Accidental Daily Power Overuse Consequences

[Engilbrand]

The easiest thing, other than just ignoring it, would be to allow everyone else to use a Daily power an extra time that day. Everyone has the same benefit and nobody is punished for an honest mistake. Even this can be turned into a plot hook. What was it that allowed people to do something that impressive multiple times? Going along with this, I would give the BBEG the same bonus. You now have a plot hook that doesn't punish anyone.

 

[pawsplay]

I don't see any continuity problems caused by this. This is basically a fairness issue. Give the other players each one token that entitles them to one free daily. And lest anyone be tempted to do this again, suggest that if anyone there is a re-occurence, they will simply have to live without their daily the next adventuring day.

 

[wolff96]

Or, to go along with the mystic spirit idea, have some kind of evil spirit (Djinn, Demon, Devil?) show up and say something along the lines of "I helped you out when you needed it, now you owe me a favor." Then it vanishes.

Wait a few months, until everyone has nearly forgotten the event, then have the same creature pop up again and indicate that it's time to pay back the favor...

 

[Oni]

Tell him to keep better track in the future, and let it go. If your players are reasonable human beings they'll get over it pretty quickly.

 

[fba827]

to say what's already been said multiple times here ...

if you are leaning towards "it was an honest mistake" than just ignore it and tell the players to be more careful next time.

if you need an in-game reason to explain it than perhaps the area they were fighting in had some strong magical charge. Of course, this means you'll need other such zones in the future that would augment other power sources (one for divine to let your divine casters do the same; and so on).

Now if people start purposely doing it, that's another story.

 

[Dausuul]

The other players should perhaps consider how much punishment they really want to see, considering that they,. too, are human, and might make a mistake themselves at some point.

If he's not making a habit of it, I wouldn't worry about it. If you think there needs to be a "punishment", the next time he's up for an Action Point, don't give it to him.

The sense I'm getting is that the other players feel sour not so much because they want the wizard's player punished, but because they feel they got an unearned victory due to his mistake.

 

[Zaukrie]

I have no idea why you'd punish him or his character at all. I'd probably not be interested in playing with a group that was taht uptight about the rules (assuming it was an accident).

I do like the ideas of an in game effect, if you really feel you need to do something. Heck, as a DM I make mistakes all the time. Should the players be "punished" for those that went in their favor?

This isn't a competition.

 

[Umbran]

The sense I'm getting is that the other players feel sour not so much because they want the wizard's player punished, but because they feel they got an unearned victory due to his mistake.

Well, tell them all to do community service, or each donate $5 for gaming books for military personnel or for a book for the local library, or something.

It is a single encounter in a potential lifetime of gaming. If that's the only mistake that's ever changed an outcome that they've ever encountered, well, their lives are too perfect and some tarnish will build character

 

[fba827]

The sense I'm getting is that the other players feel sour not so much because they want the wizard's player punished, but because they feel they got an unearned victory due to his mistake.

Hmm, well in that case, how about
1) that encounter (or the next encounter if that encounter is more than "the last encounter") does not count as a milestone. This has the direct effect on delaying when they get their next action point and also means that each of their abilities to use another daily power of magic item is not yet 'reset'
Also 2) it cost everyone an action point from their existing pool for the day.


But I also refer back to my earlier statement of, it's probably not such a big deal and just let it slide this time.