Did I overreact?

[Pielorinho]

In general, I think a die roll is useful in a situation like this. Sure, it's a comedy classic to get thrown out of the bar. On the other hand, if there'd been a big cloud of dust that cleared to reveal a halfling standing atop a pile of clobbered humans, that would be a pretty delightful twist on the classic scene.

As a player, I *hate* it when the DM resolves a scene without any input from me, and I try really hard not to do this to my players. Even if it's a minor scene, and even if it's played for comedy, it's pretty unfun for me.

It's an easy mistake to make, though, and it sounds like both you and your DM handled it gracefully.

Daniel

 

[Rune]

Re: Re: Did I overreact?

And could it be that the DM and other players (except your wife) might be tired of this kind of solo play?

Just an idea. I've experienced this situation as a DM and as a Player.

C'mon! It was a bar filled with big folk who stared menacingly at the character as soon as he walked in.

It was just asking for that kind of solo play, if ordering a simple drink can even be called that.

Personally, I would have allowed the role, but I wouldn't get bent out of shape if my DM didn't. I just think it would be more cinematic (and I do believe in the importance of the illusion of free-will) if the tavern was busted up because a bunch of big, slow humans couldn't get their hands on a little halfling whelp!

 

[Umbran]

Sometimes, cinematic treatment is called for. And, I have to agree that it does look like you were playing up the comedy yourself. That's asking for it

Note that no physical harm came to the character. If it were a tactical scene, where the character's life and limb are at stake, then this approach would be a bad idea. But as it is, I'd have no problem with it.

Also, consider the alternative. The character has already annoyed the bar's occupants. What happens when he starts tumbling around and making them look foolish? In most game worlds, the next step is to draw weapons...

And, I gotta say, 8 ranks in tumble isn't all that high. In a crowded place, the DM would have been in his rights to call for some reasonably hefty circumstance modifiers on the rolls, even for a halfling. The result might not have been pretty.

 

[UniversalMonster]

Hey!

Even jackie Chan gets tossed out of a bar in a funny way every once in a while. It's very cinematic. I would say - as long as you took no damage- you are over-reacting.

It's a scene! Play to the scene...

 

[The Crimster]

I can't disagree more with the pro-cinematic posters.

By doing this you are making the player an observer, not a participant. Why does it have to be 'cinematic'? Why must everything follow with well that's just the way it's done in movies/books/tv.

What about the halfling being able to defeat those who try and beat him down - and then everytime he comes to town, he orders warm milk - and no one says a word.

"Pssst. See that lil' halfling fella? Yah, yah - he don't drink much of the hard stuff - but stay away from him. He's trouble!"

Now that image is far more appealing to me as a player - AND as a DM.

 

[Pielorinho]

I can't disagree more with the pro-cinematic posters.

I'm sort of in-between, maybe. It's really important to me to build cinematic scenes, scenes that everyone can see vividly in their heads and that get people wiggling their butts in their seats with excitement.

On the other hand, it's really important not to take away player control of their characters (absent, of course, mind-affecting spells or the like).

As your example of the fearsome milky halfling shows, sometimes you get the better scene by allowing players to control their characters.

In this situation, the humans wouldhave a pretty easy time grapling the halfling, most likely: if even two humans are trying, then the halfling can only AoO one of them, and the other one will likely hit, and given the +4 size bonus on the grapple check, will likely grab hold. Allow a simple str check to toss the halfling out on his tiny ear, and you've got your cinematic scene with no complaints from the halfling's player.

Daniel

 

[UniversalMonster]

Well- in the end it is a matter of style. But the way I see it is - it's just one isolated piece of a much larger scene. It may even be the setup for a larger scene. Even a fight scene.. if I did it, and the guy got thrown out, and the player felt like marching back in for a fight- well, it's a fight at that point.

But sometimes you have sort of an obligation not to deny the scene. For me at least- this would make the difference between a funny scene and a kind of ho-hum encounter.

 

[The Crimster]

For me at least- this would make the difference between a funny scene and a kind of ho-hum encounter.

Yup. But I'd rather have a ho-hum encounter with a player feeling as if he matters than a funny scene, everyone laughing - but one player feeling forced into an observer role.

The fact that the player posted here states he's not very happy with what happened, and one funny scene is not worth that, sorry.

 

[Tom Cashel]

What about the halfling being able to defeat those who try and beat him down - and then everytime he comes to town, he orders warm milk - and no one says a word.

And what about all the other players sitting around doing nothing while the halfling has a whole fight scene of his own?

The whole group being involved is more important than the halfling getting his chance to run rings around a bunch of tall folk.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Hmm. A nice idea in this case might have been the halfling thrown out of the bar, and than returning, "to clean it up"...

Than you had both - the typical cinema scene, and the halfling everyone fears...

Mustrum Ridcully