to be using. So, in a fight moments after we get out of the underdark.... our level 11ish party fights some crazy rakshasha enemies and get hit be the DM's favorite spell..........Prismatic Spray! Horay! 2/4 party members get hit with purple. 1 gets sent to some desert plane. I get sent to the plane with two sides facing eachother, connected by a mountain. The other guy gets a great adventure fighting a dragon and flying in a airship. My alchmist gets to walk for days before getting caught up in a battle between celestials and demons. I finally get a celestial to plane shift/gate me.... but...how about this. he gets shot with a crossbow, messes up the spell....and sends me to the plane of infinite portals. So after going through one, I end up on one of the infinite layers of the Abyss!!!! WTF. don't forget he's got a ring of sustenance, so he can pretty much survive in his swampy/firey hell hole for all eternity. then there was the spellthief. Convinced again at the DM's suggestion that We'll be facing traps and locks that we'll need a skilled character for, I make a spelltheif. First thing that happened with this guy. I had him break into a house in some city. It just HAPPENED to be the mayors house.... and the windows just HAPPENED to be trapped and I gained 6 negative levels, set off an alarm that called guards within 1 round, and they put up electified nets all over the property so I couldn't escape. Only because my hide skill was godly, and I have a level in shadowdancer, was I able to avoid being caught. But SOMEHOW, i was branded with a big glowing eye on my forehead. I ended up trading a bottle of endless sand for bail and was banished from the city, given a non-glowing eye on the back of my neck. Someone to deal with those crappy spellcasters, than can disarm that trap. So....naturally, there are no traps, and all the spellcasters are mummies! The only advantage I had was to use reduce person and my underfoot combat feats from Races of the Wild to fight udner everyone's feet. He was useless, so I let him go to start working on the "guild" (the guild is my bank of character to switch between so they all don't have to die.) The party needed a healer, so I made a Water Shugenja/Sorcerer with ice spells. very cool. She lasted a while. Later we became ungestalt, because it was confusing things too much. I kept the Shugenja healing side for the benefit of the group. As a sorcerer-type caster, I had very few spells to know, But I thought ahead and picked the most versitile spells and a couple circumstantial spells. We happened to be heading out to open sea. My time to shine. Water breathing spells, control water, control weather, everything went my way. There just happens to be a storm coming. Little did I know it was also a plot divice. I calm the storm! So some random monster attacks our ship and we all get knocked unconcious. No permanant damage, it was just abrupt. blah blah blah. we're on an island. we check out some ruins. and there's more mummies. we spot 5 mummies, they come up to use, and they all attack ME. I go down to 1 HP. the rest of the party takes them out but one with some nice AOE spells and fighting. I figure, i'll finish off the last one no problem. Why heal myself, when We can just finish this off. The round after that, another 5 mummies step forward. THE DM asks for all our HP then proceeds to blast us all with crazy mummie AOE. -70 at least. Then, he acts suprised! ....whatever The next character is a beguiler, seeing as how another player made a druid and I could not heal a bit. The beguiler was great fun. Of course the DM didn't like it when I compeltely avoided fighting and rescued people in a dungeon with invisibility sphere and zone of silence....but he didn't make a fuss. When I used Feeblemind on his precious dragon boss in round 1, then I got killed. I now have a Wilder. He just keeps complaining about my concussion blast doing force damage to all his demons with damage reduction. OMG. 32 damage! how broken. I'm now getting sick of him and his crap damage. SO i've been RPing in reasons for him to leave the group and meditate till he stops sucking (basically). ATM, I plan on replacing him with a Wizard/Druid/mystic theurge to simulate a classical Witch type character. What do you guys suggest? (if you've read all that ranting, poor you.)
Radijs 02-05-07, 08:34 AM	Growing a spine perhaps? From what I gather its always the same song. Someone complains and you comply by ditching your characters. Like you said your wilder doesn't do much damage. Tell your DM the facts and continue playing him. So simply said: Don't plan on changing your character! Keep playing him.
hiroshimahamster 02-05-07, 08:38 AM	Why do you have to multiclass? In the DMG there is the witch class... On a different note, the reasons why you have been losing characters seem to be not fitting in with the DM's plans, you getting bored and the other players valuing dice over fun. I have one character (in my sig.) who has been around for a long time. I have had a different character for every campaign I've been in - my favourite character was in fact a replacement for my necromancer, the one time I got bored - and there is a satisfaction with seeing a character develop from nothing. Keep the character you have, or leave the group until you can keep focused on developing a character. Sorry if that seems harsh, but you are clearly not enjoying the game at the moment, and a break might be what you need.
Neutronium_Dragon 02-05-07, 09:28 AM	What do I suggest? Honestly? Find another group. One without a railroading passive-aggressive DM.
Black Kitten 02-05-07, 10:24 AM	No matter what you do, as long as you shine, you get burned. Try if it works the other way around, make a super-intelligent, wise and charismatic fighter who is asmatic, spastic and as weak as a venerable halfling. See how he handles that.
ShadowDragon8685 02-05-07, 10:33 AM	Okay. Here's what you do. Make something you want to play, build him well and build him for versitality. Bypass your DM's encounters with guile and stealth. He will react by killing your character, of course. Pump your hand in the air, and shout "Chugga-Chugga WOOO WOOOO!" Pull your hand down at the "WOO WOOOO" part. Repeat until he A: Gets the hint and stops railroading, or B: Asks you what in the name of a Master of Baator you're doing, at which point you're saying that you're passive-agressive complaining about his passive-agressive railroading.
FntsyWlkr 02-05-07, 12:02 PM	Okay. Here's what you do. Pump your hand in the air, and shout "Chugga-Chugga WOOO WOOOO!" Pull your hand down at the "WOO WOOOO" part. Repeat until he A: Gets the hint and stops railroading, or B: Asks you what in the name of a Master of Baator you're doing, at which point you're saying that you're passive-agressive complaining about his passive-agressive railroading. LMAO! Awesome ... I love how you add the cheroeography . I think you need to stick to a guy as well. It seems that you haven't set up your boundries. I also agree, stop multi-classing. Pick a solid class with tons-o-abili-tayz. I recommend ranger. Strong BAB, two solid saves and eventually a minor spellcaster. But I wouldn't suggest finding another group. It seems like you still enjoy this group (overall.). But this time ... don't consult the DM. ... sigh ... I hate to say the truth ... but a lot of DM's are DM's because they have control issues. Either they don't have it in their everyday life, or they just seek to control people for their own ego. (sad but true)
Pizzini3000 02-05-07, 01:21 PM	First I'd like to say, I'm really appreciative of all the responses. I do like the group overall, but only because I get along witht he people and I consider them friends. (friends before D&D, friends after D&D) Also, a tidbit of info... When he was a player in my and a friends group, he clearly cheated repeatedly. Even when he was rolling the dice. He'd roll, swoop the die up with the rolling hand in one motion, look up and think of a number between 10 and 20. He even cheats, and gets caught, at Magic:TG. Totally doesn't cave in. Anywho~ I've come up with a list of "issues" that I think I'm gonna give to him as an ultamatum. If he doesn't at least TRY to fix most of these "issues" I can't play with him anymore. What do you think? I'm sick of: 1. being the middle-man of everyone that participates 2. having characters I like becoming unplayable for one reason or another 3. facing rediculous encounters and having to use greater knowledge of the rules of the game to get through them 4. the inconsistant leveling and gear distrobution 5. lack of spent time or apparent spent time preparing for the game on the DM's part 6. DM "punishment" for using my character's abilities 7. the implications that I, as well as Alex, did nothing but kill blindly 8. the lack of intention to play that seems to plague every participant but me 9. the "it fails" syndrome we all suffer when we try to use abilities that we happen to have that are perfect for the situation 10. the lack of knowledge of game rules on the DM's part
Rivelstraz 02-05-07, 07:16 PM	I'm sick of: 1. being the middle-man of everyone that participates 2. having characters I like becoming unplayable for one reason or another 3. facing rediculous encounters and having to use greater knowledge of the rules of the game to get through them 4. the inconsistant leveling and gear distrobution 5. lack of spent time or apparent spent time preparing for the game on the DM's part 6. DM "punishment" for using my character's abilities 7. the implications that I, as well as Alex, did nothing but kill blindly 8. the lack of intention to play that seems to plague every participant but me 9. the "it fails" syndrome we all suffer when we try to use abilities that we happen to have that are perfect for the situation 10. the lack of knowledge of game rules on the DM's part Ahhh! GET OUT OF MY MIND! Those are exactly the same problems (Except the only Alex I know is a girl and as far I know, doesn't play D&D) that I face. I get punished for knowing more the DM, while he barely prepares his games, has no knowledge of the rules and is strongly biased towards the other players. Right now they are level 7, with around 3000po in items (each one) and I got to make a new character, level 5, with 5000 gp to begin with. I can use only core (the rest of players can use any book). I think I'll make a sorcerer with invisibility & summon monster. Then every encounter will include a thousand ways to insta-neutralize those two spells. Oh well.
YamiSouru 02-05-07, 07:59 PM	heh sounds like your DM is either new or a slacker, possibly some combination thereof. Anyway as for solutions. tell your DM that you've had it with being singled out in a party for death and that if he is so intent on killing your charactors for simply being built correctly then he should refamilerise himself with the rules. After that pick up complete scoundrel and build a rogue useing the options there and watch him scramble to defeat a rogue who can take on anything and still land on his feet :D
Reverend_Copernicus 02-05-07, 11:01 PM	I'm sick of: 1. being the middle-man of everyone that participates 2. having characters I like becoming unplayable for one reason or another 3. facing rediculous encounters and having to use greater knowledge of the rules of the game to get through them 4. the inconsistant leveling and gear distrobution 5. lack of spent time or apparent spent time preparing for the game on the DM's part 6. DM "punishment" for using my character's abilities 7. the implications that I, as well as Alex, did nothing but kill blindly 8. the lack of intention to play that seems to plague every participant but me 9. the "it fails" syndrome we all suffer when we try to use abilities that we happen to have that are perfect for the situation 10. the lack of knowledge of game rules on the DM's part You and me both. You know what my solution is? I intentionally play classes that I know like the back of my hand, and I proceed to railroad his campaign. Seriously. If you try hard enough, failing the absolute inexplicable and mystical (i.e. a rock falls on your head and kills you. written on the side of it is "God does not like you today"...that one's happened to me before -.-), you can at least throw a major curveball at him. Play something with virtually limitless flexibility. If it's a caster, prepare spells that can get you out of almost anything, then watch your DM self destruct because he can't touch you *or* the party. A good example of a 'flexibility' character (in my opinion) is a Rouge/Assassin (DMG Assassin). Pull a couple of your spells from the spell compendium (Fell the Greatest Foe, Fire Shurikens, etc.) and take the standard Invisibility and Dimension Door, and quicker than you can point and laugh, you can get out of just about any situation you set your mind to. For a great example of 'throwing the DM a curveball', ours was trying to kill half the party. I don't know what else he could have been doing, seeing as how he had a mystical NPC kick casks of lantern oil into the cave we were in, and setting the thing ablaze. Anyway, my war mage, the favored soul, the vampire halfling rogue (haha, long story) and the druid were all stuck inside. The back room was full of barrels, but of course, they too only contained lantern oil, no water. While the DM hunted down and killed "Alex" (yeah, the guy that *always* dies; this time, he wildshaped into a mouse to escape the flames in a crevice in the wall; the fire "somehow" spread inside and incinerated the druid), I pored over my spell selection. Fortunately, they were kind enough to give the war mage the spell 'Pyrotechnics', a spell I always disliked before this day. I used all of my daily alloted spells for that level (and others, once I got my metamagic feats involved!) and managed to squelch the flames. The DM was *not* happy that we had survived. So, in review, if your DM has a fascination with killing your characters off (or other party members), play something with almost limitless usefulness, research various items and powers that make you more flexible, and overall, don't let your DM to continue to railroad you. At least stand up for yourself the next time you talk to him. And try not to let whatever you have to say to him overflow into your next gaming session, that's a recipe for disaster. Hope this helps a little. -Rev.
mkill 02-06-07, 01:35 AM	Your. DM. Sucks. Want honest advice? Leave that group. Believe me, there's always a better group around. Check for other gamers in your area. In half a year, check back with the old group, maybe your DM has matured. All I can promise you now: After a month, you won't miss that DM a single bit, and you'll ask yourself why you joined these games in the first place.
Lunar_Shadow 02-06-07, 08:21 AM	What you need is a hammergun. Combine with CryoSilver's "therapy" for Steve's, only call him Ken, or whatever we decided bad DMs were called.
bob_the_great 02-06-07, 10:34 AM	get a new DM if you insist on sticking to this DM play a core class. see if you can get this DM ban/decry/kill off a basic core character. As long as you insist on playing beguilers, alchemists, etc. he can decide that it's broken. when you play core classes your issue seems to be the other players. tell them to play their own characters and let you handle your own. oh, and demand your dm roll any dice which can kill you in front of you.
Adrian_Crane 02-06-07, 10:54 AM	Buy a toy train that fits on the battlemat. Next time he railroads you, plow through all the miniatures with it while doing the "Chugga chugga WOO WOO!" routine. Then punch your DM. In the face.
FntsyWlkr 02-06-07, 11:27 AM	Buy a toy train that fits on the battlemat. Next time he railroads you, plow through all the miniatures with it while doing the "Chugga chugga WOO WOO!" routine. LOL! I love these railroad visuals!! I read another one and it KILLS ME!! LOL! ... let me give you some real world advice. One thing we learn- one skill we learn here in the entertainment industry is not to burn bridges. I would recommend letting things cool for a little while, and then without being aggressive ... pull yourself out of the group. Play the high card. Say, you have other things you need to get done that don't involve him or the group. I'm not suggesting lying or being deceiving. Just be strong, change the situation, and play the high card. Just because other people aren't professional, doesn't mean you should be.
FeceMan 02-06-07, 01:47 PM	Nah, don't say anything about having other things to do. Matter-of-factly state, "I am sick and tired of having you kill off my characters because I'm using my resources to creatively deal with your encounters. I don't think it's fun being railroaded around, and I don't like putting time and effort into my characters and then having them obliterated because you don't like what they're doing. I'm going to take a break from your game now until I'm ready to come back. If the game is still not fun for me, I will leave again and find another group."
BlueBlazer 02-06-07, 01:53 PM	Man did I misinterpret this post. I'm picturing a whole host of PCs that got lost wandering around in the woods or something... the player keeps writing up new ones and they keep getting lost and one day the party will be trudging along and find a whole forest-town populated by this player's PCs. Yeah, so you should totally do what everyone's said. Railroading sucks.
willpower 02-06-07, 02:44 PM	then there was the spellthief. Convinced again at the DM's suggestion that We'll be facing traps and locks that we'll need a skilled character for, I make a spelltheif. First thing that happened with this guy. I had him break into a house in some city. It just HAPPENED to be the mayors house.... and the windows just HAPPENED to be trapped and I gained 6 negative levels, set off an alarm that called guards within 1 round, and they put up electified nets all over the property so I couldn't escape. Only because my hide skill was godly, and I have a level in shadowdancer, was I able to avoid being caught. But SOMEHOW, i was branded with a big glowing eye on my forehead. I ended up trading a bottle of endless sand for bail and was banished from the city, given a non-glowing eye on the back of my neck. Someone to deal with those crappy spellcasters, than can disarm that trap. So....naturally, there are no traps, and all the spellcasters are mummies! The only advantage I had was to use reduce person and my underfoot combat feats from Races of the Wild to fight udner everyone's feet. He was useless, so I let him go to start working on the "guild" (the guild is my bank of character to switch between so they all don't have to die.) Well, concerning this situation, I would suggest always doing your homework before breaking into someone's house. You don't break into a house without knowing whose house you are breaking into. Plus stake it out. Particularly the area you are planning on entering and exiting through. If you are planning on going through a window and everyone avoids the windows like the plague to keep from setting off a trap, then don't go through it. I know there are ways arund that, butit couldn't hurt. Finally, I would play the character you want to play, and to hell with what the DM tells you the group needs. If he tries, just tell him flat out, "We've tried that. Everytime you stab me in the back by telling me you need a character that will be utterly useless in the adventures you actually run. So I am playing this."
willpower 02-06-07, 02:50 PM	get a new DM if you insist on sticking to this DM play a core class. see if you can get this DM ban/decry/kill off a basic core character. As long as you insist on playing beguilers, alchemists, etc. he can decide that it's broken. when you play core classes your issue seems to be the other players. tell them to play their own characters and let you handle your own. oh, and demand your dm roll any dice which can kill you in front of you. You can't do that. The DM, can actually decide what numbers the monster uses to hit you if he wants. It is part of controlling the world. However, such an action gets people to feel it is not really a game and he then loses players. I know as a DM, I generally try to keep my rolls hidden. Though i also generally only fib on a roll to keep someone alive when they would have been killed by sheer luck.