Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (
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Malachias Invictus wrote:
> "David Serhienko" <david.serhienko@ndsu.nodak.edu> wrote in message
> news:115lhhj6mna5mac@corp.supernews.com...
>
>>Malachias Invictus wrote:
>>
>>>"Jeff Goslin" <autockr@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>>news:cNqdnUkhxbxBmMffRVn-2A@comcast.com...
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Malachias Invictus" <capt_malachias@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:W5qdnXUNyvPnbcTfRVn-qw@comcast.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Assuming the berries have to be gone NOW rather than later, how
>>>>>>>>>>would
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>you
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>handle it?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>That requires further information: why do they have to be gone right
>>>>>>
>>>>>>now?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Doesn't matter.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Yes, it does. The reason will affect my answer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I don't see how, but if it makes you feel better, you can assume any
>>>>>>reason
>>>>>>at all.
>>>>>
>>>>>I would not require their immediate removal, because I am a competent
>>>>
>>>>enough
>>>>
>>>>>GM to roll with it. Provide a reason if you want an answer.
>>>>
>>>>The berries need to be gone now because they are screwing with PC balance
>>>>levels. So, how do you get rid of them.
>>>
>>>In what way are they screwing with PC balance levels? These are not
>>>permanent items.
>>
>>Because they were an ill-considered non-permanent item.
>>
>>The barbarian already takes the spotlight whenever combat happens, its a
>>class feature.
>
> The funny thing is, I have played with many barbarians, and I really do not
> see this happening.
What I meant was, with their massive hit points and massive damage, they
sit front and center, forming, essentially, the lynchpin of combat. All
plans revolve around the Barb's role.
When the Barb deviates from the plan, the plan tends to go Fubar.
That's been my experience in 3.x, and might be a local dynamics thing,
but this is the second gaming group I've seen it happen in.
>>The problem arises because the barbarian doens't ever have to make a real
>>choice about whether to Rage or not. There is always the backup of the
>>berries.
>
> He will reach that point soon enough on his own.
He won't get a 3rd rage until lvl 8 (and he just reached 5).
Advancement is slowing as levels are gained, mostly because both DMs
have agreed that advancement SHOULD slow down now that both new players
have a fair handle on the game, but before thihngs start to get REALLY
complicated at mid to high level.
>>The fact that the barbarian can Rage, essentially at will, is a
>>combination of my fault, DM2s fault, and the berries.
>
> No, it is the fault of your players, for giving his character all the
> berries. If they split them among the front-line fighters, it would likely
> be better in general for the party as well.
Ok, I'll add that to the list of things I'll blame for the situation,
but I won't heap it entirely on their heads.
>>I can't control the fact that DM2 runs very few combats, preferring
>>investigation scenarios with one or two big combats.
>
> It sounds like the berries will have no effect on this, then. He can rage
> twice per day, right?
Yep. "Heironius grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot
change, etc"
>>I can control the number and style of the encounters I throw in,
>>increasing fequency, and avoiding telegraphing whther a particular fight
>>is a Mook FIght or not, as well as mixing in occasional 'second wave'
>>attacks.
>>
>>Even so, though, if the number of combats in a day is going to be low, the
>>barbarian can rage for all he's worth, knowing the berries will allow him
>>to do it again, and be even more of a combat spotlight hog than a normal
>>low/mid leel barbarian.
>
> I feel your other characters are not doing their jobs if the barbarian is
> always in the spotlight.
>
>>The 'spotlight' hoginess is the problem. It makes, in my opinion and
>>observation, the other players feel like their chartacters are, at best,
>>supporting cast.
>
> They *made themselves that way* by giving the barbarian all the berries
> (and, in the case of the fighter, by making and stubbornly sticking to a
> severely suboptimal build).
Yes, true. I can't make the fighter see sense, but I can massage the
berries away.
>>Including, of course, my PC, when I'm not DMing.
>>
>>Thus, it would be very nice if the berries went away.
>
> There are two scenarios here:
>
> 1) The barbarian does not use the berries. Thus, they are having no actual
> effect on anything, other than a *perceived* effect.
As said before, though, I know for a fact, as the barb's player has
stated it, that he doesn't bother saving his Rages because he knows the
berries are there. So it isn't really just a perceived effect.
> 2) The barbarian uses the berries. He will run out of those berries, and
> any problem they present will be solved.
That is my preferred solution, and I'm trying to:
1 - increase the enoucnters per day
2 - add waved/ranged attacks to force the barb to deal with fatigueing
once in a while, and de-emphasize his hand-to-hand supremacy once in a while
3 - Learn to play act better so the party doesn't know the difference
between a Mook Fight and a BBEG fight... thus making the decision to
NOT rage during mook fights far more difficult
4 - begin foreshadowing an odor/discoloration on the berries, leading up
to them hatching Rage Demons at some point.
DWS
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