(RANT) Magic restricted while more expensive!

[Dougal DeKree]

Hi! I have a situation here...

Sorry, i am fuming, so directly to the point: I can't stand it any longer! All the time people are twisting and turning the rules of D&D and get upset when i tell them that all i want to have is a nice D&D with standard rules, maybe SOME houserules, that are AGREED on by both sides, GM and players.

The Situation is as follows. We (the GM and 4 players, one of them me) did plan this weekend a long time in advance, since it is to be a full-rpg-weekend. Now yesterday the GM sends me an email with "improvements on the magic system" (i am the groups wizard - i like playing wizards because they are flexible, which is why i despise sorcerers, but that is another rant )
I start to read it and the quintessence: spell components are no longer needed, but instead one has to have different gems as spell-foci. Not to further concentration or help with metamagic feats. No. One cannot cast spells of a specific direction without having a gem of the proper kind AND size. So, basically, without a small ruby a wiz1 cannot cast endure elements (fire). In fact he cannot cast ANY spell without a gem!!!
Then i saw the prizes...big gasp! a gem for let's say spell lvl3 costs approx. 6 what the WHOLE GROUP (6 chars, 2nd lvl) has as bank AND equipment.
So if i level next time, i could buy all scrolls i get my (admittedly greedy) fingers on and still should better spontaneously win a lottery...
But it is even worse: Of course Every school needs it's own gem.
So taken i would make it far enough to be able to cast fireball, i would need 2 gems suitable for 3rd spell-lvl, evocation and fire.

All of this is meant to "make it easier for me"!?!
I tried to argue, i tried to bribe, i even became unfriendly, which is something very unusual for me, but she will have none of it.

Now, any tips what i can do here???
At the moment i am bound to retiring the mage and build a character resembling Meepo - small, whiny and good at nothing...
That will be revenge, right?

Dougal DeKree, helpless gnomish Illusionist

 

[Darklone]

You know, if you play Meepo, I'll play Cloak and we scare the demonic familiar away

 

[Piratecat]

Play a fighter.

Seriously, House Rules should only be instituted if they make the game more fun. That rule effectively hoses you, so it fails the test.

You might want to invite your DM here; it'd be interesting to hear her reasons for making the change.

 

[Darklone]

Sorry, Piratecat... she's a woman

And any nice discussion with her about game balance usually results very fast in "You guys don't like me!"

 

[Piratecat]

Even better; this place would be a great resource for her. I just think that even when something like a house rule makes a ton of sense at the time, seeing it in perspective sometimes changes its appearance.

 

[Dougal DeKree]

response!

Play a fighter

Fighter are neat, i know. Thing is, everytime i take some characterclass without magic, i am somewhat unsatisfied...i just like tossing spells around.
Of, course, on the other hand, for a weekend - well, a fighter, a rogue, one of these will do *sigh*...

And i was SO looking forward to the fighterwizard i already played, who was fun until now...a necromancer with a spiked chain...yumm ;o)

Dougal DeKree, retired gnomish Illusionist

 

[Dougal DeKree]

resource...

Well, though you are definitely right, with this place being a great resource, she wouldn't go anywhere near a forum labeled house rules. because (actual quote here) we "guys never understand that a frp-game is all about style and the rules are unimportant".

Here she is right, i can't see how to play only with regards to style, or what my chars are wearing at what daytime - i am also interested in what the char can do...oh well...

Dougal DeKree, retired gnomish Illusionist

 

[green slime]

Might I propose a third solution?

Talk to her about her idea. Personally I think the basis of the idea is cool, but the actual implementation is faulted. That is to say, there is nothing fundamentally wrong exchanging spell components with spell focii.

The problem is the amount of wealth it is binding up for you. The way I see it, their could be two reasons for this:

1) She is really unaware of just how restricting this is. Perhaps she is really unfamiliar with the level-wealth rules? Or perhaps she plans to provide you with a certain number of these gems anyway?

2) She is uncomfortable with the level of magic available in the game and wishes to reduce it through this mechanic.

Regardless, I can understand that, for you, who sought a standard game, that this is extremely frustrating. I suggest having a calmer discussion with her where you can discuss both the merits and faults of the system, and do try real hard not to get her defensive mechanism up; arguing, bribing, and getting irate, is just no substitute for calm discussion (not always easy I know...just don't ask my missus...)

Oh yeah: Good Luck over the weekend, I hope you enjoy the game regardless!

 

[Destil]

Hi! I have a situation here...

Sorry, i am fuming, so directly to the point: I can't stand it any longer! All the time people are twisting and turning the rules of D&D and get upset when i tell them that all i want to have is a nice D&D with standard rules, maybe SOME houserules, that are AGREED on by both sides, GM and players
....
I start to read it and the quintessence: spell components are no longer needed, but instead one has to have different gems as spell-foci. Not to further concentration or help with metamagic feats. No. One cannot cast spells of a specific direction without having a gem of the proper kind AND size. So, basically, without a small ruby a wiz1 cannot cast endure elements (fire). In fact he cannot cast ANY spell without a gem!!!
Then i saw the prizes...big gasp! a gem for let's say spell lvl3 costs approx. 6 what the WHOLE GROUP (6 chars, 2nd lvl) has as bank AND equipment.
So if i level next time, i could buy all scrolls i get my (admittedly greedy) fingers on and still should better spontaneously win a lottery...
But it is even worse: Of course Every school needs it's own gem.
So taken i would make it far enough to be able to cast fireball, i would need 2 gems suitable for 3rd spell-lvl, evocation and fire.

Dougal DeKree, helpless gnomish Illusionist

I really like the flavor of these rules, but the cost is clearly messed up. Point your DM to the total cost of a spell component pouch, and spell scribing costs, and ask it it's intentional that their increasing costs.

My solution would be to remove spellbooks and work entirely off of these gems. Instead of spending Spell level x 200 GP to scribe a spell, you need a gem for each specific spell that costs that much, and needs to be specialy prepaired when you learn the spell (same time rewtrictions as spell scribing). Then in the mornings you focus magical energys into the gems of the spells you'll be prepairing (taking the same hour for a full day's worth of spells). Really it's a cool system and even makes more sense than the default (spellbook inks? Riiiight), but again the cost is a killer.


Or half the spell scribing costs and reduce the gem costs so they make up the diffrence...

 

[Saeviomagy]

If she tries the "You guys don't like me" routine whenever you disagree with here, then give her the "If you try to guilt trip me, you're damn right I don't" response. "You're not my friend anymore" is for kids, not mature adults.