Rifka Shoan - Female Human Paladin, played by the DM's Girlfriend
Kalveshiea - Male Illumian Soulknife
Jonas Tyligger - Male Human Rogue/Assassin, played by myself
Aseria - Male Moon-Elf Wizard, played by the DM
The campaign has been going well for a while now, but we recently lost a player in both our campaigns when our friend had to ship out for basic training. So now the campaigns are down to three PC's and the DMPC. We are currently sitting at level 12, and I've began to notice that I, for reasons I'm unsure, have become a target to almost everything that is thrown at us.
Rogues are my favored player, and the one I've built for this campaign has a very very high intellegence and dexterity, and the weapons I have chosen not only maximize his sneak attack, but also his death attack.
But then I realized that I was the one who was always coming out of fights with the most wounds. So I started watching him during gameplay, and sure enough, almost anytime a spell or attack was targetted at out group, it was always directed towards me, I was the one always having to roll saving throws, skill checks, and always had the biggest baddies in a fight zero in on me.
I could understand it to some extent, I am the most experienced player, I deal the most damage at this point, and I make use of my death attack in almost every fight, and it usually succeeds. But lately it seems like it's become a personal vendetta, having BBEG's target me even in the wake of being flanked by the other PC's, even if I'm hiding. The rest of the group even began calling me 'Doomed Player'.
I approached him about it, and he was taken aback, saying he chose at random, and that he was sorry if it seemed like I was the target of all attacks, and promised to make an effort to check himself when running a battle. That lasted about one session, and then it was right back to 'Doomed Player'. I even went to the extent of marking down each attack, or offense that was launched against the party members in the game, and I was easily targeted three times more than the other PC's.
I've tried talking him to him, I've tried being nice, I've tried being angry, I've had the other PC's talk to him, and nothing seems to work. I haven't slighted his PC in my campaign, so I don't know what the deal is.
It's getting to the point that I want to leave the game, but I can't do that and expect him to show up for mine. What should I do?
I'm sorry you're in this spot. I know how angrily awkward it can be.
It's getting to the point that I want to leave the game, but I can't do that and expect him to show up for mine. What should I do?
This does not sound like 'railroading', nor does it even sound like a problem.
Maybe your play style makes your character seem like a more intuitive target (especially likely if you are aggressive, more experienced, and/or do more damage). For whatever reasons, this seems like it can be turned to the party's advantage. It sounds like you are even getting more involvement and play-time out of the deal... things that are often coveted and viewed as "fun".
Cowboy up. Focus on the positive. Take it as a compliment and a challenge, then capitalize on it.
Also: buy an intelligent ring of invisibility (i.e. it can activate its own power without requiring an action from you... so each turn have it ready an action to activate itself after you attack)
There's probably some psychological reason why he does it - e.g. does he feel threatened by you in any way? Is he insecure?
Ultimately - if he's DMing, then you don't have very many options - it's essentially his game. There's no point playing in a game you're not enjoying, so don't force yourself. You could start looking for another group, but that can be hard in some areas. You could tell him you're taking a few weeks off - and see how he reacts? Or you could try giving him a taste of his own medicine for a short while in the game you run?
But ultimately no one can tell you the correct thing to do - since it depends so much on the personalities of the people involved, and you know those far better than any poster on these boards.
Here is my take on it. The DM isn't the best at seperating in game actions from real life consiquences.
The DM isn't going to attack his own, PC. Thats attacking himself. Narrows it down to 3 people. He isn't going to attack his girlfriend, because he thinks she will be upset. (who knows if this is true or not, I for one don't, i havent met the girl) Now it is just you and the other PC. Is the other PC a total noob, is the other PC the guys best friend, or does the other guy take it personally if attacked? I'm betting one of these three is true. This leaves you, the guy who can take the attacks without freaking out, or getting upset.
Basically nothing you can do about it aside from ask them to work on it. A couple of things I have seen done by players with the same problem that worked for a couple of sessions.
-Talk to the GF, get her to mention nothing attacks her, and say she wouldn't mind.
-Suggest rolling a die to determine who an enemy attacks if the choice is not obvious.
- Get another player to join. One who does not mind being a target. A Barb player or something. Then the two of you can split the attacks.
Other than that really your only option is to stop playing, if it bothers yuo that much.
Seems like a crapy situation.
Here is my take on it. The DM isn't the best at seperating in game actions from real life consiquences.
The DM isn't going to attack his own, PC. Thats attacking himself. Narrows it down to 3 people. He isn't going to attack his girlfriend, because he thinks she will be upset. (who knows if this is true or not, I for one don't, i havent met the girl) Now it is just you and the other PC. Is the other PC a total noob, is the other PC the guys best friend, or does the other guy take it personally if attacked? I'm betting one of these three is true. This leaves you, the guy who can take the attacks without freaking out, or getting upset.
Basically nothing you can do about it aside from ask them to work on it. A couple of things I have seen done by players with the same problem that worked for a couple of sessions.
-Talk to the GF, get her to mention nothing attacks her, and say she wouldn't mind.
-Suggest rolling a die to determine who an enemy attacks if the choice is not obvious.
- Get another player to join. One who does not mind being a target. A Barb player or something. Then the two of you can split the attacks.
Other than that really your only option is to stop playing, if it bothers yuo that much.
Excellent reply. I think you've pretty much nailed it on the head.
I do my very best to avoid games where the DM and another player are involved, online or in person.
An alternative suggestion you could try... is to specifically target *his* PC for a session or two with every hostile attack in the game you said you run alternate with him, to the exclusion of all others.
If he mentions something to you, you can get as respectful or as witty as you want saying: "Yeah... not very fun, is it?"
I wouldn't try that until you've exhausted all options though - a dose of his own style may be just what he needs though.
Excellent reply. I think you've pretty much nailed it on the head.
I do my very best to avoid games where the DM and another player are involved, online or in person.
An alternative suggestion you could try... is to specifically target *his* PC for a session or two with every hostile attack in the game you said you run alternate with him, to the exclusion of all others.
If he mentions something to you, you can get as respectful or as witty as you want saying: "Yeah... not very fun, is it?"
I wouldn't try that until you've exhausted all options though - a dose of his own style may be just what he needs though.
This is exactly what I would do. I wouldnt even exhaust other options, I'd do it right now.
This is exactly what I would do. I wouldnt even exhaust other options, I'd do it right now.
The only reason I suggested it as a last ditch effort is because, right now, the situation is just making one player annoyed. I don't sense OP is at a breaking point just yet.
If he starts blatantly hammering the DM's character in the second game, it can get personal and egos could get involved. IE: He might not say: "Wow - that's how it's been? I'm sorry man." Instead, he might just very well retaliate by throwing 5 death rays next time he runs, all targeting OP, and sound the @#$!storm.
That being said, it might be the only thing left to do now.
"I swear to God, DM, if a barfight breaks out, your character is SCREWED in my campaign."
Kinda reminds me of an issue I encountered many years ago. Two players hate each others' characters for some reason. So when person A DMed, he'd do his very best to kill off character B. When person B DMed, he'd focus his hatered towards character A. I thought it was all in good fun until one day person A sits down to set up a new adventure for us, and he says, "I was up all night last night, and my entire dungeon is a [Person B]-killing MACHINE."
Person B snapped -- splashed his cup of soda in the DM's face, and went outside.
It's not fun at all, and sometimes it DOES take some immature shock action to get the DM to shape up and stop being an ass.
"I swear to God, DM, if a barfight breaks out, your character is SCREWED in my campaign."
