gideonn
First Post
It was supposed to be a relaxing Sunday afternoon playing a Living Greyhawk adventure with a set table of people I know and have gamed with before.
And then . . .
It seems that there were some extra players who were onsight earlier, playing an intro mod, and now they wanted to play in this one. And the one female who was supposed to play changed her mind and yielded her place.
So we ended up with seven players, one over limit, but . .
And then they decided on co-DMs, One who handle the plot, the other the combat. Though how one divided the plot from the combat is beyond me. That little warning bell in my head should have gone off, but it was an idylic Sunday afternoon.
The 'plot' DM starts the seven of us in the ubiquitous inn. After the NPD du jour gives us what we assume to be our 'mission' as some in the group call it, the combat DM asks each of us at what time he are going to bed. Implicit in the question, therefore, is that there will be some encounter in the night, right? But some insist on staying up till all hours anyway.
When the encounter occurs, we have the option, almost direction of getting out through a trap door which the new NPC really wants us to go through, since she needs our help, and is fleeing from many Vampires. But, maybe it was the co-DMs, as some of the party decides they have to see these vampires which are downstairs. They see the vampires who also see them. So half of us have fled, as we really were supposed to do, but the other half is dealing with the Vampires. After an hour of real time, two PCs have lost levels, one is dominated and directed to kill one of the other PCs. Those of us who did flee are bored do death, having nothing to do for this time, as well as just a bit upset at their abject stupidity for not taking the hints to get out. Their half is mad at for fleeing. They keep whining about their misfortune.
BTW, we have still just scratched the surface of the mod. Now, those who have been aflicted are obsessed with getting their levels restored before they become permanent. But, of coure the plot DM has nothing in the plot to accomodate this, since it was not supposed to happen. Much more time wasting debate ensues.
[Moving on] after an hour of actual gaming, which did include a combat in which the 'dominated' PC watched from the sidelines since we had subdued and bound him for his own good, the DMs consult and decide that 'restoration' and 'break enchantment' are possible, so those that need them will stay behind while some of those who are not in need suggest going ahead to where we are supposed to go, which would effectively split the party again. Lessons not learned from previous experience? Finally coming to collective senses we all wait till all are restored and move on.
Then the debate over speed of travel. Then everyone has to consult the PHB to figure out speed, effects differing speeds, etc.The two DMs have openly expressed concern with each other over the game time of day, once again telegraphing the need for speed. But shall we drive the mounts to death? and then there is the thunder storm, so each hour of travel demands ten checks for lightning strikes.
Four hours fo real time into what is supposed to only last four hours, we finally get at/near encounter two. We say we 'do what we are supposed to do when we get here.' But plot DM feels the need to read everything that is written. After this, combat DM asks us to place ourselves for the night. Gee, think someting's coming? What did show us was large and when combat Dm ruled that it could get an AofO not only over the head of the hafling, but around a hard corner, that sent everyone scrambling to research 'cover.'
And so on. and on, and on.
What was supposed to take four hours uncluding paper work lasted six.
Lessons learned:
Six players max
One DM
And, I now recall why many people consider Sunday a day of prayer. I prayed for this game to be over.
Rants over,
Thanx for listening
And then . . .
It seems that there were some extra players who were onsight earlier, playing an intro mod, and now they wanted to play in this one. And the one female who was supposed to play changed her mind and yielded her place.
So we ended up with seven players, one over limit, but . .
And then they decided on co-DMs, One who handle the plot, the other the combat. Though how one divided the plot from the combat is beyond me. That little warning bell in my head should have gone off, but it was an idylic Sunday afternoon.
The 'plot' DM starts the seven of us in the ubiquitous inn. After the NPD du jour gives us what we assume to be our 'mission' as some in the group call it, the combat DM asks each of us at what time he are going to bed. Implicit in the question, therefore, is that there will be some encounter in the night, right? But some insist on staying up till all hours anyway.
When the encounter occurs, we have the option, almost direction of getting out through a trap door which the new NPC really wants us to go through, since she needs our help, and is fleeing from many Vampires. But, maybe it was the co-DMs, as some of the party decides they have to see these vampires which are downstairs. They see the vampires who also see them. So half of us have fled, as we really were supposed to do, but the other half is dealing with the Vampires. After an hour of real time, two PCs have lost levels, one is dominated and directed to kill one of the other PCs. Those of us who did flee are bored do death, having nothing to do for this time, as well as just a bit upset at their abject stupidity for not taking the hints to get out. Their half is mad at for fleeing. They keep whining about their misfortune.
BTW, we have still just scratched the surface of the mod. Now, those who have been aflicted are obsessed with getting their levels restored before they become permanent. But, of coure the plot DM has nothing in the plot to accomodate this, since it was not supposed to happen. Much more time wasting debate ensues.
[Moving on] after an hour of actual gaming, which did include a combat in which the 'dominated' PC watched from the sidelines since we had subdued and bound him for his own good, the DMs consult and decide that 'restoration' and 'break enchantment' are possible, so those that need them will stay behind while some of those who are not in need suggest going ahead to where we are supposed to go, which would effectively split the party again. Lessons not learned from previous experience? Finally coming to collective senses we all wait till all are restored and move on.
Then the debate over speed of travel. Then everyone has to consult the PHB to figure out speed, effects differing speeds, etc.The two DMs have openly expressed concern with each other over the game time of day, once again telegraphing the need for speed. But shall we drive the mounts to death? and then there is the thunder storm, so each hour of travel demands ten checks for lightning strikes.
Four hours fo real time into what is supposed to only last four hours, we finally get at/near encounter two. We say we 'do what we are supposed to do when we get here.' But plot DM feels the need to read everything that is written. After this, combat DM asks us to place ourselves for the night. Gee, think someting's coming? What did show us was large and when combat Dm ruled that it could get an AofO not only over the head of the hafling, but around a hard corner, that sent everyone scrambling to research 'cover.'
And so on. and on, and on.
What was supposed to take four hours uncluding paper work lasted six.
Lessons learned:
Six players max
One DM
And, I now recall why many people consider Sunday a day of prayer. I prayed for this game to be over.
Rants over,
Thanx for listening
