The druid is not fighting!!! LONG!

[Kugar]

I do agree with the options you presented. But to be perfectly honest, *not one* of them needed the DM's intervention - all those options could be handled quite fine and well by the players themselves (well, maybe not "know your players" - but I'm not entirely sure what that particular solution solves in the problem presented originally in this thread).

I totally agree that I didn't present any specific answers to the issues presented, mainly because I felt their may be issues present that we are not seeing and offered some general advice about similar things I've seen when players are not meshing well. The GM does not need to do anything, but a good GM should take the time to look at what is happening and see if there is anything he can do to help.

The reason for "Know your players" - I said what was not posted is interesting because I thought the exclusion of information about the nature of the way the PLAYER is acting was pretty glaring. In six pages we have no idea why the druid's player acted the way he did. Usually one hears something like "And then afterward it was like he didn't care" or "He felt really bad afterward" or "The player is always talkative outside of combat, but seems confused every time it's his initiative."

I do not know if these exclusions were from the nature of the advise-by-post system or just not known by the GM. I wanted to give options on what a GM can do in this situation rather than sit back and say "Let the players hash it out" which may be valid in this case, but is hardly useful in improving a game.

 

[arbados]

Arbados is back with an update!!

Hey everyone! I am actually amazed at the response this post has received! It has been GREAT! I just want to say to everyone who has added their suggestions and opinions, regardless of their viewpoint, thanks! It has come in handy one way or the other.

If you note the 1st post I placed regarding the topic, all the players love the game and have openly expressed this to me. I personally take the time to allow each character the opportunity to shine including situations where the druids nature sense and animal empathy are paramount to the success of the mission.

We opened last nights game by talking about the replies to this post. Since the druid was not initally informed of the post (for reasons I stated earlier) I told him about it and gave him a chance to browse through. We then talked OOC. As friends we discussed opinions concerning some of the actions of each group member which we felt might be tweaked a bit to benefit the entire adventuring party. I didn't feel that it was fair to only bring up the concerns of the druids actions, but discuss all players tactics, including the npc Devoted Defender (which I control).

However, w/o getting into all the other points of discussion the druid listened to the opinions of the other players and agreed to change a few of his habits if the group could cater to some of his needs.

The healing issue was obviously discussed and the druid said that he would be willing to create numerous healing scrolls, which could be used by the Rogue and Wizard/Bard/Fatespinner to help with some of the healing. He said the reason he has not done this is not because of the xp loss, but because the group would not allow him the time for their creation.

The druid's character has a very involved and vivid history and when the group takes time off from adventuring each spends some time tending to their characters personal goals and needs (family, friends, information, etc). However, after this has been completed they are usually ready to set out adventuring w/o allowing any additional time for item creation. The group agreed that they would alot time for the druid, after he tends to some personal business to create some of these needed items.

What was really amazing was that in the game the group was put in a dire circumstance with a drow priestess, some drider sorcerers/clerics and some of her summoned beings. At one point the Psychic Warrior and Devoted Defender were held. The Rogue was attempting to gain a favorable position of ranged attack and the Wizard/Bard/Fatespinner, who was very low on hp's was trapped in darkness against a very powerful drow fighter at full hp's.

The druid realizing that they were heavily outnumbered, but that his companions truly needed his help rushed into the fray to attempt to rescue the other party members. He was grappled down by the driders, the drow priestess then readied an attack on him, but he kept fighting on! Unfortunately the adventuring party was eventually captured with no fatalities, however, everyone applauded (not leterally) the druids actions. The druid player smiled and said "Hey we are a team and need to work together. You told me that in time, you would make the time, to allow me to scribe some scrolls to help out in the future. Out of of respect to the rest of you I felt until that point I need to offer my asistance in whichever way possible."

Everyone left the game with smiles, even though they begin next week captured by these murderous, evil drow in a bad situation. The posts helped and with the level of maturity of my players they talked it out and are all a lot better in understanding each others actions.

The adventure is slowly winding down to the climax and the group is in very dangerous drow territory! They don't know it (unless of course they read this post), but of course there are means to escape if they are smart and I always give them a way out. They just need to figure it out.

I wonder if the druids actions were just a one time deal or is he looking to somewhat change his characters outlook on batle tactics. I guess time will only tell, but at the very least the group worked together, talked it out and pretty much all is resolved.

I am almost sad to say it worked out so well for this thread was awesome with sooo many contributions

Thanks!!!!!

 

[buzzard]

Excellent. A lesson well learned. He sounds like a good party member now.

buzzard

 

[DragonLancer]

Good to hear. I hope it keeps going well for the party.

 

[tburdett]

Why? Why should he be forced to make a fresh character? I'm still waiting on a decent response to this. Its his character to play as he sees fit within reason. He made a choice, he and the rest of the party have to live with it. What is so difficult to understand about that?

No, he has to live with his choice. No other member of the group is obligated to do anything to support or defend his choice to play a character that does not mesh with the rest of the party.

Every character is obligated to carry their own weight, either in combat or in support of combat. Anyone who doesn't is an experience and treasure leeching dead weight. A dead weight that should be dropped in the nearest bog.

Why? Because that is what happens. No one in their right mind would associate with, on a continuing basis, of their own free will, someone that they could not count on or trust. The druid has proven that he cannot be counted upon or trusted by the other party members.

In this case it is entirely within the groups power to decide who is, and who is not, part of that group. Give the druid his share of any outstanding treasure and send him on his way.

(Added)

Now that I've finished the thread I'd like to add that it's good to hear that everything worked out.

 

[Creeping Death]

Awesome

Opening up with a discussion like that was just great. It seems that there were some hidden concerns that everyone had. Glad things have worked out for the better and that everyone is having a good time.

 

[DragonLancer]

Every character is obligated to carry their own weight, either in combat or in support of combat. Anyone who doesn't is an experience and treasure leeching dead weight. A dead weight that should be dropped in the nearest bog.

What about a character that is not a combat character? What if the character is a support character outside of combat? Perhaps he is a wilderness based character? Is that still a dead weight? I don't think so.

 

[Voneth]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but in a long standing game I played in, we didn't have a cleric. So the GM gave my druid the clerical ability to switch out any spell for a heal. Between that and some metamagic feats that gave me enhanced heal spells in my "off levels" of magic. I did alright.

 

[avendeen]

It's easy to preserve yourself and hard not to kill someone for preserving him or her

I am the Pyschic Warrior.

I have truly enjoyed reading the wide array of ideas concerning our reluctant druid. I would like to tell you of the particular incident that sparked the great debate.

We were in a large room with what appeared to be a glass hemisphere about 6 to 10 feet in diameter (the size of a small room). Inside this glass hemisphere were five drow socerers. The sorcerers where casting spells through the hemisphere. When a spell hits the hemisphere it multiplies (1 spell for each person outside of the hemisphere). We were bombarded by spell after spell. The DM asked for a condition check (which means how do we look because we don't reveal our number of hp left). I said barely standing (I was more injured than everyone else because I took a risk and walked through a room with a swirling mass of bones and found the path to our enemies). The Druid went next. He cast Barkskin on himself. Barkskin. Every hit point lost by our group was from damaging spells. Barkskin had no use and no purpose. I died shortly after.

I believe that the druid should be allowed to play his character anyway he wants, but playing my character is a lot harder. I play my character as a diplomatic person who shows great restraint and tries to keep his opinion to himself. He is a former guard in a city frequented by the group and his parents were high ranking guards in the same city. He also lawful neutral but would be described better as true lawful. I make difficult and dangerous decisions when playing my character, often going against what I would really like him to do (like execute drow prisoners, lie to people, survive, increase in power, etc)\

Is the game about obtaining power and advancing in level or is it about roleplaying? Think about it. Every time I die I lose xp. The Druid lives on and increases in power. Shouldn't I get a lot more XPs for REALLY playing my character. Doesn't the Druid's easier advancement make the game unbalanced for a player like me?

 

[Derren]

As far as I understood it the PsyWar was asking for help - and the Druid did not help. I don't know about others, but in such situations I expect the player of the druid to step over his shadow and have his PC save the PsyWar. It is not about participating in combat - it is about letting a comrade die. I'd not expect the druid to melee, I'd not even expect him to cast combat spells - but I would expect him to risk a hit or two to save a comrade from death.

As it was said even the PsyWar didn't think he would go down next round. So it was a justified action that the druid casts a protection spell before he goes to the front line (Although the protection appeared a bit useless, but you never know.)

But I see thit this problem was succesfully solved. Good Work.

Only one thing. Scrolls created by a druid can only used by divine casters (and rogues). So the Wizard/Bard and Fatespenner can't use them.