Crazed Substitute DM

[DonTadow]

What he said.

I'd hate for the pcs to feel as if their night was wasted. That's why I hate the dream thing. When I watch tv and this happens, it makes me feel like i wasted my time as a viewer. It's like telling the viewer "what you saw previously was unimportant and we decided to waste your time for an hour".

that's why i suggest attempting to blend in the episode carefully. Rolling back the characters and explaining the other characters as dopples of some sorts.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

And herein we see the reason why I don't allow other people to DM in my setting. Period.

 

[reveal]

I'd hate for the pcs to feel as if their night was wasted. That's why I hate the dream thing. When I watch tv and this happens, it makes me feel like i wasted my time as a viewer. It's like telling the viewer "what you saw previously was unimportant and we decided to waste your time for an hour".

that's why i suggest attempting to blend in the episode carefully. Rolling back the characters and explaining the other characters as dopples of some sorts.

At this point, the DM has lost control over his game and desperately needs to get it back. It sucks that the players will have "wasted" a night gaming, true, but, in the larger scheme of things, it's better to just go back and pretend it never happened.

Obviously it was a mistake to let this other person DM. It needs to be erased.

 

[Shallown]

Maybe no one else noticed but what worried me is the "Random" encounters that crippled two players. Sounds like there may be some underlying issue between the guest GM and these players. I may laso just be very paraniod and reading things into this.

I Like DonTadow's idea and Think it could work. I also despise the dream sequence especially to cover such large events.
Another less enjoyable way would be to talk to the players out of the game and explain what you think is wrong then set up a series of adventures that would strip them back down in gear and have them earn those levels and basically freeze thier xp until you are prepped to run them at that level. A few raise deads will deal with too many levels and being especially harsh can deal with magic items as well. This would be something the players would have to agree to becuase you would be putting them through hell for something they didn't do but it maybe the only way. It may be fun in an angst ridden way to see them rise so high and fall so far. It dependson your game. It would also letthem appreciate what they had when they regain those levels.

Later

 

[EricNoah]

Ask the players what they think -- maybe they'd be willing to accept some limits to what material wealth they acquired (an in-story reason for giving away a lot of their wealth) and maybe they'd be willing to go up 2 levels instead of three or something. I'd try to work with it instead of throwing it all out. But on the other hand, if they don't mind the "dream" angle then maybe that would work too.

 

[jerichothebard]

At this point, the DM has lost control over his game and desperately needs to get it back. It sucks that the players will have "wasted" a night gaming, true, but, in the larger scheme of things, it's better to just go back and pretend it never happened.

Obviously it was a mistake to let this other person DM. It needs to be erased.

Agreed. And I look at it this way: They probably had fun, it was probably a bit of a change, and they are probably eager to settle back down to the normal game. If any or all of these is true, then there's no problem.

I don't even think you should call it a "dream". Just say, we'll pick up where I left off, and call it good. They will probably understand, and this will certainly reassert your control over your setting, which isn't a bad idea at this point.

And Monty Haul over in the corner there doesn't get to DM in your setting again.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I agree with the reset button method. Explain your reasons and back-track to where you left off. While the ones that benefited from it might protest, I'll bet the ones that lost characters will be more than happy about it.

 

[werk]

Laugh at it, mock it in your mind, and then ignore any of the events that happened during that side adventure. Blow it off and start your game back up right where you left off. That's my advice.

This gets my vote too. "Guys, that didn't go as I had planned, and has a major impact on our campaign, so reset your charactrs to where they were when I last gamed and you each get (next level) in xp for your trouble. Thank you and I'm sorry."

 

[Vanion]

Also, as a message to the others, you might want to treat sub-DM with a 12 gauge to the nuts before resetting their levels and equipment.

 

[Mark]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame the substitute DM only. All of the players were there and assumably can tell the difference between what you would consider fair advancement and what they all allowed while you were gone.

Looks to me more like you left and one of them with the keys to the candy store. He opened the door but the rest of them didn't have to go in with him. I'd be sure to make it clear that you aren't singling any of them out right before you call the whole thing a dream sequence and bring them back to your own brand of reality. It's like the end of Time Bandits when you just make sure they all clean the place up and pick up the charred bits of evil.

I had a similar request from a potential DM one time when I was asking a group to allow me a hiatus. I told them they could use the same characters if they so wanted but those characters would be leaving my world, never to return. Or they could make up new characters for the other DM, which is what they ultimately decided to do.