if you played this D&D session? [Archive] - Wizards Community

if you played this D&D session? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kainpendragon
07-19-06, 07:20 PM I have a question? A friend of mine I used to Dm for is playing a game with his new Dm and he always asks me for suggestion how to improve his characters and maybe suit the ones he plays to his new DM. The most recent game he played some of the other players did not make the game that night and everyone knows this happen not everyone can make every game. But they played the game none the less. Guys that did not make the game where magical not there or in the back ground like in the D&D mock movie the gamers. well as they where going in the game the dm gave them a special item of his creation I would consider this item artifact level because it allowed 3 8 level characters to overcome 40 cr 14 demon. I am not sure what demons or devils they where and after the encounter the Dm gave them there exp. normal by book standards 0 exp is listed for an encounter of this magnitude and to beat only because of a special story written item. basically by book standard RP exp would be the only thing award here but the DM game full exp for this encounter as if they beat each monster individually the exp reward was well over 200,000 placing there characters to level 23 from level 8. Note that the other characters that where not played that night where still level 6 or 8 and there where 3 characters that where not played. Also note that this DM this is his first time DMing to my understanding.
My questions are as fellow D&D players on this forum what would you do and feel if you where players
A) The ones that did not make it to the game and find out next game every one but your characters jumped 15 to 17 levels from one encounter??

B) If you where the characters that played that game how would you feel?

My friend does not know what to think because when he played with me we played long slow game they where lucky to get ½ level every game session and it took them two years of playing to get to level 23 when I DMed for him. If I had a large number of players not make a game I made sure that they did not gap each other by no more then 2 levels.
geekling
07-19-06, 07:33 PM I seem to recall that there's this little rule hidden away somewhere that says that you can not gain more than one level at the time. If you were to gain enough XP to bump you up two or more levels, you gain one level plus 1 XP away from next level and pretty much loose the extra XP. (So that if you were level 8, you'd go to 1 XP away from reaching level 10.)

That's what I'd feel was the most apropriate solution in answer to both question A and B.
Oren
07-19-06, 07:40 PM Im pretty sure that is the rule.
As a player not there, I would be incredibly ******, as one of the players there, I would also call shenangigans on the DM and say that it is foolish to make everyone epic because of some scripted battle that was thrown at you.
necrom99
07-19-06, 07:46 PM he's absolutely right.....I had to read it because in my campaign my players found the Deck of Many things.....a campaign killer if ever there was one....

anyway one card gives you X amount of XP which could potentially give you a couple of levels if not for this rule...DMG somewhere.

in answer to your question, i've played a couple of games with DM's like that, and thoae campaigns tend to last only a couple of secessions....
its tempting as a DM to weild ultimate power, but the PC's need a basis of comparison to effect the world around them.
albinomonkeyking
07-19-06, 09:20 PM Well, I was going to answer your questions seperately but I would feel the same either way.

I have noticed with inexperience DM's or DM's who don't really know what they are doing they tend to 'overpower' the PC's because they think it is what they want. I recall a game where I received a permanent +2 to str at lvl 1, that's nice and all, but it isn't what I'm looking for.

I wouldn't be happy playing a character who went up 17 levels, even 5 or 10 I wouldn't be happy. D&D isn't about rushing things, that isn't the point of the game. I think you should attempt to make your DM understand this. Getting from one level to the next is fun, and it is fufilling because you feel as if you have accomplished something. Going up that many levels, (to steal a phrase) is like sitting down and the DM simply says "You win." Your characters aren't heroes, they have no cool stories, they won the lottery so to speak. Unless that is really what you are looking for, try to explain this to him.
kainpendragon
07-19-06, 11:55 PM thank you for your reply. I told my friend as some of you state to talk to his dm and tell him something not right or ask him if he really wanted them to be that. level i told my friend that the game more then likely would end soon because the people that did not make it would more then likely quit the game because it not fair to them at all. and there really is no way for them to ever catch up. that would leave only 3 people left if they keep leveling like that after 2 more session they would be so borde because there would be nothing they could not obliertate.

I suggest that he tell his dm to try a few pre writen advatures from wizards or some where so he can get a feel for how an advature should go like i said frist time the dm ever dmed to. I know that how i started Dming i ran 4 or 5 pre writen games to help me get a feel. before that i always played with family and they had been playing is ed 0 so i seen nothing but good game by the time i start to play with then in 2ed.

I never been to a game like that before i am sure i dm a few bad ones but not like that. I am not sure how i would act i was my friend because i never seen anything like that before. not even in a video game rpg.

thanks for your time again.
Stormsender
07-20-06, 04:29 AM I think the rule is that you gain the exerience for your current level and at most for half the next level. Its in the DMG.
Shaggy_Shaggs
07-20-06, 04:46 AM Hmmm.

You know, if handled the right way this sort of thing could be cool. How many superhero stories start the hero off as some average or below-average schmuck, then some incredible accident of fate transforms them overnight into something much more than the teeming masses around them?

A one-time abrupt jump of 5-10 levels (or abrupt application of a similar ECL template), leaving the characters much more powerful but still inexperienced, currently stuck with their crappy gear, struggling to figure out how to use their new powers and where they fit into the world now, could make for some fun roleplaying opportunities.
Dead_Karma
07-20-06, 09:27 AM i'd have to agree with most everyone else. i like to get xp, if it was up to me my character would gain a level every session, but i know not to expect that. the best thing to do would be to try and get the players that were there to accept how ever much is the max. i think that it is no more than 1 level plus 1 needed to level (could be wrong though). i say this because yes, when the other players see this they will expect someway to level up the same, or will be fairly mad. just have your friend talk to the other players, and the dm to see what can happen. the players should be reasonable enough to be willing to help the dm fix things if he admits to a mistake and founds out about it. on a side note though, if for some reason that game falls apart why don't you offer to run a game for them if you are able?
kainpendragon
07-20-06, 10:22 AM the frist reason is i dm my friend and 3 of the other players of that game since 3.0 came out. you get tried of it after a while espeical when all you want to do it play a pc and no one else wants to try dming. kind forced into a roll for years the 3 player i dmed for a long time in 2nd ed i only dmed the friend that came to me since 3.0 came out. even in 2nd i was stuck dming and could not play. so it probly well over 7 to 10 years i been dming and not geting any pc time.

2nd reason
I moved to cali after the katrina last year and they stayed in new orleans area. kind of hard to dm a game from 1,800 miles away unless it never winter nights lol.
Merestil Haye
07-20-06, 10:25 AM I think your friend's DM has dug himself a pit.

Firstly, xp calculation. The OP does not seem to understand how xp is calculated. The award is on a creature-by-creature basis, and a CR14 creature vs a level 8 party does have a listed xp award of 33,600 per creature defeated. Multiply that by 40 and divide by the number of characters...

Secondly it seems to be a large party.

Thrdly the problem the DM has created is that of PCs with a wide difference in levels. The low-lwvwelcharacters cannot hope to survive battles that challenge the high-level ones, and battles that challengfe the low-level characters would be boring for the high-level ones (and gain them no xp to boot). His best bet is to inform those who were there that he had overlooked a rule and inforem characters that as soon as they level up, they lose xp sufficient to leave them 1 xp short of going up a level. This allows them to use xp to craft items (if they wish to and can) before losing the surplus.

If the DM does that, and calculates xp correctly (ie on a character by character basis rather than average party level) the gap will close quite quickly.
Tormsskull
07-20-06, 10:39 AM I would inform your friend to talk to his DM and tell that DM to purchase a copy of the Dungeon Master's Guide.

If he already has that book, I'd have him mention to the DM to purchase Hooked on Phonics or some other device that helps people read.

If he is in fact able to read, and owns the book, and says he did in fact, read the book, then I'd instruct your friend to LOL @ the DM and leave that group for another one.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kainpendragon 07-19-06, 07:20 PM	I have a question? A friend of mine I used to Dm for is playing a game with his new Dm and he always asks me for suggestion how to improve his characters and maybe suit the ones he plays to his new DM. The most recent game he played some of the other players did not make the game that night and everyone knows this happen not everyone can make every game. But they played the game none the less. Guys that did not make the game where magical not there or in the back ground like in the D&D mock movie the gamers. well as they where going in the game the dm gave them a special item of his creation I would consider this item artifact level because it allowed 3 8 level characters to overcome 40 cr 14 demon. I am not sure what demons or devils they where and after the encounter the Dm gave them there exp. normal by book standards 0 exp is listed for an encounter of this magnitude and to beat only because of a special story written item. basically by book standard RP exp would be the only thing award here but the DM game full exp for this encounter as if they beat each monster individually the exp reward was well over 200,000 placing there characters to level 23 from level 8. Note that the other characters that where not played that night where still level 6 or 8 and there where 3 characters that where not played. Also note that this DM this is his first time DMing to my understanding. My questions are as fellow D&D players on this forum what would you do and feel if you where players A) The ones that did not make it to the game and find out next game every one but your characters jumped 15 to 17 levels from one encounter?? B) If you where the characters that played that game how would you feel? My friend does not know what to think because when he played with me we played long slow game they where lucky to get ½ level every game session and it took them two years of playing to get to level 23 when I DMed for him. If I had a large number of players not make a game I made sure that they did not gap each other by no more then 2 levels.
geekling 07-19-06, 07:33 PM	I seem to recall that there's this little rule hidden away somewhere that says that you can not gain more than one level at the time. If you were to gain enough XP to bump you up two or more levels, you gain one level plus 1 XP away from next level and pretty much loose the extra XP. (So that if you were level 8, you'd go to 1 XP away from reaching level 10.) That's what I'd feel was the most apropriate solution in answer to both question A and B.
Oren 07-19-06, 07:40 PM	Im pretty sure that is the rule. As a player not there, I would be incredibly ******, as one of the players there, I would also call shenangigans on the DM and say that it is foolish to make everyone epic because of some scripted battle that was thrown at you.
necrom99 07-19-06, 07:46 PM	he's absolutely right.....I had to read it because in my campaign my players found the Deck of Many things.....a campaign killer if ever there was one.... anyway one card gives you X amount of XP which could potentially give you a couple of levels if not for this rule...DMG somewhere. in answer to your question, i've played a couple of games with DM's like that, and thoae campaigns tend to last only a couple of secessions.... its tempting as a DM to weild ultimate power, but the PC's need a basis of comparison to effect the world around them.
albinomonkeyking 07-19-06, 09:20 PM	Well, I was going to answer your questions seperately but I would feel the same either way. I have noticed with inexperience DM's or DM's who don't really know what they are doing they tend to 'overpower' the PC's because they think it is what they want. I recall a game where I received a permanent +2 to str at lvl 1, that's nice and all, but it isn't what I'm looking for. I wouldn't be happy playing a character who went up 17 levels, even 5 or 10 I wouldn't be happy. D&D isn't about rushing things, that isn't the point of the game. I think you should attempt to make your DM understand this. Getting from one level to the next is fun, and it is fufilling because you feel as if you have accomplished something. Going up that many levels, (to steal a phrase) is like sitting down and the DM simply says "You win." Your characters aren't heroes, they have no cool stories, they won the lottery so to speak. Unless that is really what you are looking for, try to explain this to him.
kainpendragon 07-19-06, 11:55 PM	thank you for your reply. I told my friend as some of you state to talk to his dm and tell him something not right or ask him if he really wanted them to be that. level i told my friend that the game more then likely would end soon because the people that did not make it would more then likely quit the game because it not fair to them at all. and there really is no way for them to ever catch up. that would leave only 3 people left if they keep leveling like that after 2 more session they would be so borde because there would be nothing they could not obliertate. I suggest that he tell his dm to try a few pre writen advatures from wizards or some where so he can get a feel for how an advature should go like i said frist time the dm ever dmed to. I know that how i started Dming i ran 4 or 5 pre writen games to help me get a feel. before that i always played with family and they had been playing is ed 0 so i seen nothing but good game by the time i start to play with then in 2ed. I never been to a game like that before i am sure i dm a few bad ones but not like that. I am not sure how i would act i was my friend because i never seen anything like that before. not even in a video game rpg. thanks for your time again.
Stormsender 07-20-06, 04:29 AM	I think the rule is that you gain the exerience for your current level and at most for half the next level. Its in the DMG.
Shaggy_Shaggs 07-20-06, 04:46 AM	Hmmm. You know, if handled the right way this sort of thing could be cool. How many superhero stories start the hero off as some average or below-average schmuck, then some incredible accident of fate transforms them overnight into something much more than the teeming masses around them? A one-time abrupt jump of 5-10 levels (or abrupt application of a similar ECL template), leaving the characters much more powerful but still inexperienced, currently stuck with their crappy gear, struggling to figure out how to use their new powers and where they fit into the world now, could make for some fun roleplaying opportunities.
Dead_Karma 07-20-06, 09:27 AM	i'd have to agree with most everyone else. i like to get xp, if it was up to me my character would gain a level every session, but i know not to expect that. the best thing to do would be to try and get the players that were there to accept how ever much is the max. i think that it is no more than 1 level plus 1 needed to level (could be wrong though). i say this because yes, when the other players see this they will expect someway to level up the same, or will be fairly mad. just have your friend talk to the other players, and the dm to see what can happen. the players should be reasonable enough to be willing to help the dm fix things if he admits to a mistake and founds out about it. on a side note though, if for some reason that game falls apart why don't you offer to run a game for them if you are able?
kainpendragon 07-20-06, 10:22 AM	the frist reason is i dm my friend and 3 of the other players of that game since 3.0 came out. you get tried of it after a while espeical when all you want to do it play a pc and no one else wants to try dming. kind forced into a roll for years the 3 player i dmed for a long time in 2nd ed i only dmed the friend that came to me since 3.0 came out. even in 2nd i was stuck dming and could not play. so it probly well over 7 to 10 years i been dming and not geting any pc time. 2nd reason I moved to cali after the katrina last year and they stayed in new orleans area. kind of hard to dm a game from 1,800 miles away unless it never winter nights lol.
Merestil Haye 07-20-06, 10:25 AM	I think your friend's DM has dug himself a pit. Firstly, xp calculation. The OP does not seem to understand how xp is calculated. The award is on a creature-by-creature basis, and a CR14 creature vs a level 8 party does have a listed xp award of 33,600 per creature defeated. Multiply that by 40 and divide by the number of characters... Secondly it seems to be a large party. Thrdly the problem the DM has created is that of PCs with a wide difference in levels. The low-lwvwelcharacters cannot hope to survive battles that challenge the high-level ones, and battles that challengfe the low-level characters would be boring for the high-level ones (and gain them no xp to boot). His best bet is to inform those who were there that he had overlooked a rule and inforem characters that as soon as they level up, they lose xp sufficient to leave them 1 xp short of going up a level. This allows them to use xp to craft items (if they wish to and can) before losing the surplus. If the DM does that, and calculates xp correctly (ie on a character by character basis rather than average party level) the gap will close quite quickly.
Tormsskull 07-20-06, 10:39 AM	I would inform your friend to talk to his DM and tell that DM to purchase a copy of the Dungeon Master's Guide. If he already has that book, I'd have him mention to the DM to purchase Hooked on Phonics or some other device that helps people read. If he is in fact able to read, and owns the book, and says he did in fact, read the book, then I'd instruct your friend to LOL @ the DM and leave that group for another one.