Did I overreact?

[Pielorinho]

That is a good point: it's not something worth getting all bent out of shape over. As DM errors go, it's pretty minor.

Still and all, I think it's a good thing to discuss, because it's an easy and annoying trap for a DM to fall into. The DM has plenty of ways to control pacing and to keep people on track; having things happen without giving them a chance at input is not a very good way to keep control.

If the DM learns to roll with the unexpected punches a little more, it'll make the game that much more fun for everyone.
Daniel

 

[ColonelHardisson]

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.

Yeah, but sometimes things call for the comedic moment. This is, after all, a game, and reducing everything down to die rolls and game mechanics, and protesting any use of humor because the die rolls preclude it, is, in my opinion, taking lot of the fun out of it. If it had been my halfling, I would have laughed, and then had the character roll up his sleeves, clench his fists, and march right back in. If the DM continued to have him tossed out and I never got the chance to do anything, then yeah, I'd be frustrated. This sounds more like the PC got bounced (after an appropriately comic set-up), and then the player got mad (no offense, reveal) and protested immediately. Perhaps if he'd played along, things would have become even more interesting and fun. Note that this is based on what is presented; if there are any missing details, then I'd like to hear them.

 

[reveal]

Yeah, but sometimes things call for the comedic moment. This is, after all, a game, and reducing everything down to die rolls and game mechanics, and protesting any use of humor because the die rolls preclude it, is, in my opinion, taking lot of the fun out of it. If it had been my halfling, I would have laughed, and then had the character roll up his sleeves, clench his fists, and march right back in. If the DM continued to have him tossed out and I never got the chance to do anything, then yeah, I'd be frustrated. This sounds more like the PC got bounced (after an appropriately comic set-up), and then the player got mad (no offense, reveal) and protested immediately. Perhaps if he'd played along, things would have become even more interesting and fun. Note that this is based on what is presented; if there are any missing details, then I'd like to hear them.

Actually, I did march back in there and told the DM that I was going to kick the biggest, toughest looking tall one right in the knee. He looked at me like I was nuts and said he had to go roll up some bad guys because there was going to be a fight and I was going to get my butt kicked.

So I did go back in and the DM was about to, pretty much, mop the floor with me.

 

[reiella]

Hmm, well... Just seems a bit heavyhanded.

While the reaction by itself might have been a bit of an overreaction, can't say without knowing the history/etc...

The need to roll 'bad guys' just seems a bit arbitrary though to me, for a tavern brawl. But then again, I'm one who assumes most no name know nothings are at best 6th level npc classes. Be sure to remind the DM that they need to have high grapple scores and possibly high tumble .

Could also just be a reaction to you overreacting at the table too though (and the dm also being in an odd mood or such).

Beyond that can't really offer much advice .

I wouldn't get too upset at a few situations where a little bit of forced encounter happens, they are frustrating though. What difference does it make 'cinematically' to the plot if the halfling gets thrown out on his tuft or if he just sidesteps the grunts. Seen more examples of the later (and not necessarily deteoritating into a bar fight either) myself.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Actually, I did march back in there and told the DM that I was going to kick the biggest, toughest looking tall one right in the knee. He looked at me like I was nuts and said he had to go roll up some bad guys because there was going to be a fight and I was going to get my butt kicked.

So I did go back in and the DM was about to, pretty much, mop the floor with me.

That sounds fair enough to me. I think the DM should have had at least some stock characters ready for such a contingency. Also, if he had some other course of action he wanted taken - like either the entire party coming in or for you to simply not bother with the bar and go elsewhere - then he was heavy-handed. Sometimes being a good DM (and I'm not saying I'm good, just that I know what makes a good DM) means letting the PCs do what they want, and trying to provide for as many possible outcomes as is reasonable.

 

[Pielorinho]

Stock Mooks:

HP: 5 per level
AC 11 (+1 Dex)
Init +1 (+1 Dex)
Attack: +1 per level
Damage: 1d3+1 (unarmed) or 1d6+1 (armed)

They get +1 modifier on all physical skills and -1 modifier on all mental skills. They have thier level+3 ranks in any appropriate skill.

This is quick and dirty, but should suffice for situations like this. It's close enough to the warrior NPC class to be not worth worrying over. A DM who needs tough guys on the spur of the moment can use this and then customize (Thgnarr, over in the corner, picks up a table and begins swinging it for 1d8 damage. Frankie snatches the darts out of the dartboard and begins throwing them, with a +4 to hit -- it sucks to cross the county dart champion!)

I've never done this before, but it occurs to me that if your players aren't too much rules-sticklers, it'll make the DM's improv job a lot easier, and make the DM a lot more willing to play interesting scenes on the fly.

I saw a Feng Shui/D20 crossover once that had an interesting rule for mooks. Basically, they were immune to any attack that did fewer than 5 points of damage, and dropped to any attack that did at least 5 points. No need to track hit points for each mook separately. You could use that, if you wanted a really fast-and-loose feel to the combat.

Daniel