DMs and player character

[OfRiceAndHen]

I was wondering, how much control does a DM have over what character a player runs? At what point does DM say, "No, you can't play that"? Can a DM tell a player not to play a certain race, sex, age, class, etc?

 

[Oryan77]

The DM should have full control over his world. So he should have the say on what is or is not allowed in his campaign.

Sometimes players will whine that they don't get to play a muppet that wears a garbage can as armor. Sometimes though, it may be a character concept that you didn't think of and you might like it and work with him to allow it in your game.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with saying, "that's not allowed in this campaign". If the player still throws a fit about it, then the group should discuss whether or not everyone is interested in playing in your campaign. Maybe they don't like what your world provides and maybe someone else should DM or the DM should run something else.

But by no means does a DM have to alter his creation just to make a player happy.

 

[FalcWP]

The DM can say that at any point. It isn't always the best idea - for instance, once a character is in play, unless its causing a major disruption, its tough to justify removing a character.

As a general rule, pick which classes and races are available before the game starts, during character creation. And, most importantly, stick to your guns on that. If you say "Core Only" and someone pesters you until you allow a Warlock, for example, you're giving away any control you had. Next, the other players will want different races, different classes, etc.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

But by no means does a DM have to alter his creation just to make a player happy.

While I agree with this, it rides a fine line.

D&D is a game. Everyone should have fun. There has to be a balance between the player and DM fun. Obviously, this will differ from group to group, but I just don't like the idea of a DM having so much control that it curbs the fun of the other players to preserve the precious campaign world.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I agree with Oryan77 completely.

I would consider what FalcWP and Ankh-Morpork Guard say. Having power comes with the responsibility to use that power wisely. However, the buck ultimately stops with the DM.

RC

 

[Wystan]

I have run into an issue related to this...

I am playing in a game that we had put down for a while and decided to pick back up.

During the last cycle of playing it I told the GM 'I am not having fun as this character, as an archer I am 2nd fiddle to the Tanks, and ranged I am second fiddle to the Rogue/Cleric and the Battlemage, and out of combat I am second Fiddle to the Rogue/Cleric and the tanks...'

He said that he did not want me making a new character and allowed me to modify some 'SMALL' parts of the character that basically left him unchanged. I then changed his name and said that I wanted him to be someone else so I could at least change how he was played....

This cumlinated in the DM saying 'Oldname' now known as 'Newname' in every instance where my character is involved.

Last game night I said straight to him, Ok, then I want to kill this character and make a new one and his answer was, 'we don't have time and it's better for my plot this way'...

What do you think?

 

[Asmor]

I have run into an issue related to this...

I am playing in a game that we had put down for a while and decided to pick back up.

During the last cycle of playing it I told the GM 'I am not having fun as this character, as an archer I am 2nd fiddle to the Tanks, and ranged I am second fiddle to the Rogue/Cleric and the Battlemage, and out of combat I am second Fiddle to the Rogue/Cleric and the tanks...'

He said that he did not want me making a new character and allowed me to modify some 'SMALL' parts of the character that basically left him unchanged. I then changed his name and said that I wanted him to be someone else so I could at least change how he was played....

This cumlinated in the DM saying 'Oldname' now known as 'Newname' in every instance where my character is involved.

Last game night I said straight to him, Ok, then I want to kill this character and make a new one and his answer was, 'we don't have time and it's better for my plot this way'...

What do you think?

That's a fairly common reaction. It's also a fairly, IMHO, bad reaction. What you should do is try to reason with him... What I'd probably do is kill my character off "accidentally" and then choose not to be resurrected if it comes up. "Zounds! Sir Tin Can is getting his ass summarily handed to him! Forsooth, I must rush the elder red dragon to save him!"

Back to the OP: As said, the DM has ultimate control. Also as said, with great power comes great responsibility. The only time I've ever really tried to steer someone away from something they wanted to play was when it was both bad for the campaign (he wanted to play a bard in what I intended to be a very dark game) and because, quite frankly, I had a vendetta against the player and the only reason I let him play was because he's my room mate and it just would have been too awkward not to.

Actually, I'm probably going to kick him out of the game anyways... Sometimes ya just gotta man up and face your problems, but I digress.

The best advice I've ever seen for DMing is this: Don't try to figure out why the players can't do something, figure out why they can.

 

[Raven Crowking]

What do you think?

Life is too short for games you don't enjoy.

Get a new DM, or, better yet, run your own game.

Or go fishing. I would.

RC

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

What do you think?

If it were my game, I'd let you roll up a new PC. (And I dislike the idea of DMs pushing "their plots." I'm from the school where the DM presents the world and the situation, and then the PCs drive, and to some degree create, the story with their actions.)

 

[Graybeard]

Wow, sounds like he has a "plan" and doesn't want anyone to mess with it. In my game, if a p[layer is unhappy with their character, i would discuss it with them first in order to understand why. On a couple of occasions, it was because the player felt as if their character wasn't important enough or able to fulfill a certain roll within the party. I always work with the player to help them have fun with their characters. If that means they make a new character, then so be it. My campaign is flexible enough to deal with it.

In all the other games I've played in, the DM has allowed players to make new characters if they were unhappy with, or tired of playing, their PC.

What your DM did was stupid and petty. You should try to find a better group. It sounds like he wouldn't listen to reason.