D&D Court: Invisible T-Rexes, Potion Cocktails, and A Visit to Swords R' Us
Jan 5, 2024
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D&D Court hears cases on character backstories and homebrew rules. They debate the consequences of dangerous rules and curses on characters. The hosts discuss potion mixing, luck with dice, and pop culture references. The episode ends with a grateful shoutout to listeners.
Communication and compromise are crucial in resolving conflicts during a D&D session.
Homebrew rules should be carefully considered to prevent unfair targeting and negative consequences for certain players.
DMs should be attentive to players' frustration levels and consider intervening earlier to maintain a positive gaming experience.
Deep dives
Mixing potions gone wrong
During a D&D session, a player decides to mix all of the potions in the group's bag of holding and drink the result. One player becomes frustrated when they are poisoned and demands that the healing potion mixture should counteract the poison. This leads to a heated argument and the player storming out of the session.
Controversial crit rules
A DM introduces a homebrew rule where critical hits result in double dice rolls plus max damage. One player expresses hesitancy, as this could lead to unbalanced encounters and potential player character deaths. The argument arises when the player feels unfairly targeted since the rule only resulted in negative effects for them, causing them to leave the session in anger.
Frustration over puzzle solution
During a D&D session, a player becomes increasingly frustrated when they are unable to solve a puzzle. After 15 rounds of combat, the player storms out, accusing the DM of targeting them. The DM questions whether they should have intervened earlier to relieve the player's frustration.
The Case of Fat Bastard versus Party of Normally Named Players
A player in a D&D campaign decided to play as Fat Bastard from Austin Powers, causing some issues at the table. During a quest to save kidnapped children from goblins, the player's character wanted to eat the children and became a final boss battle. The DM wonders if they are at fault for allowing this character concept or if the players are to blame for their actions. The verdict is that while it may have been fun, the player's character should not have been allowed in the campaign.
The Idiot Soul Swap
A player in a Curse of Strahd campaign experienced an unusual string of luck, rolling eight natural 20s in a row for non-essential rolls. The player laments that despite this amazing luck, they were unable to deal any significant damage during combat. The hosts provide some advice and consolation, suggesting that the player considers their lucky rolls on saving throws as a positive outcome, and to try pickling their dice under a full moon. The hosts also take on the player's curse by rolling their own dice, fatefully rolling a 2.
Dungeon Court is back in session! Join Justices Murphy, Tanner and Axford, as well as the smoldering, freshly birthed Bailiff James Hurwitz, as they convene to pass judgement on your trials at the table!