So I have this rule in D&D where if you know how to make it irl then you can make it in the game provided you have the right resources. Well one day my player comes up to me and asks “can I build a nuke?” To which I remind them of my rule, then they inform me that they not only know every step of making a nuke but also every step on how to make an antimatter bomb, heat seeking missiles, as well as fighter jets. I then asked how they planned on getting the resources to which they reminded me that I had mentioned that this world had the same resource layout as the real world. They are now wreaking havoc on my campaign, what should I do?
First off, I love that idea for a rule. But on topic, I personally would have the enemy adapt and create anti-aircraft, stealth fighters, and more. If you don’t want to go down the modern route, MAGIC!
Another thing that you could do is just try to talk with him, maybe convince him to stop, but if he’s unwilling then just try to tell him to tone it down a notch.
So I have this rule in D&D where if you know how to make it irl then you can make it in the game provided you have the right resources. Well one day my player comes up to me and asks “can I build a nuke?” To which I remind them of my rule, then they inform me that they not only know every step of making a nuke but also every step on how to make an antimatter bomb, heat seeking missiles, as well as fighter jets. I then asked how they planned on getting the resources to which they reminded me that I had mentioned that this world had the same resource layout as the real world. They are now wreaking havoc on my campaign, what should I do?
Frankly, you're at the "divine intervention" point, though before you do that in-game you need to sit down with the player and explain that you are now redefining the borders of what can be crafted because they broke the game with making all this modern stuff.
Just saying that, as I am the player mentioned in this post, know that reasoning is not an option. I would genuinely like someone to take me on here in the comments. I dare y'all.
So I have this rule in D&D where if you know how to make it irl then you can make it in the game provided you have the right resources. Well one day my player comes up to me and asks “can I build a nuke?” To which I remind them of my rule, then they inform me that they not only know every step of making a nuke but also every step on how to make an antimatter bomb, heat seeking missiles, as well as fighter jets. I then asked how they planned on getting the resources to which they reminded me that I had mentioned that this world had the same resource layout as the real world. They are now wreaking havoc on my campaign, what should I do?
Frankly, you're at the "divine intervention" point, though before you do that in-game you need to sit down with the player and explain that you are now redefining the borders of what can be crafted because they broke the game with making all this modern stuff.
Funny thing is, I have an ining of an idea on how to break the universe and therefore render divine intervention useless by messing with some sci-fi antimatter bs
So I have this rule in D&D where if you know how to make it irl then you can make it in the game provided you have the right resources.
So your game world is the In Another World with my Smartphone isekai scenario. You've now found out why the rest of us let the players know it's a world of magic, not physics.
First, learn to say 'No'. Second, end the campaign. Let him narrate how he takes over/destroys the world. Learn from this mistake. This is why there are limits to what the player characters can know. Another option is to have him make the rolls to find the items he needs to advance technology 1,000 years during his character's lifetime, determine the time line needed, then his character goes off to do that while the rest of the players' characters enjoy the campaign's adventure. If they want to. After all the ending to the world has already been determined, nothing they do will end up mattering.
Just saying that, as I am the player mentioned in this post, know that reasoning is not an option. I would genuinely like someone to take me on here in the comments. I dare y'all.
I could just hit your character with a Feeblemind. No, you do not have the technological know how to avoid that. It's magic. Earth does not have anti-magic technology. Yes, a deity's save DC is going to be higher than you can roll and a Natural 20 is only a guaranteed success on an attack. A Wish Spell or Divine Intervention dropping your character into a Black Hole (Shar is essentially a black hole, btw) would also work. No, you do not know how to travel faster than light to escape. Nobody does.
No, you can't "break the universe" with some "Sci-Fi anti-matter BS" because the rule is if you know how to make it in real life you can make it in the game. Science Fiction isn't real. You don't know how to make it since it doesn't exist. So you can't make it. You also couldn't acquire enough anti-matter. It costs a quadrillion dollars for a single gram. Even if you did, the most you could do is break the Wild Space around the world the campaign is set in. You're not affecting the Astral Sea or the other areas of Wild Space that are accessible through the Astral Sea.
Also this is set in mid medieval era (around 1100 ce) and also who said that the technology had to exist? I could just create my own. I'll also have you know that the dm made the mistake of giving me a wizard with infinite time stop.
You made two mistakes. Your first was the rule itself - D&D is a roleplaying game, which involves stepping into a character’s role to play as them. Character knowledge is the primary focus of what a player can do, not player knowledge, which is what you permitted.
Your second mistake was believing the player. They might know the basics of those things; I can guarantee they do not know “every step” of making a nuke, a plane, or something that is fictional. After all, if the first two things had easy to understand steps, everyone would have them… and if the third was, it would be a real thing. They either lied to you or vastly overestimate their own knowledge; in either case, you should not have bought what they were selling.
Moving forward, you really should reconsider this rule, and be more willing to tell your players they are spouting nonsense.
What do you do about this campaign? Honestly, I would take it behind the barn and put it out of its misery - it seems like you have allowed it to go so far afield of where things started that (a) it is not even the same game anymore, (b) you clearly are not happy about where it is, and (c) I expect other players likely are not thrilled about one player being permitted to troll their way into breaking their fantasy game.
Beyond that, you can use divine intervention to reset time. Or kill the player - your DM powers eclipse anything they come up with, no matter how loudly they scream to the contrary. Or just retcon everything - admit you made a mistake, and turn back the in-game clock and have everyone treat it as if it never happened.
And, remember, if this player does not want to play your fantasy game, you don’t have to keep them. You can always kick out someone. That might be your best option if they continue to try and break your game, even knowing that their actions are a problem.
This whole thread reminds me of an April Fools prank from long, long ago in Dragon Magazine where they published a letter from someone who claimed to have destroyed the entire D&D multiverse and demanded that everyone send him all their characters' record sheets so he could properly tally up how much XP his character got. And this player's claim that they can build nuclear weapons should be treated just as seriously.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
So I have this rule in D&D where if you know how to make it irl then you can make it in the game provided you have the right resources. Well one day my player comes up to me and asks “can I build a nuke?” To which I remind them of my rule, then they inform me that they not only know every step of making a nuke but also every step on how to make an antimatter bomb, heat seeking missiles, as well as fighter jets. I then asked how they planned on getting the resources to which they reminded me that I had mentioned that this world had the same resource layout as the real world. They are now wreaking havoc on my campaign, what should I do?
First off, I love that idea for a rule. But on topic, I personally would have the enemy adapt and create anti-aircraft, stealth fighters, and more. If you don’t want to go down the modern route, MAGIC!
Another thing that you could do is just try to talk with him, maybe convince him to stop, but if he’s unwilling then just try to tell him to tone it down a notch.
Hope this helps!
Frankly, you're at the "divine intervention" point, though before you do that in-game you need to sit down with the player and explain that you are now redefining the borders of what can be crafted because they broke the game with making all this modern stuff.
Thanks I appreciate the advice
Just saying that, as I am the player mentioned in this post, know that reasoning is not an option. I would genuinely like someone to take me on here in the comments. I dare y'all.
Thanks a lot!
Peace was never an option
Also I have a radar. Fyi.
Okay, in this case you just drop a bolt of divine judgement on the character, bid the player a good day, and the rest of the table moves on.
You think I can't defend against that?
You genuinely underestimate my power.
Don't worry I don't do anything too bad...
I don't think so, at least.
Aside from murdering an army because I thought it was funny. Im also learning how to create computers and create Bitcoin for profit.
Funny thing is, I have an ining of an idea on how to break the universe and therefore render divine intervention useless by messing with some sci-fi antimatter bs
Sorry Popcorn but the DM never looses. They make and break the rules.
Either play nice or your not playing again. Its that simple.
Become a Dm if you want to play god like that.
Honestly, I'm pretty sure they're just trolling by this point. Probably best to just let this particular discussion lie now.
So your game world is the In Another World with my Smartphone isekai scenario. You've now found out why the rest of us let the players know it's a world of magic, not physics.
First, learn to say 'No'. Second, end the campaign. Let him narrate how he takes over/destroys the world. Learn from this mistake. This is why there are limits to what the player characters can know. Another option is to have him make the rolls to find the items he needs to advance technology 1,000 years during his character's lifetime, determine the time line needed, then his character goes off to do that while the rest of the players' characters enjoy the campaign's adventure. If they want to. After all the ending to the world has already been determined, nothing they do will end up mattering.
I could just hit your character with a Feeblemind. No, you do not have the technological know how to avoid that. It's magic. Earth does not have anti-magic technology. Yes, a deity's save DC is going to be higher than you can roll and a Natural 20 is only a guaranteed success on an attack. A Wish Spell or Divine Intervention dropping your character into a Black Hole (Shar is essentially a black hole, btw) would also work. No, you do not know how to travel faster than light to escape. Nobody does.
No, you can't "break the universe" with some "Sci-Fi anti-matter BS" because the rule is if you know how to make it in real life you can make it in the game. Science Fiction isn't real. You don't know how to make it since it doesn't exist. So you can't make it. You also couldn't acquire enough anti-matter. It costs a quadrillion dollars for a single gram. Even if you did, the most you could do is break the Wild Space around the world the campaign is set in. You're not affecting the Astral Sea or the other areas of Wild Space that are accessible through the Astral Sea.
I mean detonating enough anti matter bombs simultaneously that physics, which breaks from black holes, would break to completely playable levels.
Thank you very much
Also this is set in mid medieval era (around 1100 ce) and also who said that the technology had to exist? I could just create my own. I'll also have you know that the dm made the mistake of giving me a wizard with infinite time stop.
You made two mistakes. Your first was the rule itself - D&D is a roleplaying game, which involves stepping into a character’s role to play as them. Character knowledge is the primary focus of what a player can do, not player knowledge, which is what you permitted.
Your second mistake was believing the player. They might know the basics of those things; I can guarantee they do not know “every step” of making a nuke, a plane, or something that is fictional. After all, if the first two things had easy to understand steps, everyone would have them… and if the third was, it would be a real thing. They either lied to you or vastly overestimate their own knowledge; in either case, you should not have bought what they were selling.
Moving forward, you really should reconsider this rule, and be more willing to tell your players they are spouting nonsense.
What do you do about this campaign? Honestly, I would take it behind the barn and put it out of its misery - it seems like you have allowed it to go so far afield of where things started that (a) it is not even the same game anymore, (b) you clearly are not happy about where it is, and (c) I expect other players likely are not thrilled about one player being permitted to troll their way into breaking their fantasy game.
Beyond that, you can use divine intervention to reset time. Or kill the player - your DM powers eclipse anything they come up with, no matter how loudly they scream to the contrary. Or just retcon everything - admit you made a mistake, and turn back the in-game clock and have everyone treat it as if it never happened.
And, remember, if this player does not want to play your fantasy game, you don’t have to keep them. You can always kick out someone. That might be your best option if they continue to try and break your game, even knowing that their actions are a problem.
This whole thread reminds me of an April Fools prank from long, long ago in Dragon Magazine where they published a letter from someone who claimed to have destroyed the entire D&D multiverse and demanded that everyone send him all their characters' record sheets so he could properly tally up how much XP his character got. And this player's claim that they can build nuclear weapons should be treated just as seriously.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Alright, that's easy.
You are no longer welcome at the table. Find someone else to play with.