So, I was in this game... (Gosh, how many begin like that?)

[Afgncaapvaljean]

Was playing a druid with a rather specific goal in mind, which, after a major story point finished, I cleared with the GM. GM said, fine, go ahead, sounds great. Next segment of the story begins, we're all told, "Yeah, you guys all have to join the local thieves guild. And, by the way, take a level of Rogue." Well, my goal didn't involve anything to DO with rogues, and in fact levelling in rogue would have severely limited the character. I expressed this to the GM, who said, essentially, tough. Do it or you're out.

I did it. Not without a lot of bitching, I will admit. I probably made him very frustrated. He WAS nice enough to eliminate the whole penalty for multiclassing.

We played a bit, and I had to drop out of the game, because of scheduling issues. However, after quite some time, I was able to come back, which was really nice. I kept the same character, no problems. We just had her go home to visit for a while.
So, after a bit, I decide, you know, this thieves guild thing, for a druid, really is crimping my style. So, I had my character ask if there would be any penalties for leaving. The GM's NPC gave no response, the GM gave no response. I said, "Okay, well, I'm leaving the guild, then."

GM: "Okay, you die in a column of fire."

Was I out of line for reacting with no small amount of anger? I probably went a little over the top, but really, since at some point I want to GM my own game, is this something players can expect? It seemed very arbitrary, especially since I asked.

 

[Kai Lord]

Your DM was completely ridiculous. Its the role of the player to determine his character's concept, not the DM.

 

[Crothian]

No, that's not what I would call a good DM. THere are a few things that he did wrong. First is make choices for the PCs. Its the players character let them make the choices, but a DM is allowed to have consequences for them. The second is to just kill you off with no dice and no warning. Personally, I'd yank his DM card and make sure he doesn't run a game anymore. But that's rarely possible so get a better DM.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Just seems like a DM that wants too much control...one should NEVER NEVER NEVER be forced into a class because of what the DM says. Play what you want, not what the DM wants...he just provides the story.

And just for the hell of it...
Arr! Ye been in the hands of a barnacle blasted land-lubben DM! Ye should 'ave made 'im walk the plank, matey! Arr!

 

[Afgncaapvaljean]

Yah, I was willing to eat the consequences, and even had a pretty neat plan if I was told, Yeah, you'll be banished, or die. But to never be given a chance... I was pissed. It's good to know I wasn't just kvetching.


I will temper all this by saying I'm a rather high maintenance PC. I'm not overly familiar with the rules, and I was pushing a lot of boundaries in the roleplaying aspects; my druid was a pacifist, which probably didn't help.

 

[Dimwhit]

Yeah, your DM is an idiot. I just hope he browses these boards so he can see us all call him an idiot.

 

[Afgncaapvaljean]

Heh heh... I admit, the thought of publicly flaming him was amusing, since he does run a fairly developed roleplaying site that get a lot of traffic, but I don't want to be an ass.

 

[Czhorat]

Control....

It sounds like his idea of a fun game is different from yours. I just quit a game that was centered around a long, rigidly-defined plot that put the player characters in the role of a sort of paramilitary unit answering to the local Emperor (erithotl posted about it a few weeks back). It was clear that we had no choice but to take orders because that's the game our DM had prepared. We complained, pleaded, begged, and made suggestions for how the campaign could be more fun for us, but the DM was very much committed to his story. He's even run the very same game for a different group. We're about 9th level and the story hasn't diverged at all!

The point is that it was a similar situation. The game was well-run and clever and detailed, but very regimented. Erithotl and I both decided that we'd rather spend our free time doing something else, but that was after playing under this guy for years. If the game's not fun for you, then by all means look for another. There's no need, however, to badmouth the DM. He probably really likes his thief-guild centered campaign, might have put quite a bit of effort into it, and is at least flexible enough with the game mechanics to not give you XP penalties for the required rogue levels.

 

[Afgncaapvaljean]

There's no need, however, to badmouth the DM. He probably really likes his thief-guild centered campaign, might have put quite a bit of effort into it, and is at least flexible enough with the game mechanics to not give you XP penalties for the required rogue levels.

I see your point, and I definitely appreciated his willingness to work with me on some of my issues. It was the no warning, unanticipable (is that a real word? Meh...) death that pissed me off.


Oh, and, since 'tis the day...

"I'm Guybrush Threepwood, Mighty Pirate!"

"Bill? Your pirate name is Bill?"
"Cutthroat Bill."
"Oh."

Aye, Monkey Island be having a virtual bounty o' great quotes.

"MADRE DE DIOS! EL POLLO DIABLO!"

 

[Cedric]

There is nothing wrong with running a concept game. I've done it on numerous occasions and it has been a lot of fun for everyone. But there is one critical aspect to running a game with a specific concept.

MAKE SURE THE PLAYERS KNOW THE CONCEPT!!

Tell your players flat out...Ok, I need you to make a ____ level character. You can be one these races ____ and you can choose from any of these classes ____. Also, make sure your character wouldn't have a problem being a member of or associated with ____.

These are the special rules I will be using ____ (things like no multi-class penalty for taking your first level in rogue when you are playing in a city setting).

Cedric