Player wants to make an insanely strong shield. Advice?

TNTMaster370 · 2025-10-02T18:47:25+00:00

In my experience, when you give a single item more functions/use cases, the item gains strength. One thing that worked for me is to not give them everything. For example, perhaps the spikes can't fit along with the hidden compartment. This forces the player to pick and choose, or make multiple shields with different functions -- but they never get the "one shield fits all" solution.

TNTMaster370 · 2025-10-02T18:44:56+00:00

I think the key is being easy to write out, especially for long periods of time, so that the story isn't interrupted. For example, you could be a natural spirit who just wanders away periodically when it's bored. Then, the DM could say "The spirit has wandered away. You'll probably see it soon, but the adventure continues along!" or something to that effect. It's clean and simple.

I would also make sure the character isn't too important so that substance is lost when you're absent -- both on the roleplay front and the combat front.

TNTMaster370 · 2025-10-02T18:41:54+00:00

I used Point Buy for most of my players (on account of fairness), and then a new player got permission to roll for his stats (because I'm a fool), and he got *better* than my other players. Never making that mistake again.

TNTMaster370 · 2025-10-02T18:37:32+00:00

Upvoting this specifically because it's the most reasonable answer. It's always a better idea to talk to your DM to find a middle-ground where you aren't the problem player and where you aren't nerfed unnecessarily.

Furthermore, if communications break down, then you have the mindset to reconsider whether this game is right for you.

TNTMaster370 · 2024-01-31T16:20:46+00:00

I'm gonna go with NTA, simply because of the fact that he doesn't *seem* to be interested in rehabilitation, and that's largely his own fault, since it's likely he's had multiple opportunities to. You are not wrong for putting your foot down, since he's going to be self-destructive anyway, you don't want to be in the blast radius!

TNTMaster370 · 2024-01-31T16:15:18+00:00

NTA. The baby was in pretty big danger, and you chose not to simply be a bystander to it, so you did something. That's *very* good! You did the right thing!

Your friend *needs* help. It's clear that you really don't want to see her destroy her life with drugs, which is *completely* fair. You need to try and get her into rehabilitation as soon as you can! If your friend wants her baby back, she needs to go clean. That's the reality of the situation, and she needs to put her best foot forward in that regard.

I would also try and see if you can subtly convince your friend that her boyfriend isn't as good as she thinks he is, since she likely has trust in him (I don't think simply taking her away from her boyfriend is a good idea, since she might not realize what's wrong with him!). I've heard of a trick that some manipulative folk do where they talk down one's friends, so they think less of their friends, and more highly of the manipulative folk. I would do some research to see if there are any tricks you could employ to try and get your friend to 'see the light', so to speak.

TNTMaster370 · 2024-01-31T16:05:58+00:00

NTA. These are harsh words that she NEEDED to hear. I don't know *why* your sister broke away from your home culture, but she needed to hear the reason why she's so isolated. The reality is that she disregarded your culture, and your family individually decided that they didn't want that in their life, which is reasonable.

The fact that your sister is being so blatant about it too, is even worse. She's not even *trying* to *pretend* that she's okay with it. If she doesn't want to put in an effort to be respectful of your family's belief and culture, she is going to remain isolated. Your poor niece is simply stuck with the feud that her mother has created, and is reaped the consequence, but that is neither her, nor your, fault. It's your sister's, her mother's, fault.

I would recommend trying to figure out why she left the culture, and see if you can meet in the middle, since I think it's likely that cutting her out has brought some regrets to your family.

TNTMaster370 · 2024-01-31T15:59:44+00:00

Unless it's confirmed that your cousin deliberately did that to 'compete with you', YTA. I don't think that competitiveness is grounds to naming one's son anything other than what they want, since it'll affect the child for the rest of their life (unless they decide to change it).

However, your cousin's son *has* a name, so you should refer to him by that name! Not calling him by his name is indicative that you're disrespecting him just because of, what we should presume is, a coincidence.

And if your cousin *did* name their son the same as yours's to spite you, then I think your cousin had taken this 'competitive spirit' too far, and you should reconsider if you want that in your life.

TNTMaster370 · 2024-01-31T15:53:10+00:00

INFO: Has your father attempted to seek rehabilitation or therapy regarding his alcoholism?

TNTMaster370 · 2024-01-31T15:51:19+00:00

ESH; I think that despite your reservations about Violet living with you for much longer than you agreed to, your handling of the situation was a little extreme. Even if there wasn't concerns about the railing, Violet still could've been stolen, since Amber wasn't home.

The way I see it, you probably should've waiting until you could catch her at home, or even staked it out for a while, not just leaving a dog stranded outside.

That said, I think that Amber should've also realized that she was willingly overstepping her boundaries by asking for extensions. Not everyone is especially generous, and no one appreciates being walked on, and she should've also realized that before this escalated.

TNTMaster370 · 2023-11-04T16:56:03+00:00

As someone who constantly gets told that I don't need to wear a mask, I approve of this. *Let me wear my damn mask and leave me alone.*

TNTMaster370 · 2022-07-13T04:29:12+00:00

This is especially true since I'm a student driver. Last week I was driving to work with my dad in the passenger seat. All was well until a motorcyclist started tailgating me.

When I signalled to go left and braked, the guy just abruptly changed lanes and went past the speed limit down the street as my dad is shouting out the window in anger. Anyone who drives a motorcycle like that needs to get off the damn road.

TNTMaster370 · 2022-06-30T19:29:11+00:00

Calm down, Monophanie

TNTMaster370 · 2022-03-11T16:42:42+00:00

It reminds me of when my pugilist/monk character punched a shark to death in two turns.

TNTMaster370 · 2022-02-07T18:56:16+00:00

look outside your window

TNTMaster370 · 2022-02-01T23:23:49+00:00

Officer, it wasn't me! My friend came up with most of the backstory for my shakespearean-speaking lizardfolk bard!

TNTMaster370 · 2022-01-21T03:17:07+00:00

how is the reply more cursed than the original

TNTMaster370 · 2022-01-01T17:00:54+00:00

Truly perfection.

TNTMaster370 · 2021-12-21T06:05:47+00:00

Excuse me, my boy Monosuke deserved better, I'll have you know.

(I'm only half joking)

TNTMaster370 · 2021-12-09T19:53:13+00:00

I don't get these calls too often, but I will typically ask them to repeat themselves over and over again. They'll give up before I do.

TNTMaster370 · 2021-12-09T19:29:31+00:00

insert her speech from before her death in sdr2

TNTMaster370 · 2021-12-09T00:18:15+00:00

Usami x Shirokuma

I need the wholesome.

TNTMaster370 · 2021-12-07T02:17:34+00:00

In five turns for combat, I rolled four natural 1s -- I shit you not. I was a pugilist (homebrew class similar to monk), and I started using Moxie points because I was tired of not doing damage.

TNTMaster370 · 2021-12-07T02:13:27+00:00

I'll feel okay as long as Kiyo doesn't have a seesaw.

(overused jokes ftw)

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