Difficult GM / Difficult Player.

[PłentaX]

Bellona wrote:

definitely more thematic for a pirate-based game like Skull and Shackles.

Maybe in your Book bot not in mine

the shark would be thematic in
Hollywood campaign style setting like Pirates on Caribbean
or in Sharknado

want more thematic wolf ? add him eyepatch and wooden leg or 4 wooden legs

[Bill Dunn]

Bellona wrote:

Maybe riding a shark is less realistic than riding a wolf, but the shark is definitely more thematic for a pirate-based game like Skull and Shackles.

Sort of. But that's only because any D&D campaign on the seas is going to involve some adventuring below the seas as well. For the most part, you'd expect pirates to be fighting on the decks of ships, and sharks suck for that.

[VampByDay]

You have to remember that everyone has a different style of GMing, and sometimes it clashes with players. Sounds like this GM wants a story to be told in 'traditional' pirate fashion' where everyone is in light of no armor, and your only spellcasters are witches. Super thematic for, say, a pirate movie.

I've dealt with these GMs before, heck, I used to BE one. When players present options that go against your headcanon, the knee-jerk reaction is to say 'no.' You want swashbuckling high times and someone has made a tower shield specialist and that ruins the story you are trying to tell.

These games can work, but only if the players and the GM come to terms before the game starts, and all the players agree. Sounds like your GM didn't do that, and now you are butting heads with your GM about your character concept vs their game concept.

With this in mind, talk to your GM. Tell him that you didn't understand his game concept, and built a different character than he intended. Explain that , to be solvent (an effective character) you need a few things because that is how the system works, and him putting all these roadblocks in your way is just making things difficult for you and unfun. If he refuses to listen, you might just have to say goodbye and find another game.

[The Sword]

It is all resolved. I agreed he could take a wolf but I would prefer he didn't enlarge and ride it. I wouldn't ban it but I explained my reasons in full for why I thought it was a bad idea both practical and thematic. He will decide whether to take it as a normal companion or just swap out for another ability. He also explained why his sources of inspiration led to the misunderstanding.

In short some of the more useful advice on these two threads helped us explain our positions. Thanks for the advice.