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Newbie blues

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
gronkk
Aug 19, 2012 17:14:29 I am new to d&d, my father in law started a game with my wife, brother in law, and two sisters in law. In his campaign, I play a barbarian named Gronkk and have been loving it. We have been primarily using the 3e books, but I have a 3.5. My wife decided to DM her own campaign, which we all made new characters for, and mine is a gnome Druid with alchemy as a skill and herbalist as a profession. In my wife's campaign, she has been kinda snippy with me, at one point forgetting to let me see the herbalist in a magic college town, then later, when I tried to make a knowledge of nature check to see if I could identify a fungus in an area affected by magical darkness, I was told "you discern that it is pitch f*%^ing dark." At one point, I had to make my wolf companion roll a climb check to get out of water and onto a 6 inch ledge. It wouldn't have been such a big issue, but it was the beginning of a campaign which was long and drawn out, and I felt as though a 6 inch climb check (which she decided he failed) was kind of petty. Is it safe to assume my animal companion will stay by my side unless I command him otherwise, or I am specifically told that he is not?
Furthermore, I have been trying to find more details on alchemy and herbalism that work within the 3.0 rule book. Any suggestions? If the only option is buy a book from a different edition, how could I adapt it to 3e? Honestly, I am pretty lost with fleshing out concepts my character needs to be successful as a gnome/Druid/herbalist. Any device?
#2
Krusk
Aug 19, 2012 17:44:35 Sounds like you have some issues to sort out with your wife/DM, and its probably best not to get advice about that sort of thing from a DND forum.

Generally your animal companion should hang near you unless you say otherwise.
#3
gronkk
Aug 19, 2012 18:07:36 I think her snippiness was related to the fact that it was her first time dming and my lack of knowledge on my class and skillset was distracting her from what she wanted to get done in her story. Thus, and advice on the herbalist/alchemy knowledge?
#4
DontEatRawHagis
Aug 20, 2012 7:38:09
At one point, I had to make my wolf companion roll a climb check to get out of water and onto a 6 inch ledge. It wouldn't have been such a big issue, but it was the beginning of a campaign which was long and drawn out, and I felt as though a 6 inch climb check (which she decided he failed) was kind of petty. Is it safe to assume my animal companion will stay by my side unless I command him otherwise, or I am specifically told that he is not?

I'd have to know the situation a bit more to put it into context. I see a few options of what this could mean:

She wanted you to get close to it and pull it up?

Storyline wise your wolf is supposed to be seperated from you at this point.

She got ticked off at you or your use of your wolf at one point

She thinks your using your Wolf companion too much

She thinks your Wolf companion is overpowered

My current DM is having similar problems with her husband who hollowed out a giant animal and is using it as a mobile weapons platform.

Furthermore, I have been trying to find more details on alchemy and herbalism that work within the 3.0 rule book. Any suggestions? If the only option is buy a book from a different edition, how could I adapt it to 3e? Honestly, I am pretty lost with fleshing out concepts my character needs to be successful as a gnome.

Alchemy never seemed to be fleshed out in 3.5e from what I gathered.

Alchemy is mentioned 3 times in the Player's Handbook for 3.5e and only has three things you can make. One of which is Acid.

Rules Compendium:
Mentions Acid but not how to craft it.

The DMG 3.5 mentions using Alchemy to put silver on weapons.

Read your PLayer's Handbook under Craft Skill.

Most players I know use Craft to circumvent the system and break the game. Just my 2 cents. Says that you can use the check to get a paycheck though. Which could give you money selling potions.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 gronkk Aug 19, 2012 17:14:29	I am new to d&d, my father in law started a game with my wife, brother in law, and two sisters in law. In his campaign, I play a barbarian named Gronkk and have been loving it. We have been primarily using the 3e books, but I have a 3.5. My wife decided to DM her own campaign, which we all made new characters for, and mine is a gnome Druid with alchemy as a skill and herbalist as a profession. In my wife's campaign, she has been kinda snippy with me, at one point forgetting to let me see the herbalist in a magic college town, then later, when I tried to make a knowledge of nature check to see if I could identify a fungus in an area affected by magical darkness, I was told "you discern that it is pitch f*%^ing dark." At one point, I had to make my wolf companion roll a climb check to get out of water and onto a 6 inch ledge. It wouldn't have been such a big issue, but it was the beginning of a campaign which was long and drawn out, and I felt as though a 6 inch climb check (which she decided he failed) was kind of petty. Is it safe to assume my animal companion will stay by my side unless I command him otherwise, or I am specifically told that he is not? Furthermore, I have been trying to find more details on alchemy and herbalism that work within the 3.0 rule book. Any suggestions? If the only option is buy a book from a different edition, how could I adapt it to 3e? Honestly, I am pretty lost with fleshing out concepts my character needs to be successful as a gnome/Druid/herbalist. Any device?
#2 Krusk Aug 19, 2012 17:44:35	Sounds like you have some issues to sort out with your wife/DM, and its probably best not to get advice about that sort of thing from a DND forum. Generally your animal companion should hang near you unless you say otherwise.
#3 gronkk Aug 19, 2012 18:07:36	I think her snippiness was related to the fact that it was her first time dming and my lack of knowledge on my class and skillset was distracting her from what she wanted to get done in her story. Thus, and advice on the herbalist/alchemy knowledge?
#4 DontEatRawHagis Aug 20, 2012 7:38:09	At one point, I had to make my wolf companion roll a climb check to get out of water and onto a 6 inch ledge. It wouldn't have been such a big issue, but it was the beginning of a campaign which was long and drawn out, and I felt as though a 6 inch climb check (which she decided he failed) was kind of petty. Is it safe to assume my animal companion will stay by my side unless I command him otherwise, or I am specifically told that he is not? I'd have to know the situation a bit more to put it into context. I see a few options of what this could mean: She wanted you to get close to it and pull it up? Storyline wise your wolf is supposed to be seperated from you at this point. She got ticked off at you or your use of your wolf at one point She thinks your using your Wolf companion too much She thinks your Wolf companion is overpowered My current DM is having similar problems with her husband who hollowed out a giant animal and is using it as a mobile weapons platform. Furthermore, I have been trying to find more details on alchemy and herbalism that work within the 3.0 rule book. Any suggestions? If the only option is buy a book from a different edition, how could I adapt it to 3e? Honestly, I am pretty lost with fleshing out concepts my character needs to be successful as a gnome. Alchemy never seemed to be fleshed out in 3.5e from what I gathered. Alchemy is mentioned 3 times in the Player's Handbook for 3.5e and only has three things you can make. One of which is Acid. Rules Compendium: Mentions Acid but not how to craft it. The DMG 3.5 mentions using Alchemy to put silver on weapons. Read your PLayer's Handbook under Craft Skill. Most players I know use Craft to circumvent the system and break the game. Just my 2 cents. Says that you can use the check to get a paycheck though. Which could give you money selling potions.