Drache64
2021-02-13, 08:26 PM
After a series of bad sessions my DM has decided he cannot DM for us anymore. And he gave me permission to continue the campaign as DM his stead. (Enter Thanos GIF "fine I'll do it myself".
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?624216-Just-processing-my-current-campaign-thoughts-welcome
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?616908-Cannot-get-DM-to-respond-to-requests-and-I-do-not-want-to-annoy-him
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612583-How-the-Kobold-with-wish-meme-ends
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612506-Player-politics-Navigating-the-social-contract
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612378-Stuck-playing-D-amp-D-with-a-friend-who-is-a-terrible-DM
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?605190-Annoying-everyone-with-my-incessant-questions
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?601830-quot-can-you-roleplay-that-we-get-along-quot-Fair-question
Maybe that's for the best...
But I think I can save the campaign. Let's cover some of the players and the story and how I think I can turn this ship around:
The first problem that's solved:
The old DM never cared about back stories, he was telling a story and it didn't matter what character you brought because their story wasn't as important as the story he was telling. I plan to work with all my players and craft a tale that ties their back stories right into the plot.
Players:
The chaos crew:
Member 1: A pirate captain cleric who hates her deity but was forced into a contract.
-Fun idea! But done wrong creates a character who cares very little for the party and their mission because she's an unwilling participant.
Member 2: the pirate captain's first mate. She's a pirate druid who the DM let see some over powered dinosaurs and turns into them which can break encounters. She only cares about her captain and her captain cares about nothing.
-together these two have a habit of going off in their own direction or triggering traps when the party is thoughtfully discussing an approach. The problem is this was the DMs wife and any bad consequence she would suffer were waived away with a single dirty look.
+ Complication. The DM put a cursed glove in the middle of a dungeon. She charged forward and put it on. The DM changed it to a blessed item and a sentient helpful glove for her. This is potentially game/plot breaking and I'll have to deal with this.
The problem character:
Peter Pan. My wife made an Archfey Warlock who likes to lure children into dangerous adventures. This doesn't sit well with the party. I'll have to come up with a solution that allows her to gather orphans and shelter them without brining them into danger.
The Problem Player:
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?601830-quot-can-you-roleplay-that-we-get-along-quot-Fair-question
The bard can't seem to stand me as a person. She might not continue with us if I become the DM. But I will not shoo her away, though I might just have to minimize working her into the campaign. But who knows, things could get better.
Lastly the good player:
The Paladin is a good party member, an Aaracokra (sp?) Oath of vengeance paladin. She's looking for her deity Remnus.
The story:
The DM established a rather plain story, the Dark 6 are attempting to take over the material plain. The only weapon that can stop them has been shattered and the party must travel to different locations to collect the pieces of the Deus Ex Machina to beat the 6 evil gods.
My problem with this story is there is no twist or intrigue. Players know what they need to do and they simply need to do it, facing obvious opposition along the way. I prefer plot twists, intrigue, and a more dynamic story.
I like the idea that the plot isn't the issue, it's the background. The dark six amassing isn't the issue it's the opportunity for the real antagonist. The world at Large knows the dark six are doing this and is working together, it's obvious some band of adventurers will stop them and it will most likely be ours, but what terrible organization or thing is going to take advantage while everyone else is paying attention to something worse than them?
The DM introduced something random that he really had no plans for (I know this because we've talked). The Silver Flame is actually a cult of mind Flayers preying upon hopefuls with no godly protection. My Bladesinger left the party to serve them, not knowing they were mind Flayers. (This was how we had my Bladesinger exit the party when the DM was having a hard time balancing encounters with my Bladesinger).
But what are the Mind Flayers planning? What is their goal? My hopes were that the DM would run my old character as a mind controlled soldier against them. Is it a bad idea to turn my old bladesinger against them?
What is your take, what ideas do you have?
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?624216-Just-processing-my-current-campaign-thoughts-welcome
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?616908-Cannot-get-DM-to-respond-to-requests-and-I-do-not-want-to-annoy-him
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612583-How-the-Kobold-with-wish-meme-ends
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612506-Player-politics-Navigating-the-social-contract
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?612378-Stuck-playing-D-amp-D-with-a-friend-who-is-a-terrible-DM
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?605190-Annoying-everyone-with-my-incessant-questions
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?601830-quot-can-you-roleplay-that-we-get-along-quot-Fair-question
Maybe that's for the best...
But I think I can save the campaign. Let's cover some of the players and the story and how I think I can turn this ship around:
The first problem that's solved:
The old DM never cared about back stories, he was telling a story and it didn't matter what character you brought because their story wasn't as important as the story he was telling. I plan to work with all my players and craft a tale that ties their back stories right into the plot.
Players:
The chaos crew:
Member 1: A pirate captain cleric who hates her deity but was forced into a contract.
-Fun idea! But done wrong creates a character who cares very little for the party and their mission because she's an unwilling participant.
Member 2: the pirate captain's first mate. She's a pirate druid who the DM let see some over powered dinosaurs and turns into them which can break encounters. She only cares about her captain and her captain cares about nothing.
-together these two have a habit of going off in their own direction or triggering traps when the party is thoughtfully discussing an approach. The problem is this was the DMs wife and any bad consequence she would suffer were waived away with a single dirty look.
+ Complication. The DM put a cursed glove in the middle of a dungeon. She charged forward and put it on. The DM changed it to a blessed item and a sentient helpful glove for her. This is potentially game/plot breaking and I'll have to deal with this.
The problem character:
Peter Pan. My wife made an Archfey Warlock who likes to lure children into dangerous adventures. This doesn't sit well with the party. I'll have to come up with a solution that allows her to gather orphans and shelter them without brining them into danger.
The Problem Player:
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?601830-quot-can-you-roleplay-that-we-get-along-quot-Fair-question
The bard can't seem to stand me as a person. She might not continue with us if I become the DM. But I will not shoo her away, though I might just have to minimize working her into the campaign. But who knows, things could get better.
Lastly the good player:
The Paladin is a good party member, an Aaracokra (sp?) Oath of vengeance paladin. She's looking for her deity Remnus.
The story:
The DM established a rather plain story, the Dark 6 are attempting to take over the material plain. The only weapon that can stop them has been shattered and the party must travel to different locations to collect the pieces of the Deus Ex Machina to beat the 6 evil gods.
My problem with this story is there is no twist or intrigue. Players know what they need to do and they simply need to do it, facing obvious opposition along the way. I prefer plot twists, intrigue, and a more dynamic story.
I like the idea that the plot isn't the issue, it's the background. The dark six amassing isn't the issue it's the opportunity for the real antagonist. The world at Large knows the dark six are doing this and is working together, it's obvious some band of adventurers will stop them and it will most likely be ours, but what terrible organization or thing is going to take advantage while everyone else is paying attention to something worse than them?
The DM introduced something random that he really had no plans for (I know this because we've talked). The Silver Flame is actually a cult of mind Flayers preying upon hopefuls with no godly protection. My Bladesinger left the party to serve them, not knowing they were mind Flayers. (This was how we had my Bladesinger exit the party when the DM was having a hard time balancing encounters with my Bladesinger).
But what are the Mind Flayers planning? What is their goal? My hopes were that the DM would run my old character as a mind controlled soldier against them. Is it a bad idea to turn my old bladesinger against them?
What is your take, what ideas do you have?