what to do if you gave too much power?

[rossik]

not talking about money, but lets say that you as a dm gave too much power, like a vorpal flaming dancer sword....of defense

how to get rid of it?

i dont like things like "the thief stole it" or "the rust monster ate it" (sure, its fun to watch, but..)


so, any other sugestions?

 

[loseth]

not talking about money, but lets say that you as a dm gave too much power, like a vorpal flaming dancer sword....of defense

how to get rid of it?

i dont like things like "the thief stole it" or "the rust monster ate it" (sure, its fun to watch, but..)


so, any other sugestions?

If the players are the types that are likely to bite, I might try getting them to give it to someone, e.g. Sir Ardris the ghost knight, who must defend a portal to a world of ice devils indefinitely, with the world suffering invasion if he ever fails to defeat an ice demon attempting to get through.

 

[Simia Saturnalia]

The extraplanar rightful owner of said sword, who lost it a few generations back and is (at first) very grateful to these kind mortals for finding it.

Mind you, once he knows they'd like to keep it, moods could sour quickly. But maybe a clever party could make some kind of arrangement...

Obviously not so they keep that deathstick, but maybe he'd pay a finder's fee?

 

[shilsen]

Talk to the player(s) concerned, explain that you handed out something that had turned out to be more powerful than you figured and is causing a problem for you as a DM, and discuss a way to deal with it.

Communication is key.

 

[WayneLigon]

Talk to the player(s) concerned, explain that you handed out something that had turned out to be more powerful than you figured and is causing a problem for you as a DM, and discuss a way to deal with it.

Ditto. The only real way to deal with such a situation so that no-one feels shafted or cheapened is to deal with it outside of the game. Don't screw around with weird ideas about how to rationalize it or nerf the weapon. Just come out and say 'Guys, I screwed up and gave out a weapon that's too powerful. Instead, the flaming vorpal sword that disintergrates orcs on contact going to become a +2 Flametoungue with the ability to Detect Gold. Here are my reasons for it: X, Y, Z'.

 

[Whisper72]

Well, if magical (and other items) get stolen, destroyed etc. from time to time anyway, it is not so strange when this method is used to get rid of too powerful items.

If it is only sporadically done, it may cause problems.

In my campaigns, the items of PC's also have to save or be destroyed when the PC's are hit with spells / effects such as fireballs, anti-magic rays, lighting strikes etc., so losing items along the way is something they are used to. Since I am generous enough to replenish items, they never feel 'cheated'.

 

[LostSoul]

When they show up to play, pretend as if you never heard of the sword. Act as though the player is cheating when he says he's got it.

If the other players back him up, give them the DM's glare - and if they continue to support him, use this line: "Rocks fall you die". Soon they will be behind you.

If you do this to each of the players every now and then (never let them know exactly when), you will have total control and your games will be awesome +2 from then on.

 

[Holy Bovine]

not talking about money, but lets say that you as a dm gave too much power, like a vorpal flaming dancer sword....of defense

how to get rid of it?

i dont like things like "the thief stole it" or "the rust monster ate it" (sure, its fun to watch, but..)


so, any other sugestions?

Dude this is the reason creatures like Rust Monsters and Nightwalkers exist. Smash the offending item and be done with it. If your player whine laugh at them and throw dice at their heads.

 

[WSmith]

Perhaps there is a zone that negates power of the item, or drains it of magic, henceforth rendering it a mundane item.

 

[Simia Saturnalia]

Ditto. The only real way to deal with such a situation so that no-one feels shafted or cheapened is to deal with it outside of the game. Don't screw around with weird ideas about how to rationalize it or nerf the weapon. Just come out and say 'Guys, I screwed up and gave out a weapon that's too powerful. Instead, the flaming vorpal sword that disintergrates orcs on contact going to become a +2 Flametoungue with the ability to Detect Gold. Here are my reasons for it: X, Y, Z'.

I realize I'm anecdotal, but my players would ultimately rather let game-related stuff shake out in-game. So a mid-level party found a mighty artifact blade in some random cave. Maybe they can cheat the owner and win this awesome sword through their cunning. After 10 years we all still seem pretty happy with it.

I don't recommend it for all groups, and it relies pretty heavily on having a big sandbox, but 'only' is very strong language.