Help me convince my players that the Cleric is cool

[The Thayan Menace]

Clerical Bygones

You might feel that asking ONE player, ANYONE, to play a specific character is, in fact, overdoing it on the DM's side. Well, that's your opinion, and we could discuss it ad nauseam, what good would it serve ? You certainly have made your views quite clear. Need we hijack this thread more ? For what purpose ? Burst my balloon ?

Our group had a horrendous experience with a "storytelling" DM that nearly ended our RPG relationship.

I'm over my bitterness, but I cannot help but be concerned over your severe limitation of clerical options and where that might lead you.

Frankly, your vehemence on this issue encourages me to believe that you have no problem limiting your campaign in other ways and consistently seek justification for doing so.

Otherwise, why would you protest so strongly?

Still, I am willing to admit that I could be totally wrong about your campaign style. However, I can only "extrapolate" responses. In other words, I can only use whatever communication I have received in order to form an opinion ... just like anyone else. I am not psychic.

Certainly, I'm sure you're a more caring and gentle person than that. You see, you may give me little credit, but I personally think that you're a very interesting and enlightened individual, although you do seem quick to jump the gun on me based on a few lines on a message board.

Appealing to my moral decency works every time and, although I hate to admit it, I am susceptible to flattery.

I am deeply sorry for offending you, though that was not my intention.

I do not think less of you, for any reason. Anyone with the dedication to weather my critique is worthy of respect.

Therefore, I will endeavor to restrict my thread commentary to the benefits of playing an Ehlonnan cleric, and I hope that advice will be of use to you.

I trust that we can work around the imperfections of human communication together.

Like any DM, I only wish you the best of luck with your campaign; I know it's hard work.

Also, I like your avatar; it's cool.

 

[Trainz]

Our group had a horrendous experience with a "storytelling" DM that nearly ended our RPG relationship.

I'm over my bitterness, but I cannot help but be concerned over your severe limitation of clerical options and where that might lead you.

Well, I had the misfortune (as my players did) to play under uber-railroading DM's in the past. I never stayed long enough to see the end of the first gaming session. I can certainly understand your feeling. I would be weary too if I happened to fall on this thread, and I might (like you) speak up in warning about the dangers of the Carrot Syndrome.

Frankly, your vehemence on this issue encourages me to believe that you have no problem limiting your campaign in other ways and consistently seek justification for doing so.

Otherwise, why would you protest so strongly?

Why indeed ?

Still, I am willing to admit that I could be totally wrong about your campaign style. However, I can only "extrapolate" responses. In other words, I can only use whatever communication has been provided to form an opinion ... just like anyone else.

Steve Jackson and William Gibson have given us the fantasy of a "cyber-space" where we could project ourself in the net, interacting with others at the most intimate level. Until then, I fear we have to deal with the cards we are given.

Appealing to my moral decency works every time.

I was hoping it would.

I am deeply sorry for offending you, though that was not my intention.

I knew that. Which is why I offered a gesture of goodwill to alleviate the discussion.

I do not think less of you, for any reason. Anyone with the dedication to weather my commentary is worthy of respect.

I always do my best to go beyond the 1's and 0's that comprise the hard-disks of this board. I see too often people being contemptuous and patronizing on these boards, and that quite frankly almost turned me off of ENworld at one point, as I was saying to Mark of CMG the other day. Of course, his infinite wisdom calmed me down, and I bit down my urge to throw away the best ressource I have ever found about RPG's.

Therefore, I will endeavor to restrict my thread commentary to the benefits of playing an Ehlonnan cleric, and I hope that advice will be of use to you.

That wouldn't feel "right". You were quite right in expressing your concerns (I certainly have no right to dictate what people post on the boards). That said, you did point out very useful points, that I will make use of.

But rest assured, your discussion, if anything, has tempered my goals. I will expose my desires to my players, but will not force them. Like I said, a paladin of elhonna could also work (to a lesser extent), and if it is their choice, I will modify my campaign accordingly.

It's GOT to be Elhonna however. If you saw my homebrew setting, all this would become quite clear, and would make more sense to everyone here. I just can't post the notes on the boards, my players have net access too.

I trust that we can work around the imperfections of human communication together.

We just did. I wish I could see such behaviour more often on the boards.

Like any DM, I only wish you the best of luck with your campaign; I know it's hard work.

Likewise. Thanks.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

One Truth Prevails

This is truly a worthwhile conversation. The more I converse with you, the more I realize that decent people actually exist.

Thank you for reaffirming my faith in humanity.

Also, I did check out your website. I hate to admit it, but had I known you were an accomplished musician, I wouldn't have bothered to give you half the grief.

 

[Trainz]

This is truly a worthwhile conversation. The more I converse with you, the more I realize that decent people actually exist.

Thank you for reaffirming my faith in humanity.

See, you're jumping the gun again. I have faith in individuals. Humanity as a whole ? ...

Also, I did check out your website. I hate to admit it, but had I known you were an accomplished musician, I wouldn't have bothered to give you half the grief.

Thanks for checking the site. I'm glad you liked it.

I was about to write something about virtuosos not all being good people, but that would spoil the moment. Thanks !

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Myconid Innuendo Skill +30

It's GOT to be Elhonna however. If you saw my homebrew setting, all this would become quite clear, and would make more sense to everyone here. I just can't post the notes on the boards, my players have net access too.

I understand. Perhaps you could e-mail ME specifics; I hate being treated like a mushroom.

You see, I could be of greater help, if I knew what was involved. Plus, you wouldn't have to issue spoiler warnings.

Besides, you can always trust a DM who runs a Thayan campaign.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Evil Musicians?

I was about to write something about virtuosos not all being good people, but that would spoil the moment.

I never said they were good. They do tend to be intelligent however.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Tell the wizard that next time he refuses to research abjuration spells in favor of evocation and necromancy magic.

And tell the cleric he can do anything he wants.... as long as he memorises his entire 4th level as restorations. Because after all, he's the only person who can use that spell.

What can I say? People get hurt, and healing gets expensive without a priest. If that's a conspiracy, then D&D is most certainly guilty.

No, it's not a problem that people get hurt. That's fine. People heal naturally from that.

Restoration and level draining? Fun ruining all round. The cleric has no fun because restorations are needed to be filling his best slots. The rest of the party have no fun because they have to stop all the time to let the cleric do his job.

Avoid level draining critters, and a cleric is no longer essential to the party.

 

[Trainz]

I understand. Perhaps you could e-mail ME specifics; I hate being treated like a mushroom.

You see, I could be of greater help, if I knew what was involved. Plus, you wouldn't have to issue spoiler warnings.

Besides, you can always trust a DM who runs a Thayan campaign.

Sure. I warn you, it contains mature themes (no, not sex, just mature).

You can't view email addy through enworld anymore so, you, send me an email at the email contact at the bottom of this page. I'll reply with the setting notes I have so far.

 

[Trainz]

Restoration and level draining? Fun ruining all round. The cleric has no fun because restorations are needed to be filling his best slots. The rest of the party have no fun because they have to stop all the time to let the cleric do his job.

Avoid level draining critters, and a cleric is no longer essential to the party.

IMC, at first (3rd ed that is), I did so, but then I discovered it ain't so bad.

Anyways, the first magic item a first level party should acquire is a wand of cure light wounds followed by (when the party acquires 25K gp or so) a wand of restoration. By doing so, you're ready for poisons, stat drain (temporary AND permanent), and energy drain.

Fun all around. And because my next campaign will involve undead a-plenty, my players better remember those tactics !

Or God be my witness, for the next campaign I will force them ALL to play lawful-neutral 1/2 orc female bards.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Blasphemy is Never an Issue

Sure. I warn you, it contains mature themes (no, not sex, just mature).

Have you read my profile?

My two favorite subjects are politics and religion.

I particulary enjoy discussing the links between heresy and revolutionary movements.

Our party rogue worships Bhaal.

Our most moral PC is a Kossuthan cleric who kills defenseless war captives.

Bring it on ....