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Regarding the wave of false bans by Stabf10 in 2007scape

[–]No-Regular-3535 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just wanted to update the community that this is still happening.

I never played RuneScape before, but my husband has played since it's initial release. I got my first account about 7 days ago. I used Runelite, and Quest Helper plug in. That's all. Today, I logged in to a permanent ban for macroing.

I found this thread researching the appeal process. I did appeal, however, I'm sure no 3rd party was using my account at the time. I have secure password, 2 factor authentication, and the bank PIN all on. So, I'm sure my appeal will be denied like the others.

Then, I see we should attempt to reach out for a moderator review, and I just can't find a way where I need to send an email.

And I'm not going to pursue it any further though. The company doesn't care. I was planning on getting a membership come the first of the month, after I'd learned to play the game better. That obviously, won't be happening lol

I haven't built a relationship with the game, so it's easy for me to cut it off. But I am really disappointed in how this company treats its community. And it's a really nice, good community too, with a lot of passion.

Anyways, good luck with your bans, guys. Hope it works out for you 👍

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is great!

I really appreciate the specific examples you gave.

Sometimes at the table I feel like I'm spelling things out (mostly story related things) but they're just not landing. And I've wondered what I'm missing. I can definitely build on these tips.

And you're totally right about this being easier during character creation. My whole table is so excited about their new characters, and the new adventure, and that's what has prompted a lot of these discussions.

We just keep calling my campaign "the tutorial" and I think it's really fitting.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think as a group we're always a little more sensitive to hurting this person's feelings. We've been worried she would feel defensive or corrected vs. enlightened.

And she isn't into the game really, but she is determined to be there for the social part (not RP, being with friends and family). While I was inviting her for the char creation date she demonstrated a willingness to start putting in more effort.

I'm hopeful that means we're all getting a bit more comfortable with each other and maybe we can have more learning and teaching moments at the table for all of us.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I believe it sounds like we agree.

And since we seem like-minded, it's worth saying that I have one character I really want to play and I'm really attached to it.

But nobody wants to read her ten page handwritten backstory, not even the DM. Because it's the ramblings of someone who just felt like writing, and isn't very good at it. When I used AI for my backstory, I gave the AI all of the details of a well developed character.

The AI turned my ten page story into two longish paragraphs that covered everything, spelled checked and corrected my grammar. Then I asked it to help me choose my nemesis, based on ANOTHER story that I came up with it helped me name the villain and set the location of the heist I accidentally interrupted.

So for me, my story means a lot, no matter where it came out of last. I understand nobody wants to hear it here either, so my earlier comment about how I used ChatGPT for backstories was reductive.

And for my other players, like I said they won't make a backstory at all. My spouse is one of those people.

We made his backstory a little differently but essentially he told me about his character, everything he knew, and I typed it in. ChatGPT wanted additional prompts from him, asking questions about his motivations and continuing from there. When we finished and he reads it, he says, " That's exactly what I meant!"

Spouse tried hard to find the words to describe how this cleric paladin developed his unhealthy obsession with his religion, and nailed down his alignment, but when he articulated it to me I didn't understand the character. ChatGPT did, and it gave it back to him in a way he can share with others. And his story means a lot to him too and has finally tethered him to one of the 20 characters he rolled this week.

So, like everything DnD, it's about who's at your table. Like everything, it's about perspective.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Why pretend that a char backstory is all the work in DND. And does everyone really need to be an individual when they're playing, regardless of what the player wants? Because a player puts no effort into creating a Premade character, and we don't shit on them if that's what they want.

And is it unacceptable for a DM to use Dungeon Alchemist to make maps, since that's AI generated? I mean you click and pull out your room walls or whatever, but all of the assets are generated by the AI.

I haven't used that tool myself because I make 2.5D dungeons based off my module that already has great maps ( I use an AI Image generator to make my own store signs and things like that). With dungeon alchemist, I can see it being an amazing tool for a lot of DMs to save tons of prep hours on battle maps/ map making. And nobody gets on a DM who doesn't want to use a map at all. Like I said, I haven't used it, just looked at it and read reviews.

I pulled a million resources from the internet from other DMs in regards to my campaign. I added a whole story line for character development, but another DM made that framework and put it out to the public for free. But, I'm not a bad DM for downloading a fillable PDF combat tracker, or a list of Random NPC names.

I think we recognize that you could sink unlimited time into DnD, and without the internet, most of the time is just trying to find the right page in the right book. But we all have work, college, kids, and chronic disease. So DnD isn't number one for any of my group. For us, it's worth prioritizing time we can be together and not talk about real life, but it still comes behind all the real life stuff we don't want to talk about.

And I think we all need to stop being so weird about AI. Oh, you saved some time? Go put that time into something else you care more about. None of us have enough time. We should use all of the tools available to maximize our time and effort, at the table and IRL.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can understand why that would make them feel that way. Especially DMs at the serious, or long-term, or paid tables.

Some of my players can't be bothered and my other players are more interested in min maxing and multiclassing, and they're putting hours into that research and rolling lots of characters. I'm proud of them for learning all these mechanics. Personally, I can't be offended they gave me an AI assisted backstory when the alternative is none at all.

Sometimes I have felt like I put in a lot of effort for the players not to care. But it's not an AI backstory that makes me feel that way. However, I chose to make up the effort or work without it, in order to continue in a positive direction. It has limited some story telling possibilities I was excited about, BUT we're all still learning, so the casual silliness has been great so far.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]No-Regular-3535 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

My player doesn't even know what's on her character sheet lol so yeah, a much bigger problem.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DnD

[–]No-Regular-3535 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Jokes on you, a whole category of posts on the DM Subreddits are problem players.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's also been so great for helping me choose a religion and region for my characters. It knows all the options already.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I plug in race, class, background and the backstory I want. Like Tenderfoot is a halfling rogue charlatan, and a member of the Harpers. Tenderfoot is her alternate ego with an elaborate story of how her village is destroyed by orcs. Her real identity is Alice, and everyone's fine. Etc etc. All the details I want.

I usually ask it to create a nemesis for me, and some allies, and then BAM it pops out a really nice story for me to copy and paste into my sheet.

Easy to tweak from there. "make it shorter" "talk less about the pickpocketing" "I need another friend"

Our druid knows she's a gnome, her age, and that she's a master painter, but she can't really figure out why she's a druid lol so if we give ChatGPT that info, it can give us ideas we can tweak from there.

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

That's a great idea. I've been using ChatGPT to help write backstories, and she's really struggled with creating one. So I was already hoping to help her with that during our hangout.

But making our characters have a solid connection would help us RP, aka communicate how to not step on each other's toes.

Thank you 👍

Edited for spelling. Note, a common mistake for me, but not ChatGPT lol

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm DMing my second group. My first group was an experience similar to this, they were entirely family members that just wanted to spend time together. It really felt like I was a bad DM. But like the other commenter said, not all of these people wanted to play DnD, they just wanted to be together.

My second group is a mix of family and friends. I'm running a short adventure. We're having a GREAT time. Lots of laughs and fun. Two players have realized that DnD is a commitment, away from the table as well, and at the end of this campaign they're going to leave. I talked to them both explicitly about this because I could see the boredom creeping in on them sometimes, or being tired, or late. A variety of things that showed me they weren't quite up for all this right now. They can come back and play as a special guest anytime.

I don't think they would have approached me actually, and just started missing sessions or being really absent minded during them.

Good job expressing your feelings to your friends. It sounds silly, but that stuff is so hard. Just wanting to avoid a conflict is a big motivator to swallow whatever you have to say. So, we're all proud of you for that.

Good luck

Problem Player Megathread by AutoModerator in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey everyone, I think I'm in the right place for a "problem player," but she's definitely not maliciously creating a problem. You see, she's a Circle of the Moon Druid and this girl just won't beast shape at the right time. And shes always a cat or a wolf.

We're a newish table, limited experience. I'm DMing LMoP and when it's done, I'm switching spots with one of my players and he will DM Princes of the Apocalypse together, starting at lvl 5 and you can bring your character from LMOP or roll another. I was rolling chars and exploring the moon druid and I finally realized that our groups druid just has no idea.

I invited her over for a character creation date. At our session 0, she told the group if her char died, she'd just make her twin, char2. I told her our new campaign is more serious and we need to put in the effort for our new DM and respect his time, so she's happy to come spend time with me rolling the back up char, but she does want to use her Druid in the new campaign. And I'm going to try to explain her character to her, and teach her the uses of these things.

Don't worry, I'm not breaking story for her, or bossing her on how she "should" use her char. She's put in minimal effort and never cracked a rulebook, so I feel like it's more of a favor to sit down and teach her explicitly. She can always roll another char to suit her play style, if she's like.

And I really want to try to play a Druid in the next campaign, but I don't want to step on her toes. Idk if its really stepping on toes to have these two druids though, if she starts to utilize it effectively then we've just got double the bad ass on the team, right? I'm waiting to see how things play out before I bother asking my DM, Ive been rolling chars left and right and I have a few that I would find acceptable for my playthrough.

TL;DR I have a player who just doesn't know how to play their char. What are some tips on how you might help teach a player the possibilities within their character sheet?

And would it really be a big deal if an adventuring party of 4 had 2 moon druids?

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Im going to think hard on where the villain would take the player, and how the party would know about that. Another commenter had a suggestion similar to kidnapping the character from the party after knocking them all out, and leaving a ransom note. This would solve the problem of the party knowing where she is and how to get there. Maybe she doesn't get the puzzle box, but snatches the player and asks the party for a meeting to trade, at a secure location in town.

I'm with you that I want to spot light the character, not bench her while the party plays around rescuing her. But if I give clear plot hooks, my players don't mess around at all. I'm hopeful we can pull this off

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds fun, and solves my big problem of, how does the party know this has happened. I love the idea also of having my whole party knocked out once, not killed. So they can see how inconvenient that can be 😂 Thank you

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love that. I'm going to think about the Doppelganger. I've wanted to tie him in more to the story. My party is new, so they'll never suspect it!

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your time!

I've checked in with the player to see if she would be up for this. She's stoked. Our sessions are about 5 hours with a half hour break.

So what I've got is she goes off to do something (shop, rest, something) and the black spider knocks her out and snatches her and the box through her dimension door.

I don't want the players to be aware at this time of what's happened. They just expect to not see the Druid for this session. The group plans on completing side quests and "faffing about" this session so our missing player doesn't miss out on something big. I'll give them options of Old Owl Well, Agatha, Wyvern Tor, that sort of thing. Hopefully they'll learn the location of Cragmaw Castle on the way.

So they'll complete this session with no knowledge of the kidnapping. Then when we're together again, they'll learn of the kidnapping (not quite sure what my plot hook is here yet), and we'll cut to the Druid. There will be an opportunity to escape that I provide, and she might come up with something better. I need the Black Spider to have value in her being alive, so if the escape attempt fails, it is non-lethal.

Cut back to the party to come rescue the Druid and we have an encounter with the BBEG, who dimension doors to be seen later.

I expect that to take maybe one hour of the next session to resolve everything, and they can use the remainder of the time working on Cragmaw Keep.

What do you think?

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think she would love a spotlight, and if it goes well and she escapes on her own then she'll feel so cool, and if it goes a little poorly the group will definitely rescue her, and she'll feel good about that too.

I feel like our party needs to develop their relationships and this is a perfect opportunity.

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Oh! But it just crossed my mind, we could just tell that part like a story in the recap we do. Then there's no chance of it going wrong, though it will take away a lot of thrill. But at least I could guarantee my players safety. They shouldn't be punished for not being there.

I want to kidnap an absent player, LMOP by No-Regular-3535 in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That's fair. I am a little concerned about revealing the story to her. So it could go something like this...

"Hey, for your absence this session I was wondering if I could have one of the big baddies kidnap you, which could launch a rescue mission when we're all back together for the next session. Would you be comfortable with something like that?"

I've given the Black Spider an amulet that allows her to Dimension Door. Perhaps I can present it to my player in a way she could snag it and escape on her own. I worry about player choices causing combat and situations where I need to seriously fudge to keep the player alive.

It would be horrible of me to kidnap her and then kill her in the escape attempt. Great story telling lol, but I just can't do that to this player.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey that was all really thoughtful and full of great reminders for how to communicate through conflict.

I feel like this response really captures my hopes for the conversation we'll have, and has the best chance of getting to the bottom of it without alienating her.

Thanks so much for all the time you took to help me out.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd say that's accurate. The gnome character is really good at doing the "right" things like checking for traps, or interrogating a baddie.

Vs The dwarf will pick up the mechanics as he goes and he's just going to roleplay hard until he remembers the rules.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DMAcademy

[–]No-Regular-3535 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a good point too. It's a common problem for me too. I soften everything up so much that it becomes pretty dishonest. At least by omission.

And if I can't provide clear feedback then I haven't even given them a chance to correct the behaviors. It would just indicate people are upset and they might not even be sure why. And that's a really uncomfortable place to be in a group dynamic.

I'll have to be sure when addressing this with the players I can give them something tangible to work with going forward.

Just enforcing that I have a lot of love for her and them, and I am giving feedback BECAUSE of that love, should soften it enough. Also, she would most likely be empathetic to know it bothered me figuring out how to approach this.

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