I'm not sure where to post this but it felt like this was the right place to post as its a question to DMs
So we have started a new campaign the DM has allowed us to have magic items if they are checked by the DM (fair and reasonable) so
I have a homebrew one that's a cloth that when I put it on I loss all sight but get blindsight for 10 ft and I have a deck of illusions (They know about the cloth not the deck of illusions)
The Next PC has a bag of holding (has been spoken about in character)
Third has the blade of broken mirrors but has been customised to not have sentience, Dust of disappearance, Dust of Dryness and Dust of sneezing and Choking. (None of this has been spoken about in character but (i know bad person and I shouldn't have but i looked at their Character sheet on DND beyond)
So I guess the question/s I have is:
Is it fair? (I think i know the answer to this)
How do I approach the topic with the DM and be like "ummm wtf?"
How do I approach the topic with the DM and be like "ummm wtf?"
"Fair" is relative to the observer. I've only got the picture you've painted, but IMO, no it's not, but I also don't have perfect knowledge of the entire sitiuation. Also, my opinion doesn't carry any weight in your game, only your's, the other players', and your DM.
Depends on how implicitly you trust your DM to actually run a fair and fun game. You could politely explain that you can't unsee what has been seen, and well... ummmm... wtf? Or, you could chalk it up to a personal growth moment and see where this actually goes. I might suggest the "wait to see how this plays out" path, as you don't know, and apparently aren't supposed to have that meta-knowledge, and could potentially be working to squash a plot reveal later on.
Just my 2cp.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I like your optimism but it's their 4th session ever playing so I don't think that's the case.
As well as the only time I've tried to approach this with the DM he basically said do not look at that characters sheet and specified the character
sounds like a macguffin that they don't even get to swing around in a normal fight. either let the plot resolve or work on your legerdemain (but prepare to have your mage hand slapped in the name of preserving that same plot).
Yea that's very fair i can't argue, it is funny cause i often have the view of " X is relative" so yea i think i will just have to wait and see what happens with it.
Just a quick question ... has the player used this Blade of Broken Mirrors? It is described as a jagged stone dagger and even the lowest levels of it have some properties that would be visible to the rest of the party. From what I can see, the blade is also an artifact which places it far beyond a low level character unless it is part of a DM (and likely the player since the item has its proper name on the character sheet) planned plot line.
The main issue I can see is that artifacts tend to warp the storyline a DM is creating since their baseline powers and capabilities can be well above the characters (you didn't mention what level you are). In addition, if the DM is creating a storyline about the dagger it will implicitly involve the backstory of the character that possesses the dagger. If there is unfairness here, that is what I would be concerned about since the character with the dagger could come to dominate the story narrative which isn't fair to the other characters/players who become the sidekicks to the main character. However, with so little information to go on, it is impossible to say what might be going on.
If you trust the DM and are otherwise enjoying the game then I'd continue to play and see how it winds up. If the blade ends up making the specific character over-powered or become the center of plot and narrative at the expense of the other characters/players then I'd politely bring the issue up with the DM and if you aren't having fun just walk away from the game. It isn't fun to play in a game where the DM is playing favorites. On the other hand, the DM may have a cool plot line in mind that ties into that particular characters backstory and the artifact and they may have planned it so the other characters become equally involved and engaged with the narrative, in which case it will be fun to play.
P.S. All the dust items are limited use consumables - two of them only have one use - so they aren't really balanced against a permanent magic item.
P.P.S. Your Blindfold of Blindsight is quite a powerful item since it replicates the effect of a feat that lets you choose a fighter fighting style though in this case it is limited to just Blindsight. How powerful it is will depend on how the DM runs the sight/seen/unseen/hidden rules - usefulness will also depend on whether it takes an action to put on or whether you can do it as an object interaction.
Being frank, I've never let a party start with magic items. The honest reason for this is that not even the players themselves know how the game or their characters will pan out when they begin the game. So, I wait a while until I see how players interact with the world and then offer magic items here and there tailored to their playstyles.
The problem with starting with the magic items is the same as starting above level one. You immediately create 1,000s more variables that make the play sessions less predictable and more difficult to plan for. What that means is that I'd say I don't think there is a way to be fair when starting player characters off with magic items.
It also doesn't sound like a terribly good idea to let players choose them. There's already a lot of choice in just creating a level one character, to allow players to chooce a magic item...yikes. It kinda feels like a warning sign that your DM isn't terribly experienced and there are going to be some traps they'll fall into. That is though part of the process. We all fall into those traps we lay for ourselves and hopefully come out the other side a better DM.
What I would say is that if your DM is the type of person who likes to keep a lot hidden away (like other player character sheets) then it might be worth asking what they are doing to ensure the world and the game stays balanced. It is after all a legitimate question. Be careful here though, if you already feel that there's a lack of balance or equity in the group dynamic, that could become a point of friction and ultimately a destabilising force in the group. If that is a concern you have...talk openly and honestly with your DM. If they listen and at least aknowledge that you are concerned about these things that'll be a good first step. If they don't listen however...that's probably a sign that you may wish to find a new group. It rarely bodes well.
Of course, I am only judging by my own experience and how I have read this thread. Only you will know for sure if any of what I have said applies to you and the group/DM
I'm not sure where to post this but it felt like this was the right place to post as its a question to DMs
So we have started a new campaign the DM has allowed us to have magic items if they are checked by the DM (fair and reasonable) so
So I guess the question/s I have is:
Well, if I was a DM then the Blade of Broken Mirrors would be getting hunted by somebody else who wanted to possess it.
If you know the link to the character sheet, then maybe the player has it there specifically to annoy other players ;-)
I like your optimism but it's their 4th session ever playing so I don't think that's the case.
As well as the only time I've tried to approach this with the DM he basically said do not look at that characters sheet and specified the character
Just my 2cp.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
sounds like a macguffin that they don't even get to swing around in a normal fight. either let the plot resolve or work on your legerdemain (but prepare to have your mage hand slapped in the name of preserving that same plot).
unhappy at the way in which we lost individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
tell them you don't like features disappeared quietly in the night: provide feedback!
Yea that's very fair i can't argue, it is funny cause i often have the view of " X is relative" so yea i think i will just have to wait and see what happens with it.
Thank you :) your 2cp is welcomed
Just a quick question ... has the player used this Blade of Broken Mirrors? It is described as a jagged stone dagger and even the lowest levels of it have some properties that would be visible to the rest of the party. From what I can see, the blade is also an artifact which places it far beyond a low level character unless it is part of a DM (and likely the player since the item has its proper name on the character sheet) planned plot line.
The main issue I can see is that artifacts tend to warp the storyline a DM is creating since their baseline powers and capabilities can be well above the characters (you didn't mention what level you are). In addition, if the DM is creating a storyline about the dagger it will implicitly involve the backstory of the character that possesses the dagger. If there is unfairness here, that is what I would be concerned about since the character with the dagger could come to dominate the story narrative which isn't fair to the other characters/players who become the sidekicks to the main character. However, with so little information to go on, it is impossible to say what might be going on.
If you trust the DM and are otherwise enjoying the game then I'd continue to play and see how it winds up. If the blade ends up making the specific character over-powered or become the center of plot and narrative at the expense of the other characters/players then I'd politely bring the issue up with the DM and if you aren't having fun just walk away from the game. It isn't fun to play in a game where the DM is playing favorites. On the other hand, the DM may have a cool plot line in mind that ties into that particular characters backstory and the artifact and they may have planned it so the other characters become equally involved and engaged with the narrative, in which case it will be fun to play.
P.S. All the dust items are limited use consumables - two of them only have one use - so they aren't really balanced against a permanent magic item.
P.P.S. Your Blindfold of Blindsight is quite a powerful item since it replicates the effect of a feat that lets you choose a fighter fighting style though in this case it is limited to just Blindsight. How powerful it is will depend on how the DM runs the sight/seen/unseen/hidden rules - usefulness will also depend on whether it takes an action to put on or whether you can do it as an object interaction.
Being frank, I've never let a party start with magic items. The honest reason for this is that not even the players themselves know how the game or their characters will pan out when they begin the game. So, I wait a while until I see how players interact with the world and then offer magic items here and there tailored to their playstyles.
The problem with starting with the magic items is the same as starting above level one. You immediately create 1,000s more variables that make the play sessions less predictable and more difficult to plan for. What that means is that I'd say I don't think there is a way to be fair when starting player characters off with magic items.
It also doesn't sound like a terribly good idea to let players choose them. There's already a lot of choice in just creating a level one character, to allow players to chooce a magic item...yikes. It kinda feels like a warning sign that your DM isn't terribly experienced and there are going to be some traps they'll fall into. That is though part of the process. We all fall into those traps we lay for ourselves and hopefully come out the other side a better DM.
What I would say is that if your DM is the type of person who likes to keep a lot hidden away (like other player character sheets) then it might be worth asking what they are doing to ensure the world and the game stays balanced. It is after all a legitimate question. Be careful here though, if you already feel that there's a lack of balance or equity in the group dynamic, that could become a point of friction and ultimately a destabilising force in the group. If that is a concern you have...talk openly and honestly with your DM. If they listen and at least aknowledge that you are concerned about these things that'll be a good first step. If they don't listen however...that's probably a sign that you may wish to find a new group. It rarely bodes well.
Of course, I am only judging by my own experience and how I have read this thread. Only you will know for sure if any of what I have said applies to you and the group/DM
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