Specify attack method? How strict

[Flipguarder]

Yeah also unless his character has an unusual RP reason for sleeping like a rock in a coma that's been drugged, I'd say the first reasonably loud noise (an attack or a command or a yell) makes him wake up. Then I'd say that if he awoke during the first round of combat its a surprise round for him.

 

[Dredly]

I'm guessing it was pretty annoying to him though?

I can understand that it'd be annoying/amusing for you to have him getting angry about not being awake but can you understand that by not letting him be woken up by his allies (I'm assuming at least one of them asked to, because of what you said earlier) you're encouraging antagonistic behaviour?


It seems like you really need to sit down with this guy and work out what the problems are, before going back to gaming. Because he's not having fun when you keep him out of a scene, and you're not having fun when he complains about the rules...

That's for the psyco analysis, no one else bothered, everyone (including the player) were laughing about it

 

[Kingreaper]

That's for the psyco analysis, no one else bothered, everyone (including the player) were laughing about it

he started complaining that he should be awake right away because one player woke up, everyone else woke up on their turn, he failed the wake up check and then started complaining more

So, his complaining was actually his laughing?

?

Your tale seems somewhat inconsistent.

If there's no problem, then there's no problem, but your descriptions don't suggest that.

 

[Flipguarder]

indeed.

 

[Dredly]

he complained for a few seconds, then it was a big joke. This isn't a random game in a store, the people I'm playing with have been friends for more then a decade. I just needed to know the ruling on the attack. thanks

 

[KarinsDad]

I kind of agree with the OP.

As DM, I spend 1 to 5 hours on each of my games each week and two of my players (one of whom is my wife) cannot be bothered to learn simple rules like it takes a minor action to pull out a weapon (or cannot be bothered to post their exact actions in a PBP game).

I think people do not learn with honey over vinegar, they just like it better. A few tastes of vinegar does get their attention more than the honey though.

I will typically point out when someone is about to make an obvious mistake if I get the chance, but if a problem player picks up the dice, declares his legal actions, and rolls right away, them's the breaks as far as I'm concerned.

I had a bunch of PCs climbing ropes and they got into an encounter and as they rushed forward, I said "you need to use a minor action to pull out your weapon". So, they moved in (move), pulled weapon (minor), and attacked (standard). That same round when the monsters attacked, one hit because one of the PCs did not yet have out her shield and she said "I wouldn't have gone into the room without putting my shield on first" and I replied "but you did, we are not going back to change it". She got a tiny bit pissy about it for a second, but was then laughing and enjoying herself a few minutes later. It really depends on your players, but it's not the DM's reponsibility to always cave in and it's not the player's rights to always be entitled.

I think players should take responsibility for knowing the rules and their own PC's abilities, and the DM shouldn't be forced to hold their hands all of the time. It's one thing with a new player, but someone who has been playing the game for a while should get with the program.

 

[Kingreaper]

he complained for a few seconds,

A few seconds that amount to multiple turns?
Wow, your players are FAST.
Or, you know, that's not actually true.

I just needed to know the ruling on the attack.

You didn't ask for a RAW. You asked for a "what would you have done?" and you attempted to paint this other player as the bad guy:

Typically I wouldn't be overly strict on this however he is also a "rules" person who constantly attempts to correct me and even argued with me over several actions during the night. I also corrected him on a few occasions before this...

This indicates that you were in fact looking for validation, because you've been having a nagging feeling that perhaps you made the wrong choice, and you were in fact in the wrong.



This post (c) Kingreaper: You accused me of psychoanalysis. The above is psychoanalysis, my previous posts were advice and criticism.

 

[DracoSuave]

A few seconds that amount to multiple turns?
Wow, your players are FAST.
Or, you know, that's not actually true.

Taking obvious hyperbole literally isn't cool, dude.

You didn't ask for a RAW. You asked for a "what would you have done?" and you attempted to paint this other player as the bad guy:

Rulings aren't necessarily RAW. In fact, most groups that aren't filled with players with swiss-cheese knowledge of the rules, that 'conveniently' forget rules when in their favor, don't generally require a lot of RAW rulings.

Rulings tend to be in the non-RAW areas.

Just pointing that out.

This indicates that you were in fact looking for validation, because you've been having a nagging feeling that perhaps you made the wrong choice, and you were in fact in the wrong.

This part I'll agree with, however.

 

[Turtlejay]

These kinds of things do kind of get under my skin, because I am a player who at least tries to remember what the hell his character is doing.

My Dragonborn Paladin was without his shield for most of an adventure because it took place in a clockwork dungeon, and many, many checks were required and that -2 was worth more than the AC. In the latest campaign, my two weapon fighting character was using a sunrod in his off hand and so only had access to one of his weapons. So many players just say " I light a torch." and neglect the reality of what that means like, to the PC. Not that I would ever accuse anyone of cheating or not being 100% up front about anything, but I do appreciate when my fellow players actually pay attention to what is happening.

Jay

 

[DracoSuave]

These kinds of things do kind of get under my skin, because I am a player who at least tries to remember what the hell his character is doing.

My Dragonborn Paladin was without his shield for most of an adventure because it took place in a clockwork dungeon, and many, many checks were required and that -2 was worth more than the AC. In the latest campaign, my two weapon fighting character was using a sunrod in his off hand and so only had access to one of his weapons. So many players just say " I light a torch." and neglect the reality of what that means like, to the PC. Not that I would ever accuse anyone of cheating or not being 100% up front about anything, but I do appreciate when my fellow players actually pay attention to what is happening.

Jay

Agreed.

Plus 4th is SO much more generous with actions and switching items compared to 3rd...

You'd think it isn't, but then you play D&D Tactics, and you realize that... wow... there ARE a lot of little things to take care of, like WHY Bucklers exist (Hint: Not for rogues, it's for clerics)