So, I have been playing with wordpress...

[Buster's Uncle]

The best DM I ever had indeed would make things up on the fly - when I was doing it, I didn't know how to cope with someone's cheat character that turned out to be too powerful for the dungeon I'd designed.  DMs who get it don't have that problem.

[Green1]

The best DM I ever had indeed would make things up on the fly - when I was doing it, I didn't know how to cope with someone's cheat character that turned out to be too powerful for the dungeon I'd designed.  DMs who get it don't have that problem.

That's okay. The dungeon is just for a session or two. But, how was it a "cheat" character? If it is a misreading of rules, fine. I messed up thinking favored terrain gave advantage to all rolls as long as the ranger was in that terrain. Pretty overpowered. But, reread and it only applies to out of combat stuff like tracking, perception, knowledge checks, and insight. Talked with her afterwards and cleared it up. If it is not a cheat, it was just someone good at CharOp (character optimization). Just let him or her be unless they start talking over people and being disruptive. You had a power gamer and probably a few lurkers and maybe a RPer.

If it is YOU expecting the story to be a certain way and putting your toys away if it doesn't end up your way, that is an issue.

The show must go on.

But, you use the next session to prepare and expand your world. OP combat dude may be master of that dungeon, BUT, politically he can get way in over his head.

[Buster's Uncle]

Oh, Melvin claimed he grinded his characters using the "Roll your own adventure" thing - remember it?  Everyone who ever played with Melvin -his real name, honest- does.  Nobody believed him, and I don't know now why anyone ever gamed with the cheater twice.  Those magic rings and +5 Swords of Bullcrap always ruined everything.

[Green1]

Oh, Melvin claimed he grinded his characters using the "Roll your own adventure" thing - remember it?  Everyone who ever played with Melvin -his real name, honest- does.  Nobody believed him, and I don't know why anyone gamed with the cheater twice.  Those magic rings and +5 Swords of Bullcrap always ruined everything.

Well, the problem is not the concept. +5 swords of bullcrap and rings can be dealt with. In 2e rules, he can only have 2 rings active at once. He may have +5 swords, but it is useless unless he is in melee with someone. I would have a city state or other organization want to seize those weapons. With snipers. Particularly if he thinks he can just kill anyone in town. More drawing up for you, of course.

The more telling issue is:

- He may have been using the game for a masturbatory power fantasy and really doesn't care about anyone else. You need table rules.
- While being open, you are under no obligation to accept any "work" done in another game. I mean, did the other PCs have +5 stuff? Power level. Although, it is okay with story line. One of the PCs in my game does have a +4 bow. But, it is more an heirloom item. Only useful in ranged combat. But, there is more story than "I just read all the paths in this choose your adventure book and this character is a god" type deal. I would turn my nose up at that. Having it due to story is one thing. Claiming he "earned it" under dubious claims screams ego drama. I'd say flay out no. Diplomatically, I would just say, "Your hero sounds cool, but this is a tale for a new hero rising!" and watch him.
-Of course, I understand you were probably hurting for attendance. He may have been disinterested unless he had something powerful. Then, you just get with everyone and ask what power level they like if it is just starting up. If he is joining an existing game, he has to go with the power level of that game. Or, he is free to find another. Which, from what I hear he couldn't. You have the power, you hold the key. He games or does not.
- He gets disruptive, I talk to him in private. He continues, I stop the game and have a meeting with all players and how this is disruptive. But, not because of power level. Only if he tries to hog everything. Peer pressure is a killer. If after that, group (not YOU... everyone) votes and he is not invited.

Me, I would not have allowed +5 items at low level unless it is a refugee character from another DM and NOT a solo session. I would have made him roll and started him with the stuff the 2e DMG suggests for characters his level. MAYBE gave him a magic item or two if he could give me a good story. And, he MUST be same level as PCs, items notwithstanding.

[Buster's Uncle]

tl;dr version - I didn't know I could just refuse to play with him with his cheat characters.  All the DMs he pulled his crap on, all the other players, just refuse.  Simple.  It wouldn't have solved NEARLY all the Melvin problems, but the cheating was the big one.

"You can roll up a new character now, or let me rewrite this one; he's too powerful for the adventure I created, and that's no fun."

We were young, and we were nerdz w/o benefit of being exposed to how to do it right.

[Green1]

The rings, though...

Were these 2e Rings of Protection? You know they don't stack.

I would have also character audited him. As DM, I do reserve that right to just to guard against errors either honest or to cheat. But, you may have been hurt by the attitudes during the time of 2e. Gygaxian stuff had a very player vs DM vibe and some players would "not let me view character sheet" because "The DM may cheat!" Nonsense. There is no winning or losing. The winning is storyline and epic tales with realistic resolution of success and failure. Not "you shot me, NO YOU DIDN'T... IM BATMAN!" kind of stuff. But even if he is Batman, there are epic tales there. Batman has the Joker, Penguin, and other powerful bad guys to contend with along with protecting Gotham commoners. And... Batman has stats that go by the same rules as that world - the DC universe.

[Buster's Uncle]

Who gives a darn about the rings, details of - they were game-breaking and he was cheating.

It's a meta-thing that wasn't in the DM's Guide, you know - I knew the rules, we all knew the rules, but no one spelled out the "fun and pizza" goal.  The DM has to be in it to make it fun for everyone, screw the rules if that's what it takes to be fun.  The rules and procedures are tools towards an end, not something adherence to is a goal itself, and we didn't know that.

That good DM years later -a jerk a lot of the rest of the time, but he really got this- did our rolls for us half the time behind his DM screen, and you know he just made up a lot of results.  His campaigns were SO much less math and grind, SO much more fun.

This is an article, of course, once you write it up.  Feel free to reference/quote me.

[Green1]

I know BU.

 At least after the dust settled on 2e, WotC when redoing DnD for 3e realized a lot of the reason DnD did not expand as much during 2e was bad DMs. Future releases, they started hammering people management out better to help newbie DMs. Remember, my guess is Gary Gygax, Dale Arneson and to a lesser extent Skip Williams (2e author) were war gamers. Now, they did have social skills because they did tons of cons. It was supposedly understood you were going to have fun. They also saw characters as expendable. Not an avatar of some perfect realized self, but could die at any time. A mini on a board. Home gamers actually wanted characters. But, nerdz back then were not big on social skills.

When I run into those folks, I usually hammer them first on the stuff to root out cheating. Usually, they come into line after that. I also have always had a "all rolls in the open, even mine" policy. For just socially inappropriate behavior, I talk in private then get the group in on it to deflect any criticism I am being a jerk or unfair. I had to deal with someone like you speak of but brought him in line pretty quickly after he figured he'd better be fun to be with unless he wanted to not play.

But, you are right. The rules and procedures are there as a framework, not "law".

I probably should go off about my philosophy in more detail.

[Buster's Uncle]

Absolutely.

It's clear that you have this stuff worked out and your head screwed on exactly right -fun and pizza- and your audience is aspies who need it all spelled out, a lot of them, in exacting detail what the big picture is.  Nerdz have trouble with perspective; it's most of what makes them nerdz.  Beat 'em over the head with the real goal, and make it an explicit eternal theme of the blog.

Fun and pizza is the goal

-That should be frugaldm's actual pagetop slogan.

[Buster's Uncle]

Actually, she is more likely to be seen in robes than the scale mail. She really hates armor and her position means lots of wearing nice dresses and such. It is considered a faux pas to be seen with the same dress on twice in her circles. Of course, when performing her high priestess duties, it is acceptable to wear a Tiamat high priest robe. The scale mail is just for travel or if a battle is anticipated.

No, it isn't green. Green would clash with her red skin. The scale is greyish, but would be worn underneath robes of some sort. Which robes depend on what position of hers the fighting is for. She has various noble dresses, Patia Governess robes, and of course Ceremonial Tiamat High Priest robes. She usually does wear it for expeditions and visiting another Tiamat temple, assassinations and all.

Story/character idea, if you haven't already thought of this: she takes two l.1 acolytes with her in the field, when the campaign moves to the pass, as bearers - her inventory is a chest holding changes of robes for many occasions, like Lovey Howell had a couple of servants along on the three hour tour.  They'd probably need to be tougher than l.1, depending, or she might have to resurrect them a lot.  Play it for comedy/flavor, but the bearers just barely enough use in a fight to make up for the inconvenience of having her flippin' travel wardrobe along.  She rather considers doing otherwise a deal-breaker, and looks way hot in some of the dresses, besides...

[Green1]

Oh heck.. she does have teleportation circles from places like the manor and the Tiamat temple. She rarely travels out. If she does, she does have an entourage of courtesan acolytes and city guard. The acolytes ARE clerics.. but like level 4.

Due to alter self ability of Clerics of Tiamat, she and her acolytes switch appearances a lot to confuse folks. So you never know it is her or not. But, be guaranteed SHE is not carrying stuff...

[Buster's Uncle]

The bearers and a big wardrobe chest would be funny, is all.  Not hard to justify the flavor of having it...  You can play with the dichotomy of she does something that silly and then is a hellcat in battle...

[Green1]

Well, currently, the Pirate King has descended on to the refugee camp city. He brings boxes and boxes of rum along with a 14th level bard event coordinator.

Of course, every port city in the world wants him dead. Except Sol City which is only a vassalage and a new city.

The plans are he has opened a portal to a demiplane called Union. It is a high level shopping district and the last time it appeared, it triggered a world war. Union always has 2 other portals open. In addition to the one open to the material, one is currently open to the mega-metropolis of Dis (9 Hells) and the other to Rothgar Hall, a Viking Dwarven order from Ysgard.

Thraxus is currently in the background in a tent outside the city of pilgrims. But, this session next is a minor role for her.

[Green1]

Had to run a diplo-heavy solo mission for someone who missed last session to catch up. She is a Ranger 10/ Cleric of Tiamat 1. She had to convince the High Priest of Thoth's elven acolyte to take her to a city 2 weeks  travel away to Peakston. Then convince the Acolytes of a Chaotic Good god (Auros) to let her peruse the library there. Lots of tense social checks, but she is one step closer to her goal - finding a way to join her former master of 1000 years ago. A gem dragon of demigoddess level power.

[ColdWizard]

The DM has to be in it to make it fun for everyone, screw the rules if that's what it takes to be fun.  The rules and procedures are tools towards an end, not something adherence to is a goal itself, and we didn't know that.

Eh. The rules need to be consistent, otherwise you end up watching the DM play Calvin-ball. Which can be fun for a while but it's easy to get out of hand.

That good DM years later -a jerk a lot of the rest of the time, but he really got this- did our rolls for us half the time behind his DM screen, and you know he just made up a lot of results.  His campaigns were SO much less math and grind, SO much more fun.

Depending on which rolls, I would find that much less engaging, thus lessening my emotional investment in the game, and thereby causing me to question whether I should be doing something better with my time.