Author Topic: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile  (Read 10279 times)

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Vidar

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #40 on: April 20, 2009, 02:33:25 PM »
Kevin_video, DMing yourself isn't that hard as it sounds.
My first campaign was also with a very restrictive powertripping DM. Granted, he kept to the rules, but mostly RAW and he clearly favoured some people. (To get an idea, our group consisted of me, three other friends, his girlfriend, his twinbrother and his best friend.) In fact, there's even a whole thread about this DM somewhere on BG. Fun stuff to read in its own. ;)
Anyway, for a big part due to his campaign, I took up DMing. It didn't go extremely smooth in the beginning, but I learned. Even if I say so myself, but my campaign has grown to be one of the best we've played. (Vidar may or may not confirm this.) Due where's due, that's for a big part thanks to my players.
This inspired one of my players to take up DMing himself. He started with using the Pathfinder adventures and this has given him the confidence to start a second campaign, without premade adventures.
Long story short: Do or do not, there is no try. Announce to this group that you're going to DM and invite them. I'm certain they'll enjoy it more than this game. :)

True that, and now we've had a taste of my newest campaign and I kind of feel more certain about it. In the past I dropped plans to DM twice already, but in hindsight I shouldn't have. DM'ing a premade adventure made me more aware of the dos and don'ts of being a DM and now I'm enthousiastic to check out if my experience has taught me anything.

To pick in on something you said earlier: "if I were to defend him, I'd say I like the rule how we can take fighter only feats without being fighter and such". Surely you must realize there are little such feats that are really worth wile, and it's even more hypocrit after all I've heard from you and Gawain your DM won't allow. "sure you can take anything if you just meet the normal prereqs, except this 99% of gaming material."
Almost every DM is lenient towards the multiclassing trouble that may occur and I can't imagine much other stuff that needs something else than the "normal prereqs". Maybe regions for obscure prc's? I don't know any DM that even cares about those things.

As people keep saying, take a look into those post-by-post games and see if those get your groove on. Otherwise, look into some easy and short (or longer if you suddenly feel like it) premade adventures (or steal one of these boards! :P) and look how DM'ing works out for you.

kevin_video

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #41 on: April 20, 2009, 02:46:41 PM »
Well I've GMed before, and have done it for mostly short campaigns. Those seem to work the best for me. Long winded ones tend to get dry as I don't have a whole lot of substance. Also, I'm not very bendable when it comes to GMing, nor am I fit to be a GM of a bunch of random people. I'm bad in the fact that if I think you're going to do something (or even come up with three different scenarios in my head that you might do), and you do something absolutely random that I couldn't have even conceived of, I don't do so well adjusting to that. It's one of the things that caused me to have a falling out with my last group. They were working for a corporation that gave them jobs to do, and eventually they decided they were going to form a rebellion. Why? Well, the last job they did apparently left them all with a bad taste in their mouths. Considering only one character was good (NG), I didn't see the problem with it. To quote from Heroes, they were orignally "comfortable with morally gray." They were either going to defeat the corporation and take it over, or die trying. I had no prior knowledge of this (and why would I?), so when it happened, I was so shocked that I kind of did what I could to not kill them off and close the campaign. I eventually argued with, lets call him, the "Head GM" (as he's considered the leader of the group by most and was someone I once respected) to the point I had to walk out before breaking him in half. I haven't looked back since, and needless to say I was quickly replaced. I've GMed one-shots at gaming conventions, however, and those seem to have gone well. To the point I was even asked to come back many times, and games I couldn't make it to made people sad. So I know I'm doing something right. But those people know what they're getting into, and want to get involved with those kinds of storylines, whereas this group just wants D&D combat whenever they can get it (save one player who has no problems with us being lvl 2 for the rest of the campaign if the story is there).
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Prime32

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #42 on: April 20, 2009, 02:56:54 PM »
Well I've GMed before, and have done it for mostly short campaigns. Those seem to work the best for me. Long winded ones tend to get dry as I don't have a whole lot of substance. Also, I'm not very bendable when it comes to GMing, nor am I fit to be a GM of a bunch of random people. I'm bad in the fact that if I think you're going to do something (or even come up with three different scenarios in my head that you might do), and you do something absolutely random that I couldn't have even conceived of, I don't do so well adjusting to that.
No one does well adjusting to that. It's the source of at least 50% of gaming-related jokes.
My work
The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

Solo

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #43 on: April 20, 2009, 03:15:37 PM »
Huh? No, the quote was for Dave. *points*

Desire for mass destuction... evaporating. Anger... subsiding. Self narration... fading.

"I am the Black Mage! I cast the spells that makes the peoples fall down!"

The Legend RPG, which I worked on and encourage you to read.

GawainBS

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #44 on: April 20, 2009, 03:38:10 PM »
Well I've GMed before, and have done it for mostly short campaigns. Those seem to work the best for me. Long winded ones tend to get dry as I don't have a whole lot of substance. Also, I'm not very bendable when it comes to GMing, nor am I fit to be a GM of a bunch of random people. I'm bad in the fact that if I think you're going to do something (or even come up with three different scenarios in my head that you might do), and you do something absolutely random that I couldn't have even conceived of, I don't do so well adjusting to that.
No one does well adjusting to that. It's the source of at least 50% of gaming-related jokes.

Seconded. My players are notourious for it. I had to scrap several pages of prepared material. Most of the time, if they are creative enough to do something like this, they're also creative enough to go along with the way you play it out. An example from my campaign: The party had to infiltrate a building. I had prepared two scenarios: one where they talked their way in, one where they went via the roof. Ofcourse, they went via the sewer. I simply changed the setting, but nothing to the encounters and obstacles.
Also, be lenient to your players, and chances are high that they're lenient with you. Ofcourse, don't allow Theoretical Optimisation, but if they want to play a Forgotten Realms specific Prestige Class in Eberron, let them. Work with them to change the background, so they feel part of what you do.
That brings me to another point: if the players take a liking to an NPC, or place, or idea, elaborate on it and incorporate it. This increases their commitment.
Maybe the best piece of advice: show them you're willing to listen to them and adapt if necessary.

BTW, you may want to check out the DM-board here.

BTW2, there are several (good) short adventures available for download on the Wizards site. They're ideal to get into DM'ing.

kevin_video

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #45 on: April 20, 2009, 03:41:22 PM »
BTW2, there are several (good) short adventures available for download on the Wizards site. They're ideal to get into DM'ing.
Oh I know all about them. I've used three myself while trying to recruit friends into D&D (they joined the last group and left when I did), and my current DM uses all of them, and the adventures in the Dungeon Magazines.
I reject your reality, and substitute my own.

When God gives you lemons... it's time to find a new God.

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DaveoftheRave

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #46 on: April 20, 2009, 08:20:34 PM »
Quote
You know, an elaboration would be great. ^^;

The DM is not your mother, your boss or your principal.

S/he is your friend.  D&D is about sitting around with friends and having a good time.

If you're not allowed to say anything the DM may not like you're doing it wrong.

The game is also not the DM's game, it is a collective undertaking.  Everyone should have equal say.  The DM is the final arbiter of disputes but that doesn't mean s/he gets to rule arbitrarily or have be able to tell you what you can do and say.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #47 on: April 20, 2009, 08:25:38 PM »
Quote
There's yet another law that decrees the DM is god in his world, and defying him (or challenging him as one player likes to do when he thinks he notices mistakes on his character sheet), gets you killed. OOC shouldn't get you killed IC, but it can.
I'd say that not only is your DM a bad DM, he's a bad person. I'm not sure if I'm joking or not, so no smiley.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

jamestguy

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #48 on: April 20, 2009, 11:07:06 PM »
Well I've GMed before, and have done it for mostly short campaigns. Those seem to work the best for me. Long winded ones tend to get dry as I don't have a whole lot of substance. Also, I'm not very bendable when it comes to GMing, nor am I fit to be a GM of a bunch of random people. I'm bad in the fact that if I think you're going to do something (or even come up with three different scenarios in my head that you might do), and you do something absolutely random that I couldn't have even conceived of, I don't do so well adjusting to that.
No one does well adjusting to that. It's the source of at least 50% of gaming-related jokes.

Third'd.

If they do something so random and shocking, its best to just look at your notes, look at the player who did it, and then say "I'm gonna need a minute." and make the necessary changes. Also, if they're as frustrated with this game as you are, chances are they only want combat all the time in an attempt to break his campaign. Killing plot-important NPCs is also a factor of this. Give the dog a long enough chain, and he'll just sit in his house contented.

kevin_video

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #49 on: April 21, 2009, 01:32:55 AM »
Quote
There's yet another law that decrees the DM is god in his world, and defying him (or challenging him as one player likes to do when he thinks he notices mistakes on his character sheet), gets you killed. OOC shouldn't get you killed IC, but it can.
I'd say that not only is your DM a bad DM, he's a bad person. I'm not sure if I'm joking or not, so no smiley.
I'll be blunt. I found out today that my DM may have found this site because of an e-mail that accidently get to him, instead of just to me. Needless to say he's not too happy. I'll be asking the mods and them to remove this thread, and my other one. So no, no smiley.
I reject your reality, and substitute my own.

When God gives you lemons... it's time to find a new God.

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Sinfire Titan

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #50 on: April 21, 2009, 01:43:43 AM »
Now you have a real reason to quit the campaign. let me know if he says anything about what I posted.


[spoiler][/spoiler]

Solo

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #51 on: April 21, 2009, 02:32:15 AM »
I'll be blunt. I found out today that my DM may have found this site because of an e-mail that accidently get to him, instead of just to me. Needless to say he's not too happy. I'll be asking the mods and them to remove this thread, and my other one. So no, no smiley.

If he'd kick you out because of this, he wasn't worth having around in the first place.

"I am the Black Mage! I cast the spells that makes the peoples fall down!"

The Legend RPG, which I worked on and encourage you to read.

kevin_video

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #52 on: April 21, 2009, 02:33:26 AM »
If he'd kick you out because of this, he wasn't worth having around in the first place.
True.
I reject your reality, and substitute my own.

When God gives you lemons... it's time to find a new God.

Like D&D Freakouts? Check out this 4th Ed one.

Prak, the Mad

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #53 on: April 21, 2009, 08:13:47 AM »
well, for what it's worth, I'm in a D&D PbP that's kinda anything goes, and still getting off the ground, though it's best if your the anime-watching type for that, I think, and I'm starting a PbP that's Beast Wars, using the Story Teller system.

You're definitely welcome in my game, and I'm sure you're welcome in the D&D one.

message me if you're interested.

Prime32

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #54 on: April 21, 2009, 11:03:08 AM »
well, for what it's worth, I'm in a D&D PbP that's kinda anything goes, and still getting off the ground, though it's best if your the anime-watching type for that, I think, and I'm starting a PbP that's Beast Wars, using the Story Teller system.

You're definitely welcome in my game, and I'm sure you're welcome in the D&D one.
I'm the DM of that first one - you're welcome in it, but can I request that you give your character a Humongous Mecha or Power Armour? :D (You don't have to, I just don't want the other pilot to be the odd one out)
« Last Edit: April 21, 2009, 11:06:43 AM by Prime32 »
My work
The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

GawainBS

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #55 on: April 21, 2009, 01:10:21 PM »
well, for what it's worth, I'm in a D&D PbP that's kinda anything goes, and still getting off the ground, though it's best if your the anime-watching type for that, I think, and I'm starting a PbP that's Beast Wars, using the Story Teller system.

You're definitely welcome in my game, and I'm sure you're welcome in the D&D one.
I'm the DM of that first one - you're welcome in it, but can I request that you give your character a Humongous Mecha or Power Armour? :D (You don't have to, I just don't want the other pilot to be the odd one out)

I want a mecha too! :D

Prak, the Mad

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #56 on: April 21, 2009, 07:15:18 PM »
well, for what it's worth, I'm in a D&D PbP that's kinda anything goes, and still getting off the ground, though it's best if your the anime-watching type for that, I think, and I'm starting a PbP that's Beast Wars, using the Story Teller system.

You're definitely welcome in my game, and I'm sure you're welcome in the D&D one.
I'm the DM of that first one - you're welcome in it, but can I request that you give your character a Humongous Mecha or Power Armour? :D (You don't have to, I just don't want the other pilot to be the odd one out)
Well, y'know with the fiend feats ok'ed, my character could be giant mech...

kevin_video

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #57 on: April 25, 2009, 04:27:53 AM »
The DM came through for us today. We even role played a little. Like, real role playing. One of the old players came in to guest play an old PC from last campaign (ie was six levels higher than us because of that), except she's a little more corrupted than the last time we saw her. She's working for the big bad evil that our parents killed last campaign (banished from one realm, and is now in another one, but can still dictate orders), and he tried to get her to convince us that it wouldn't be a bad thing to let him upgrade our weapons a fair bit. I can't believe I did it, but I turned down the +3 Greater Bane affect on my bow. The compensation would be that it couldn't be used on any of his followers (ie any evil outsider devils and demons). I turned it down. I found out later that it was a good thing I did because it also had Greater Bane against me if I ever tried to disobey the terms of the agreement. In exchange, Corellon himself appeared before me, and gave me Weapon Aptitude for my bow. I can now take Weapon Focus. In exchange, I'll be picking up the Millenial Chainmail from Magic Compendium, and continue to worship him (not that I wasn't with his Bow of the Wintermoon). To make use of all of these items that I'll be taking, I'm totally going with True Believer when I'm able to take it. Our favored soul, who's CE, was given a +2 Abyssal Cold Iron bastard sword. Since she's already CE, and she's also the grand daughter of the pit fiend, so there were catches. The character had been missing a few sessions already, and had been bumped up to be ECL 8, and didn't have the gold to compensate for the adjustment, so the DM just bumped us to be equal to everyone else, and rewarded me for turning down the epitamy of evil. So I can now take the Weapon Focus tree feats. I think I'll do that next level.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2009, 04:38:29 AM by kevin_video »
I reject your reality, and substitute my own.

When God gives you lemons... it's time to find a new God.

Like D&D Freakouts? Check out this 4th Ed one.

Prak, the Mad

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #58 on: April 25, 2009, 06:14:49 AM »
 :o
Brilliant Gameologists Boards: Giving DMs the kick in the pants they need since 2009!

dude, that's awesome that your dm did something like that. It doesn't fix everything, but he must have realized there was something wrong, now he just needs to fix the rest. But it's a start.

Any chance he'll start listening to the podcasts? he could learn a lot. fuck, I learn a lot from them.

GawainBS

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Re: Need Help Making My Character Worthwhile
« Reply #59 on: April 25, 2009, 06:30:54 AM »
True Believer opens up Pious Templar from Complete Divine. For the first three levels, this might be worth it: Mettle, some spells and free Weapon Spec. (You can make a very strong point that Longbow is Correlon's favoured weapon as well.)