Guilt ridden DM seeks solace...

[Graywolf-ELM]

<spoiler for anyone who might read my story hour please don't comment on it there>

I'd have to agree with the others here. The Half-Ogre in our game had a quite high strength. I was having trouble making encounters that would allow him to be challenged, and not wipe out the rest of the group. The problem began to resolve itself as the rest of the group gained levels. I would be sure to back the PC down a level or two more carefully the next time to allow for some parity in power level in the party.

He quickly became one of the more favored members of the warband due to his power and goode roleplaying.

GW

 

[Arnwyn]

1) How do you treat material from books you don't own

I don't allow it. Period.

I can't answer your other questions as I feel I don't have enough information (and I'd have to playtest the half-ogre to comment).

 

[ForceUser]

Since my players don't try to "win" at D&D or cheat the system, I don't have a problem allowing them to use options in books I don't own, provided they give me a copy of the information. And as always, the DM has the last word.

 

[DM_Jeff]

Half-Ogre

Since my players don't try to "win" at D&D or cheat the system, I don't have a problem allowing them to use options in books I don't own, provided they give me a copy of the information. And as always, the DM has the last word.

I seem to be just as lucky. My one Forgotten Realms 3.5 game is now up to 9th level itself, and I have a half-ogre barbarian in the mix. Yes, there have been times his strength has been a bit overwhelming, but overall the games I run depend on more than clobbering and so the other PCs get to shine just as equal. The half-ogre player recognizes his role as "brute" and takes to it well. That and his Will save is around +3 or +4.

About the AoO from the dragon, as others have said, forget about it. As my good friend is fond of saying..."fog of war, man...fog of war."

-DM Jeff

 

[deltadave]

I agree with the general sentiment that books and characters made from them must be pre-approved by the gm. Secondly, if you feel a character is unbalanced in reference to the other characters, change the CR for the character, making them lower level than the other pc's but relatively similar power.

Why do you regret killing this one pc? I'm suprised that they all didn't die or suffer major damage. an encounter two levels above their own CR is pretty serious and there are bound to be casualties if the monster is played to it's full potential.

 

[ForceUser]

Le'ts put this in perspective, shall we?

The PC charged a Huge dragon -- alone! And died.

It's not your fault, man. You gave him the rope, but he gladly took it and hung himself, convinced of his invincibility because, hey, he had a 42 Strength!

Put the deceased where he belongs: on a pedastal in a place of honor in the Shrine of Avoidable Deaths. Then move on.

 

[SWBaxter]

1) How do you treat material from books you don't own

I don't allow it sight unseen. If the player shows me the stuff they want to use and the character they want to create beforehand (and by that I mean, from a few days to a few weeks before it gets used), then I might approve it if it looks like it fits into my world. Mostly I'm pretty conservative about what gets in, since I almost always run homebrew campaigns with particular themes and styles, and a lot of stuff (even from WOTC) doesn't necessarily mesh well as written.

2)is the half-ogre unbalanced (and in the same vein, is it unfair to the other PCs to let one player have a broken character).

I have no idea, haven't read it. But a general warning flag for me is high-strength races with heavy mental penalties to "balance"; they have a tendency to turn into one trick ponies, really frightening in a slugfest but somewhat crippled in other situations. That might be balanced in some theoretical sense, but it often causes problems at the table.

3) what would you do for the player now? Thanks.

Run a fun game, same thing I try to do for all of my players. Strive for that, and the details will take care of themselves.

 

[scipio]

if you feel a character is unbalanced in reference to the other characters, change the CR for the character, making them lower level than the other pc's but relatively similar power.

My first instinct was to require a +2 Level Adjustment, but at the last minute changed my mind and allowed it as is. Call it DM arrogance: "I'm a great DM, I can not only fit this character in, give him something fun to do, keep the other players happy, and still have exciting deadly encounters, but will have fun myself rising to the challenge while bringing to life great NPCs."

Why do you regret killing this one pc? I'm suprised that they all didn't die or suffer major damage. an encounter two levels above their own CR is pretty serious and there are bound to be casualties if the monster is played to it's full potential.

The party on the whole did quite well. His attack forced the dragon to the ground (dragons can't grapple in flight without the appropriate size advantage AND the snatch feat). The party did some spell and arrow damage, then closed to surround the beast (it barely escaped). My primary regret is this: could I have handled this character game in and game out for a long period of time? It's a question of whether or not I could do any of the above. Hubris, I think it's called.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Heck, considering all the great advice giving here...as some said, not much too add here, but this.

As it seems to have advantages to a being Freinzed Berserker, you did something, that I have seen a few times, DMs thinking fast on their feet* no insult intended to the current providers on this thread*.

Sometimes, rules cannot be applied to the quick and insane that some classes or prestige bring to the table, your defense/offense, is your imagination.

As you stated, the dragon was used very well...anytime I see that coming from a DM, I know that they got what it takes to carry a game, and yes, sometimes the experience from it, can be good or bad...me, I take it as a lesson and learn from it.

It will improve my ability to present a story much better, and sharpen my wit, when something in the game, is brought, showing it may prove a possible problem..., my goal, the player will learn a lesson, everyone around him will remember the moment, and know next time...there is a unseen check and balance rule in the game.

Don't make it a terrible moment, make it memorable...so later, down the road, you and the player can have a good laugh about it.

Oh darn, I thought didn't have much to add...