D&D General Wishing Away The Adventure

[Micah Sweet]

This is the sign of an unimaginative GM at work.

Ok. Can you provide me an example of threatening bandits in a scenario that utilizes 5e's rules?

 

[nevin]

Frankly, it's amazing you guys kept playing with this guy. His actions seem to go from not helpful to downright harmful. And wile amusing in hindsight, at the time they'd be positively rage inducing (at least for me). Especially if/when an out of game chat failed to produce want meaningful improvement. Was he just someone you group felt obligated to include?

well different tables different expectations. some tables are all about the role playing and the combat is just something that happens intermittantly.

 

[Demetrios1453]

One question here is conflicting Wishes. What happens if the target sword also had a Wish cast upon it it that it could not be moved by means of another Wish? Which Wish wins there?

Also, remember that in 5e, 9th level spell slots are limited to 1 a day at 20th level, so no one is going to be casting Wish after Wish (outside of magic items, which is the DMs fault for allowing them). I guess if you have multiple wizards, it might become an issue, though...

 

[Mort]

well different tables different expectations. some tables are all about the role playing and the combat is just something that happens intermittantly.

It's not about combat. It's about a player that is actively refusing to engage with the plot of the game.

Sure, if the group has agreed that kind of thing is fine, there's player buy-in - then ok, no issues. But if the rest of the group wants to engage with the adventure and the one player literally vanishes at any sign of danger? No, that's really not ok. Forgetting everything else, that player is, unnecessarily, splitting the DMs attention and the, likely limited, gaming time the group has.

 

[overgeeked]

It's not about combat. It's about a player that is actively refusing to engage with the plot of the game.

Sure, if the group has agreed that kind of thing is fine, there's player buy-in - then ok, no issues. But if the rest of the group wants to engage with the adventure and the one player literally vanishes at any sign of danger? No, that's really not ok. Forgetting everything else, that player is, unnecessarily, splitting the DMs attention and the, likely limited, gaming time the group has.

This assumes linear, pre-defined adventures as the only mode of play available. As mentioned, this is less a problem for sandbox, improv-heavy, or character-driven play.

 

[Mort]

This assumes linear, pre-defined adventures as the only mode of play available. As mentioned, this is less a problem for sandbox, improv-heavy, or character-driven play.

Again, if the DM and players are cool with it (as in certain games) sure. BUT, this was expressly presented as not that situation.

And even in a sandbox, improv etc. A player that avoids all conflict would likely be an irritant for the rest of the group, that's trying to solve situations together. Especially if its not individual xp, and that player gets the same rewards as the rest of the participating group.

 

[nevin]

It's not about combat. It's about a player that is actively refusing to engage with the plot of the game.

Sure, if the group has agreed that kind of thing is fine, there's player buy-in - then ok, no issues. But if the rest of the group wants to engage with the adventure and the one player literally vanishes at any sign of danger? No, that's really not ok. Forgetting everything else, that player is, unnecessarily, splitting the DMs attention and the, likely limited, gaming time the group has.

in a role play or sandbox adventure that's OK. But as I said different tables different expectations.

 

[R_J_K75]

Screw the Sword of Awesome, I'd wish away my debt and bills.

Seriously, if a player tried to "wish away" the adventure in a game I was DMing I'd be totally fine with that but...
A) casting the spell will have a random (bane or boon) effect on the caster
B) as casting a wish spell alters reality, the instant the spell is cast the world the PCs knew no longer exists

 

[Reynard]

Ok. Can you provide me an example of threatening bandits in a scenario that utilizes 5e's rules?

What is a "bog standard bandit"? What are "actual muggers" might do?

 

[Micah Sweet]

What is a "bog standard bandit"? What are "actual muggers" might do?

You just said that being unable to threaten PCs with bandits in 5e is a failure of DM imagination. Please prove me wrong. What would you do? The only restrictions are that you are utilizing the rules of WotC 5e and that the bandits are what those rules would consider a challenging encounter. There are bandit statblocks in the MM. Feel free to use anything that would be appropriate to the fictional situation within that ruleset.