So I was more or less kicked out of my D&D group

[KitanaVorr]

I would have to agree that the DM is a vengeful jerk and you really did good in leaving.

Of course you shouldn't be flipping through the book while in a game, but as someone who has sit through a very long game where one of the PC in the group has wandered off and is involved in the conversation while all the other PC's are cooling their heels waiting for the other PC and the DM continue their discussion...yeah it can get pretty damn boring and I have flipped through the book just to keep from falling asleep because of course you can't hold other PC conversations while the DM is talking to another PC. And the discussion in question is teh PC trying to BUY something...ARGH...dumb bartering...just roll for it damn it...

Also killing your character when you're not there is just an awful thing to do. However you creating a character that would be at odds with the group isn't a good idea but he definitely should have said something before you started playing the new character.

Dividing of the loot...well that can be for many different reasons.

The part that really gets me is this...I do think though that if a PC wants personal time FOR WHATEVER REASON the DM should grant it. Sometimes you just want some time to yourself, what's wrong with that? If the PC is hurting the game because of an extended absence, then you talk to him and figure out what to do about it and work it out peacefully.

I dislike it when someone tells me that because I can't go to a game every saturday for the whole day or night that I'm not a dedicated player. Hello! I have a life outside of gaming, sometimes I want to go do other things like go on dates. This is why I like the pbp boards.

So he was wrong to be mad at you b/c you just wanted a night to yourself.

Just find yourself a better group that shares the same ideas about personal boundries that you have.

 

[Carnifex]

Sounds like the DM was being a bit of a jerk - but I do have to say that the Forsaker is definitely not a good PC class to choose for compatibility with most groups

 

[Lord Pendragon]

That is my opinion as well, but do not forget that there are a great many people, also on this board, who think that the best way to handle any "problem" is in-game - by making the player regrett his choice by playing out all the drawbacks of his character.

I believe you, Fenes 2, but this just saddens me. Aren't we all mature people playing a game to have fun? It'd be like having a beef with a friend during a Monopoly game, then "solving" it by charging him rent on Boardwalk, but letting everyone else pass by free. Oi.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Just some highly hypothetical "DM's perspective:"

- Reading during the game... It would be nice if this person would pay attention. It's one thing if we digress into a topic that most of us are interested in, but when one player is off in d20 Modern-Land while everyone else is trying to slay the Evil Stat-blocks, it's pretty rude. Maybe he's just feeling neglected. I'll have to plan some stuff for the next game that'll really involve the party rogue!

- Missing a game, without prior notice, or even a real reason? And damn, half the stuff I have planned for tonight requires a rogue... I guess I'll have to run him as an NPC... And hey, if he's that flippant about it, may as well let the dice fall where they may. If he dies, well, at least that'll make it clear to the guys who are here that keep missing sessions to shape up a little!

- Now he wants to play a Forsaker? What's that? From one of the later splatbooks? That's probably okay... (Goes and reads up.) Well, crap! That's going to be a pain to the party. Well, if he really wants to play it, might as well cater to him... Hmm, how can I introduce him in a way that really emphasizes the character? Ooh, cursed bonds, that way he can risk self-sacrifice himself to refuse the assistance of magic! I'll throw in a giant somewhere nearby, so he can still get to play...

- Wow, these guys are taking forever to get through this dungeon. And Readsy McReadsalot over there still hasn't been introduced... Maybe I should have put him earlier in the dungeon, but I figured this would be easy! Oh well, more reading time for him I guess.

- Crap, now the party wants to teleport? Well, I guess it's their choice... Geez, did he pick this class just to be spiteful or what? Maybe he wants out of the group, and he's just being passive aggressive about it... I guess I'll do a session where he's not needed, give him the opportunity to exit gracefully, and if not that to rethink that whole "Forsaker" idea... It's no fun picking out neat magic items just for one player to destroy, after all...

---

Sure it's a stretch, I'm just trying to present what another biased opinion might be. If you want to keep playing with the group, talk it out with the DM, see where both sides of the story meet, and make some compromises... If you don't want to keep playing with the group, well, then your DM did you a favor

Good gaming to you in either case, and I hope you find a more amicable situation.

 

[jdavis]

The game was very RP light. I wasnt *paying attention* cause there was nothing to pay attention to. It was "Room description or a fight" Classic dungeon Delving. As the rogue I was only ever important for traps...

And I didn't just decide to skip. I finally got the house to myself and wanted a quiet evening for a change. Is that so wrong? I even explained to the DM that I rarely get privacy now-a-days and having the house to myself for a night was awesome.


And all teh other group members thought it was wrong of him to kill my character. I pretty much went into a fight and got my ass handed to me... where as if I had been playing my Rogue would have stayed in the back... I know better than to use a rogue as a front line fighter.

And I know there is always 2 sides to a story but this is pretty dead on. The DM has already said he is a vengful person. If you slight him he will slight you back twice as hard. I guess he felt like I slighted him and needed to extract revenge on me for not paying attention to his "this room has dirty walls and 3 doors" descriptions and the fact I wanted some personal time over D&D (despite the others getting personal time whenever they want).

I already said it but I might as well say it again, this was a unreasonable response for you skimming a book during play, I would bet there was something more going on, skimming a book during the game may be wrong but it is a very very minor offense, taking a night off from gaming, for any reason is fine, there is nothing at all wrong with not gaming this is for entertainment, again this is a very minor offense. Killing of a character while the player is not there is innexcusable, a good DM should know better, it is rude and wrong on so may levels and just not the proper response to the minor things you did. If the DM didn't like the forsaker idea then he should of said something, that whole situation the next session was obviously designed to drive you from the game, there is no other explination for that that makes any sense. As far as not getting a cut of the tresure, well you don't get a cut because the DM killed off your first character, who cares if you should of gotten one or not, by this point it was obvious that he was out to get you (should of been obvious when he killed your character). There is probably more to this it was a unreasonable reaction from a shallow and vindictive person. This doesn't let you off for your two minor offenses, but they were very minor and very common offenses. As far as the whole forsaker arguement goes well it didn't matter what you played you were on your way out, if he wanted you to stay he wouldn't of killed your character off while you were not there. Yes I'm sure he has a side to his story but he still was a jerk, at the worst he should of talked to you about stuff and asked you to leave based on, well heck, based on whatever his problem was. At best he should of talked to you and settled it. This was petty revenge and regardless of the other side of the story that is wrong. He didn't like you and I bet there is more to that story than you read a book during his game.

 

[mythago]

Missing a game, without prior notice, or even a real reason?

DarkCrisis did say he called ahead of game to let them know he wasn't going to be there. That's way different than just not showing up.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

First. I feel for your pain. A player's character should never EVER just be killed unavoidably. The cursed chain was also cruel. The teleportation thing sucked, as did missing out on any loot. It's appearent that your DM is being cruel.

That said, you hit one of my BIGGEST pet peeves as a DM. Not paying attention. There's a couple of differences between bringing up a CCG that everyone plays, and flipping through a book. The first is that it's more likely that the person flipping through the book will miss out on room information, and have to be told again while in the middle of actions, or even worse, get themselves hurt because they don't know what's going on, then get pissy. The second is about participation. If you want to do something solitary, please don't do it during this optional social gathering. If you want to read the book, I'd be happy to lend it to you (assuming I don't need it) for the next week. But don't get me wrong, I get angry with the constant out of character banter in some of the groups I play with.

You also hit one of my biggest pet peeves as a person. I hate when someone with a problem goes around assuming that they're completely innocent of all wrong doing. I'm a player in a campaign with a guy who likes flipping through books at the table. I've made a habit of forcably taking them away from him. Why? "Hey guys! The hand of Vecna gives you a grip at 18 strength! Isn't that cool! Oh! And check out his eye!" He thinks he's just flipping through the book quietly, but he's interrupting everyone at the table.

And your attitude that "I guess he felt like I slighted him and needed to extract revenge on me for not paying attention to his .... descriptions" shows me that you don't really appreciate the fact that he was at least putting these things together. DMing is a pain in the ass. It can be rewarding but it's a pain. If my players don't appreciate what I'm doing, it's time to get new players.

So, I'll say it again, what your DM did to you wasn't right, it wasn't fair, and it was poor actions in the social circle, but your actions weren't completely innocent either.

 

[Quickbeam]

That is one of the worst D&D stories I've ever heard. You have my admiration for keeping your composure and leaving with dignity and grace. You have my sympathy for even finding yourself in such a crappy situation.

Good luck finding a new (proper, decent) group of gamers soon!!

 

[shadow]

Well DarkCrisis, you are always free to game with me. I'm trying to start up a gaming group.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

IIRC, the forsaker MUST regularly destroy magic items or lose his power. You may accept one for one or two days, but then he will start to be really crippling for the party ability.

One particular power. Only one ability (SR or DR, I don't have the book on me) requires item destruction. the rest merely require non participation in magic.

As for crippling the party, if you've never been in a situation of getting an unholy sword, a +3 breastplate that's size huge or a cursed item, you've been lucky on the hauls. In my old party a forsaker could have easily fueled his habit on the dregs of the treasure list that are normally sold (or argued about sold vs destroyed...)

Kahuna Burger