Am I a dick? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 hellcomet Jul 06, 2011 22:26:34	I've been playing DnD for about 14 years now. Played 3.5 heavily and 4e since it came out, recently I have partaken in forming a new 4e group with a vertern as our DM by vertern I mean the last time he played 2e was the standard. We played 2 small games (3 four hour sessions apiece) to teach the DM and the other players, new to DnD altogethor, about how the game works before for starting the large campaign. When the DM finally anounced the premise and requirements for the large campaign he told us (Me and the 2 ne wbies) that we would be playing 2 character simultaneously and that he would be making 1 set. When we finally were given these DM created PC's they were hodge-podged collection of overstat(all 20+) and glued on NPC templates. When i questioned him on this he told me that we would need these 'Super' character to save us because this was going to be a hard campaign. In my annoyance i made my other PC as Opt'ed as possible, I have yet to pull out anywhere near its potential in the two sessions we have had. My patience is coming to the end of its ropes we have played two sessions, one consisting of 4 hours of carving a path through infinitly spawning minion zombies 5 levels lower then us. The other was a boss gauntlet that before hand were informed PC's were going to die because he made it hard. After cutting through the 4 bosses, my created PC sat back and killed zombies, the only damage taken by the group from crits our wizard made by a newbie AC was hard for the bosses to hit. I tried talking to the DM after that to try and help him bring the enemies up to the PC's standard and was told to mind my own business before he stormed away from play location. I feel like cutting my PC loose and wiping the floor with next session because i feel im just wasteing my time trying to **** foot around his subpar campaign. So am I a dick for feeling this way?
#2 Novacat Jul 06, 2011 22:29:23	No.
#3 salla Jul 06, 2011 22:31:32	Not even a little bit.
#4 ToeSama Jul 06, 2011 22:33:49	Nope. Rather, I'd feel proud my PC was making a mess of everything he'd apparently hoped to achieve (that is to say, killing you and your team mates seems to be his obvious goal).
#5 bronski113 Jul 06, 2011 22:38:42	As long as you are being respectful when you are dealing with the DM you're fine. I wouldn't hold back. Just play as you would normally play. If you want to unleash your PC's fury go for it. Just don't gloat.
#6 RedSiegfried Jul 06, 2011 23:18:54	As you described the situation, there's no dickery on your part. You're not cheating, you're playing the PCs the DM wanted you to (wtf? those aren't even legal characters) and he gets mad when he can't kill you off and you suggest that he make the game more challenging. As long as you're being respectful to him as a person, as Bronski said, you're doing okay. Sounds like your DM needs to learn how to play 4e and also realize that killing everybody else isn't the object of the game (unless everybody in the group likes that). If he's inexperienced, that's forgivable, but dickery is not. I would not attend his game again if he's going to throw a tantrum like that. Instead, maybe you should read up on DMing in 4e and start your own game. I guarantee you that if this DM realizes he needs to make a better challenge for you, he will start changing the rules and get everyone mad instead of trying to understand how to design good 4e encounters. He's stuck in the 2e world, and there's nothing wrong with that, but he needs to unlearn those habits when he's playing a different game. 2e and 4e are not the same thing and you can't DM them and create encounters for them in the same manner. PS: the best way to learn to DM 4e is to play with good 4e DMs. Perhaps there's another DM he can play with to allow him to learn the ropes and bring that experience to your game.
#7 slobo777a Jul 07, 2011 1:35:55	My (fwiw) analysis: The DM is obviously struggling with 4E, and may have picked up some play style wich kinda worked in previous versions, but which now works counter to the 4E game. You are not being a dick. However, don't use that validation to start being one and messing with the game. Personally I wouldn't try any more to "fix" or "help" in this game, nor would I roll out any power-plays in the game. Just politely decline to play. That's because your angle on what is wrong, and his one on what he's trying to achieve with the game are not going to meet without a lot of open discussion. It looks like discussion has been closed.
#8 trebor_rjf Jul 07, 2011 3:06:36	just quit, this does not sound like a worthwhile endeavor. you're better off finding a new group or maybe even asking some of the players in this dm's campaign if they'd like to leave his group for a real game.
#9 sjmcc13 Jul 07, 2011 7:38:23	Generally when I see someone ask that question you made in the title the answer was yes, however after reading the post and your description of what is going on, it is a refreshing no. From what you are describing it sounds like the DM is trying to re-create the mentality from when he played over a decade ago, really I doubt he has even bothered to read the DMG properly, and it sounds like he it making the mistake of changing the system without understanding it first. If this is his first time DMing 4E you should change as little as possible and play from level 1 up to get use to the game. If he wants to run a hard campaign, you start with normal difficulty encounters and slowly make them tougher until you get the difficulty right. Really this does not sound like someone who should be DMing. I mean telling you to mind your own business ans storming off when you go to offer some advice sounds like the DM was throwing a tantrum because it was not going his way, and it is not going his way because he does not understand the system or the effects of what he has done to it. seriously if the monsters can not hit the PCs defenses then he has no one to blame other then himself, as he knows the defenses of the 3 PCs he made himself, and should know roughly the defenses of the rest of the PCs. With that it is an arbitrary task to select monsters that can hit reasonably often, take defense value, subtract 10, look for a monster with the remaining value as their bonus to attack that defense.
#10 flamespire Jul 07, 2011 9:18:52	In response to your question, no. If anything, I would say your DM is one, for one major reason: In my opinion (and that of every DM's guide I've read), D&D is a game about player empowerment. D&D characters can accomplish feats that most real world people cannot, and we use those talents and powers to overcome the difficult tasks given to us by the DM. And your DM has obliviated all of that by making DM characters for the express purpose of saving your bacon when he makes the encounters too hard. That's pretty much against the whole spirit of the game. Sounds to me like your DM is one of those who just wants to tell his story, rather than make the game fun for players or tell their story. That kind of DM probably uses heavy railroading, if so, you can get revenge by ripping the story off of the rails and forcing him to adapt... or you could just confront him about this.
#11 Krusk Jul 07, 2011 9:46:52	If for whatever reason you decide to wreck his game by running around with your OP PC, then yes. If you do the mature thing and say "I can't deal with this I am leaving" then no. Offer to run another game on a different night, and see if any of the other players have the same issue as you. If they do, they might enjoy your game. (Provided you like the other players)
#12 Man_in_the_Funny_Hat Jul 07, 2011 22:37:36	As long as you don't demean yourself by trying to destroy the game any more than he's already destined to, but instead simply leave, then no. You may of course tell him firmly but politely that you believe his game is doomed since, despite being inexperienced with 4E himself he's trying to experiment with the rules, inflicting his experimentations upon NEWBS, and running a game he intends to be so dangerous that not only do all the players have to play 2 PC's but he has to "save" them by adding two overdone, out-of-line DMPC's of his own whose ONLY potential function is to steal every photon of the limelight and glory that should rightly be the players' alone. If you actually think he can get better then volunteer to join in any NORMAL game he might decide to run but refuse to play a minute longer in this one. Better no gaming at all than gaming under a DM THIS bad.
#13 robertread3 Jul 07, 2011 23:13:59	nope your fine imo, just a bad situation.
#14 skynet2.0 Jul 08, 2011 1:07:33	So am I a dick for feeling this way? Before answering your question just a quick summary of your OP: You've 'played heavily' for 14 years You gathered up two new players and a third who hasn't played for ~10 years The group played two games in the form of 3 sessions of 4 hours in a sitting to learn the rules and mechanics it's not stated who DM'ed these sessions, or what was 'taught to the new guys' -- I'm going to speculate that you almost exclusively conducted combat in these sessions You, the person who has played heavily for 14 years, went along with two things that are terrible ideas DM making and playing not only one party character, but two Playing multiple PC's of your own at a time So, you are upset that your DM, who for all intensive purposes is new to the game, saddles you with a 4 hour session of fighting zombies? From your original post, I can't possibly fathom why he would think 4 hours of combat is how to play DnD. That sounds nothing at all like those training sessions. It has you frustrated that after a 10 year and 2.5 version break from the game he can't challenge your PC? Well then you are well justified in really mopping the floor with him next session; you know, cause he is just wasting your time and all. I mean really obliterate those monsters, that will show that newb DM how terrible he is next to your pure awesomeness. Verdict: you are a dick. Unfortunately it sounds like it comes natural and may be an integral part of your personality. Your first clue should have been the urge to hop on a forum and ask complete strangers if you are a dick. If you weren't a dick, your motivations at the onset in forming a group would have been much different: you would DM the first campaign and showcase how much fun DnD can be (both for players and DMs). Instead you have used these people so you can continue to 'heavily play', and not DM, a game of DnD. Remember it's the people that make DnD both fun and successful. It's not the rules, the mechanics, or the fluff; its the people that make the game. Step up and do what you should have done weeks ago; DM the game and use your 14 years of experience to make sure that everyone has fun.
#15 Samrin Jul 08, 2011 8:45:37	So am I a dick for feeling this way? Before answering your question just a quick summary of your OP: You've 'played heavily' for 14 years You gathered up two new players and a third who hasn't played for ~10 years The group played two games in the form of 3 sessions of 4 hours in a sitting to learn the rules and mechanics it's not stated who DM'ed these sessions, or what was 'taught to the new guys' -- I'm going to speculate that you almost exclusively conducted combat in these sessions You, the person who has played heavily for 14 years, went along with two things that are terrible ideas DM making and playing not only one party character, but two Playing multiple PC's of your own at a time So, you are upset that your DM, who for all intensive purposes is new to the game, saddles you with a 4 hour session of fighting zombies? From your original post, I can't possibly fathom why he would think 4 hours of combat is how to play DnD. That sounds nothing at all like those training sessions. It has you frustrated that after a 10 year and 2.5 version break from the game he can't challenge your PC? Well then you are well justified in really mopping the floor with him next session; you know, cause he is just wasting your time and all. I mean really obliterate those monsters, that will show that newb DM how terrible he is next to your pure awesomeness. Verdict: you are a dick. Unfortunately it sounds like it comes natural and may be an integral part of your personality. Your first clue should have been the urge to hop on a forum and ask complete strangers if you are a dick. If you weren't a dick, your motivations at the onset in forming a group would have been much different: you would DM the first campaign and showcase how much fun DnD can be (both for players and DMs). Instead you have used these people so you can continue to 'heavily play', and not DM, a game of DnD. Remember it's the people that make DnD both fun and successful. It's not the rules, the mechanics, or the fluff; its the people that make the game. Step up and do what you should have done weeks ago; DM the game and use your 14 years of experience to make sure that everyone has fun.
#16 CCS Jul 11, 2011 4:04:05	So am I a dick for feeling this way? Before answering your question just a quick summary of your OP: You've 'played heavily' for 14 years You gathered up two new players and a third who hasn't played for ~10 years The group played two games in the form of 3 sessions of 4 hours in a sitting to learn the rules and mechanics it's not stated who DM'ed these sessions, or what was 'taught to the new guys' -- I'm going to speculate that you almost exclusively conducted combat in these sessions You, the person who has played heavily for 14 years, went along with two things that are terrible ideas DM making and playing not only one party character, but two Playing multiple PC's of your own at a time So, you are upset that your DM, who for all intensive purposes is new to the game, saddles you with a 4 hour session of fighting zombies? From your original post, I can't possibly fathom why he would think 4 hours of combat is how to play DnD. That sounds nothing at all like those training sessions. It has you frustrated that after a 10 year and 2.5 version break from the game he can't challenge your PC? Well then you are well justified in really mopping the floor with him next session; you know, cause he is just wasting your time and all. I mean really obliterate those monsters, that will show that newb DM how terrible he is next to your pure awesomeness. Verdict: you are a dick. Unfortunately it sounds like it comes natural and may be an integral part of your personality. Your first clue should have been the urge to hop on a forum and ask complete strangers if you are a dick. If you weren't a dick, your motivations at the onset in forming a group would have been much different: you would DM the first campaign and showcase how much fun DnD can be (both for players and DMs). Instead you have used these people so you can continue to 'heavily play', and not DM, a game of DnD. Remember it's the people that make DnD both fun and successful. It's not the rules, the mechanics, or the fluff; its the people that make the game. Step up and do what you should have done weeks ago; DM the game and use your 14 years of experience to make sure that everyone has fun.
#17 1red13 Jul 13, 2011 22:33:28	Well if the op called him a poopy head and said the dm was a dum dum for making up such a silly concept. Then maybe yes. But, if he approached him as reasonably as you've presented it here then no. Considering the dm is new and there are a number of newb players, cautioning the dm that trying stuff that is out of the norm doesn't seem out of line. Warning bells go off for me that the dm creates a second set of characters for the pcs that are distincly more powerful that the created ones as well as warnings that its going to be an epic and powerful campaign. It sounds like things may go off the rails quickly with the dm taking a more direct hand in what the pcs are. Especially with new players who are going to have their hands full learning a new game. It doesn't give a person a warm feeling when as a new dm he isn't interested in taking constructive criticism
#18 BRJN Jul 19, 2011 15:35:31	OP, If you can find a FLGS that hosts play time, ask if your group can get in too. You ALL need an outside opinion. Your new players need some practiced players who are not at each other's throats. The DM you describe should be encouraged to play a pre-printed module before building his own campaign. Kobold Hall can be dangerous if all your attacks target Reflex (kobolds are high-DEX) and he takes the fluff from "Shifty Little Buggers" (article from Dragon 2009) seriously. Who needs Orcus in disguise? You should talk to the other players, individually, if this mini-campaign is meeting their expectations. Then you should talk to the DM, individually, about your concerns. Work in the constructive points made above. If he still won't budge, you should leave. Politely. Maybe the other players will eventually leave, too. The you can form a new group.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

hellcomet

Jul 06, 2011 22:26:34

I've been playing DnD for about 14 years now. Played 3.5 heavily and 4e since it came out, recently I have partaken in forming a new 4e group with a vertern as our DM by vertern I mean the last time he played 2e was the standard. We played 2 small games (3 four hour sessions apiece) to teach the DM and the other players, new to DnD altogethor, about how the game works before for starting the large campaign.

When the DM finally anounced the premise and requirements for the large campaign he told us (Me and the 2 ne wbies) that we would be playing 2 character simultaneously and that he would be making 1 set. When we finally were given these DM created PC's they were hodge-podged collection of overstat(all 20+) and glued on NPC templates. When i questioned him on this he told me that we would need these 'Super' character to save us because this was going to be a hard campaign. In my annoyance i made my other PC as Opt'ed as possible, I have yet to pull out anywhere near its potential in the two sessions we have had.

My patience is coming to the end of its ropes we have played two sessions, one consisting of 4 hours of carving a path through infinitly spawning minion zombies 5 levels lower then us. The other was a boss gauntlet that before hand were informed PC's were going to die because he made it hard. After cutting through the 4 bosses, my created PC sat back and killed zombies, the only damage taken by the group from crits our wizard made by a newbie AC was hard for the bosses to hit.

I tried talking to the DM after that to try and help him bring the enemies up to the PC's standard and was told to mind my own business before he stormed away from play location. I feel like cutting my PC loose and wiping the floor with next session because i feel im just wasteing my time trying to **** foot around his subpar campaign. So am I a dick for feeling this way?

Novacat

Jul 06, 2011 22:29:23

No.

salla

Jul 06, 2011 22:31:32

Not even a little bit.

ToeSama

Jul 06, 2011 22:33:49

Nope.

Rather, I'd feel proud my PC was making a mess of everything he'd apparently hoped to achieve (that is to say, killing you and your team mates seems to be his obvious goal).

bronski113

Jul 06, 2011 22:38:42

As long as you are being respectful when you are dealing with the DM you're fine.

I wouldn't hold back. Just play as you would normally play. If you want to unleash your PC's fury go for it. Just don't gloat.

RedSiegfried

Jul 06, 2011 23:18:54

As you described the situation, there's no dickery on your part. You're not cheating, you're playing the PCs the DM wanted you to (wtf? those aren't even legal characters) and he gets mad when he can't kill you off and you suggest that he make the game more challenging. As long as you're being respectful to him as a person, as Bronski said, you're doing okay.

Sounds like your DM needs to learn how to play 4e and also realize that killing everybody else isn't the object of the game (unless everybody in the group likes that). If he's inexperienced, that's forgivable, but dickery is not.

I would not attend his game again if he's going to throw a tantrum like that. Instead, maybe you should read up on DMing in 4e and start your own game. I guarantee you that if this DM realizes he needs to make a better challenge for you, he will start changing the rules and get everyone mad instead of trying to understand how to design good 4e encounters. He's stuck in the 2e world, and there's nothing wrong with that, but he needs to unlearn those habits when he's playing a different game. 2e and 4e are not the same thing and you can't DM them and create encounters for them in the same manner.

PS: the best way to learn to DM 4e is to play with good 4e DMs. Perhaps there's another DM he can play with to allow him to learn the ropes and bring that experience to your game.

slobo777a

Jul 07, 2011 1:35:55

My (fwiw) analysis: The DM is obviously struggling with 4E, and may have picked up some play style wich kinda worked in previous versions, but which now works counter to the 4E game.

You are not being a dick. However, don't use that validation to start being one and messing with the game. Personally I wouldn't try any more to "fix" or "help" in this game, nor would I roll out any power-plays in the game. Just politely decline to play. That's because your angle on what is wrong, and his one on what he's trying to achieve with the game are not going to meet without a lot of open discussion. It looks like discussion has been closed.

trebor_rjf

Jul 07, 2011 3:06:36

just quit, this does not sound like a worthwhile endeavor.

you're better off finding a new group or maybe even asking some of the players in this dm's campaign if they'd like to leave his group for a real game.

sjmcc13

Jul 07, 2011 7:38:23

Generally when I see someone ask that question you made in the title the answer was yes, however after reading the post and your description of what is going on, it is a refreshing no.

From what you are describing it sounds like the DM is trying to re-create the mentality from when he played over a decade ago, really I doubt he has even bothered to read the DMG properly, and it sounds like he it making the mistake of changing the system without understanding it first.

If this is his first time DMing 4E you should change as little as possible and play from level 1 up to get use to the game. If he wants to run a hard campaign, you start with normal difficulty encounters and slowly make them tougher until you get the difficulty right.

Really this does not sound like someone who should be DMing. I mean telling you to mind your own business ans storming off when you go to offer some advice sounds like the DM was throwing a tantrum because it was not going his way, and it is not going his way because he does not understand the system or the effects of what he has done to it. seriously if the monsters can not hit the PCs defenses then he has no one to blame other then himself, as he knows the defenses of the 3 PCs he made himself, and should know roughly the defenses of the rest of the PCs. With that it is an arbitrary task to select monsters that can hit reasonably often, take defense value, subtract 10, look for a monster with the remaining value as their bonus to attack that defense.

#10

flamespire

Jul 07, 2011 9:18:52

In response to your question, no.

If anything, I would say your DM is one, for one major reason: In my opinion (and that of every DM's guide I've read), D&D is a game about player empowerment. D&D characters can accomplish feats that most real world people cannot, and we use those talents and powers to overcome the difficult tasks given to us by the DM.

And your DM has obliviated all of that by making DM characters for the express purpose of saving your bacon when he makes the encounters too hard. That's pretty much against the whole spirit of the game.

Sounds to me like your DM is one of those who just wants to tell his story, rather than make the game fun for players or tell their story. That kind of DM probably uses heavy railroading, if so, you can get revenge by ripping the story off of the rails and forcing him to adapt... or you could just confront him about this.

#11

Krusk

Jul 07, 2011 9:46:52

If for whatever reason you decide to wreck his game by running around with your OP PC, then yes.

If you do the mature thing and say "I can't deal with this I am leaving" then no. Offer to run another game on a different night, and see if any of the other players have the same issue as you. If they do, they might enjoy your game. (Provided you like the other players)

#12

Man_in_the_Funny_Hat

Jul 07, 2011 22:37:36

As long as you don't demean yourself by trying to destroy the game any more than he's already destined to, but instead simply leave, then no. You may of course tell him firmly but politely that you believe his game is doomed since, despite being inexperienced with 4E himself he's trying to experiment with the rules, inflicting his experimentations upon NEWBS, and running a game he intends to be so dangerous that not only do all the players have to play 2 PC's but he has to "save" them by adding two overdone, out-of-line DMPC's of his own whose ONLY potential function is to steal every photon of the limelight and glory that should rightly be the players' alone.

If you actually think he can get better then volunteer to join in any NORMAL game he might decide to run but refuse to play a minute longer in this one. Better no gaming at all than gaming under a DM THIS bad.

#13

robertread3

Jul 07, 2011 23:13:59

nope your fine imo, just a bad situation.

#14

skynet2.0

Jul 08, 2011 1:07:33

So am I a dick for feeling this way?

Before answering your question just a quick summary of your OP:

You've 'played heavily' for 14 years

You gathered up two new players and a third who hasn't played for ~10 years

The group played two games in the form of 3 sessions of 4 hours in a sitting to learn the rules and mechanics
- it's not stated who DM'ed these sessions, or what was 'taught to the new guys' -- I'm going to speculate that you almost exclusively conducted combat in these sessions

You, the person who has played heavily for 14 years, went along with two things that are terrible ideas
- DM making and playing not only one party character, but two
- Playing multiple PC's of your own at a time

So, you are upset that your DM, who for all intensive purposes is new to the game, saddles you with a 4 hour session of fighting zombies? From your original post, I can't possibly fathom why he would think 4 hours of combat is how to play DnD. That sounds nothing at all like those training sessions. It has you frustrated that after a 10 year and 2.5 version break from the game he can't challenge your PC? Well then you are well justified in really mopping the floor with him next session; you know, cause he is just wasting your time and all. I mean really obliterate those monsters, that will show that newb DM how terrible he is next to your pure awesomeness.

Verdict: you are a dick.

Unfortunately it sounds like it comes natural and may be an integral part of your personality. Your first clue should have been the urge to hop on a forum and ask complete strangers if you are a dick.

If you weren't a dick, your motivations at the onset in forming a group would have been much different: you would DM the first campaign and showcase how much fun DnD can be (both for players and DMs). Instead you have used these people so you can continue to 'heavily play', and not DM, a game of DnD.

Remember it's the people that make DnD both fun and successful. It's not the rules, the mechanics, or the fluff; its the people that make the game. Step up and do what you should have done weeks ago; DM the game and use your 14 years of experience to make sure that everyone has fun.

#15

Samrin

Jul 08, 2011 8:45:37

So am I a dick for feeling this way?

Before answering your question just a quick summary of your OP:

You've 'played heavily' for 14 years

You gathered up two new players and a third who hasn't played for ~10 years

The group played two games in the form of 3 sessions of 4 hours in a sitting to learn the rules and mechanics

it's not stated who DM'ed these sessions, or what was 'taught to the new guys' -- I'm going to speculate that you almost exclusively conducted combat in these sessions

You, the person who has played heavily for 14 years, went along with two things that are terrible ideas

DM making and playing not only one party character, but two

Playing multiple PC's of your own at a time

So, you are upset that your DM, who for all intensive purposes is new to the game, saddles you with a 4 hour session of fighting zombies? From your original post, I can't possibly fathom why he would think 4 hours of combat is how to play DnD. That sounds nothing at all like those training sessions. It has you frustrated that after a 10 year and 2.5 version break from the game he can't challenge your PC? Well then you are well justified in really mopping the floor with him next session; you know, cause he is just wasting your time and all. I mean really obliterate those monsters, that will show that newb DM how terrible he is next to your pure awesomeness.

Verdict: you are a dick.

Unfortunately it sounds like it comes natural and may be an integral part of your personality. Your first clue should have been the urge to hop on a forum and ask complete strangers if you are a dick.

If you weren't a dick, your motivations at the onset in forming a group would have been much different: you would DM the first campaign and showcase how much fun DnD can be (both for players and DMs). Instead you have used these people so you can continue to 'heavily play', and not DM, a game of DnD.

Remember it's the people that make DnD both fun and successful. It's not the rules, the mechanics, or the fluff; its the people that make the game. Step up and do what you should have done weeks ago; DM the game and use your 14 years of experience to make sure that everyone has fun.

#16

CCS

Jul 11, 2011 4:04:05

So am I a dick for feeling this way?

Before answering your question just a quick summary of your OP:

You've 'played heavily' for 14 years

You gathered up two new players and a third who hasn't played for ~10 years

The group played two games in the form of 3 sessions of 4 hours in a sitting to learn the rules and mechanics

it's not stated who DM'ed these sessions, or what was 'taught to the new guys' -- I'm going to speculate that you almost exclusively conducted combat in these sessions

You, the person who has played heavily for 14 years, went along with two things that are terrible ideas

DM making and playing not only one party character, but two

Playing multiple PC's of your own at a time

So, you are upset that your DM, who for all intensive purposes is new to the game, saddles you with a 4 hour session of fighting zombies? From your original post, I can't possibly fathom why he would think 4 hours of combat is how to play DnD. That sounds nothing at all like those training sessions. It has you frustrated that after a 10 year and 2.5 version break from the game he can't challenge your PC? Well then you are well justified in really mopping the floor with him next session; you know, cause he is just wasting your time and all. I mean really obliterate those monsters, that will show that newb DM how terrible he is next to your pure awesomeness.

Verdict: you are a dick.

Unfortunately it sounds like it comes natural and may be an integral part of your personality. Your first clue should have been the urge to hop on a forum and ask complete strangers if you are a dick.

If you weren't a dick, your motivations at the onset in forming a group would have been much different: you would DM the first campaign and showcase how much fun DnD can be (both for players and DMs). Instead you have used these people so you can continue to 'heavily play', and not DM, a game of DnD.

Remember it's the people that make DnD both fun and successful. It's not the rules, the mechanics, or the fluff; its the people that make the game. Step up and do what you should have done weeks ago; DM the game and use your 14 years of experience to make sure that everyone has fun.

#17

1red13

Jul 13, 2011 22:33:28

Well if the op called him a poopy head and said the dm was a dum dum for making up such a silly concept. Then maybe yes. But, if he approached him as reasonably as you've presented it here then no. Considering the dm is new and there are a number of newb players, cautioning the dm that trying stuff that is out of the norm doesn't seem out of line.

Warning bells go off for me that the dm creates a second set of characters for the pcs that are distincly more powerful that the created ones as well as warnings that its going to be an epic and powerful campaign. It sounds like things may go off the rails quickly with the dm taking a more direct hand in what the pcs are. Especially with new players who are going to have their hands full learning a new game.

It doesn't give a person a warm feeling when as a new dm he isn't interested in taking constructive criticism

#18

BRJN

Jul 19, 2011 15:35:31

OP,

If you can find a FLGS that hosts play time, ask if your group can get in too. You ALL need an outside opinion. Your new players need some practiced players who are not at each other's throats.

The DM you describe should be encouraged to play a pre-printed module before building his own campaign. Kobold Hall can be dangerous if all your attacks target Reflex (kobolds are high-DEX) and he takes the fluff from "Shifty Little Buggers" (article from Dragon 2009) seriously. Who needs Orcus in disguise?

You should talk to the other players, individually, if this mini-campaign is meeting their expectations. Then you should talk to the DM, individually, about your concerns. Work in the constructive points made above. If he still won't budge, you should leave. Politely. Maybe the other players will eventually leave, too. The you can form a new group.