How to ruin a campaign? ;)

[Mouseferatu]

I find the idea of deliberately wrecking a game for anyone to be repugnant. The DM's probably put a good deal of work and care into the game. The fact that it's not the sort of game you want to play means you should find a way to change things, but it does not grant license to be a jerk about it.

If you can't talk to the DM politely, and explain that you really aren't in the mood for this sort of thing, and work things out--even if means someone else DMing--you guys shouldn't be gaming together in the first place.

 

[jmucchiello]

I wasn't involved but I know of one railroading DM who got the hint that people weren't enjoying his game when 4 players (not involved in the pet plot) took out cards and started playing Bridge in the middle of the session. It took 2 hands for the DM to notice and 3 more hands before he threw in the towel. (Big aside: This is the same game I think where the party wanted to leave the city and that wasn't what the DM wanted so he had all manner of shouts for help come from alleyways and muggings in the streets to distract them from heading for the gates. When they reached the gates they were closed for maintenance(?!). Finally as the wizard is casting Fly, an out of control chariot on fire came barrelling around a corner (with complementary child and scared mother on board). They still flew over the wall. I don't know why they let him DM a second time. To this day any form of railroading at our table is described as "a flaming chariot turns the corner...")

A game I was involved in (different DM) had a poor plot and we committed mass suicide. A flight of dragons was going to assault the castle and we decided to meet the dragons in the tactically unsound open. Wiped us out in 3 rounds (2e). Afterward we "discovered" had we gone to the castle, we'd have gotten saving throw buffs and 100 temporary hit points, etc., etc. And here we thought the number of dragons was overwhelming. For some reason he's getting the DM reigns back in 6 weeks. Can't wait to see what he does with 1st level characters in 3e.

 

[eris404]

Has your DM ever insisted on playing a campaign that you and the players were completely uniterested in? Did he want to play a dark and moody campaign when you were just wanting hack 'n slash action? Well I'm looking for info on how to completely break such campaigns. A chance for all the players to rebel and run roughshod over the DM's meticulously crafted plots!

Just curious - is this really something you want to do and if so, why? Not judging here, just wondering if there is some story behind the post or is it just an idle question?

 

[The_Universe]

Ouch.

Just talk to your DM. If he still insists, he's a jerk. If you go through with some of the less-than-polite options above without at least trying honest dialogue, you're a jerk.

 

[Capellan]

I find the idea of deliberately wrecking a game for anyone to be repugnant. The DM's probably put a good deal of work and care into the game. The fact that it's not the sort of game you want to play means you should find a way to change things, but it does not grant license to be a jerk about it.

If you can't talk to the DM politely, and explain that you really aren't in the mood for this sort of thing, and work things out--even if means someone else DMing--you guys shouldn't be gaming together in the first place.

That pretty much says it all, really.

 

[shadow]

I find the idea of deliberately wrecking a game for anyone to be repugnant. The DM's probably put a good deal of work and care into the game. The fact that it's not the sort of game you want to play means you should find a way to change things, but it does not grant license to be a jerk about it.

Apparently some people don't recognize this attempt at a humorous troll as such. Rest assured, I don't plan on joining any of your games just to disrupt them (at least not now! )

Just curious - is this really something you want to do and if so, why? Not judging here, just wondering if there is some story behind the post or is it just an idle question?

No, I'm not currently planning to disrupt any games at the moment. As for the story behind the post - I once had a DM who was adamant about running a dark and gritty Call of Cthulhu game where all the players would eventually die or go insane. ("It's all part of the fun!" he insisted.) However, me and all the players didn't want anything to do with it. We prefered heroic games where the players would eventually triumph over evil. After enough opposition, he relented. However, I had a good laugh at all the ways that we would try to screw over a Cthulhu campaign if it were run!

 

[jollyninja]

if it's dark and moody with low magic, just make a nice glut of stealthy magic items. without high magic defenses, monarchs have no chance.

allways play a chaotic neutral rogue, even if he is called a lawful good paladin.

kill a halfling just for fun and bronze his skull, use it as the head of your mace. then insist on travelling only where there are many halflings.

in any campaign, play a monk with the vow of poverty.

 

[Tewligan]

Kill the DM. And, of course, take his stuff.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

*speaks from very rough experience with her DM and fellow players*

Just be careful how much you complain behind your DMs back... and try to break things to him easily... don't blow up at him because DMs have a tendency to take it personally and you can really screw up your in-game and out-of-game relationship.

However, if you do not value that particular relationship-- Why bother with the ruining?

Just stop going and find a new DM.

See the Gamers seeking Gamers thread: http://www.enworld.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=49 and simply move on instead of causing alllll that drama.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Be sure to take a different class each time you level. Be sure to maximize the damage to your character by carefully selecting which class you take each time. Be sure to take an arcane caster at 1st level for minimal hit points. Be sure to change your alignment along the way, as appropriate, to lose class abilities based on alignment. (For example, be sure to take Barbarian before Paladin, so you lose the rage ability when you become lawful good.) Be sure to use weapons with which you are not proficient. Be sure to spend your skill points only on cross-class skills. Be sure to use weapons of the wrong size. Be sure to use wands you can't really activate, but have one rank in Use Magic Device so you can try. Be sure to avoid all fighting classes as long as possible, so you can be a 10th level character with a B.A.B. of zero. Be sure to play a gnome.