Confessions of a 4e DM- I said no

[Philotomy Jurament]

I don't know what sunrods are, but we used to use Continual Light coins.

In the game I played last Saturday, the magic user cast continual light on a marble (in Original D&D, the MU version illuminates a 24"/240 ft. diameter circle -- much farther than a lantern, torch, or standard light spell).

 

[Zinovia]

In my list of house rules for my upcoming 4E campaign, sunrods provide the same radius of illumination as lanterns - 10 squares. They cost more, and last a shorter time, so players can buy whatever they want. As for tying them to their armor, it's kind of funny-looking, but I guess they could. I do think it would light them up like a beacon though, depending on how many they used.

 

[CleverNickName]

I say "no" a lot, now that I think about it.

"Can I use this new splatbook?"
"Can I slide down the staircase on my shield?"
"I'm Large...can I dual-wield spiked chains?"
"Can I play a drow?"
"Can I tattoo my holy symbol on my palm?"

Sunrods-tied-to-armor isn't the worst thing I've had to veto.

 

[thedungeondelver]

It's utter lunacy to think that somehow you as the DM are forbidden to say "no" to your players.

If this is what D&D has become, I weep for the future.

 

[Shabe]

"Can I slide down the staircase on my shield?"

I had someone slide on a shield the other day in my game, just to get 10ft across a rune that would be set off by contact, it ran something like this, okay you jump on to your shield, the rune beneath you gives an almighty scream, now give me a acrobatics roll, 6, the shield slips from underneath you and skitters to a halt against the far wall as you end up on your dragonborn backside.

 

[Mallus]

It's utter lunacy to think that somehow you as the DM are forbidden to say "no" to your players.

Right... but in this specific case, saying 'No' was poor judgment. DM's should try and avoid bad judgment calls, whenever possible.

(I mean, tying one small piece of equipment to your character's person isn't exactly like wanting to invent the medieval A-Bomb...)

Doing half-silly, half-clever sh... err... stuff like tying a magical light to your armor is very much in keeping with the spirit of the AD&D games I played in.

 

[Celtavian]

re

You have to pulling our leg? You said no to something as trival as wanting to tie a sunrod to your armor? I've seen glowsticks tied to Spec Op body armor many, many times.

You said no to something that could easily be seen as possible in a real life situation.

The only time I generally say no is the following situations:

1. It will break the rule system or be overpowered.

2. It isn't something I envision as feasable given physical limitations like the 25 throwing axes mentioned above.

But tying a light stick to your armor? I would allow that in a heartbeat. I assume that is what the party has done without asking. They would have to tell me they were carrying the Sunrod in their hand for me to thinky they were carrying it in their hand.

I always assume adventurers use their equipment in the most efficient way possible. I only make them explain what they are doing if it is something that requires a bit of thinking. As far as the party tying a sunrod to their armor or placing it in a loophole in their belt or on their shoulder, that's a given.

I don't see the problem with light. The only creatures that will really notice the difference are creatures with dark vision. There are less such creatures in 4E than in previous editions. So when they seem a light source coming, they may think it is an ally.

It does make for difficult scouting. But any light source would make for difficult scouting, yet it is required for any party moving in a dungeon that has no ambient light. So they have no choice but to use a light source and screw up the scout. I don't see a long-term Darkvision spell in the game, though maybe a ritual will come out soon.

I read more. You are pulling our leg.

I haven't read that section of the DMG yet, so I didn't get the joke.

 

[Ginnel]

It's utter lunacy to think that somehow you as the DM are forbidden to say "no" to your players.

If this is what D&D has become, I weep for the future.

Oh come on, put away the melodrama please, this is a comedy thread with a sideline of debate.

The debate being is my 4th ed DM a stingy git or not (thats a joke that is, well kinda)

 

[thedungeondelver]

Right... but in this specific case, saying 'No' was poor judgment. DM's should try and avoid bad judgment calls, whenever possible.

(I mean, tying one small piece of equipment to your character's person isn't exactly like wanting to invent the medieval A-Bomb...)

Doing half-silly, half-clever sh... err... stuff like tying a magical light to your armor is very much in keeping with the spirit of the AD&D games I played in.

I don't dispute that; dropping the permanent light imbued pebble into the capped, lead-lined tube is a time-honored tradition...that I enjoy throwing dispel magic at from enemy spellcasters or tribal shamen, but I digress

It's the notion that saying "NO" should cause any drama at all.

 

[Wicht]

It's the notion that saying "NO" should cause any drama at all.

Yeah. I don't get this. Either as humor or as drama.

Why shouldn't a DM say no to ideas he or she thinks is too much?