D&D 5E Player angry about enemies climbing rope with Rope Trick

[steeldragons]

You did nothing wrong that I can tell. Though, I will echo the confusion at the idea of Rope Trick being a 'metagaming power move." That doesn't really seem accurate. There were opponents, things were not going well, I guess, or the player just panicked? Or the PC is supposed to be a coward? Or whatever. But I don't get what's "metagamey" or, really all that [over]"powered" about it.

There is no reason the orcs/orogs wouldn't have attacked the ranger (real valor-driven guy there, huh?) climbing up the rope and then climbed up the rope after him. Trying to deploy a Rope Trick when already in combat is a tough move. Could be a good tactic if the party is all crowded/clumped around each other. But still tough, and almost certainly not going to happen without taking some rounds of AOOs/heavy damage.

If the other characters didn't follow him up the rope (sounds like they were busy) that's not your fault. Not the ranger's either.

I could see a case being made, depending on the superstition/worldliness levels of your orcs perhaps being shocked/stopping their climb to see the ranger disappear before them/at the top. But that's a real nitpicky "maybe." The idea that they would know the spell well enough to pull the rope up behind them...eh...that's probably something that should have had an explanation.

But I don't see ther being anything untoward or purposely punitive by what happened. Definitely not ANYthing -rules calls, changing spell descriptions, unrealistic opponents' actions, or anything else- that was "cheating." Sounds like the player may have a bit of growing up to do.

 

[Zubatcarteira]

The orcs can just know what the spell is as well, it's 2nd level, not some super rare thing.

 

[Mort]

This is exactly what I would have done as DM. Point it out to the player, because it's sure as naughty word something the ranger in-world would understand. If they still want to do it, that's up to them.

IMO this is key. If the player is unaware of a consequence that the character would 100% know about - the DM should warn them of the possible consequence. Especially if the player is new, or even new to the character being played.

I NEVER play that kind of gotcha with my players! There are MUCH better and funner ways to challenge then to try to exploit a rule a player may have forgotten about.

 

[Fifth Element]

The orcs can just know what the spell is as well, it's 2nd level, not some super rare thing.

So the ranger should know that the baddies could climb the rope as well, since it's not some super-rare thing. But the player didn't receive the benefit of the character's in-world knowledge, while the bad guys did.

 

[James Gasik]

Sure, but let's say that the spell cast was actually Misdirected Rope Trick Blender. This spell hides the caster and makes an illusory version of them climb a rope trick that leads into a magical blender of force (like a Blade Barrier), which activates one round after a creature enters the space.

I think it's quite relevant to ask whether ALL of those enemies would have climbed the "rope trick" had the rope trick actually been this other spell. If they would have, no foul (though the talk of a "woodshed" does concern me a bit). Otherwise, most definitely a foul on the DM's part, IMO, since they were clearly metagaming in order to punish the player.

Or if the Ranger jumps into a Green Devil Face at the end of the hallway, do all the Orcs follow?

The orcs can just know what the spell is as well, it's 2nd level, not some super rare thing.

If I had a nickel for how many times I've heard DM's say that players don't know jack about common spells and supernatural things in 5e without an Arcana check if they are proficient...

 

[Umbran]

For all they know it teleports the caster away and leaves a gate to hell at the top of the rope.

No. The orcs live in their world, 24/7. While without Arcana skill, they don't know details, they should know generalities. They know that while magic can accomplish astounding things, there's a correlation between what a given spell is apt to do, and the overall power of the caster.

To wit: If the caster and their party are finding the orcs to be a challenge, there's an upper cap on what kind of shenanigans are at the top of that rope, and the orcs know this. Meanwhile, the orcs are intelligent, but also traditionally prone to rash decision making. "Don't let that guy get away!" is a perfectly good motivation for an orc to climb a rope to nowhere.

 

[Zubatcarteira]

So the ranger should know that the baddies could climb the rope as well, since it's not some super-rare thing. But the player didn't receive the benefit of the character's in-world knowledge, while the bad guys did.

Well, it seems like a pretty obvious thing to happen, the Ranger obviously knows how his spell works, just has to read it, nothing says enemies can't follow you.

If I had a nickel for how many times I've heard DM's say that players don't know jack about common spells and supernatural things in 5e without an Arcana check if they are proficient...

I'd usually just say they know about spells 3rd level or below, as long as the PC is familiar with magic or is well educated in general. I do think a lot of supernatural stuff is strangely not well known considering how prevalent it is in a lot of settings.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Or it's the modules. Which ones are they running? Breaking it down by cakewalk vs challenging DMs would be helpful.

If it varies by module then it's not "the game" itself, right?

 

[dave2008]

No intent was assumed (except by you, in this post). People behave inappropriately all the time without intending to.

Then what did you mean by "Do better." That certainly seems to assume something. You don't tell someone who is acting honestly, faithfully, and to the best of their ability to "do better." Maybe negative intent is not the right way to put it, but it definitely seems you assumed something!

 

[Bill Zebub]

So the ranger should know that the baddies could climb the rope as well, since it's not some super-rare thing. But the player didn't receive the benefit of the character's in-world knowledge, while the bad guys did.

This is the core of the problem in the situation described.