D&D 5E DM purposely gimping my Warlock

[Piratecat]

IMO:
It sounds like you are more a fan of the gamestyle as presented in fourth edition and not earlier ones. In contrast, it sounds like the DM is more a fan of the gamestyle of earlier editions. Given your expressed frustration, it seems unlikely that you will enjoy this style of play.

I'd encourage you not to drag edition warring into this, please. I'm a huge fan of earlier editions' playstyle, and I don't see any of that here (or of the original poster saying that they're necessarily a fan of 4e's playstyle.) To me it really seems more of a case of "I want to play a character that doesn't work with these house rules," and has nothing to do with edition-related expectations. I'm a little leery of claims otherwise unless the OP says so explicitly.

Not a huge deal, but sometimes edition wars calve off from unexpected sources. We don't have to discuss this here, as I don't want to derail the thread. You can shoot me a PM if it needs more discussion.

 

[daddystabz]

It isn't 1 hit die per level when taking a long rest but rather, 1 hit die TOTAL from a long rest.

As to my edition-liking, I started with 1st. and 2nd. edition D&D many, many moons ago. 5e is now my fave edition of the game. Nothing I've stated here has anything to do with a preference for one edition over any other.

IMO:
1. The DM should have made you aware of his house rules prior to play.
2. The DM should not have altered your spell slots.
3. If the DM had a problem with warlocks, he should have told you upfront. Given the nature of Ravenloft, i.e. domains being ruled over by evil lords, warlocks can easily attract their attention and ire. I can understand his concerns but he should have told you up front. I would have banned the class before I nerfed it.
4. I have played and DM'd in games which started with no gear/starting cash, or lost much of it later (usually to avoid drowning/escaping from prisons). It's challenging, but not something that's really out of line.
5. The short rests being houseruled and limited is fairly common. Particularly at 2-3 per day. Not sure about the eight hour rule between but that's still not something that I'd call out of line. Especially if you're dealing with an older school DM.
6. Regenerating 1 HD per level is a throwback to earlier editions. It's not really out of line.
7. I would leave the game. It sounds like you are more a fan of the gamestyle as presented in fourth edition and not earlier ones. In contrast, it sounds like the DM is more a fan of the gamestyle of earlier editions. Given your expressed frustration, it seems unlikely that you will enjoy this style of play.

 

[GameDoc]

I think it's incument on a DM to offer a replacement benefit when a house rule nerfs a given class or race, assuming the DM doesn't just ban that class or race outright or it's not a rule that nerfs everyone equally. In this case, I'd probably offer a warlock more slots per day to offset fewer rests.

 

[was]

I'd encourage you not to drag edition warring

I'm not edition warring, I've been on this board for 10 years and know better. I'm simply stating that it appears that the OP and the DM have differing expectations. He asked an opinion on what to do. IME these situations don't work out and I based my suggestion on that.

Maybe I did not explain myself as well as I intended to. I simply tried to point out where the DM's houserules appear to be based on earlier editions and reflect the DM's preferred playing style. I did not intend any support or condemnation of any edition. If that came across, then I apologize.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Run far away from this DM and do not look back.

I assume hes doing this either 1)because he does not have a grasp on the rules and feels he cant adequately control his players, or 2)to fit in with the 'feel' of this particular game.

In either situation it screams BAD DM.


Bad DMs say no to situations they cant handle.
Good DMs say yes and deal with it.
GREAT DMS say AWESOME and make it memorable.

I can't disagree with this more. Wanting a certain flavor in your game and not catering to players doesn't make you a bad DM, and certainly doesn't make you an ignorant one. I do agree that any houserule should be communicated before play starts, but what the OP describes is actually pretty close to how I DM. Limited short rests (not that give a hard cap, but I run the world as a living world and monsters and NPCs dont' just stop whenever the PCs want to rest), and I've houseruled the healing rate down myself.

Also, it sounds like the OP wants to cast a lot of spells, so I'd suggest playing a different class as well. One of the things to keep warlocks from becoming OP is their limited spell slots. If you give them short rests all the time (essentially negating this balancing mechanic), they will far outshine all other classes.

 

[was]

It isn't 1 hit die per level when taking a long rest but rather, 1 hit die TOTAL from a long rest..

Yeah, that's a bit extreme for my tastes.

 

[Psikerlord#]

I joined a Ravenloft campaign that plays online over Roll20 and we had our first game last night. The DM started us with virtually no money and no gear....no armor, no weapons, nothing. We all had to be human as well. So given all that we were already having a tough enough time staying alive, especailly considering we cannot afford anything.


I play a 1st. lvl Human Warlock. I have 1 total lvl 1 spell slot. Until lvl 11 I will only have 2 spell slots total. The DM informed me last night that he has a couple of special house rules about resting. First off, you can only take 2 short rests per day and they have to be at least 8 hrs apart from each other. I was pretty upset considering short rests are the way Warlocks get their spell slots back. I only have 1 spell slot right now anyhow and will only have 2 through lvl 11 so basically this gimps me into being a 1 trick pony, completely reliant on my cantrips. Every time it is my turn I will only ever be able to cast Eldritch Blast repeatedly, boringly. My other cantrip is Blade Ward. When I tried to protest this to him he basically told me that I better re-roll into a different class then because this is how his game is going to be run. In addition, after a long rest he only allows you to regenerate 1 spent hit die back, rather than the half total hit dice you should get back, according to the rules of the game RAW. These changes especially affect the Warlock and he basically doesn't care. I am considering quitting his game as a result.


What do you all think about his crazy house rules and how it would affect you if you were playing the human Warlock?

I'd talk to the DM about your concerns, and if no progress, withdraw politely from the game. No point playing if you arent having fun . There may be another player who will fit the group better.

 

[Mistwell]

I'd make a new character or else explain why you have decided to leave the game.

One alternative, though I do not encourage it, is for the players to take some control back over rests. So go into the scenario, engage some encounters, take your first short rest, engage some more...and then leave. Go make camp, make it a highly secure camp (preferably a city or town), and then stay there for a full 24 hours. If the DM complains, just explain this is a reaction to this setting - people here need to be more cautious than usual, they have a Warlock with them that they care about and who they want to be effective, and so the characters are just reacting to the setting and protecting themselves.

 

[Piratecat]

Yeah, that's a bit extreme for my tastes.

On the plus side, he won't have to wait long before his warlock has perished and he can bring in a new PC!

 

[GMforPowergamers]

On the plus side, he won't have to wait long before his warlock has perished and he can bring in a new PC!

wow that is looking deep for a silver lining... way to go