Speaking as a player I’ve had a Dm tell me after the fact that it was a good thing I went back into the burning airship to grab my backpack before jumping off of it to escape the fire.
We haven't had any major issues because if it, but yeah. The first part mostly only resulted in needing to be reminded. The second part has had one player backtrack to retrieve his handaxe from the previous room. Thats it.
My favorite was forgetting another character at the Inn. The player had to step out for like two months. So the party leaves town and tries to ask the rogue a question...
Player 1: So [rogue] you can break into the vault right?
DM: what rogue? Did you remember to wake them up at the Inn before you left?
Player 2: What?!? We left the rogue behind? I though she was asleep in the wagon!
Needless to say months later when the "forgotten" rogue returned, it was a bad day ending with the words:
"NEVER, leave me behind...again."
So...forgetting a key "item" for comedy is good in my book.
If they've forgotten something pertinent I'll often get them to roll for it. If they roll high enough I'll give them a subtle clue or I outright tell them. My players have however rolled very poorly in a couple of situations... Which is always fun as I then just brush it off and let fate take it's course.
My players have taken to using Tiny Hut every rest, and have not mentioned eating or drinking the last couple of days, seems fair to start applying exhaustion, or if they ask nicely they can retroactively eat some rations.
As a dm I assume that the characters are characters and not complete puppets of the players. I would assume the trained archer would automatically retrieve any arrows he could give he had time. The wizard with a 20 int, which is most likely smarter then the player wouldn't forget the password to a door that in his world was a hour ago, but in player time was last month's game session.
Now in a state of panic, like the above flaming airship, yes I might say you didn't say you grabbed your backpack, and in the state of panic you did forget it, but only if it helps my storyline out. I also do a plot point system I stole from the serenity rpg, so my players can amend the storyline and slide over some points to say wait I did remember.
No, I'm reasonably lenient on this. I endeavor to give the Players the "benefit of the doubt", up to a pretty forgiving point.
I think It all depends on what it is likely for the Character to forget, not just the Player - remember, they don't have the same experience of the world.
I don't have Characters walking around without pants, because the Player never mentioned getting dressed: the Character would remember that. A Character would know to take off their backpack before climbing through a narrow tunnel. They would likewise go back for their gear.
However, where I think it's possible or even likely for a Character to not think of something, I'll enforce that: the Wizard has to declare that they cast mage armorbefore they get hit in combat; the Players can't retroactively change up actions to employ combinations in combat, etc.
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When I was younger I would have done this, just for the laughs. But that's how things were over a quarter-century ago.
Now a days, I consider things like that as common sense. I wouldn't leave my house to head to the beach without my go-bag and a full hydroflask. It's something I do 3-5 times a week. Same as the PCs at my table waking up, grabbing their bedroll, filling their waterskins, and grabbing their packs.
Now... if there is a story element to it, I will allow for some things to get lost or stolen. But there will always be rolls and checks to spot/prevent such a thing.
Generally, I don't do either of these things. I usually assume the characters are competent and wouldn't make such mistakes.
That said, I'm currently running a more brutal survival campaign (with some heavily modified rules, including variant encumbrance), so you better believe I'll be keeping a closer eye on what equipment the PCs are carrying. But I'll still be giving the PCs the benefit of the doubt in these specific situations.
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What other brutal circumstances have you encountered?
Speaking as a player I’ve had a Dm tell me after the fact that it was a good thing I went back into the burning airship to grab my backpack before jumping off of it to escape the fire.
Professional computer geek
We haven't had any major issues because if it, but yeah. The first part mostly only resulted in needing to be reminded. The second part has had one player backtrack to retrieve his handaxe from the previous room. Thats it.
Yes, both as a player and a DM.
My favorite was forgetting another character at the Inn. The player had to step out for like two months. So the party leaves town and tries to ask the rogue a question...
Player 1: So [rogue] you can break into the vault right?
DM: what rogue? Did you remember to wake them up at the Inn before you left?
Player 2: What?!? We left the rogue behind? I though she was asleep in the wagon!
Needless to say months later when the "forgotten" rogue returned, it was a bad day ending with the words:
"NEVER, leave me behind...again."
So...forgetting a key "item" for comedy is good in my book.
Omg that's hilarious!!!!!
Not since I was like twelve, back in the 'DM vs players' mentality bad-old-days
If they've forgotten something pertinent I'll often get them to roll for it. If they roll high enough I'll give them a subtle clue or I outright tell them. My players have however rolled very poorly in a couple of situations... Which is always fun as I then just brush it off and let fate take it's course.
My players have taken to using Tiny Hut every rest, and have not mentioned eating or drinking the last couple of days, seems fair to start applying exhaustion, or if they ask nicely they can retroactively eat some rations.
As a dm I assume that the characters are characters and not complete puppets of the players. I would assume the trained archer would automatically retrieve any arrows he could give he had time. The wizard with a 20 int, which is most likely smarter then the player wouldn't forget the password to a door that in his world was a hour ago, but in player time was last month's game session.
Now in a state of panic, like the above flaming airship, yes I might say you didn't say you grabbed your backpack, and in the state of panic you did forget it, but only if it helps my storyline out. I also do a plot point system I stole from the serenity rpg, so my players can amend the storyline and slide over some points to say wait I did remember.
I have and in various forms or ways.
No, I'm reasonably lenient on this. I endeavor to give the Players the "benefit of the doubt", up to a pretty forgiving point.
I think It all depends on what it is likely for the Character to forget, not just the Player - remember, they don't have the same experience of the world.
I don't have Characters walking around without pants, because the Player never mentioned getting dressed: the Character would remember that. A Character would know to take off their backpack before climbing through a narrow tunnel. They would likewise go back for their gear.
However, where I think it's possible or even likely for a Character to not think of something, I'll enforce that: the Wizard has to declare that they cast mage armor before they get hit in combat; the Players can't retroactively change up actions to employ combinations in combat, etc.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
When I was younger I would have done this, just for the laughs. But that's how things were over a quarter-century ago.
Now a days, I consider things like that as common sense.
I wouldn't leave my house to head to the beach without my go-bag and a full hydroflask. It's something I do 3-5 times a week. Same as the PCs at my table waking up, grabbing their bedroll, filling their waterskins, and grabbing their packs.
Now... if there is a story element to it, I will allow for some things to get lost or stolen. But there will always be rolls and checks to spot/prevent such a thing.
...cryptographic randomness!
Generally, I don't do either of these things. I usually assume the characters are competent and wouldn't make such mistakes.
That said, I'm currently running a more brutal survival campaign (with some heavily modified rules, including variant encumbrance), so you better believe I'll be keeping a closer eye on what equipment the PCs are carrying. But I'll still be giving the PCs the benefit of the doubt in these specific situations.