This is not actually that far-fetched to me. It depends on the range, the circumstances the party is in vs the hidden archers, whether or not the party is in the middle of a pitched battle (if you are duking it out w/ an orc, you may well not have noticed where that arrow you suddenly sprouted came from)... In some cases, sure, you'd probably see where the archer was, but in others you may well not.Saeviomagy said:
Stupid Dungeon Master Syndrome
- Thread starter Samuel Leming
- Start date
Kesh
First Post
I wouldn't call it stupid, but it wasn't the best planning. No offense if you're still reading the boards! 
After a couple brief half-started campaigns (including one of my own), we were trying a new campaign. The DM gave us a basic tavern start, if I remember right... and then that was it. The PCs had met, agreed to work together, but had nothing to adventure towards. We spent the entire session wandering around, talking to NPCs and generally trying to figure out what we were supposed to do.
At the end of the night, the DM seemed flabbergasted. "It was right in front of you! It should have been easy for you to figure out what you were supposed to do!" So, I came right out and asked him what it was. He responded that he was not going to say, since he wanted to see if we could figure it out the next session.
I didn't go back for the next one. I don't ask for the plot to be handed to me, but it'd at least be nice to know what the hook is!
After a couple brief half-started campaigns (including one of my own), we were trying a new campaign. The DM gave us a basic tavern start, if I remember right... and then that was it. The PCs had met, agreed to work together, but had nothing to adventure towards. We spent the entire session wandering around, talking to NPCs and generally trying to figure out what we were supposed to do.
At the end of the night, the DM seemed flabbergasted. "It was right in front of you! It should have been easy for you to figure out what you were supposed to do!" So, I came right out and asked him what it was. He responded that he was not going to say, since he wanted to see if we could figure it out the next session.
I didn't go back for the next one. I don't ask for the plot to be handed to me, but it'd at least be nice to know what the hook is!
Saeviomagy
Adventurer
We're walking along in a darkened cave. Since there are party members without darkvision, we've got a light source. Arrows strike the lead party member.tec-9-7 said:
The cave is long and narrow, so obviously the arrows come from ahead. We cast daylight on an arrow and fire it along the cave to outside of darkvision limits. This just happens to be directly below the bad guys.
Apparently the bad guys are on a ledge or some sort, and are still in total darkness (because obviously anywhere there isn't direct light MUST be in total darkness...), meaning we cannot see them at all. Yeah, right.
I drop a glitterdust on the ledge. Well, I try to. The DM tells me I cannot put the spell above the upper surface of the ledge. The ledge the bad guys are shooting us from with longbows (which means they cannot be prone).
So I drop it on the underside of the ledge, and because it's a spread, it gets them anyway.
Somehow, despite having a radius that gets all of the badguys, we STILL cannot see them sufficiently to shoot at them.
Vocenoctum
First Post
Maybe he meant navigate. You need to navigate the field of arrows.Evilhalfling said:
cignus_pfaccari
First Post
Evilhalfling said:
Quite obviously, you were supposed to surrender and throw yourselves at their feet, to be taken back to their camp, abused in various methods, and be glad that you were slaves.
That's really the only negotiation you're able to do with someone in such a massive position of strength. And, I suppose, you could've gotten away, but still...
Brad
reveal
Adventurer
Li Shenron said:Been there, done that...Sometimes it's just so stressful to prepare an adventure well, and you have to read it a few times and repeat in your mind the many things you're afraid to forget, that it's not unlikely to slip out things like that when you shouldn't...
Or on the other end where you come up with some really cool plot hook and, after everything is said and done, you forget to use it.
I have a PC in the game who found another PC half-dead and helped her back to life. That's how they met. In actuality, the PC who found her was in the group of thugs who attacked the second PCs party. He immediately tried to right the wrong, but only succeeded after the unconcious PCs husband had been killed.
Anyway, during a combat, one NPC was supposed to point at the PC in question and say something like "Hey! You're the traitor who never came back from killing that caravan!" and create some cool roleplaying opportunities for my group.
Unfortunately, I'm a smacktard and remembered this AFTER the combat was over and never got to use it.
VirgilCaine
First Post
Kesh said:I wouldn't call it stupid, but it wasn't the best planning. No offense if you're still reading the boards!
After a couple brief half-started campaigns (including one of my own), we were trying a new campaign. The DM gave us a basic tavern start, if I remember right... and then that was it. The PCs had met, agreed to work together, but had nothing to adventure towards. We spent the entire session wandering around, talking to NPCs and generally trying to figure out what we were supposed to do.
At the end of the night, the DM seemed flabbergasted. "It was right in front of you! It should have been easy for you to figure out what you were supposed to do!" So, I came right out and asked him what it was. He responded that he was not going to say, since he wanted to see if we could figure it out the next session.
I didn't go back for the next one. I don't ask for the plot to be handed to me, but it'd at least be nice to know what the hook is!
Gee, you talked to the clerics, to local government, weaponsmiths, taverns, etc? All the common places PCs would go? Nothing? Wow. That IS bad. I'd have put it somewhere like that, not in some shop or hovel the PCs won't ever pay attention to.
In battle or when the party is all concentrating on talking to the big nasty thing in the opposite direction or something, sure it's possible. Secret spot checks all round. Just moving around, no.
Ogre Mage
Hero
Stupid DM
Our DM put our 9th level party (4 PCs, underequipped due to his stinginess) up against a CR 14 encounter. Perhaps he should have checked the part of the DM's guide which mentioned that is an overpowering encounter. The circumstances were such that it was difficult but not impossible to run away. If we realized how powerful the creatures were right away and fled immediately, perhaps we all MIGHT have survived. Instead, we didn't find out until we were engaged. The DM was then "surprised" when two characters died. To add insult to injury, this was a no raise dead/resurrection world.
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Our DM put our 9th level party (4 PCs, underequipped due to his stinginess) up against a CR 14 encounter. Perhaps he should have checked the part of the DM's guide which mentioned that is an overpowering encounter. The circumstances were such that it was difficult but not impossible to run away. If we realized how powerful the creatures were right away and fled immediately, perhaps we all MIGHT have survived. Instead, we didn't find out until we were engaged. The DM was then "surprised" when two characters died. To add insult to injury, this was a no raise dead/resurrection world.
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