Calling for Cases!
Added 2024-09-05 14:19:08 +0000 UTCHowdy folks! Bailiff James here to say that the Supreme Crit is convening this very afternoon. Please submit your brief (1-2 paragraphs, I do beg!) case on this thread and we will bring you wise justice.
Comments
To the Cowardly and Mercurial Justices, and the Brave and Steadfast Bailiff Jake (long may he serve). I bring you the case of the Toddler Proxy. I DM for a group of suburban dads. We meet monthly, swap neighborhood news, and slay dragons. It's mostly great. At the first session, one of my players brought a stuffed toy cat, saying his daughter wanted it included in the adventure. Over time, he became fixated on it, even grilling me about my narrative plans for the cat. I suggested he simply make up stories about the cat for his daughter, but he refused, calling it dishonest. His daughter is four and has never participated in our sessions. Eventually, I revealed that the cat was an infernal spy who had been relaying information about the party to the next arc's villain. Having served its purpose, the villain released its hold on the creature, turning it back into a regular cat with no special qualities. I thought I'd settled that issue for good. But now he's brought another toy, saying his daughter wants this one in the campaign too. Am I wrong to want to stop this? I love when players add personal touches, but it feels weird to cater to someone who's not even at the table. Keep in mind, these are my neighbors. I'll be living next to the consequences of your judgement for the next 15 years. Yours, Stumped in Suburbia
Kevin
2024-09-23 15:59:23 +0000 UTCTo the esteemed judges and that guy that just works there. I bring you the case of the fizzled out flee. In our game, we are currently exploring a desert and happened upon an entrance to a tomb. The entrance was flanked by two sphinx statues. The music was on point. The entrance was mysterious. It was epic in its own right and really made us feel like we were playing through the Mummy. Torch in hand, I led the way into the dungeon. We eventually came into a room with a particularly nasty monster. I, a half-orc Vengeance Paladin, used my channel divinity Abjure Enemy and it failed its wisdom save. The next round, my character informed the party that he had an idea and asked if they wanted him to make it flee. They all cheered happily “yes!”. I ran to the opposite side of it and cast Command and said the word “Flee”. Again, it failed its wisdom save! I thought we had him. My intent was to make him flee, down the trapped hall and out of the dungeon entrance. We were all on the edge of our seats and you could hear a pin drop as the DM rolled the monsters wisdom save. Then the cheering when he failed. It was the highlight of the session. Or so we thought. Sadly, the DM informed us that nothing would happen and the spell would not have an effect due to the conflicting speed rules between Abjure Enemy and the Command spell. I was visibly distraught. And there was a collective “FUUUUUUCK” from the table. He did allow me to retcon after I mentioned my character would have known that by level 5 and instead of the word “flee” I sorrowfully used the word “drop” instead and disarmed him. The encounter ended with a slog fest that lasted a few rounds and ended in a not so climactic way. Am I right to be irritated or was my DM justified in fizzling my flee? I humbly await your judgement.
Craig C.
2024-09-17 12:25:12 +0000 UTC
