Is this a cruel DM?
- Thread starter Methos
- Start date
I have to agree that you would Not have destroyed your spellbook. When someone goes nuts during the full moon, I'd rule that they act on *instinct*. Think of it as a primal human.
THat doesn't mean tearing all the crap up. That means, often, taking care of neccessities. That means: Food, Shelter, and Nookie. If said lycanthrope is caged, he's gunna want to get out. I agree they should've made with the gnawing. At the very least, the primal wererat would've recognized that his spellbook is something of Importance, even the afflicted brain would be thinking destorying said item would be a Bad Thing.
And, isn't there usually an Incubation period of a Month?
THat doesn't mean tearing all the crap up. That means, often, taking care of neccessities. That means: Food, Shelter, and Nookie. If said lycanthrope is caged, he's gunna want to get out. I agree they should've made with the gnawing. At the very least, the primal wererat would've recognized that his spellbook is something of Importance, even the afflicted brain would be thinking destorying said item would be a Bad Thing.
And, isn't there usually an Incubation period of a Month?
I sounds like the DM took liberties with the definition of a were-rat. If he is inconsistent, maybe he is just being a dick.
On the other hand, did the were-rats you fought have any equipment? If they didn't, maybe this is to be expected. If they did, it seems inconsistent.
The first thing I would do if I were you is talk to your DM to see if you can get a new spell book and spells. If he says "you'll just have to worry about that" I would say he is almost definately being a dick. If he says "Don't worry, the dungeon is being controled by a wizard" it could still be fun.
For a future character in that game, I would say sorrcerer, druid or cleric. No special equipment to take.
On the other hand, did the were-rats you fought have any equipment? If they didn't, maybe this is to be expected. If they did, it seems inconsistent.
The first thing I would do if I were you is talk to your DM to see if you can get a new spell book and spells. If he says "you'll just have to worry about that" I would say he is almost definately being a dick. If he says "Don't worry, the dungeon is being controled by a wizard" it could still be fun.
For a future character in that game, I would say sorrcerer, druid or cleric. No special equipment to take.
JacktheRabbit
Explorer
Sounds dumb to me. There is no reason for you to go out of your way to destroy certain material objects without a very good reason.
Forsake your former casting self, embrace the ways of the rat: Think like the rat, act like the rat, BE the rat.
In english:
Ask your GM if you could possibly trade in a few ranks of your Spellcraft skill for controll shape. And, if you're going to take this to extremes, check out the Changeling thread in House Rules. It's a custom core class that Corlon and I came up with for a friend; it basically takes shapeshifting to the extremes.
Or you could try to qualify for the Forsaker prestige class (MotW). Goes in line with the character, if you "see the innumerable flaws in magic. Magic is useless, it can be stolen, forgotten, destroyed. You can not destroy the enmity of magic, for it is the enmity of evil, and evil shall perish in the end."
-Jeph
In english:
Ask your GM if you could possibly trade in a few ranks of your Spellcraft skill for controll shape. And, if you're going to take this to extremes, check out the Changeling thread in House Rules. It's a custom core class that Corlon and I came up with for a friend; it basically takes shapeshifting to the extremes.
Or you could try to qualify for the Forsaker prestige class (MotW). Goes in line with the character, if you "see the innumerable flaws in magic. Magic is useless, it can be stolen, forgotten, destroyed. You can not destroy the enmity of magic, for it is the enmity of evil, and evil shall perish in the end."
-Jeph
Cruel DM
Just a bit of follow up to the original e-mail since there have been a few questions. I do appreciate all of the responses.
The other character's death actually was the result of a real melee, so that wasn't arbitrary. I do have a level of fighter and a level of cleric (taken because the party has no cleric, and at least it provides a bit of healing), but for a 5th level character, he is pretty poor. My DM has not been following the suggested guidlines for character wealth in the DM's guide. In addition to the lycanthrope, my character has been infected with Mummy Rot as well. I have passed all my fortitude saves so far, but we need to get out of the dungeon and hopefully get a cure disease before I start failing saving throws. It could get bad in a hurry.
So, in addition, to the lack of a spellbook at this time, my character now has lycanthrope, mummy rot, and has no access to clerical spells (NG deity) since the eating of the party member qualifies as a gross violation of the deity's ethos. I actually have no problem with this, and it makes total sense, and I am more than willing to role-play the necessity for atonement or a possible quest, or whatever the DM has in mind for the clerical aspect to this character.
The reason why we did not exit the dungeon in the first place to get to a place of healing/curing is that in order to save the town from the current menace, there is a time limitation. Essentially, the menace gets stronger as time goes on, and if we left the dungeon, the menace would be too strong for us by the time we got back. All in all, a fairly cool adventure, but we were set up to fail in terms of getting a cure for lycanthrope before the next full moon.
I actually think that I have been a pretty good sport about all of this, and have even role played the character and his misfortunes pretty well since all of this happened. He has become a much more dark and brooding character since he feels his good deeds have gone unnoticed by the gods, otherwise why would he have all of this misfortune? I could go into more detail, but it really isn't that important. I'm a bit skeptical of the ability of this character to come across a treasure trove of scrolls or a spellbook even given the lack of treasure that we generally find based on my above comments.
As a result, the one thing that I do have a problem with is the whole destruction of his spellbook. I'm not convinced that it was the right approach to take on the part of the DM. I even argued with him that wererats are not stupid, and for this wanton destruction to take place just didn't make sense and was really just plain wrong. Needless to say, my arguments didn't hold water with him......
Cheers
Just a bit of follow up to the original e-mail since there have been a few questions. I do appreciate all of the responses.
The other character's death actually was the result of a real melee, so that wasn't arbitrary. I do have a level of fighter and a level of cleric (taken because the party has no cleric, and at least it provides a bit of healing), but for a 5th level character, he is pretty poor. My DM has not been following the suggested guidlines for character wealth in the DM's guide. In addition to the lycanthrope, my character has been infected with Mummy Rot as well. I have passed all my fortitude saves so far, but we need to get out of the dungeon and hopefully get a cure disease before I start failing saving throws. It could get bad in a hurry.
So, in addition, to the lack of a spellbook at this time, my character now has lycanthrope, mummy rot, and has no access to clerical spells (NG deity) since the eating of the party member qualifies as a gross violation of the deity's ethos. I actually have no problem with this, and it makes total sense, and I am more than willing to role-play the necessity for atonement or a possible quest, or whatever the DM has in mind for the clerical aspect to this character.
The reason why we did not exit the dungeon in the first place to get to a place of healing/curing is that in order to save the town from the current menace, there is a time limitation. Essentially, the menace gets stronger as time goes on, and if we left the dungeon, the menace would be too strong for us by the time we got back. All in all, a fairly cool adventure, but we were set up to fail in terms of getting a cure for lycanthrope before the next full moon.
I actually think that I have been a pretty good sport about all of this, and have even role played the character and his misfortunes pretty well since all of this happened. He has become a much more dark and brooding character since he feels his good deeds have gone unnoticed by the gods, otherwise why would he have all of this misfortune? I could go into more detail, but it really isn't that important. I'm a bit skeptical of the ability of this character to come across a treasure trove of scrolls or a spellbook even given the lack of treasure that we generally find based on my above comments.
As a result, the one thing that I do have a problem with is the whole destruction of his spellbook. I'm not convinced that it was the right approach to take on the part of the DM. I even argued with him that wererats are not stupid, and for this wanton destruction to take place just didn't make sense and was really just plain wrong. Needless to say, my arguments didn't hold water with him......
Cheers
Benben
First Post
Don't fret too much
Make sure to get every piece of your spell book you can find. Get some down time, and put the important pages together. It's a hard puzzle but it can be done.
Once you have the important pages back, have the party cleric cast Mend on the them repeatedly until they are fixed.
Buy a blank spellbook, and have the old pages bound into the new book.
Your DM is being harsh, but wererats trapped in a room have a very good chance of entering into a frenzy.
Make sure to get every piece of your spell book you can find. Get some down time, and put the important pages together. It's a hard puzzle but it can be done.
Once you have the important pages back, have the party cleric cast Mend on the them repeatedly until they are fixed.
Buy a blank spellbook, and have the old pages bound into the new book.
Your DM is being harsh, but wererats trapped in a room have a very good chance of entering into a frenzy.
JacktheRabbit
Explorer
Lycanthropy AND Mummy Rot on the same 5th level character?
Sounds like a thrilling campaign to me.
Sounds like a thrilling campaign to me.
I bet the DM would have him gnaw his holy symbol to pieces, too.
Hey, wait a second. There's no reason your Deity would forsake you. You were InFected with a Curse. When you change, your aligment shifts because you're not doing actions you choose. Would you be forsaken if you did such when Dominated? No. If your aligment shifts period, then you should be Evil, now. So, I guess it's time to start backstabbing the party, stealing their stuff, and saying 'screw the town', because everyone has forsaken you.
Dude, your DM is mean. So basicly you have a +2 BAB, the HPs of a fighter, a cleric (both first level) and 3 d4s. The party has No arcane OR divine support, seeing as that was You. And it's a low magic world.
Your party is screwed, bub.
Hey, wait a second. There's no reason your Deity would forsake you. You were InFected with a Curse. When you change, your aligment shifts because you're not doing actions you choose. Would you be forsaken if you did such when Dominated? No. If your aligment shifts period, then you should be Evil, now. So, I guess it's time to start backstabbing the party, stealing their stuff, and saying 'screw the town', because everyone has forsaken you.
Dude, your DM is mean. So basicly you have a +2 BAB, the HPs of a fighter, a cleric (both first level) and 3 d4s. The party has No arcane OR divine support, seeing as that was You. And it's a low magic world.
Your party is screwed, bub.
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JacktheRabbit
Explorer
His DM is using the Paladin extremism responce on him.
Xarlen said:
