What are your favorite RBDM tricks?

[moritheil]

Well, it needs to be a swarm for immunity to weapon damage and single-target spell effects. I picked the bat swarm because it's the one with the lowest CR that has flying. If you know of a low-CR swarm that's immune to sonic, then I'd like to know .

That's a good point . . . but lots of players do like to pack sonic.

Also, the backstory for that would be simply astounding.

 

[Zelc]

That's a good point . . . but lots of players do like to pack sonic.

Remember, it has to be a sonic or non-elemental AOE spell. A single target spell won't work. Sadly, Flame Strike would fit the bill. At 30 hp, they're not exactly all that beefy.

Also, the backstory for that would be simply astounding.

There are some things you don't want to think about too much.

 

[Jhulae]

At high levels:
BBEG kidnapped and slew a cherished PC, then dominated various good clerics to resurrect her, only to slay her again (repeated until the soul no longer wished to return due to level loss).

Same BBEG later used multiple limited wishes (in advance of combat) to ensure that each PC failed their saving throw vs. a mind-fog (-10 to Will saves if affected). Then cast disjunction (i.e. make a Will save for each magic item you own or it is destroyed).

Wow. I know I'd be finding a new game after the first example. I'd probably be finding a new one after the second too.

 

[green slime]

Some people seem to be confusing the RBDM concept with a Psychopathic DM.

A RBDM does not commit the innane murder of PC's in senseless traps, or with weird monsters out of the blue that are immune to everything.

A RBDM paints a fantastic picture, detailing events and happenings along the way, tagging the PC's along on the story, only to hit them with a whammy at the end, which, when they stop and think about it, leaves the players with the feeling that they should have been able to see the whammy coming, had they only paid attention to the detail. Instead, the PC's realise they have doomed themselves, by their own choices.

A true RBDM leaves the PC's frustrated, and the players demanding more.

A RBDM leaves a PC with a terrible curse, a horrible fate, one that was self-selected by the player.

A RBDM provides the rope with which the PC hangs himself, while the player applauds.

 

[shilsen]

Some people seem to be confusing the RBDM concept with a Psychopathic DM.

A RBDM does not commit the innane murder of PC's in senseless traps, or with weird monsters out of the blue that are immune to everything.

A RBDM paints a fantastic picture, detailing events and happenings along the way, tagging the PC's along on the story, only to hit them with a whammy at the end, which, when they stop and think about it, leaves the players with the feeling that they should have been able to see the whammy coming, had they only paid attention to the detail. Instead, the PC's realise they have doomed themselves, by their own choices.

A true RBDM leaves the PC's frustrated, and the players demanding more.

A RBDM leaves a PC with a terrible curse, a horrible fate, one that was self-selected by the player.

A RBDM provides the rope with which the PC hangs himself, while the player applauds.

QFT.

My favorite RBDM trick?

I give something really nice to the PC(s).

Then I smile.

 

[roguerouge]

A true RBDM leaves the PC's frustrated, and the players demanding more.

Ah. So a RBDM sadistically torments his players, who, as they are masochists, draw pleasure from this experience and cry for more, more, more? So it's like reading Lemony Snicket, where part of the pleasure is in adopting a pessimistic world view, delicious because at least you know that everything's going to work out for close to the worst way possible.

That makes a certain amount of sense and I understand this dynamic better now. The balancing act seems to be about going for the pain, not the kill.

 

[Blackrat]

Well I posted this in another thread a while ago but it is definetly my favourite trick. After five years my players still ask me from time to time, what the heck was that girl. I just smile and pat their shoulders:

And then there's of course the much feared Wandering Little Girl. The PC's are camped for the night in the middle of monster infested wilderness, leagues from any civilization. Out of nowhere walks a little girl to their camp and sits by the fire. She says nothing and does nothing but warms her tiny hands for a moment before setting off again. If they attack, they kill it with a single attack and you can scold them for killing an innocent mute child who was lost and searched for a moment of rest. If they do nothing, you will never reveal what it was and what was it doing there, keeping them in wondering what the heck was it for years to come.

 

[green slime]

Players enjoy their characters being the centre of attention. Players enjoy being given choices that perhaps they know they shouldn't really, but because of the short term advantages, and inability to actually see the long term disadvantage, they willingly consign themselves to their doom.

1) While making a desperate escape from some assembled enemy, a spellcaster arrives, and offers to take them to safety, for a price. The price being a knuckle from their pinky. They can always turn down the offer, and continue fleeing from the enemy. Few will, though.

2) A clone (in previous editions) or simulacrum can thereafter be created at any time by the spellcaster. This of course can lead to all sorts of plots involving mistaken identities, and greatly complicate the lives of those "saved". Without really endangering their characters lives.

A) Having players, who are rather reknown for being rash and impulsive, act on incomplete political information spread by those opposing them, and you have another common "trap" with which to cause the PC's to loose favour with the populace in general, all the while, they have been advancing the plot of the Evil Twin (TM).

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Here's a few I picked up various places, some right here on EN World.

Have monsters fight from behind cover, and put a pit trap of some sort along the path to the monsters cover. Players like to charge into melee, and they tend to get dumped right into the pit. If your really mean, the pit will be filled with water, to a depth of 8 feet or so, and have a heavy iron grate drop onto the pit and fall into place just below the surface of the water. A 50 pound iron grate is hard to lift when your feet are not on the ground. And since it is a grate, you can have humanoids with spears stab past the grate at the guy under it. The water is there just to help the guy drown.

I am pretty sure you got that idea from me. Your welcome.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Darklone]

QFT.

My favorite RBDM trick?

I give something really nice to the PC(s).

Then I smile.

Shilsen wins.