Touchy situation with my group

[The Blue Elf]

Re: Re: Touchy situation with my group

Talk to the other PCs about this darkness tactic then tell the pegasus (apparently it is sentient) that it is getting in the way of everybody else in combat and to knock it off.

Also the next time somebody dies turn to him and demand that the scroll get used.

Well, I think killing the Pegasus is another option if that Pegasus is being annoying. Besides does Pegasuses can cast Darkness as a spell-like ablity or was he Imbue?

 

[Sirius_Black]

I hate to break it to you, but you and the husband are playing DIFFERENT GAMES.

You are playing D&D, and he's playing favored DM-cohort.

LOL! That last sentence was great reapersaurus. I wonder when WOTC will reissue the DM-cohort core books in their 3.5 version.

 

[Hawkshere]

I doubt Dallas is much different than any other major city for gaming. It's just a matter of being able to network a little bit and meet other gamers. However, as I just noted on another thread, Dallas lacks a significant local gaming convention since DallasCon died several years ago. It occurs to me that a good local con is a great way to meet other local gamers, so the Dallas area is hurting a bit from that I'd guess.

I've already got 6 players in my current game, so I'm full up.

My other suggestions are to hit the local gaming stores, some of which still allow customers post recruiting messages in the store. I'm not currently aware of any local clubs, but there used to be some fairly active ones - if you can find something like what I used to see, you're halfway there.

 

[Hawkshere]

That D&D Meet-Up link is great, btw. I did a little googling, looking for signs of any local rpg gaming clubs. The board/wargame folks are more oganized than us slackers (no suprise), but I did come across a couple of noteworthy possibilities.

1. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/planoliving/
These guys are running RPGA stuff at HobbyTown on Parker Rd. Wednesday nights. Even if that's not your tea, you can make some contacts.

UPDATE! There's another dallas gaming topic here where Derek at TalonComics offers up this link for local gaming. Lo and behold, there's a thread specifically about the HobbyTown meeting here. They are starting on Aug 20th.

2. http://recgaming.com/
Their site appears new and frankly unfinished. I had to register there simply to find out that they run gameday-like events in Arlington. Here's their next event info (I might try this out myself):

Game Day - September 6, 2003
Date: September 6, 2003
Location: J. Gilligan's Restaurant & Draft House
Hours: 10:30am - 8:00pm
Admission: $6 (for 10+ hours of gaming?! Cool!)
Schedule: We expect to have MageKnight, HeroClix, D&D, Chez Geek, Munchkin, BattleTech and more!
RSVP: Game Day Express Registration
GMs: GM Game Registration - Enter your game information so we can let everyone know about it!

Good luck!

 

[silburnl]

Actually I think they are quite a happy couple. She has told me that on alternate weekends he DMs a game and basically presents insane, insurmountable scenarios designed to kill the PCs. Apparently the last session (which she told me about) the wizard was DMing and the party was mysteriously swallowed up by the earth and fell into a cavern of permanent darkness (none of the party was equipped with anything that could dispel it) where there were many creatures that basically pounded on them as they wandered around feeling for an exit.

Doesn't that sound like fun?

Hmmm. The evidence is mounting that this guy is a gaming asshat. He seems to be stuck in an adversarial model (DM vs players) of roleplaying, which is fine if that's the way you like to play - but he's an adversarial player who cheats in order to 'win' and hogs all the screentime in the game which is irritating (to say the least) for everyone else. He seems to be unaware of the fact that gaming is a social activity and that if his co-players aren't having fun then (for those players at least) he's 'doing it wrong'. Its quite possible that he doesn't even realise what an asshat he's being - if he was taught that 'this is the way to play' by abusive DMs earlier in his gaming career then he may not be aware that there's a problem.

Or he could just be a king-sized asshat.

I still think its worth trying to talk these issues out - if nothing else this guy is abusing the other players in the group so if you just walk you're abandoning them to his malign influence. By trying to make things better you might open their eyes to the possibility of good games elsewhere and if you argue your case well you might get some of them to join you in your search for a better game, even if you fail to convince Uber-Wizard guy of the error of his ways.

Have you ever been to 'The Forge' (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/)? Leave the somewhat abstruse theory to one side (it can be a shock to the system for the unprepared) and check out the 'Actual Play' forum for threads discussing 'social contract' and 'disfunctional play' - there's plenty of stuff about how to improve malign social dynamics within a game which might help you come to a decision about your situation.

Regards
Luke
--
# include witty_sig.h

 

[reapersaurus]

LOL! That last sentence was great reapersaurus. I wonder when WOTC will reissue the DM-cohort core books in their 3.5 version.

Thanks.

I got an advance copy of the DM-cohort book - one thing it has is a Wizard PrC that allows full spellcasting levels, full sneak attack, and full BAB advancement.

It's called the Arcane Hat-Trick.

 

[Amne Lord of Amne]

I read this whole post and thought, ehh thats not even close to bad. I live in the blackhole of gaming aparently. That site had like 10 groups in Wisconsin and all where 2+ hours away. I should really get around to typing up one of my horror stories some time.

 

[enworldatemylogin]

Hopefully you'll be able to find a new game.

Otherwise, some of the advice here is good.

I might suggest you start thinking like an evil player in a group of good players.

As the cleric, when the call upon you to heal them, make sure to heal the others first and with the highest spells. Then when you get to the asshat or pegasus, use your lowest level spells or ignore the pegasus completely. If it bites you, screw it.

You need to manuver your character so that you remain safe while the asshat becomes the best available target.

When it's time to split the treasure, take that extra little item, "just for emergencies" then sell it or trade it if you can't use it, or use it as a bride for the PC's.

I don't know, I think I'd be thinking I was under siege if I was playing in that game. I hope things work out for ya.

 

[TiQuinn]

Hey Zogg,

If you're having fun gaming with the group, then stick with it, but at the very least, talk with the other players and see what they're take on things is. It sounds like you may be able to talk a few players away from this husband and wife double team and start a game of your own.

For the record, I'm having a hard time believing that your DM is that good as evidenced by: A level-draining pegasus and party wizards who allow them to drain levels from other party members. BUT OF COURSE the party wizard is several levels higher than the rest of the party. I mean, that sounds like it would be natural for this DM's game.

There is absolutely nothing good about the previous paragraph.

If you are not having fun, and if you are just playing because they're the only game in town, get out. It's not worth it.

 

[Buttercup]

Acknowledging the strength of the wizard also means you acknowledge that, in comparison, your own PC doesn't cut the cake.

I don't get this at all. Are you saying that your PCs abilities somehow relate to your real life prowess?

It's a game, and it should be fun. You say you're still having fun, but since you started this thread, you obviously think you may not continue to. I have to admit that, were I in your shoes, I'd be extremely pissed off at the situation.

My husband is one of my players, and I take pains not to favor him. In fact, one bad thing about having him play at my table is that now, I can't talk to him about my evil plans for the PCs. His is the only character I ever killed, too. I like it that every member of the party has something to contribute, and I don't reallyl understand what this couple is getting out of the situation. If my hubby wanted to play an uber-character, then I would run a one-on-one campaign for him, and he could have followers as window dressing, not PCs run by our friends.