You're getting way too worked up over this, dude. The odd thing is, we both know you wouldn't even bat an eye if Lackey said something just like that to you. Why? Because he's just a sarcastic guy. Guess what? So am I. It's one of the reasons Lackey and I have been such good friends.
Lighten up, Dagon. It's all in good fun. You shouldn't let yourself take so much to heart over a little RP and unfortunate rolls.
I've often been accused of being harsh and unfair as a GM. I've tried to tempter that, but I don't think this situation is entirely my fault. Though I may be wrong, I think there are many factors at work here:
Tension between the two of you on the proper path to take. Dagon perhaps feeling that I'm siding with Pinvendor and punishing him (not true, though I understand the point of view).
And Dagon, I know you've been very busy lately and it's been hard for you to update. But the lack of updates and interaction place you into more of a victim role. As I stated in the game thread, you could have written in some form of salvation yourself. I'm very much into that, especially in a PBP format:
"Ok, I know what's coming. Krak and Boom start frantically looking for cover. Do we find anything? Here's my perception rolls."
And then perhaps I'd say (pending a success): "Yes, you find an old basement and just in time too! Add +20% to your chance of success when the bombs hit."
You get the idea.
I'm just sensing a lot of frustration here, and I don't think it's all my fault. I'll take some of the blame, but with the MASSIVE amounts of fumbles going on lately, the poor player characters have been taking a huge beating.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'm out for a while at least, which is too bad, because I do enjoy the PBP messaging, but between Pivendor's remarks and the rediculousness of the situation, I cant take it anymore. I dont want to feel hate and anger with something as simple as a forum.
Gabe, I think you need to reign in some things. I usually dont say anything, but this time was just too much.
1) Bog Octopi coming through a crack in the wall in waist deep water in a forgotten tunnel? crazy, but ok, dealt with it.
2) a HORDE of Kurgen sleeping RIGHT where we were going to sneak into with only one little opening? One of the reasons I descided to be rediculous and through a smoke granade. At that point, why not make things super silly?
2) blowing up the frigging tower where we were going to stage our attack? started the whole crazy thing. Still didnt say aything.
3) Then empirial arty decides to shell our area on top of onrushing DEMONS? STILL didnt say anything.
Giving me a 10% chance which is a 90% chance I lose a FP for no fault of my own? I had it.
I did start to do previous posts but my rolls were crap for perception, so I just took the beating you gave out. Can I describe things differently after using a FP? Sure, but you already killed my moral with what seemed like a rediculous situation.
Had you buiried the entire group in the tunnel, I am sure they would think different. Besides, the tunnel was apparently already sealed.
Even so, the arty shell still prevents them from going on. You stopped them cold and now they have to go back.
You're a great GM and a great story teller, but you want to know the sources of my ultimate frustration, there it is.
I have no problemas with Dagon's maneuvering of the dwarves. It makes perfect sense. We've all played our characters like that when it comes to it! I remember a game in which Dragon Ogres showed up and we ALL decided bolting was a better idea. Party splits happen, we should always ROLEPLAY that character's actions in each situation. Not metaing it. If the story ever goes a way that Albrecht would be thinking "Eh... f$#! that" guess what? I'm rollin a new guy and letting Albrecht go off on sweet, sweet magical side adventures.
KNOWLEDGE BOMBS
DAGON:
For some time you and I haven't really seen eye to eye about the way I've been storytelling. Well, since day one almost. Everything I've chosen to do or describe, you've really disagreed with. I'm not saying that you're wrong here, but maybe I'm just not the GM for you anymore?
1) Bog Octopus: Personally, I thought that was a really cool scene. A "large" crack in the tunnel wall, a tunnel that sits adjacent to the river. The female Bog Octopus crawled in to safely have its young, a baby that Lutke found. I really don't see what I did wrong there. It's a fun encounter, it's dangerous, and you won.
2) The exit point of the tunnel is deep within enemy territory. Kurgan, demons and other foul things are EVERYWHERE! The enemy HAD NOT discovered the secret entrance. They were encamped in what they thought was an abandoned tower. Now, that situation was going to be resolved very easily. They were all sleeping. I did that purposely. All that was required was players to sneak up and NOT fumble. It would have been a quick, "And we kill them in their sleep" situation. Things did not work out that way. People fumbled, they woke up. It was bad news. You responded with a great scene with the gas canister, btw. That was probably one of the best scenes of the game so far. That wouldn't have happened if people hadn't fumbled in the first place.
As far as blowing up the tower goes, I'll take a knock on the wrist for that. I got overzealous with the snotball explosion. Still, the idea was a good one on Pinvendor's behalf.
3) The artillery shelled the area that Albrect marked with his flare. And I said:
"There are three cannons opening fire on the LOCATION OF THE FLARE that Albrecht sent skyward. I'll be rolling Ballistic checks for each cannon. A success will indicate the cannon has found the flare and thus slam into the ranks of the incoming Khorne daemons. A miss will indicate that the blast lands elsewhere. A double or fumble will mean a direct hit to the tower or the manor home"
The chances of rolling a double or fumble = not so good. And yet, I managed to roll a 97! and then a 99! (both a double and a fumble) and a 77! How am I to blame for that?
Then:
"Now that we've seen the results from the Imperial attack, we'll need to decide where the two respective fumbles land. I'll do this with a standard 50/50 roll: 01-50 is the Tower, 51 to 100 is the Manor."
And I rolled a 22 (Tower) and a 64 (Manor House).
I took into account the fumble on the Tower was a 97 and made things a bit harsher on the manor house being a double/fumble 99. Still, you're probably right that I should have given you a better chance of survival. I'll admit that now. Still, I hold to my point that you could have countered with descriptions to help your situation, but this point you were totally unhappy anyhow and pretty much threw in the towel.
If you take a moment and change any of those dice rolls at all, the story is totally different. You guys got screwed by the dice and you're taking it out on each other and me.
Anyhow, thanks for expressing how you feel. We're all friends in the end. I also understand you pulling out of the game. That's fine. No reason to get all worked up over something as simple as this.
Sorry my storytelling angers you and that you don't agree with the choices I've made or make. But I won't hold that against you. Friendship prevails :)
And in truth, I actually thought that it was smarter to head to the Manor house than to head back to the tunnel. I liked the idea of the group moving forward, but I try to entertain everyone and their ideas and make the story work. I could see the motivation for going back as much as going forward.
And as far as the party being stuck, they aren't. The idea was for them to use the dingy and strike out on the river, hit the shore and move into enemy territory that way.
Either way, it is what it is. I think between people being frustrated, not reading all the updates carefully and being busy, a lot was missed or misunderstood.
I'm going to take a few days away from the story and pick it back up starting next week.
Have a good extended weekend everyone!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
To steal a line from Hannibal "I love it when a plan falls apart" smoking my cigar with a big grin.
That's the power of chaos for ya ;)