DM's favorite- how to avoid?

[doosler]

Your bargaining position is going to be better the less you have a vested interest in the outcome. This works throughout life. Want a raise at work? Working hard won't work -- that shows your boss that you'll put out at the salary he's giving you. Getting a better job offer from somewhere else *will* work. If your boss doesn't give you the raise, he loses you.

I think there is a lot more that goes the decision whether to give someone a raise. A decision like that always involves a complex (though not necessarily conscious) cost/benefit analysis. Maybe the employee can be easily replaced. If that is the case, then the boss won't have much reason to give the raise, even if the employee threatens to quit, since someone else who can perform the job just as effectively can be found to work at the lower wage. Of course, if the employee is a hard worker, the boss might think twice before letting him quit -- hard workers are a rare and valuable commodity in the working world; they are not easily replaced. In short, sometimes working hard will work. It all depends on the facts and circumstances of a given situation.

As far as the DM favoritism is concerned, I say role play it out. Perhaps your character has grown envious of the favored character and resentful of God who has bestowed His heavenly benevolence upon your undeserving companion. What better way to challenge God's unfair treatment than to smite His favorite mortal? I would challenge your rival to a duel, perhaps using only non-lethal damage, and when you knock him unconscious, crouch down over his helpless body and put a dagger to his throat, and call out to the heavens and tell God: "This is what happens when you forsake one of your faithful sheep! This is your final warning! Treat me with fairness, dignity and respect, or else I will cast your precious pet into oblivion!"

Maybe that will work.

 

[mvincent]

What can be done to prevent a DM from showing favoritism towards one player or continuosly obstructing players that he "hates"?

Talk with your DM.

I've never found a rule for this anywhere. Please ellaborate.

What sort of rule would you suggest?

 

[Oryan77]

Thaks for the "tip" but this answer makes me ask another question (seriously):
--Is it possible for a player to kill another player? If yes, are there repercussions, penalties for the killer etc?

As I mentioned in your other thread http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=217529 , D&D is so much easier to understand if you don't think of it as a video game. Forget about penalties and stat changes because you don't need to worry about that and there might not be any character stat changes. Instead, think of it as a real person in a real world. Think to yourself, "what will happen in this world if my PC kills this guy?"

Think of D&D like it's a movie. What would happen if Luke Skywalker killed Han Solo in Star Wars? Is George Lucas going to get on the tv screen and tell you that Luke is going to take a -5 penalty to his attack for the rest of his life? No, but we'll probably watch Chewbacca chase Luke down for revenge. Or Leia might have the Rebel Alliance capture Luke and throw him in a jail cell. Or Luke might turn to the Dark Side since he killed a good guy. it depends on what the DM (George Lucas) decides will happen.

So to answer your question, What happens if you kill a PC? Maybe he gets away with the killing and nothing happens. If the town authorities think it's a crime, they might chase you and kill or arrest you. If the other PCs don't like that you killed a fellow teammate, they might attack you. If he was a good aligned character and you are not evil, then the DM might tell you that you're now evil since you commited an evil act.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Tell the GM in a respectful manner.

The GM might not realize his/her unfair bias.

If the GM is reasonable he/she will try to curtail the behavior.

If the GM isn't reasonable and you don't mind a little immorality you can try to manipulate the out of game relationship between the GM and his/her favorite so that it goes down hill.

 

[roguerouge]

Sometimes it's the other character's turn in the spotlight. Sometimes the other player's character fits the narrative better. Sometimes the DM thinks that some character concepts are unheroic (many new DMs have biases against illusions and charms, for example.) Be polite and use examples.

 

[Jhulae]

Thaks for the "tip" but this answer makes me ask another question (seriously):
--Is it possible for a player to kill another player? If yes, are there repercussions, penalties for the killer etc?

Well, usually it's going to end up with jail time, especially as this kind of thing would be pre-meditated. First degree murder tends to get long sentances. Bargaining down to 2nd degree murder might be possible. I suppose you could alway try for an insanity plea, but I honestly doubt that'd work.

Or, did you mean having your *character* kill the other player's PC... Because then it'd be just using the rules for attacking and such. And the other player would probably be at least a little irked, if not outright angry, and that could lead to and end of the gaming group, depending on how hard the feelings became.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Talk to the DM.
I have been on the recieving end of this conversation.

As a DM I did not even realize that I was doing it. I was unconciously showing favoratism to a female player. Im married and wasn't interested in her, it was some kind of built in gallentry I think. As soon as it was pointed out I tried to correct the problem, occasionally second guessing decisions in regard to her character.
I can't say I solved the problem, but knowing about it has got to help.
There were no hard feelings and the next time her PC faced death, I allowed it (although raise dead was later purchased)

 

[Storme]

Talk to the DM, as everyone has indicated.

BUT.


You said the words, "players," and "hate."

I assume Player means the person and not his characters. I also assume "players that he 'hates'" means "You."

This leads me to ask you this question that you should ask yourself:

Why are you playing with someone that Hates you (or anyone in your group for that matter)?

Seems to me the best solution would be not to play with this rather strange and immature person. There are many other groups out there.

If its a simple matter of your DM showing favoritism for one person over all the others (without the pre-mentioned inappropriate Hate), if talking to him doesn't help, find another DM.

You're a person, not a victim. You don't NEED them. They need you. You can't choose your family but you can choose your friends. You don't have to let them use you as a floor mat. Cast your VOTE and exercise your free will. You'll be happier and healthier for it.