PC Troubles

[Aliro]

I am having a little problem in a D&D game in which I am playing. Ever since we rolled up our characters, I have been having trouble finding a direction for my rogue. I suggested a couple of options at character creation time, but my ideas were not allowed by the GM. That, of course, is his option, but it has caused me to flounder a little in finding a direction to go with this character. I have since offered a couple of options that we have discussed, and he has talked me out of all of them. Since all of this, he has made negative comments about my character's lack of direction and my many attempts to find a niche for my character. He also expressed surprise at my choices of skills and feats, leading me to believe that he thinks my character should be proceeding in a given direction without my having any clue what that direction should be. This has lead to a great deal of frustration on my part, especially since I am the 'new guy' at the table.

So, I have decided to introduce another character, and I discussed this, and the above concerns, with the GM via e-mail (not the best option, I know). The GM took insult at my suggestion that the character was not what I wanted him to be, but more what the GM was trying to force him to be. He responded curtly and said I could introduce a new character at the next session, after explaining to everyone else why my character was not going to be continuing with the campaign.

Now I said all of that to ask this question: Am I wrong to be a little put off by all of this? I have wavered back and forth between being rather miffed and feeling like I am messing up the game and should be ashamed of myself. As I have seen many helpful discussions on topics such as this, I thought I would find out what the secret masters think.

So, what do you think?

Feel free to ask lots of embarassing questions and tell me I am being a jerk, if I am indeed being a jerk.

--Aliro

 

[Saeviomagy]

Basically, if someone's ribbing on you for doing the wrong thing, but won't tell you what the right thing is, you need to tell them to either give you the entire picture or shut the hell up.

That's basically it.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I think that DM was right in some ways to take offense by your statement that your character was essentially being railroaded, however; that is more b/c of basic human nature than actually being pissed off. If you're told you're doing something "bad," you tend to get a little miffed - regardless of how wrong you actually are.

Had I experienced this problem, I simply would have said that I wasn't having fun with my character... and the point of the game is to have fun... so, would (s)he be so kind as to allow me to write up a new character.

However, the DM was definately a butt-face for broadcasting your issues to the rest of the group (way to create inner-group conflict *blah*).

So - yes you are right to be a little put off. But there are definately ways you could have approached it that would have potentially decreased conflict between you and the DM.

 

[Chimera]

I have been having trouble finding a direction for my rogue. I suggested a couple of options at character creation time, but my ideas were not allowed by the GM.

Can you give us some examples? You may be asking for the moon, or something seriously out of context and we have no idea where you fit in this problem.

I have since offered a couple of options that we have discussed, and he has talked me out of all of them.

Are you a bit wishy-washy? He's "talking you out of it", which means that you are agreeing with him at some point. I would tend to agree that perhaps if he is too forceful in his explanations, you may have an issue...but it still boils down to your problem.

[QOUTE]Since all of this, he has made negative comments about my character's lack of direction and my many attempts to find a niche for my character. He also expressed surprise at my choices of skills and feats, leading me to believe that he thinks my character should be proceeding in a given direction without my having any clue what that direction should be.[/QUOTE]

It does sound like you keep aiming in different directions, from what you have said. While I can understand his frustration, it isn't cool to be making negative comments in front of the group unless perhaps you are really being a pain.

The GM took insult at my suggestion that the character was not what I wanted him to be, but more what the GM was trying to force him to be.

Again, I would need more information about these various directions you keep trying. If they are wildly different from each other and you get talked out of them, then it isn't his fault, it is yours.

He responded curtly and said I could introduce a new character at the next session, after explaining to everyone else why my character was not going to be continuing with the campaign.

This part isn't cool. I'd suggest keeping your explanation short. Say that it didn't turn out like you wanted it and you want to do something different. Cast no blame.

Now I said all of that to ask this question: Am I wrong to be a little put off by all of this? I have wavered back and forth between being rather miffed and feeling like I am messing up the game and should be ashamed of myself. As I have seen many helpful discussions on topics such as this, I thought I would find out what the secret masters think.

Probably is a bit of both. He's may be expressing his frustration with you in ways that aren't good. But that's Human...deal with it. You might want to look at your own behavior, but don't stress yourself out about it, don't fall apart beating yourself up. Scratch the character, write up a new one (with a firm direction in mind that fits the campaign and the group and the GM's style) and chalk this up to experience. Don't get into blame and recriminations. Just move on.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Being the new guy can suck. You don't know his style and he doesn't know yours. I try to give new players greater leeway than older players in their own characters, but many DMs won't do this. This makes life as a DM harder, and also the life of some of the PCs too.

He might be cutting down your ideas because he knows that they won't work in his game. Say, you want to take forgery as a skill, and he doesn't usually deal with anything that that would help you with. So, it becomes a useless skill and he tries to talk you out of it. He would have to alter the campaign to make the skill worthwhile, which might disturb his and the other players' fun. This isn't to say this is a good thing for him to be doing. It's a tradeoff. If I'm way off on this, though, let me know. It might be something completely different.

As for concpets, some don't fit campaigns. He seems to be acting in a very dismissive way, however, and that isn't good. If he can't offer acceptable alternatives, compromises for the character, or explainations on why something doesn't fit, he isn't doing a good job of incorporating you into the campaign. I would probably start to wonder why I was coming if the DM wasn't making an effort to work me into the game. I would definatly take some time out of game to talk campaign concept with him and ask what has been happening before your arrival. That would offer insight into where you can fit in. If he isn't willing to help... well... time to find another group, I guess.

Also, talk to the other players. Ask them about their characters and what they've accomplished. Find out what makes a successful character in his game, and model that somewhat. If he likes brash, go for brash, if careful and plodding is the way to victory, take that as a sign. Other players can often offer valuable insights into the campaign more than the DM can. Looking at the chessboard from above and all that.

I don't see making a new character as helping the situation, unless its fairly generic. When you start to go into detail, you might again find the same problem that you were having with the first.

 

[Nightfall]

My advice,

If you want to stick it out, fine. Go with it.

Otherwise, if it was me, find another group of people and/or another DM/GM to play with.

Btw what is your "new" character going to be?

Perhaps that will give us some insight if your DM doesn't like Rogues.

(Some Dms don't.)

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

My wife was in a similar situation once. As a new player she was unsure of what to do with her character, but every time she tried to define her, the DM didn't like or accept the ideas. In her situation it was because the DM got an idea into his head of all the things he could do with her character in setting up plots and things and would only accept ideas that fit his concept. He basically hijacked my wife's character and made her into a player controlled NPC. This had the negative effect of stealing a lot of her enthusiasm for the game. She still plays, but not when that DM is running things and she does not invest much into her characters anymore.

Now, my questions for you:

- Did the DM explain the setting and situation the party is in before you made the character?
- Do your character concepts go against these things?
- Would your character concepts potentially promote disharmony in the party? Some DMs hate this as the game turns more towards infighting and less to adventuring.
- Have you sat down together to have a real conversation about how to define your character in his campaign?
- Has the DM offerered and constructive criticism? Why does he not like your ideas?
- Has the DM offerered any alternative suggestions?

 

[Odysseus]

I had the same thing happen to me a couple of years back. The minimal description the DM gave of the game wasn't at all what it was like. I'd created a role played mountain-man ranger character. And the game was a meta gaming dungeon crawl. Leaving my character totally out of place. I stuck it out two sessions. Then the DM complained to me about my characters lack of contribution. I which point at thought **** him, and left.

As another poster pointed out , being the new guy sucks. The best way forward is to find out exactly what the DM wants. You've probably got to say it nicer terms than that. But you need to find out. Once you've found out you've got to decide whether the game is something you'd enjoy or not. As another poster stated. Without more details , it hard to determine where the problem is. But cetainly if the DM is just critising you without constructive feedback, i'd leave.

 

[Aliro]

I appreciate all of the input. I have tried to remain a little vague, as the GM in question frequents these boards.

Yes, I probably could have dealt with things a little better myself. I guess I let my level of frustration bleed over into my reaction. As someone mentioned, very human but not a very good idea.

The GM is into really big metaplots and long, detailed stories that work aspects of every character into the storyline. He gets a little bent when people mess up his storylines by doing unexpected things. This is why I let him talk me out of my various character ideas (they didn't fit his plotline).

My wife was in a similar situation once. As a new player she was unsure of what to do with her character, but every time she tried to define her, the DM didn't like or accept the ideas. In her situation it was because the DM got an idea into his head of all the things he could do with her character in setting up plots and things and would only accept ideas that fit his concept. He basically hijacked my wife's character and made her into a player controlled NPC. This had the negative effect of stealing a lot of her enthusiasm for the game. She still plays, but not when that DM is running things and she does not invest much into her characters anymore.

You have hit the nail on the head with this one. I feel like my character is being forced down certain lines where I don't want to go, and it is destroying my enjoyment of the game.

Now, my questions for you:

- Did the DM explain the setting and situation the party is in before you made the character?
- Do your character concepts go against these things?
- Would your character concepts potentially promote disharmony in the party? Some DMs hate this as the game turns more towards infighting and less to adventuring.
- Have you sat down together to have a real conversation about how to define your character in his campaign?
- Has the DM offerered and constructive criticism? Why does he not like your ideas?
- Has the DM offerered any alternative suggestions?

The GM told us his ideas for the campaign (social interaction and lots of role-playing) and then proceeded to take us out in the wilderness on an extended trek. I created a city rogue type and found myself out in the woods from the word go (some 10-12 weeks of adventuring, and two weeks we were in a city and we spent the entire time in the sewers ). I tried to sit down on multiple occasions and talk to the GM, but I only became more frustrated. My ideas were seen as not fitting in with the campaign, but no alternatives were offered.

I appreciate all of the help offered, and I look foward to hearing more.

--Aliro

 

[Charles Rampant]

In that case, i'd simply sit down and say, 'I'm finding it hard to define my character, and it seems that part of that trouble is due to friction with your campaign plot. Is there a direction that you would prefer my character to go in?'

If there is, then you can consider and decide if you agree with that direction. If you do, great. You can move in that direction with the consent of the GM. If you don't, then suicide your character. Then remake one, and keep the GM close to hand while doing so.