Recently my players spent an hour preparing for a situation that never happened. They were on a cog, sailing on the Great Sea, in my world. As they were in a "sea lane" they expected to intercept another ship teaming with Duergar slaves and their Drow captain. They new this other ship was about a day behind them at worst. So, knowing the size and make of the other ship, the players planned out the encounter as best as they could.
Let me say, as a DM, that it does my heart good to see my players cooperate to this degree. Each of them stated what they planned to do and how they would do it. The devil in the details is what took them the hour. How to get there as a cohesive team? Who would face the captain and what "buffs" would they need? What spells would work best in the confined space? Why not just blow up the other ship? Oh, because they wanted it to transport slaves. It was a pleasure to see them work this all out.
They did overlook a detail presented earlier, however. In passing, they heard that the other Drow ships would be making another stop. This would have them take a coastal track instead of traveling the sea lane. I could have re-stated this detail, to save them the time, but I feel it is more important to adhere to the reality of the situation. It is important to not micro-manage the players in this way. I have stated before that my players are adults.
You might be saying that I should have either intervened. to save my players the disappointment of not being able to use their preparation, or that I should have given them their desired fight. If you think that, then I think you are wrong. Remember that I am not there to provide them everything they want. I am not there to provide them a fun time. We are all there because the game is fun and because we are good people doing a fun thing. We are dealing with the successes, failures, celebrations and disappointments that the game causes. It is important to give the world, and the monsters, their due.
Friday, April 24, 2020
Monday, April 20, 2020
The Player Competes
I find that I make in-game things harder for players who choose to compete. I am not so much talking about players who compete against other players, as a playing style, but those players who compete against the DM. Let me be clear, I am not discussing character versus character, or player versus player, those disastrous attitudes will play themselves out. But when a player competes against the DM, then that is the wrong way to play, and vice versa. To use what you know about an actual person to gain a benefit in this game is not appropriate.
This is confusing so let me give an example. One of my failings as DM is that I do not memorize things very well. I do not have the majority of the Players Handbook memorized. So when a character uses a spell that I am not familiar with, I count on them to use the spell as it is written and/or intended. Additionally, if there is a vague or confusing aspect to a spell* the player should bring it up at the time of use. Then we can discuss it openly, and get a clearer understanding of the effects, the very details of the spell.
Sounds good right? Well, in this example, imagine a player using only the aspects of a spell that he or she likes. The spell the character casts will kill all the monsters, but the player leaves out the fact that the monsters get a saving throw. A DM would ask if there is a save, but let’s say that the player says that there is no save. A DM that trusts his player will be fine with that. They can all celebrate together that all the monsters were defeated. What a great use of that awesome spell! You can see the problem here. The player will repeatedly get the advantage of using the spell.
This problem is magnified tenfold when the missing aspect of the spell is then used by that same player. A monster uses the powerful spell against the characters, and the trusted player notifies the DM that there is a saving throw. How should a DM respond to this? Should the DM who recognizes the inconsistency say nothing? Perhaps the DM doesn’t want to upset his players or confront people about their, shall we say, convenient play. Or should the DM risk the anger and the upset and point directly at the heart of the matter?
Returning to my original point, this is a clear example of a player competing with the DM. The player may know full well the limitations of his or her DM, and may take advantage. The problems and inconsistencies always arise however, so it is better to not compete. It may not look like competition, but it sure seems to hold the same qualities. If I can better my situation because I know how a person will react, especially if that person could be seen as an adversary, then how is it not competing?
Moreover, D&D is hardly a good game for people to compete in. If D&D is being played well, then the in-game action is more than enough competition. The forces of evil coming down the mountain to slay the characters should be a desperate fight. Characters fighting each other only make the evil forces literally more victorious. The DM should not go easy on the player characters because they choose to fight each other.
* A failure of 1st Edition D&D is that aspects of many spells are detailed in both the Players Handbook and the Dungeon Masters Guide. Thus, a player could go by the understanding in the one book but not even know about the spell details in the other book. I think the original intent was to have the DM surprise the player with an unexpected result. It allows for “gotcha” moments, which are philosophically terrible. They encourage competition between the players and the DM.
This is confusing so let me give an example. One of my failings as DM is that I do not memorize things very well. I do not have the majority of the Players Handbook memorized. So when a character uses a spell that I am not familiar with, I count on them to use the spell as it is written and/or intended. Additionally, if there is a vague or confusing aspect to a spell* the player should bring it up at the time of use. Then we can discuss it openly, and get a clearer understanding of the effects, the very details of the spell.
Sounds good right? Well, in this example, imagine a player using only the aspects of a spell that he or she likes. The spell the character casts will kill all the monsters, but the player leaves out the fact that the monsters get a saving throw. A DM would ask if there is a save, but let’s say that the player says that there is no save. A DM that trusts his player will be fine with that. They can all celebrate together that all the monsters were defeated. What a great use of that awesome spell! You can see the problem here. The player will repeatedly get the advantage of using the spell.
This problem is magnified tenfold when the missing aspect of the spell is then used by that same player. A monster uses the powerful spell against the characters, and the trusted player notifies the DM that there is a saving throw. How should a DM respond to this? Should the DM who recognizes the inconsistency say nothing? Perhaps the DM doesn’t want to upset his players or confront people about their, shall we say, convenient play. Or should the DM risk the anger and the upset and point directly at the heart of the matter?
Returning to my original point, this is a clear example of a player competing with the DM. The player may know full well the limitations of his or her DM, and may take advantage. The problems and inconsistencies always arise however, so it is better to not compete. It may not look like competition, but it sure seems to hold the same qualities. If I can better my situation because I know how a person will react, especially if that person could be seen as an adversary, then how is it not competing?
Moreover, D&D is hardly a good game for people to compete in. If D&D is being played well, then the in-game action is more than enough competition. The forces of evil coming down the mountain to slay the characters should be a desperate fight. Characters fighting each other only make the evil forces literally more victorious. The DM should not go easy on the player characters because they choose to fight each other.
* A failure of 1st Edition D&D is that aspects of many spells are detailed in both the Players Handbook and the Dungeon Masters Guide. Thus, a player could go by the understanding in the one book but not even know about the spell details in the other book. I think the original intent was to have the DM surprise the player with an unexpected result. It allows for “gotcha” moments, which are philosophically terrible. They encourage competition between the players and the DM.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Thursday, April 9, 2020
New Monster: Failed Demi-lich (Semi-Lich)
Failed Demi-Lich
The Failed Demi-Lich, (or Semi-Lich) represents an individual that has never adequately dealt with a personal failure in life, death and undeath. Imagine a wizard-king who failed to keep his throne. Now in hiding, the former king decides to become a lich and then demi-lich, but his original failure haunts him throughout the process. While still being extremely powerful, he is, in the end, a loser. While a hero overcomes his problems, the Semi-Lich doesn’t. While our wizard succeeds in becoming a lich, to some lower degree, his ultimate striving to become an ultimate power as a demi-Lich fails. This could be because the process was rushed for some reason. It could be that resources for properly building and placing soul gems has failed. All along the way, the personal short-comings of the Semi-Lich appear, setting him or her back from greatness.
A lich (q.v.) is a magic-user and/or cleric who has taken the steps necessary to preserve its life force after death. Ultimately, even the undead life force of the mightiest lich begins to wane. Over centuries the lich form decays. and the soul aimlessly wanders strange planes unknown to even the wisest of sages. This remaining and broken soul is a semi-lich. A semi-lich, is a wraith manifestation, and it has no ghost manifestation but cannot be turned by a cleric. If any creature is so foolish as to touch the skull of a semi-lich, a terrible thing occurs. A new attack begins. At-the touch, the skull rises into the air. A semi-lich can sense which member of a party is the most powerful, and it will usually select a member of the magic-user class over a member of the fighter class, a fighter over a cleric, a cleric over a thief. The skull will then give off a heartfelt crying sound heard clearly over a 20-foot radius. All creatures within the radius of effect of this crying must save vs. spell or be driven away in fear and loathing, as a fear spell.
On the next round a new attack will take place. Each semi-lich has 1-3 gems set somewhere in its skull. Each of these gems is a jewel which can draw the soul and body from any character and trap it within the jewel's confines. The semi-lich will use 1 of these draining jewels to draw the entire essence from 1 of the offending intruders. The best character will be drawn instantly and trapped. No saving throw is possible; the attack is irresistible. An amulet of life protection will prevail over the powers of a gem. The skull will then sink down again, sated. If it is struck or touched a 2nd time, it will again rise and cry and then drain the next strongest character into another gem. This process recurs as long as the skull is still intact and continues to be molested. If all jewels are filled, then only the killing howl and choice spells will be possible thereafter, but the monster can also pronounce a curse upon the remaining antagonists. Such curses are very powerful and may include: always to be hit by any opponent attacking; never to make a saving throw; or always to lose all treasure without gaining any experience from it. The curse can be removed by a remove curse spell. The spells that the semi-lich can can cast are to be chosen by the DM, as appropriate. They must not exceed spells of 8th level for magic-users or sixth level for clerics.
The skull of a semi-lich must be destroyed if the monster is to be exterminated. It can be harmed only as follows:
- A forget or exorcise spell will force the skull to sink down without crying or attacking.
- A shatter spell cast upon it inflicts 3-18 points of damage.
- A power word kill pronounced from an astral or ethereal magic-user destroys it.
- A fighter, paladin or ranger with a vorpal blade, sword of sharpness, holy sword, sword +4; or a paladin with a +3 or better weapon inflict full normal damage upon the skull.
- A dispel spell cast upon it inflicts 5-8 points of damage.
- A holy word pronounced against it inflicts 5-30 points of damage.
- Any character with a +2 or better magic weapon or a mace of disruption can inflict 1-6 point of damage upon the skull each time it is struck.
A semi-lich's skull takes 40 hit points before it is destroyed, and it is armor class is 2. If the skull is destroyed, a saving throw vs. spell must be made for any gem trapping a character within it. Those gems for which saving throws failed contain no life; the demi-lich has drained and devoured them before being destroyed. If a throw succeeds, that gem still contains the character, and this is evidenced by a faint inner light. The character can be freed by crushing the gem. The semi-lich dust and any other remaining bits must be destroyed by holy water or the creature will re-form over 1-1 0 days.
FREQUENCY Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
HD: 40 HP
AC: 2
Move: Special
In Lair: 100%
Treasure Type: Z
NO. OF ATTACKS: Special
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Special
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See Below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Special See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
Int: Supra-genius
SIZE: M
PSlONlCs: See below Attack/Defense Modes: See below
X.P. VALUE: lX/3950 + 14/hp
Source: Gygax, Gary. Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual II, TSR; Revised edition, p. 32-33. 1983
The Failed Demi-Lich, (or Semi-Lich) represents an individual that has never adequately dealt with a personal failure in life, death and undeath. Imagine a wizard-king who failed to keep his throne. Now in hiding, the former king decides to become a lich and then demi-lich, but his original failure haunts him throughout the process. While still being extremely powerful, he is, in the end, a loser. While a hero overcomes his problems, the Semi-Lich doesn’t. While our wizard succeeds in becoming a lich, to some lower degree, his ultimate striving to become an ultimate power as a demi-Lich fails. This could be because the process was rushed for some reason. It could be that resources for properly building and placing soul gems has failed. All along the way, the personal short-comings of the Semi-Lich appear, setting him or her back from greatness.
A lich (q.v.) is a magic-user and/or cleric who has taken the steps necessary to preserve its life force after death. Ultimately, even the undead life force of the mightiest lich begins to wane. Over centuries the lich form decays. and the soul aimlessly wanders strange planes unknown to even the wisest of sages. This remaining and broken soul is a semi-lich. A semi-lich, is a wraith manifestation, and it has no ghost manifestation but cannot be turned by a cleric. If any creature is so foolish as to touch the skull of a semi-lich, a terrible thing occurs. A new attack begins. At-the touch, the skull rises into the air. A semi-lich can sense which member of a party is the most powerful, and it will usually select a member of the magic-user class over a member of the fighter class, a fighter over a cleric, a cleric over a thief. The skull will then give off a heartfelt crying sound heard clearly over a 20-foot radius. All creatures within the radius of effect of this crying must save vs. spell or be driven away in fear and loathing, as a fear spell.
On the next round a new attack will take place. Each semi-lich has 1-3 gems set somewhere in its skull. Each of these gems is a jewel which can draw the soul and body from any character and trap it within the jewel's confines. The semi-lich will use 1 of these draining jewels to draw the entire essence from 1 of the offending intruders. The best character will be drawn instantly and trapped. No saving throw is possible; the attack is irresistible. An amulet of life protection will prevail over the powers of a gem. The skull will then sink down again, sated. If it is struck or touched a 2nd time, it will again rise and cry and then drain the next strongest character into another gem. This process recurs as long as the skull is still intact and continues to be molested. If all jewels are filled, then only the killing howl and choice spells will be possible thereafter, but the monster can also pronounce a curse upon the remaining antagonists. Such curses are very powerful and may include: always to be hit by any opponent attacking; never to make a saving throw; or always to lose all treasure without gaining any experience from it. The curse can be removed by a remove curse spell. The spells that the semi-lich can can cast are to be chosen by the DM, as appropriate. They must not exceed spells of 8th level for magic-users or sixth level for clerics.
The skull of a semi-lich must be destroyed if the monster is to be exterminated. It can be harmed only as follows:
- A forget or exorcise spell will force the skull to sink down without crying or attacking.
- A shatter spell cast upon it inflicts 3-18 points of damage.
- A power word kill pronounced from an astral or ethereal magic-user destroys it.
- A fighter, paladin or ranger with a vorpal blade, sword of sharpness, holy sword, sword +4; or a paladin with a +3 or better weapon inflict full normal damage upon the skull.
- A dispel spell cast upon it inflicts 5-8 points of damage.
- A holy word pronounced against it inflicts 5-30 points of damage.
- Any character with a +2 or better magic weapon or a mace of disruption can inflict 1-6 point of damage upon the skull each time it is struck.
A semi-lich's skull takes 40 hit points before it is destroyed, and it is armor class is 2. If the skull is destroyed, a saving throw vs. spell must be made for any gem trapping a character within it. Those gems for which saving throws failed contain no life; the demi-lich has drained and devoured them before being destroyed. If a throw succeeds, that gem still contains the character, and this is evidenced by a faint inner light. The character can be freed by crushing the gem. The semi-lich dust and any other remaining bits must be destroyed by holy water or the creature will re-form over 1-1 0 days.
FREQUENCY Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
HD: 40 HP
AC: 2
Move: Special
In Lair: 100%
Treasure Type: Z
NO. OF ATTACKS: Special
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Special
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See Below
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Special See below
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
Int: Supra-genius
SIZE: M
PSlONlCs: See below Attack/Defense Modes: See below
X.P. VALUE: lX/3950 + 14/hp
Source: Gygax, Gary. Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual II, TSR; Revised edition, p. 32-33. 1983
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Allies Aren't Needed
Some thoughts to be added to my Players Guide™… Words are swords. Swords can be very cool, can be art, and can be beautiful. They can cut, can pierce, and can embed deep within. The best use of swords is for friends to get together, bringing effective protection, and blunted, harmless blades, with which to spar. The players at my table spar, some very enthusiastically. The banter we have is great. That said, sometimes people come in with less protection than is needed. Harder times can thin the armor. Alternatively, and perhaps for similar reasons, people might bring a sharper weapon than is always safe.
I am not saying, “Stop it.” Anger, frustration and “unsafe” speech are normal. Having hard times is normal, everyone does at some time. However, if you are seeking allies against another person at the table (not talking about in game characters), then I would ask you to stop. Instead, you are empowered as players in my game to literally stop the game, so that an issue can be brought forward and dealt with. I bet that’s nothing you ever thought you would read on a D&D page. If there is an issue, then let’s address it within our entire group. If you don’t feel you can do that, well, I run an adult game. Last time I checked, everyone at my table was over 25. We are also pretty close friends. So, if in the future, something comes up, then let’s go public with it. Secret alliances are not, or at least are no longer, available.
I am not saying, “Stop it.” Anger, frustration and “unsafe” speech are normal. Having hard times is normal, everyone does at some time. However, if you are seeking allies against another person at the table (not talking about in game characters), then I would ask you to stop. Instead, you are empowered as players in my game to literally stop the game, so that an issue can be brought forward and dealt with. I bet that’s nothing you ever thought you would read on a D&D page. If there is an issue, then let’s address it within our entire group. If you don’t feel you can do that, well, I run an adult game. Last time I checked, everyone at my table was over 25. We are also pretty close friends. So, if in the future, something comes up, then let’s go public with it. Secret alliances are not, or at least are no longer, available.
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