curing the sadistic game master?

[runescience]

We have a gm who seems to be very good. But he has a sadistic side.

My characters seem to have the disadvantage wierdness magnet. I am playing a dwarven ranger. Because he comes from the plains tribes all the npcs are treating him like a hillbilly. During the game he interacted with the module (castle amber) and got his he had miniaturized head, he got the curse of constant eating curse. He got killed due to a dm and other player error.

The next character I generated had gotten some icky stuff on his hands, and somehow turned evil or something, so I couldnt play him either.

HE hasnt pulled the S#$t on other players. He's a nice guy but I dont know how to approach this. Im an older game playing since the 80's. Normally I would just quit the game but it is being run at my house.

 

[Ambrus]

Having the game at your place does certainly make it a bit of a problem in simply quitting. What else could anyone suggest except to open a dialogue with your DM?

Talk to him alone, preferably in a neutral place and in a civilized tone. Bring up your concerns while citing the instances above as clear examples of the kinds of focused attention you've been receiving. Ask him if he's aware of what he's doing (some DMs are so caught up in the game that they're not aware of repeating patterns in their GMing style). Inquire whether he has any personal issues with you.

 

[Scurvy_Platypus]

Not a lot of easy answers.

From the sound of it, you just need to sit down and have a talk with the GM in question. Chances are though, the GM isn't going to see anything wrong with it. He probably A) Doesn't realize there's a problem, or B)Thinks it's "fun"/his job to make your character's life difficult.

If he doesn't realize there's a problem, then an easy going conversation should be enough to set thing right.

On the other hand, if it's a case of option B, you're going to have to make a decision, as the GM probably won't change, despite what they say. So you'll either have to continue playing it out, possibly engaging in passive/agressive b.s. out of frustration, or quit the game.

Some GM's just can't be reasoned with. They might be nice enough people outside of the game, they might even be fine/fun to play with when you're both players, but as GM's you're just not going to get anywhere with them. I've seen this most often with long-time gamers, but it does happen somewhat with newer folks.

 

[Piratecat]

Part of the problem is Castle Amber.

 

[runescience]

well i sent him an email, and he wrote me back as follows. So? the next question I have is "as a person who likes to play characters in a heroic way, how could I adapt my play style to function under a sadistic dm? It seems to me that the reward for heroism in his world is getting screwed with....?


----
from the dm?

Other people have curses too, but they dont know it. Yours was simply obvious.

As for the Sagat issue. I tried to do everything i could to not let the characters get the bottle. But I will ultimately let the characters do what they want, and you rolled well enough to get the bottle.

As for messing with. I've been messing with Cowron pretty intently.

I will make it more obvious that other people get messed with too.

In my last campaign, the characters were imprisoned and tortured for a while, the female character had "other" problems. I wont go that dark since there are minors, but I will mess with the characters. I've had characters have to adapt to missing limbs, fractured psyches, level drains, etc.. Just dont take it personally and get angry. Others will get there turn and the torture.

 

[werk]

In my last campaign, the characters were imprisoned and tortured for a while, the female character had "other" problems. I wont go that dark since there are minors, but I will mess with the characters. I've had characters have to adapt to missing limbs, fractured psyches, level drains, etc.. Just dont take it personally and get angry. Others will get there turn and the torture.

Another vote for getting a new DM.

 

[runescience]

Oh yes. he does Screw with other players. One of the players has been blind thru most of the module. lovely, eh?

 

[shilsen]

Part of the problem is Castle Amber.

Just what I was thinking!

well i sent him an email, and he wrote me back as follows. So? the next question I have is "as a person who likes to play characters in a heroic way, how could I adapt my play style to function under a sadistic dm? It seems to me that the reward for heroism in his world is getting screwed with....?

I'd try to explain to him that his focus on screwing with the PCs is seriously getting in the way of your enjoyment of the game and ask him if he can tone it down on your PC(s). I'd also do that face-to-face, since email interchanges lack the personal touch and can much more easily lead to misunderstandings.

 

[Engilbrand]

I could see how something like that could be fun in the right sort of game and with enough time. If the DM does this sort of thing every game and starts people in modules with flaws... what the hell's his problem? He's a nice guy in real life and uses the game to play out his sick fantasies. Or so I would assume.

 

[Numion]

In my last campaign, the characters were imprisoned and tortured for a while, the female character had "other" problems. I wont go that dark since there are minors, but I will mess with the characters. I've had characters have to adapt to missing limbs, fractured psyches, level drains, etc.. Just dont take it personally and get angry. Others will get there turn and the torture.

"Yes, I am, in fact, a sadistic DM. No, it's not a problem since I'm plenty sadistic."