Stupidest things PCs/DMs have done

[GoodKingJayIII]

So he says "I go into hyperspace!" Well, it was established by the SW movies (that we had just seen- "flying through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy") that going into hyperspace while in a gravity well makes a big explosion

Really? I was always under the impression that flying into hyperspace within a gravity well just couldn't be done. There's a scene in Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy where Luke is ambushed by an Interdictor Cruiser (an imperial ship that creates a gravity well). When this happens, he's simply unable to jump into hyperspace.

 

[mmu1]

So he says "I go into hyperspace!" Well, it was established by the SW movies (that we had just seen- "flying through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy") that going into hyperspace while in a gravity well makes a big explosion (I can't remember if it was in the rules).

Han Solo certainly doesn't mention any explosions, just accidentally flying into something if the course isn't calculated correctly. Other than that, the movies are pretty silent on the mechanics of it.

As far as the extended universe is concerned, however, flying into a gravity well while in hyperspace would IIRC activate safety systems that would cut out the hyperdrive. If you disabled the safeties and used a hyperdrive inside a gravity well anyway (or, IIRC, encountered gravity suddenly enough that they couldn't cope quickly enough) you'd end up with a damaged or destroyed hyperdrive, but no massive explosions.

 

[Lalalei2001]

I duct-taped a Bothan to a bed because I needed the Bothan's help. (Quote: "Ooh ... fur. Whoops!")

 

[awayfarer]

I hate to say it, but the last few pages of this seem to me to be mostly DM ass-hattery and unfortunate (but not stupid) events. :\

Some of these don't even sound like they could be represented mechanically in any system I'm aware of.

 

[Lodow MoBo]

Here is one:
We had a Paladin played by a very money orientated player. Anyway the DM Let him have a very nice mount.

Celestial Flying Lion. Inteligent and dignified

Anyway one day there was a festival. The player spent about 10 mins trying to convince everyone that we should sell tickets to the masses for admission to see his mount.

Same player:

Playing a rogue. In a silver based campaign. We found 10000 gp from a dwarven kings tomb (dwarves were a long dead race). While entering a city we were questioned representative of the all powerful 'god dragon cult' which in general have 'Above the law' privleges. He noticed our haul and the strange mint of the gold cions. The stated that he was taking one. The player Yells out 'you have no right!' In general pushes Agent of the dragon to the point that he called the guards to arrest him. It which point he used a magic item to d-door away, leaving the party in the lurch

 

[Lalalei2001]

I found this one on a website. I about died laughing reading this...


Mark Steuer recounts this tale:

Many years ago, I ran a game where I pitted two groups against each other.

Several members of Group One came up with the idea of luring Group Two into a trap. You remember the Hand of Vecna and the Eye of Vecna that were artifacts in the old D&D world where if you cut off your hand (or your eye) and replaced it with the Hand of Vecna (or the Eye) you'd get new awesome powers? Well, Group One thought up The Head of Vecna.

Group One spread rumors all over the countryside (even paying Bards to spread the word about this artifact rumored to exist nearby). They even went so far as to get a real head and place it under some weak traps to help with the illusion.

Unfortunately, they forgot to let ALL the members of their group in on the secret plan (I suspect it was because they didn't want the Druid to get caught and tell the enemy about this trap of theirs, or maybe because they didn't want him messing with things).

The Druid in group One heard about this new artifact and went off in search of it himself (I believe to help prove himself to the party members...) Well, after much trial and tribulation, he found it; deactivated (or set off) all the traps; and took his "prize" off into the woods for examination. He discovered that it did not radiate magic (a well known trait of artifacts) and smiled gleefully.

I wasn't really worried since he was alone and I knew that there was no way he could cut his own head off. Alas I was mistaken as the Druid promptly summoned some carnivorous apes and instructed them to use his own scimitar and cut his head off (and of course quickly replacing it with the Head of Vecna...)

Some time later, Group one decided to find the Druid and to check on the trap. They found the headless body (and the two heads) and realized that they had erred in their plan (besides laughing at the character who had played the Druid)...The Head of Vecna still had both eyes! They corrected this mistake and reset their traps and the Head for its real intended victims...

Group Two, by this time, had heard of the powerful artifact and decided that it bore investigating since, if true, they could use it to destroy Group One. After much trial and tribulation, they found the resting place of The Head of Vecna! The were particularly impressed with the cunning traps surrounding the site (one almost missed his save against the weakest poison known to man). They recovered the Head and made off to a safe area.

Group Two actually came to blows (several rounds of fighting) against each other arguing over who would get their head cut off! Several greedy players had to be hurt and restrained before it was decided who would be the recipient of the great powers bestowed by the Head...

The magician was selected and one of them promptly cut his head off. As the player was lifting The Head of Vecna to place it on it's new body, another argument broke out and they spent several minutes shouting and yelling. Then, finally, they put the Head onto the character.

Well, of course, the Head simply fell off the lifeless body. All members of Group Two began yelling and screaming at each other (and at me) and then, on their own, decided that they had let too much time pass between cutting off the head of a hopeful recipient and put the Head of Vecna onto the body.

SO THEY DID IT AGAIN!... [killing another PC]

In closing, it should be said that I never even cracked a smile as all this was going on. After the second PC was slaughtered, I had to give in (my side was hurting)...

And Group Two blamed me for all of that...

So let that be a warning to you - don't let your head get cut off unless you really know what you're doing.

 

[Lalalei2001]

...I think I killed the thread

 

[Sound of Azure]

...I think I killed the thread

AT 11 pages/HD, I'm sure it's worth a lot of XP

 

[skinnydwarf]

Han Solo certainly doesn't mention any explosions, just accidentally flying into something if the course isn't calculated correctly. Other than that, the movies are pretty silent on the mechanics of it.

As far as the extended universe is concerned, however, flying into a gravity well while in hyperspace would IIRC activate safety systems that would cut out the hyperdrive. If you disabled the safeties and used a hyperdrive inside a gravity well anyway (or, IIRC, encountered gravity suddenly enough that they couldn't cope quickly enough) you'd end up with a damaged or destroyed hyperdrive, but no massive explosions.

Hm. I seem to remember reading that now. I don't know why I was under the impression going into hyperspace w/in gravity caused an explosion, but at the time it seemed to make sense. Maybe it does that in a different sci fi universe, and I got them confused?

Oh well. As I said, the first time wasn't so dumb. It was the *second* time that was kind of dumb.

Or, as I said before, you could just blame me and put this under "Dumb things DMs have done."

[edit- finished thought].

 

[chakken98]

Well heres one from my game with my brother in law.

We are playing a Gestalt game and I was a Rouge Fighter type at the time of this event. So I had just met up with the other PC's (as I came into the game a little later) and we had just finished stealing a few important items from one of the main villians (a spellbook, robe and another book on tattoo magic. All of which I stole kept for myself). We decide to take a day to recoup after that as we all got pretty bet up in this enchanted library by undead and things from the eatheral plane.
I separate from the party to go and sell a few thing that I got my hands on and some random items that I started the game with. So at this magic shop I go to I start to barter and get a few nice items. And think to myself, well I never really agreed to help Lim Dul and Ramie....So I choose to sell the spellbook as well. What I didn't know was that this shop owner was not only a powerful spell caster but good friends with the owner of the book.

"So I have this spellbook, that I aquired and was wondering if you might be interested in buying it..? I say (rolled a decient bluff check as DM said so)

"Let me see it" he says

So I show him the book and his eye's narrow and he looks at me and says "Were did you get this!" He seemed upset about this

"I picked it up while I was travelling and decided u should be the new owner as you are the well known magic owner in this town of Trese." (another bluff w/ dipomacy)

"This belongs to Jarom and you did not 'aquire' it. You are lieing!" he waves his hands around and next thing I know (after failed save) I can't move.

Still trying to get out of this I continue to try and reason with him but doesn't work. He tells his children to get the town guard and Jarom. Now at this time not only was I upset but worried as Jarom was a Bad@$$ and I couldn't take him in my current state. So what do I do but break free and attack the old man. This is when I find that this guy is not so weak as I thought he was. And after a lucky attack roll with a robe of powerlessness I ended the madness...but at a huge cost to my sanity. He managed to cause insanity and cursed me with a custom spell that left me with 2 other personnalities in my mind which each came with there own character sheets, let just say that they have caused me much pain as I no longer have a god, lost my hand cuz it got bored, among other things.

Lesson learned, Don't sell things you just stole to shops in the same city town etc...You might get owned.