Crazed Substitute DM

[Ultrazen]

As both player and DM my preference would be to hand-wave everything back to the way you left it and carry on as if nothing happened.

If that is not an option, then my preference would be to hand-wave the stuff you don't want away and carry on at the present level. ("After spending a week in Greyhawk and selling some of your surplus supplies, everyone is feeling much more themselves again and is ready to start off.")

Least desirable is to have dreams or whatever that require some sort of explanation and/or exploration. Trying to explain everything in-game is sometimes just more trouble than it's worth.

Something that I don't think has really been discussed though: how do your players want to handle this? Is this something you have talked to them about ooc? It sounds like this maybe should be a group decision - what is most fun for everyone?

**

And I'm really surprised that experienced gamers don't keep backup copies of character sheets. I learned it can be so helpful after my first wight encounter...

edit: and what reveal said about punitive actions.

 

[fanboy2000]

While the D&D game is on hiatus, I suggest you run something fun and easy to prepare. I've already recommended Paranoia XP, but there's also Omega World (a Gamma World game from Polyhedron), Ravenloft, Call of Cthulhu, or any other game with a high PC death rate. You'd be surprised how a therapeutic a TPK outside the regular game can be.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Ack! I am in the 'hit the reset button' camp.

Then cover the offending player with tissue paper and tell the other players that he's a pinata. This was just dumb, letting them keep the stuff would be even dumber.

Reset, and tell them why. If they don't have their old stuff still written down then arbitrarily remove the stuff that you don't think that they had..

The Auld Grump

 

[ARandomGod]

Really, several character deaths will result in both the money and the level drain needed here... and fit the story well. Fix up the hurt characters, a near TPK with everyone but the previously stoned mage dying... then more money to raise them (the mage feels obliged)... etcetera.

 

[Aeson]

I agree with the make it a dream.

I have a player subing for me right now. We went over what would happen and I made sure he did not stray too far away from my story.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Reset and deduct a level from all of them for being irresponsible. A level a session indeed. Indeed.

 

[WayneLigon]

Reset and deduct a level from all of them for being irresponsible. A level a session indeed. Indeed.

I wouldn't quite be that harsh since it sounds like the other players were tricked into thinking there was a reason for the rapid level advancement.

It shouldn't be very hard at all to revert them back to 7th level; it's a pretty straightforward thing. Just eyeball the skill levels and make sure everything adds up at the end. Make your best guess with hitpoints as well. It's one of that advantages of the class-based system: you don't have to hunt down every picky little change, since most of the substantive change comes frmo your built-in class abilities.

I'd have a long and strong talk with the crazy sub GM. It almost sounds like he was trying to pull something, in which case I'd boot him to the curb.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I wouldn't quite be that harsh since it sounds like the other players were tricked into thinking there was a reason for the rapid level advancement.

'Twas mostly tongue-in-cheek, though I'd still be incredulous about a level a session. My players know better than that, though.

I'd have a long and strong talk with the crazy sub GM. It almost sounds like he was trying to pull something, in which case I'd boot him to the curb.

Yes, I'd worry about this too. If he went far away from the norm of the campaign, then something is wrong. If you've been doing a level every 3-4 sessions or something, then they should have realized something was not right.

Did they have that look that pets have when they've pooed on the carpet and they know they're going to be punished?

 

[SweeneyTodd]

I'm not sure if that was tongue-in-cheek or not but, if it wasn't, I would recommend against it. Never punish a character in-game because of the players real life actions.

This should be in fifty point bold text. It's a terrible, terrible idea to deal with this in character. It sounds like your mind's made up, but if you take it out on the substitute DM in game, I give your campaign maybe two more sessions before it ends abruptly.

In any case, it sounds like your mind's made up.

 

[werk]

actually, can I change my answer?

ask the group what they want to do. explain that you did not expect or want the party to gain the power and resources that they did, and it will derail the campaign.
so what do they want to do? Reset, Reroll, or Carry on. Then I'd go with whatever they decide.