helping new players/powergamers relax

[MoonZar]

Well he's not necessarily concerned with being the most powerful of the group (I don't think). He just gets nutty when someone has some material that he hasn't seen. He's always concerned that there is something out there that he is unaware of that will make his character "more powerful". I get the feeling that if someone uses a new book, he feels short changed.

But yeah, I think I need to have the "you need to chill" conversation.

Hello,

I think he should be concern if he see stuff that was not introduce to all the member of the group before he create his character.

The DM should be clear about a list of book who is allowed for the campaign and this will resolve this problem.

I think this could be very bad if in the middle of the campaign one of the player find a interessting feat in a obscure book and add it to his character with the DM permission. This will be a race of who will find the better stuff in all the d20 books.

 

[GlassJaw]

Naragansett are also horrible

As a Roe d'Island native, I take offense to that.

And we refer to is as 'Gansit.

And in all honest, Schiltz ain't that bad. I had 2 last night. It's certainly better than the Beast (Milwaukee's Best).

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On topic: I think I will have an available book discussion next session as well as a conversation with said player separately. It's certainly nothing that has upset the group but I just want to deal with it now before it becomes a bigger problem. As a DM, I'm very big on running a laid-back and fun game so when any player makes waves it bothers me, especially if it has potential to impact other people's fun.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

As a Roe d'Island native, I take offense to that.

And we refer to is as 'Gansit.

And in all honest, Schiltz ain't that bad. I had 2 last night. It's certainly better than the Beast (Milwaukee's Best).

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On topic: I think I will have an available book discussion next session as well as a conversation with said player separately. It's certainly nothing that has upset the group but I just want to deal with it now before it becomes a bigger problem. As a DM, I'm very big on running a laid-back and fun game so when any player makes waves it bothers me, especially if it has potential to impact other people's fun.

Fortunately there is a good microbrew in my home city. (Shipyard, who make, among other wonderful beers, Old Thumper.) Large brewery American beers do not much impress me. An equal part mixture of uilage and gas.

Though in truth I am more of a cider drinker, and a fan of the drink for the true wimp - the cider shandy! 1 part hard cider, 1 part ginger beer... but they are so darned tasty...

The Auld Grump, short hitter

 

[Lasher Dragon]

It's all a matter of personal taste I guess... no pun intended

Me, I'd down a case of Beast Ice before a can of Schlitz. Not that I like Beast, I just find it much more palatable. I'm more of a dark/red microbrew man myself.

 

[sjmiller]

I can honestly say that nobody in my very large gaming group (nine players and one DM) is worried about missing out on something that would make their character better. Why? Because everything that is allowed in my game has to have DM approval. If I approve it, then everyone has access to it. Nobody has actively come to me and asked to have something added. If they did, I would ask to read it first and get back to them before the next game session to let them know. The only stuff that has been added was added because I as DM wanted it.

 

[Breakdaddy]

OMG That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! I have tried probably close to a thousand different beers, and I think tied for the absolute worst are Schlitz and Old English Ice... ewww just gives me shivers thinking about it!!!

Even over PBR or *shudder* THE BEAST???!!!

 

[kenobi65]

Heh, heh, heh! I was in a store while a shoplifter was being arrested for stealing Schlitz... The cops were berating him for having lousy taste in beer as well as shoplifting! There was Grolsch in the same case, and Guinness, and Blue Nun, and Old Thumper... and he tried to steal Schlitz?!!! Mad I tell you, mad!

Maybe he thought no one would mind if he took the Schlitz.

But, seriously, once upon a time (the late '70s), Schlitz was the best-selling beer in America. Then, they did a refomulation of the recipe, and it had the unintended result of the beer literally going bad on the store shelf. The brand died overnight. It's since been re-introduced, obviously, but has never come anywhere near its former stature.

 

[CarlZog]

Yes, I'm the one responsible for introducing GlassJaw's group to this nostaligic old brew and I make no apologies. I'm also a fan of really good microbrews -- of which there are plenty here in New England -- and I know that you judge a beer for what it is. And as simple, inexpensive American lagers go, I think Schlitz is good stuff.

Now back on topic....

I'm also DMing the new campaign for our group that lead to the issues Glassjaw mentioned. I believe very strongly, and probably naively, that a player should create a character concept based on who he/she wants to imagine being, then choose the game mechanics to make it work.

A couple members of our group have wholeheartedly embraced this, but the others are, as Glassjaw said, stuck in d20land.

So how do you get players to let the concept drive the mechanics instead of having the mechanics driving the concept?


Carl

 

[Lasher Dragon]

Yes, I'm the one responsible for introducing GlassJaw's group to this nostaligic old brew and I make no apologies. I'm also a fan of really good microbrews -- of which there are plenty here in New England -- and I know that you judge a beer for what it is. And as simple, inexpensive American lagers go, I think Schlitz is good stuff.

I respect your opinion. When I want a simple, inexpensive beer I drink Bud Ice or Mickeys, and I've been ridiculed for it.

 

[John Morrow]

So how can I help this alleviate this player's anxiety?

Tell him that you want to do a test, and it won't be real or count in your game. Tell him that you want to run a sample battle between his character and a monster.

Run a combat between his character, alone, and a CR 26 monster.

When his character dies, tell him that the MM is filled with monsters more powerful than his character, as well as ways to make other monsters more powerful. It's not a matter of being as powerful as possible, because there is always something more powerful than you out there, but about working with what you've got.

Just a warning that these tactics may crush his entire reason for playing if he gets disillusioned over it.