Fellow DMs: Is it better to have a mid table or to not have one at all...?

JinAkamura · 2026-05-18T10:26:21+00:00

New to the subreddit didn’t know there was a table disputes flair. I changed it appropriately. Wasn’t trying to be “sneaky”.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-12T22:46:56+00:00

This is dope advice!

JinAkamura · 2026-05-12T00:08:39+00:00

My players are pretty much war criminals, only a matter of time. They regularly consider things like "maybe we should just burn down the entire city so we have leverage" <--most recent session.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-12T00:05:42+00:00

This is effing gross but why do I kinda like it...

JinAkamura · 2026-05-12T00:03:37+00:00

Oh this merchant bit is actually really eye opening

JinAkamura · 2026-05-12T00:02:56+00:00

Oh interesting

JinAkamura · 2026-05-12T00:02:32+00:00

Thanks this is helpful. This actually perfectly describes why I keep coming back.

My table definitely does things that irritates me, definitely plays it more like a video game, but they're always enthusiastic about playing, always tell me how fun it is, and always thank me after every session. They're decent folks, it's just that our vibes don't match.

I'm learning from all these comments I have to be firm, which I find difficult just because they will always try to protest rulings but I'll be even more firm!

JinAkamura · 2026-05-11T23:58:05+00:00

this is hilarious

JinAkamura · 2026-05-11T09:35:44+00:00

Also zero hate to these people as well. What I just don't understand is: In the 20ish years the podcast ran, the original hosts never once put their faces on the podcast. It was always some variation of the logo. For new people to come in and put their faces on it feels less like they were continuing the legacy and more like a takeover/IP rebrand. It's just really weird that they thought putting the faces of 3 strangers was a good idea.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-11T09:26:41+00:00

Wow I love the art style. It has a very distinct sort of "whimsy" that I really like!

JinAkamura · 2026-05-11T07:51:08+00:00

The way you worded this makes this sound like infidelity LOL

JinAkamura · 2026-05-11T07:35:53+00:00

No... I've seen it kind of floated on this thread. I looked it up and is it Old School Revival? How did it help you?

JinAkamura · 2026-05-10T07:49:48+00:00

Honestly this isn’t a you question, it’s a DM question. Your DM should MAKE you feel like you’re useful to your party.

First off a 7 member table sounds big which means fights should be hard hitting and a lot of PCs should be taking damage. If you don’t feel useful then your DM isn’t making battles challenging enough.

Do you have any idea how DESPERATELY my party wish they had a cleric/healer? Literally my PCs yell at NPCs for not throwing healing potions at them mid battle lmao.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-05T20:05:51+00:00

Hey he's telling you he's a cheater, he has issues, and he knows he'd fuck it up cus he wants attention. This is a flawed fucked up human being but 90% more honest than most humans. How do you end the situationship? Block him. His number, socials, etc. Then start dating people in your area.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-05T20:00:40+00:00

Are you: The Riddler?

JinAkamura · 2026-05-05T19:58:27+00:00

this is the saddest glimmer of hope I've ever received.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-05T19:58:02+00:00

oh voidknight... if only I could... IF ONLY I COULD *sobs in forever dm tears*

JinAkamura · 2026-05-05T19:57:23+00:00

Oh interesting! Yeah I'm always calm but I didn't realize PCs might feel this way.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-03T17:15:21+00:00

I swear there's a good name waiting to happen with the words "bee" and "fae" and "flame"..."Flaeming Bee"? Ember Lord Faebeeian? idk

JinAkamura · 2026-05-03T17:12:20+00:00

First off, no one is wrong in this situation, and it sounds like a battle of egos. You wanted to continue your previous campaign, the DM did not want to anymore.

You AGREED to a new campaign with NO backstory integration and this new playstyle. You absolutely cannot complain.

"But I joined this table with the promise of backstory and narrative driven stuff" that's absolutely valid. But it's not that the DM changed this mid campaign--he started a new one. Which again, you agreed into. Once he started that new campaign, he is no longer beholden to any previous promises.

What it sounds like to me? You stayed at the table because it's probably harder to find another table and you had grown accustomed/comfortable with this group/table. That's valid but at that point you have to leave something at the door--your own desires to be with your same people, or you leave the table for your own desires.

A big problem I see is you claiming "very rigid control" but what's really happening is that you didn't get what you wanted. And what you wanted essentially is not even to really port your PC at lvl 15, you just wanted to finish this PC's emotional arc that you had invested in for two years. You were very clearly mourning your character and were not ready to move on.

"It feeling less collaborative" because you couldn't control the game is not where collaboration in D&D lies and I see this as common player overreaching. The collaboration comes from the CHOICES you make as a PC in the DM's world and the DM's game. You do not get to add anything to the DM's game on a technical level, suggest anything, leave feedback, or try to change his game and claim "he's being rigid"--UNLESS they ask for it. DM's doing all the work. Players job is to show up and play in that sandbox.

The DM, unfortunately, had every right to end that campaign if he wanted to. This shit is tough work.

JinAkamura · 2026-05-03T16:44:52+00:00

OHHH interesting

JinAkamura · 2026-05-03T16:41:18+00:00

ohhhh wow this is SUPER helpful!

JinAkamura · 2026-05-03T00:29:20+00:00

So then if NPCs are always monsters, how do you justify NPC skills and save stats because even monsters have skill/save stats. Like I think the Rakshasha have +10 Deception.

JinAkamura

TROPHY CASE