To set the scene, me (Tactical Warlord), was charged with the mission of delivering a rather large bribe to a goblin warlord to enlist there aid in a conflict against an enemy nation. I was ordered by my supierors to lead a group of hired mercenaries and soldiers with the cargo through the territory to the goblin settlement. After an encounter with a sleeping owlbear passed out on the road we were assaulted by a group of mercenaries lead by a rather powerful elven bandit/ranger type NPC. It quickly became apparent the the DM was giving this NPC 'cinematic' advantages to ensure the encounter went the direction he desired, killing off my npc soldiers without actually rolling etc.
After defeating the enemy mercenaries we questioned one and found out a bit about this elven bandit. He was supposedly an extremely famous adventurer, likely in the low paragon level ranges, who was notorious for numerous well organized heists and such. It was clear he had somehow found out about our little convoy and very much wished to steal our gold. Naturally this meant my character would fail his mission, and having attacked the mercenaries I was leading they now had a personal grudge against him as well.
Several hours later we were swarmed by this elven bandits trained wolf pack who always seem to conveniently be able to knock players prone when it proved 'cinematically' necessary. While we're dealing with these wolves somehow, in a single turn, the elven bandit manages to shoot the horse pulling the cart sending it into a panic, emerge from the woods, and then jump on the cart as the frightened horse bolts. The DM claims that it quickly fades beyond the bend.
As players we're skeptical and demand the series of actions be broken down play by play so we can see how this is mechanically possible. This elven bandit after all is supposed to abide by the same rules that we as players do. After some debate the DM concedes that we can still see the cart, but it is still somehow magically significantly more squares away from it's original position as the movement speed of the horse drawn cart would allow.
Still as players we're a little frustrated and feel pretty powerless and at the whims of the DM. As commander I order the wizard to try and take out one of the wheels with a spell since the DM claims crossbow bolts/arrows will do nothing. He hits the wheel and does 10 damage, the DM claims the wheel just wobbles a bit.
We all still have our action points left, but we've got the damn wolves in front of us. If we try and move past them, they'll likely knock us prone since we'd incur OAs. Regardless, we all attempt and sure enough the DM tells each of us that we're knocked prone. At this point suspicions of railroading are high, it seemed as though we were in a cinematic moment rather than an encounter. Regardless of what you think, I loath such DMing tactics. Play by the rules, deal with the dice, and see how events play out, otherwise you're just telling me a god damn story and letting my roll dice when it's convenient.
Anyway, last up is the eladrin barbarian. I know a strange choice. While not optimal in a traditional sense, the player did have a mechanical vision in mind that did prove to actually be quite viable as he had theorized.
What follows is a series of moves that in my opinion we're epic.
He rages and uses pressing strike to clear passed the line of wolves. Then he uses his move action, 6+2(rage) squares. This puts him still 4-5 squares from the cart. Then he uses his action point, and trades the standard action for a move action, and uses feystep to teleport directly into the wagon, fully intending to duke it out with this legendary adventurer/bandit who the DM clearly really loved. At this point the DM goes in for the kill, the barbarian was not supposed to be in this rampaging cart going toe to toe with his beloved NPC. He uses the NPC's action point, and twinstrikes doing some rather significant damage.
One thing the DM didn't count on however was my Commander's Strike still being in range. The Barbarian and elven bandit duke it out on this cart exchanging blows, while I'm using commander's strike to give aid to the barbarian. The barbarian lands a critical with pressing strike intending to push the elf off the cart and into the dirt. At this point mind you, due to a string of awesome rolls, and commanders strike we've done probably about 70-80 damage to the elf meaning he's up there in terms levels. At this point we're demanding the DM roll in front of us all. The elf makes a reflex save and isn't flung from the cart. Another round of combat, and bam another pressing strike and the damn elf is sent flying into the road. At this point the barbarian has about 5hp.
The DM at this point is rather annoyed, his bad ass NPC just got served more or less, clearly not intended. The cart races off, while the the barbarian is making nature checks to try and calm the horse, and eventually succeeds. The elf gets up, whips out his bow, clearly the DM is intending to go for the kill. I quickly point out the concealment offered by the cart, which the DM begrudgingly acknowledges. Still the arrows hit the barbarian thanks to some amazing attack modifers, the damage is pitiful, and the barbarian is still alive, mind you with only 1 hp. But he uses second wind, manages to calm the horse, and gets out of range. Meanwhile we've defeated the wolves and are charging down the road after the cart, and the elf. Their offgrid at this point, but mechanically they should have only been 25 squares or so away from us which the DM reasons to be a half mile and claims the elf vanishes without a trace.
We try and track, claiming someone so wounded as the elf would leave a trail of some sort, but despite a 22 perception check we get pretty much nothing. There is a bit more involving going through the woods after him but it's not as cool. We left the paladin and wizard behind to guard the cart. The plan was the wizard would cast ghost sound and make The Fifth Brandenburg Concierto start playing if they encountered any trouble. Thought that was pretty clever.
Anyway, that encounter made my day. We're teetering on the brink of the game becoming Players vs DM, but managed to stop just short of it, and had a rather cool encounter in my opinion.
That being said, your DM was being an ass hat so feel free to only let him know this in a few weeks =)
This was a question on the Ask Wizards thing but I can't find it at the moment (maybe in DDI now?). Although there is a topic which has details on this in the 4E leaders sub-forum.
Entertaining to read and I don't really want to burst the bubble but it looks like you are not playing Commander's Strike correctly. To use it both you and your ally must be within melee reach of the target so if you are 8 squares away then you can't use it. I.E. you (and your ally) have to be adjacent to the target or two squares away if you have a weapon with reach.
That being said, your DM was being an ass hat so feel free to only let him know this in a few weeks =)
This was a question on the Ask Wizards thing but I can't find it at the moment (maybe in DDI now?). Although there is a topic which has details on this in the 4E leaders sub-forum.
Yea, I found that thread this morning. The ruling that you must be in reach of the target makes sense when the rules for attacking are broken down. It's a shame, I really loved that liberal interpretation of Commander's Strike, but it just doesn't hold up.
Oh well
