Have I been a bad DM?

[Thurbane]

Your job as a DM is to entertain the players.
You've mentioned that your players are generally non-combat and non-powergamers. Putting them through a combat oriented type of adventure doesn't qualify as entertaining them.
Simply saying "PCs die once in a while" doesn't work if you lose your players.
See how the other players feel. If they all agree with your friend then adjust your style. If its just the one complainer then I wouldn't worry.

Some groups prefer heavy combat and danger while others just want to ride along a good story. Its all D&D but very different styles.

No actually, only one of the gamers is non-combat oriented, the other two really enjoy a good fight.

 

[Crust]

I'd like to think not...

Then you weren't. Trust your instincts.

Judging by the behavior of the complaining player, I'd say you're in the right. He sounds annoying to say the least.

 

[Arkhandus]

Dial down the danger just a tad for a bit; don't run a really challenging encounter every time, but intersperse them with encounters that are just a little tough. Just because the PCs have an option for parlay or surrender sometimes doesn't make the encounters any less tough; just a little less deadly when they're willing to surrender their pride.

So throw some encounters close to their CR at them, and another occasional tough fight with a higher-CR foe or group of foes. Keep in mind also that it could be helpful (or just a nice change of pace for them in this dangerous badlands region) for them to face some enemies who are tough but not so dangerous, just not easily slain or driven off.


Don't worry about a little complaining, you went a bit too easy on them earlier it seems, so they're feeling like they should be 'winning' every fight. If they're not having fun anymore then you definitely need to lower the difficulty of enemies a bit; it might help though to add a brief non-combat encounter.

A celestial, fey, or other interesting, intelligent critter might be passing through the area (keep in mind it should be a kind that doesn't have instant teleportation-type capacities) on an errand. It may run into the party at one point, and have a short encounter with them.

Maybe a satyr who'd love to take a break from his errand with a game of cards; a great excu-er, opportunity to play a game of Three-Dragon Ante and use its rules for getting characters involved! Or a fiesty lupinal who'd enjoy a friendly wrestling match or game of wits or something to pass the time. Or a talkative young brass dragon out and about, looking to find a suitable place on the other side of the region where he could make his lair (or just looking for some nice stuff to take for his hoard when he finally does establish a lair).

Or anything else you can come up with for a brief interlude; just because it's a dangerous wasteland doesn't mean there can't be another traveler passing through who doesn't have any intentions of killing/robbing people!

 

[Arkhandus]

Oh, and about the PC-NPC: If he's been away for a while, it may've been a better idea if you had caused his PC to *poof* for a while until he returns. A sprite, lantern archon, or other such critter could inform the group that his/her/its master, Soandso, the Grand Poobah of Whatsit, required his presence, and he'll return when the Grand Poobah no longer requires his services. The reasons don't matter; the messenger can *poof* afterward, and later on you can return him to the group with some additional XP and treasure as results of whatever it was he did for his uncanny employer.

 

[Doug McCrae]

A knight is very much a team player class. He takes the hits while the others dish out the damage. If one of the others, the beguiler, isn't dishing out damage I can see how the knight's player could get annoyed. That said it sounds like this player is going too far and may be harming the group's fun with his criticisms.

Any serious player concerns are something to give consideration to. That doesn't necessarily mean you should do what your room-mate wants, but you should certainly think about it.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Yes, you are a bad DM.

Good one. The OP was clearly fishing for a 'no' answer with his thread title, but you were too smart for him.

 

[KingCrab]

You seem to care very much about providing the right level of challenge for the group, which leads me to think you are probably a good DM. These sorts of things happen from time to time. I know for me they especially happen when one PC isn't there for a session and the other PCs are playing the character. This is why I have taken to preferring to have the character who can't make it to the session just go off and "do something safe" for the session. We do not speak of what this safe thing is, but the character is just not there until the player comes back. It sort of sucks for continuity though, but it has some advantages.

 

[Thurbane]

Oh, and about the PC-NPC: If he's been away for a while, it may've been a better idea if you had caused his PC to *poof* for a while until he returns. A sprite, lantern archon, or other such critter could inform the group that his/her/its master, Soandso, the Grand Poobah of Whatsit, required his presence, and he'll return when the Grand Poobah no longer requires his services. The reasons don't matter; the messenger can *poof* afterward, and later on you can return him to the group with some additional XP and treasure as results of whatever it was he did for his uncanny employer.

The character was pretty much planned as a semi-NPC from the get-go, for the player to pick up if/when he returns from China. In a 4 person party, everyone wanted a 4th party member, especially a wizard.

Oh, and I spoke with one of the other players today (the Fighter/Cleric), and he says he's very happy with the campaign so far, including the battles...