When it's good to be a DM

[Vraille Darkfang]

There are times when being the DM sucks.

Your best laid plans are not only DEFEATED by the players, but so absolutly trashed that having them attemtp to kill sleeping infants would have posed a greater challenge.

They get evertyhing, Treasure, XP, Fame, Glory, at no real cost to themselves.

You. You look like an idiot.

Then one of the players does something so incredibly stupid your faith is instantly restored.

For example,

Party heads into the lair of a Great Red Dragon (despite you attempts to warn them it was a hook for down the road, say 9-10 levels). They manage to bumble their way to the main lair, almost killing themselves in the process.

Finally, at single digit hit points and nearly out of spells, they are ambushed by the Ancient Red Dragon.

Halfling Wizard wins Initiative. Casts Dominate Monster. Rolls Nat 20 to overcome SR. I roll a 1 for Will save. Halfling has new puppy.

Commands it to help carry treasure, show them way out, tell them what everything does. I'm feeling really special right now. The meanes critter in the D&D world & the halfling has it playing fetch.

Then, he gets greedy. Mere commands are not enough. He must SHOW-OFF his power over the dragon. Has him urinate, defectate, roll over, play dead. The player's clearly enjoying my frustration. Then the ALL HOLY SPIRIT OF GYGAX enters the room and all is about to be made right.

Halfing smiles & declares. "All right dragon, lets see you FORNICATE!". Did the player know what fornicate REALLY meant? Maybe, maybe not. He sure knows now. After all, he didn't specify WHAT to fornicate with, and as the person giving the command.....

The look on his face as I describe the tons of Dragon flesh leaping in the air towards him, his small body the center of an ever exapanding shadow of darkness.

"Squish, Hump. Squish, Hump, Squish Hump"

Death by Dragon Humping. Then, with the spellcaster dead, the dragon regains his true self. Remembers the whole 'Dance! Dance, Dragon, Dance!' bit, and proceeds to make BBQ out of the rest of the party.

And, lo, it was good to be the DM once more.

 

[Nebulous]

That story made me

What i don't get is, if the halfing can cast a 9th level spell, they should be ready to take on an ancient evil dragon anyway. Or was it just a fluke spell they had?

 

[Voadam]

Good story.

 

[EricNoah]

Just two nights ago, while we are getting our butts handed to us by some epic-level monster that popped out of a chest, our sorcerer decides to open a similar chest. Yep, in the middle of combat. Yet another epic-level monster pops out! Whee! The DM's face just lit up.

edit: and your dragon tale about a dragon getting some tail is awesome

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

That story made me

What i don't get is, if the halfing can cast a 9th level spell, they should be ready to take on an ancient evil dragon anyway. Or was it just a fluke spell they had?

Scroll.

They'd gotten it by random roll like at 2nd level. Because of mis-fire chance, the halfling never considered using it. But, with a Dragon breathing down his rear, he decided to take a chance.

The Die Lords of Fate were smiling on him that night.

Fortunately (for me) the Lords of Common Sense had taken the night off.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Wow, that was a cool story.

I had my year made the other day when after a great session as the players are cleaning up and leaving I hear them talking about what a great time it was and what their characters are going to next session.

 

[VirgilCaine]

They'd gotten it by random roll like at 2nd level. Because of mis-fire chance, the halfling never considered using it.

I thought the misfire chance was really low?

 

[devilbat]

I had my year made the other day when after a great session as the players are cleaning up and leaving I hear them talking about what a great time it was and what their characters are going to next session.

That does it for me too.