Worst miniature paint job evAr! Get it off the table!

[ShinHakkaider]

I gotta agree with crazypixie- If it were me, I'd probably do something similar. I can't paint, I hate painting, and consider the whole thing a waste of time and money (for me, if other people enjoy it- all power to them).

Why does what the mini looks like have ANY effect on the game? I had a character who due to time, budget, and talent restraints use a quarter for his miniature for 2 years straight- when everyone else had a painted mini in some way. It didn't detract from the game in ANY way- other that the character developed the nickname 'Silver'

I guess if the rest of the group is annoyed- then don't play with him, but of all things to lose a member of an RP group over- this seems like one of the most inane (considering the whole game is based on imagination anyway- and we live in a world where pre-painted minis are a dime a dozen).

Vorp

See, this is part of where alot of the problems lie on this board in terms of discussions. Everyone's table is different. The rules of this particular table were laid out in advance and made by the group, if anyone really had a problem with it they could have spoken up like a mature adult and dealt with it then.

However the player choose to act in the unfortunate manner in which he did and got a rebuke for it and rightfully so. Don't be difficult when a rational verbal protest would have worked just as well and probably with better results. He had people willing to paint up a mini FOR HIM, he just chose to be difficult.

The fact that you feel that the game is based off of imagination is irrelevant.
The fact that you had a character that you used a quarter for representaion is irrelevant. The players at that particular table had a rule that they agreed on and someone broke that rule in a manner that was just immature and offensive to the DM and possibly the other players and the player needed to be dealt with.

 

[Dragonbait]

post deleted 'cuz I should not try to make an intelligent argument when I have only had 3 hours of sleep and am pilled up.

 

[Kafkonia]

I find the concept of the rule alien to my mindset, but recognize and respect your right to have and enforce it. It seems like the fellow in question put a lot of effort into showing that he didn't want to put a lot of effort into something.

To put my perspective in, well, perspective, here are some mini-related tidbits from my group:

-We have used chocolate easter eggs to represent monsters; whoever got the killing blow got to eat the egg.

-When I needed dozens of tiny-sized minis, we used rolls of those small sugar candies.

-In one campaign, a player used a piece of broccoli to represent his treant character.

-I have used dice as minis for monsters, as up until recently I had more dice than minis. I probably still do, actually.

-I've used pennies and/or yarn to represent buildings when we didn't have the proper markers for the battlemat.

So I personally don't have a problem with people not having minis. You do, and this player was pushing your buttons. Fair enough.

 

[WhatGravitas]

@DragonBait: Actually, you're not quoting me, but Vorput

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Now, when I clicked on the title, I was prepared to listen to someone getting a DDM Wardrums booster and complaining about it.

Since people offered him to paint a mini, it really seems a bit childish. I'd probably also tell him to get that thing off the table.

Not that I would enforce the "you got to have your own mini, painted and everything" rule in the first place.

So I guess it's a case of a weird table rule and a very weird reaction to it. (If there hadn't been the offer to take the "work" off his hands, I'd have probably said something like "serves you right", but things being as they are..

 

[Bad Paper]

So we've got a dork in the group

oh, no! A dork! Playing Dungeons and Dragons! Quick! Kill him!

My take: the only rule that he really broke is the standing-up rule. (I always have clippers and sandpaper nearby for just this reason.) You should let him have his fun. Do you also tell him how to spend his character's skill points?

By isolating him for a poorly painted mini you are exacerbating the issue. It's bad enough that other people have such talent that he feels he cannot match. He doesn't want other people to paint his mini any more than he wants other people to play his character.

And I do not think he was making a mockery of the game. He was expressing his frustration. I bet within a month or two he would have repainted the thing something equally garish, like gold and black stripes. And then plaid. Polka-dots...etc. I had an elf that I kept repainting until he got reincarnated into a decidedly different mini.

 

[Dragonbait]

@DragonBait: Actually, you're not quoting me, but Vorput

My apologies Lord Tirian. I fixed all the problems in my original post.

 

[Nikroecyst]

Who cares what he brings to the table. When you stop making a big deal outta what hes doing he'll stop showing off. Even though he was acting too stupid, I think you're rule goes beyond being a DM, UNLESS, all of the other players complain. Then its your job to talk to him and tell him to bring a decent mini.

Personally I think the idea that you have to bring a good, painted mini to the table and if not you get reprimanded is extremely petty on your part. Its about the game not the props. But whatever, everybody likes differnt things.

 

[Black_Swan]

So..apparantly it's ok to express frustration with a game rule by doing something foolish?

If this is how things are supposed to be solved..then it's only fair that you take away his character sheet and hand him a new one statted for his diseased ape creature.

But that's not going to solve anything.

Here's what I would do.

1. Look at the rule. Is it fair to everyone to have this rule in place? Ask yourself if changing the rule would ruin the game for you and the others that abide by it.

Just because you and your friends can do something doesn't mean that the other player has the same ability.

For reference, I've never heard of a rule like that nor have we ever punished someone because they cannot do something artistic.

2. If you believe the rule to be fair, then you need to discuss it with the player and find out why he disagrees. If he has a good argument then consider revising the rule.

For reference, We have had players that could not abide by specific group rulings. For ex...One player could not learn the rules. He just refused to learn them. After a number of games we decided not to ask him back.

3. If you cannot come to terms then you need to decide if this is something that you need to deal with by removing him from the game.

 

[Mercule]

If it's a generally agreed upon table rule, then he was out of line. The offers from others cinches it.

I don't know if you allow DDM, but I'd recommend doing so. That's at least an easy baseline for someone who doesn't care about the mini.