gordon@uw-june.UUCP (07/12/84)
<This is getting redundant.> This got returned to me yet
again, so I'm posting it for all the net to see. Please tell
me where I can send mail to you. (Sorry it's taken so long,
but June has been down the past week in an abortive attempt
to install 4.2)
I wasn't able to reply along the path ...houxz!llf's message
took, so I'm sending it to ...rabbit!jj in the hopes that it
will find its way to Lynda.
If we're going to keep this up, please tell me where to send
mail. TNX 1.0E+6
Ugh. That's the price a DM pays when being sympathetic with
new players who make dumb decisions (I'm still going under the
assumption that this is a new player. Am I right?). It's too
easy to say to yourself words to the effect of "well, this guy
made a dumb move, but since s/he's new, I'll give him/her a
second chance." Something similar to this happened very early
on in my DMing. The party would enter the dungeon, fight/map
a little ways through it, then leave as soon as things got a
bit rough, to return the next day. I (thought I) solved this
by putting a beholder at the entrance after they'd entered.
Well, needless to say, the fools ATTACKED it! I didn't want
to just kill them all off (the same sympathy for new players)
so I separated them into two groups, took away all their armor
and weapons, and left them to huddle in the dark. I explained
this improbable event by Divine Intervention: the beholder
did in fact kill them, but the Gods
Were Kind, and resurrected them, At A Price. (It was easier
to break them into two groups because we had two DMs.)
So here's my recommendation: the time for sympathy is
over. The next time this Ranger-cum-Paladin gets himself
killed (do you roll monster to-hit rolls behind a screen? If
so, it's easy to fudge a mortal blow.) have him appear before
the Gods (a chance for some real creative scenery here), who
are displeased that he has taken their mercy for granted.
Being fair Gods, they give him one last chance, but even so,
it will cost him. It would probably be difficult to separate
him from the rest of the group, but you can at least do one
or more of the following: take away all his magic items, bring
hime down a level or two in experience, lower one or more of
his characteristics, or some other such cruel and heartless
thing. I would suggest taking away his magic items be a pri-
ority.
I realize this is a bit drastic, but it seems to be the only
way to stop people like this from utterly ruining a game. He
may be upset that his character is so much less powerful than
before (maybe even less powerful than most of the other play-
ers would be a good idea. Then they'll pick a new leader),
which would be a valid grievance, but he'll still be in the
game, which is infinitely preferable to outright death. Then
you must be careful not to let him get too powerful again, at
least until he learns his lesson. Again, it is important to
stress, in his audience with the Gods, just how lucky he is to
get even one more chance, and make sure he knows that it is THE
last chance he'll get.
Feel free to ask any more questions, this is fun!
-- Jamiejj@rabbit.UUCP (07/13/84)
Um, thanks, Gordon, but I'm the mere thief. Unfortunately, I'm not the DM. The group is new players (mostly), which definately is part of the problem. Part of their problem at this point is that they still don't trust the good thief in their party, despite all evidence. This mistrust is also felt for a few other characters. I don't think that this is of general interest, but I didn't want to leave a mistaken impression that I was the DM. <The DM, among other things, might be a bit annoyed.> -- EVEN TEDDY BEARS HAVE SECURITY BLANKETS! "... and they came upon an orange grove ..." (allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj