DnD Party Turn On Each Other For Stupid Reason | r/rpghorrorstories

[@ArawnNox]

That first game was clearly already a powder keg ready to burst and OP unknowingly lit the fuze. I cant help but get a bit of a chuckle out of it.

[@shadiafifi54]

Yeah, that's my read. Everyone had existing grudges OP had no knowledge of, OP's actions just was the last straw.

[@Creshosk]

That they were a Jester makes it even better.

[@unluckyone1655]

A jester causing chaos. It's just * chefs kiss *

[@Xylarxcode]

2nd story: The girlfriend sounds like a keeper to me. She stood up for her boyfriend and when it got revealed how shitty they treated him, she picked his side over staying in the game, the latter being how these stories usually go. It's nice to see one about a supportive partner for once.

[@AmaryInkawult]

Hells yeah, she got that fire in her and it's stoked for the right reasons.

[@AmaryInkawult]

Lovers watch each others backs

[@paulman34340]

Yep, I have to imagine the asswipes assumed he'd "bow out" as to not cause trouble and they'd get to keep GF. Instead they got shamed and scold and lost a player! My guess is their Gatekeeper types who feel they need to close ranks. But then WHY let him join up and think he'll be able to play in the first place? Just two asshole friends and bystanders who wanted Popcorn. May they're group break up over this (Me hopes Player 4 gets arrogant because DM worked with him on screwing OP over and it eventually causes the groups collapse, they more then deserve it! I can't FANTHOM ruining someone's first "testing" experience and wasting their time like this for a JOKE! Not even since they don't know OP enough to even DO THAT)

[@pippo17173]

I always say when situations like this happen, it when their true characters shows and the GF shows she is a massive keeper.

[@Fuzzycatfur]

Yeah, I had a similar situation, but my ex was trash and didn't have my back. On top of some ooc issues with the session that also damaged the relationship, I didn't even try DnD again for 4 years. Damn is it so much better without her involvement.

[@CooperAATE]

That 1st story is HILARIOUS lmao. Everybody overreacted big time 2nd story pissed me off. Why let them play if you were gonna kill them immediately?! 3rd story is... what? 4th story just started, but I'm happy Doge finally pronounced "preface" correctly lol

[@ketrava0425]

They couldn't just ask him to pkay another class? I'll be honest story 2 sounds like the old, "We like your girlfriend and think she's hot. And don't like you, her boyfriend. So we're going to emasculate you in game because we all think we have a chance once you're out of the way." What an other steaming pile of garbage and I hope their game crashed and they were not Not able to find another what a bunch of elitist assholes

[@KyurekiHana]

In regards to the second story, it was a power move, like hazing. Those who give in and submit to being bullied stay, and those who don't leave.

[@doktorroast2819]

@@KyurekiHana sounded like a slug move to me

[@1kokokala10]

Story 2: I hate hate HATE it when someone ruins DnD for someone else. It's the worst feeling and one that could be avoided if they weren't assholes or just were upfront about them wanting a more balanced out party and IDK showing OP the barbarian class or something. GF is a real MVP and the fact that she was just as out of the loop as OP show this group wasn't worth staying in

[@Fuzzycatfur]

Yeah, and that story really hit close to home for me cause DnD WAS ruined for me by my ex gf, I was basically her plus 1 to the group she was in, they weren't very welcoming of me being added in like that and also seemed to have issues with my then gf (which I definitely understand). If there was rp, you'd need a cipher for it cause everybody was talking over each other to the point it became background drivel even if you were trying to keep track. Then my character died out of combat in a very "rocks fall and you die" fashion cause they didn't make it clear they do crit fails. My ex didn't gaf, then to top it off my ex let them run the game till 11 PM, knowing I had some VERY seldom personal business to attend to early the next morning since there was a death in my family...when she was my ride. Only just got back into DnD this year after 4 years. Have another horror story with my ex where tried to be the DM, but all the players bailed (including myself) before it got too out of hand. DnD is SO much better without her.😊

[@sailorsloth8183]

2nd story: Why do some people feel the need to humiliate and “epically pwn” fellow players like that just because they don’t like their class or build? Just tell them to pick something else. You’ll save everyone’s time and, even better, not turn yourself into a complete tool over a freaking dice game. It’s not even like Fighters are a super niche class. There are so many different ways it can be played between stats, subclasses, fighting styles and feats. Even two Battlemasters can be very different.

[@Juju2927]

The worst about it is how everyone basically were OK to invite the guy KNOWING he would die in five minutes then proceeds to PLAY 5 HOURS IN FRONT OF HIM. If they just wanted to be petty, they should tell him to get out after killing him, not letting him stay and do nothing.

[@AmaryInkawult]

Daaaamn, that jester did his predecessors proud. He singlehandedly caused chaos by nicking a single ration. Jesters are usually chaotic on the battlefield or the court, never heard of them causing chaos UNINTENTIONALLY before but I'm not really surprised. Maybe they're just cursed.

[@DukeQuakem]

Unintentionally chaotic is the best kind of chaotic.

[@AmaryInkawult]

@@DukeQuakem it really is

[@jessewilley531]

The Captain wants them to have open tricorders on an away mission on a Pre-Warp culture? Even Kirk wouldn't be that blatant in violating The Prime Directive.

[@Wraithspartan]

Exactly what I was thinking. If the GM was on the ball (or OP had thought of it) he'd have been reminded of the PD as rationale for OP's suggestion.

[@jessewilley531]

@@Wraithspartan The player has two arguments in his favor though. One being 'A Private Little War'. Which I know is the one episode where Kirk is sorta the bad guy. The other being that it seems the higher up the chain of command you go in the Trekverse, the less likely you are to face real consequences for violating the Prime Directive. First day on the job, Sisko gets himself declared God. How is that not cultural contamination? The only person above the rank of ensign I've EVER seen get punished for violating General Order One was Tom Paris. But that brings us to Captain Janeway.... and mixing her and the Prime Directive into a discussion on the matter is something my brain is in no mood to discuss. It would eventually boil down to: If she asks around for help leaving the Delta Quadrant, that's a potential Prime Directive problem. But her very presence there is, in most cases, a Prime Directive problem. The whole point of the incident with Paris in episode Thirty Days was to prove that Janeway is a hypocrite... and if you factor in her behavior in Tuvix and the back story of Latent Image, sort of an awful person.

[@lyudmilapavlichenko7551]

1) 14 player party... Damn. 2) I hate hearing people getting turned off of D&D because of bad actors. 3) All it takes is one person to ruin the fun for everyone.

[@qu1253]

Being turned off of something permanently because of one bad experience is overdramatic, in my opinion.

[@Crocogator]

Man. I had an AD&D jester character way back in the day, too. He had a spiked mace designed like his own face called "The Last Laugh"

[@ByrdieFae]

Oh that sounds so awesome.

[@theratking013]

The first Story sounds perfect for someone who wants to be an evil Mastermind hiding in plain side and taking out the Heroes.

[@TheSqoad]

Wow, why even invite a player if you're just going to kill them right away and have them sit there for the rest of the session? What kind of ghouls are these people?

[@BlueTressym]

The arsehole kind.

[@Leiliel1]

If I was the DM for the first story...I'd probably be dead from overwork, but my ghost would ask the jester's player if they were okay with their character being a villain, because that is the kind of thing the Joker would be proud to even hear of.

[@IceLordCryo]

I started choking on my own spit at the reveal of a *14 PLAYER GAME* good god!

[@shadiafifi54]

And the bloodbath that followed was the prime example of why you shouldn't do that. Too many people in a group result in its inability to work together cohesively.

[@Creshosk]

I was in a 14 player game once. and it didn't feel over whelming. There was some conflict here and there but nothing to that level. Might have something to do with it being a friend group and not just a bunch of randos.

[@Gbusjones]

1e was a different game, larger parties, with henchmen was encouraged.

[@notoriouswhitemoth]

You'd think the trekkie would understand the importance of the prime directive...

[@faithrabbit4330]

Story 2, that's a quality partner right there

[@speks36]

Story 1: "You took my only food, now I'm gonna starve."

[@pulsefel9210]

oh dear lord that first one. no "yo who took me stuff?", "sorry i forgot to bring anything, pay you back later". just straight to the self tpk

[@briansmaller7443]

That first OP's character (and player) had the relatively known thiefly skill "Hide whilst sitting on couch"

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

6:55 has anyone ever heard a dnd story where the DM says no at this point? I'm just imagining your SO and their DM goes to all this trouble to hook you in and then say "should've joined while we still had space!" 😂

[@Asher_Tye]

Plot twist, this was Friendly's way of thinning the party to manageable levels

[@ganmerlad]

The first story *could* be used as a teaching moment for the group about not assuming things about other characters/players. I'm sure it wasn't tho. The DM was extremely passive. If I was the Jester, I don't know if I would have spoken up or not. I may have wanted to say something but the group sounded intimidating. What would be funny would be to find out later that the DM had told the Ranger that the jester/someone aside from the assassin took his rations, but Ranger decided to role-play accusing the assassin whom he already had a bad history with...so poor Jester was in needless shock watching it unfold. Story two -- the DM should have told the new guy his being a fighter was going to be a problem instead of discussing it with everyone EXCEPT the new guy and quickly killing him off just to get his character out of the way. That's a massive "you don't matter to us". :( Third story -- Pouty sounds like someone who likes getting attention from causing strife, from manipulating people into negative emotions. Someone getting angry at him would likely make his day. So when he takes the spotlight he wasn't supposed to have he's a tyrant, when he's supposed to be in the spotlight he refuses it knowing it will frustrate the other players. Not someone you want to spend much time around.

[@kyuven]

DMing for 14 players isnt an adventuring party, its a merc company. Many cities in CRPGs dont have that many named characters

[@7thsealord888]

Story #1 - Oops. Wow. Kind of hilarious, as who would have thought it would come to this? Depending on various factors, usually the "safe" number range for a party of Player-Characters is somewhere between 4 and 7. Fewer means likely gaps in capabilities and skills, more leads to individuals getting overshadowed, DM overload and .... stuff like this. Story #2 - Great girlfriend, lousy DM and party. Story #3 - Could have tried having a proper sitdown with Pouty, but maybe they tried that? Not mentioned here. If so, then booting was the only thing left. Story #4 - It's good that the Players allowed that their frequent character deaths were all on them and their choices. But I also feel like this DM was far too into killing characters right from the start.

[@brianvance1178]

Last story: I’d have definitely cussed out that dm after they killed my character without being allowed to try and save it. If we were playing in person, I might have even made his face become an intimate lover to the table before walking out, depending on how egregious his gaming sins were

[@marybdrake1472]

Ahh, it's always nice to see Simba's Zen face.

[@willropa4226]

Story 1: Just, wow, there's escalation, then escape velocity, then the party blowup. That's all I can really say, that just flew off the hook crazy fast. Story 2: That Fighter did NOT just ask everyone if they're ok with killing off OP, they just told DM that they did and everyone's onboard, and the DM rolled a -1 in investigation since "everyone" included OP's girlfriend who would never go along with that. That party was bad, you're good for leaving, and my condolences for your first time being burned at the stake. I hope you can find your way back to the game eventually. Story 3: What weird mood swings. "I want the spotlight!" "Alright, here ya go." "AHH! The light blinds me!" Weird. Story 4: Let it go down in history, if a DM annihilates a player with absolutely no chance of successfully evading the annihilation, they should have their DM license revoked.

[@scottharrop6720]

First story: Yeah. OP should have just spoken up about not having rations. Yet, if Ranger wasn't such a hothead, there wouldn't have been any PVP. Second story: I have to wonder if Player 4 didn't have a personal problem with OP before the session (something to do with the girlfriend?) and they all planned the insta-kill as a gag.

[@jessewilley531]

I ALWAYS cut off game player limits at 5-6, to depending on how high the power level. (A high powered game will have a limit of fewer players.) A 14 member party all at least 9th level is insane.

[@ketrava0425]

Honestly on the first story. I can understand that poor new player. They did the dumb and saw everyone willing to murder each other over a thing of rations. in my first 2 games. I wouldn't have said Anything either I would have been terrified of losing my character.

[@_NIKOS9_NIKOS]

1st story was legit peak comedy !

[@greeninja5991]

14 people? You can make 3 regular parties out of that

[@AmaryInkawult]

Shit, break out the booze and nachos and just have a regular party at that point.

[@RockR277]

Player 4: I don't want there to be 2 fighters A rational thinking person: Alright I'll ask them to play something else That entire group: Nah just lead 'em on and then kill 'em off right away

[@akmi1931]

First story, DM is a little at fault as well. But mostly because OP didn’t say either had to make any roll and the theft was automatic

[@dalejhunter1]

Part of me feels like the DM wanted to "thin the herd" in the most fun way possible. And what better way to do that than with a sneaky jester?

[@tesuniekataren46]

That first story, so funny. Couldn't have planned that if one tried to... I actually kind of think the in party rumble was good role play, though as a GM, I would have said that no one died from it, as they all still didn't want to "kill" people they knew so well and had worked together. Second story... Yeah. Thanks GM for that. I have my own horror story(s) about GMs targeting and killing my character with no chance of survival. (Don't worry, I got back at the GM in my own way.) Speaking of, can one submit horror stories to be considered other places besides Redit? Not sure if I can recall my account there..

[@VenathTehN3RD]

Story 3: Honestly, it makes complete sense to me. I feel like it's completely consistent with the behavior of someone who has Main Character Syndrome. Remember, in the instance where he didn't want to take the spotlight, it was in a session where other people were also being given the chance to shine. Other players were getting to do their own roleplay, and see their characters advance, and have experiences that didn't specifically revolve around him. People with Main Character Syndrome often seem to approach sharing the spotlight with about as much disdain as they do not having it at all. IMO, childishly refusing to participate in a session because you would have to share the stage with other people and then complaining afterwards that nothing happened (because other players were being given attention and it wasn't all about you) seems totally in-character for someone who feels like they need to be the center of attention.

[@JSRLPadre]

1) I must be chaotic evil for considering The Song of the Thieving Jester a Glory Story. 2) Instakilling a noob has no place in gaming EVER. Help a dude grow. That's how the community grows. 3) Don't be that guy 4) When is a game not a game? When there's zero chance of winning. DM was egotrippen.

[@animefanboy201]

Pouty didn't want the spotlight given, he wanted to take it by force, there's no joy in being a team player he had to forcibly take it when it was on someone else, otherwise he didn't care

[@black69071]

It feels like the DM only accepted OP as a player to be nice. However, they were looking for any excuses to not have op in the group.

[@dragonmasterknight7]

Pouty sounds terrible. They're in every sense an example of a person who enjoys taking things when they're not offered to him, but when they're openly offered the spotlight they take it as an insult on their character or the DM trying to railroad them. Honestly, that group should have kicked him after the Star Trek campaign as it only set an example of what would come.

[@feniu10]

I think, even if I was alligned good. I'd not resist the urge to just emerge at the end of that fight, giggle, and eat more stolen rations

[@valivali8104]

Sounds like group in 1st story would have started to fight each other sooner or later, very likely in situation which would have caused TPK.

[@dalejhunter1]

Story 1: To be fair, I feel like I'd be one of those players who'd watch a train wreck just... happen... in full. Like just open up a bad of popcorn and just see what happens. While the OP is very sorry over the whole ordeal, I do think he saw the whole spectacle as funny in some way. A whole party civil war... over some rations.

[@ShyBiiteVT]

Good on the OP's girlfriend in the second story for siding with OP and telling off that vile group before leaving. It's one thing to do this to a regular player. It's another thing to do this to a brand new player who was clearly veryy excited to play. Especially after spending so much money too. All because one player didn't want another of the same class showing them up. I hope that group's game completely fell apart afterwards in the worst way possible.

[@waifusmith4043]

The thumbnail being Luffy ia pretty fitting

[@andrwblood9162]

Oh, I know exactly what Main Character Syndrome until doing the exact opposite is. A person who's Holier Than Thou. HTT's will definitely take the main role, but are "gracious" enough to let the little people shine... completely oblivious that cue was for them to have center stage. Imagine some white dude going to a impoverished black neighborhood so that they can *save* some kids. Not help them... saaaave them.

[@vortega472]

Simba! I've said it before - but I love that face. I feel bad for the player of the Jester - he should have spoken up.

[@sampersonguy5337]

There is a sense in which to maintaining realism you should dictate that a low level character should just always die to an assassination attempt but if we applied that logic consistently then there simply would be no game, rule of cool always wins

[@qu1253]

2nd story: That is just monumentally dick headed behavior. Why even invite this player to the table when you've unanimously agreed to kill him off as soon as he's introduced? Especially when he seemed so enthusiastic about the game. Why is it so hard to just talk about it like adults if his character isn't a good fit? Good on the girlfriend for telling these morons off.

[@paulman34340]

Yeah, at least their action had the consequence of losing them a player as well! She likely sucked the fun out of whatever they found funny humiliating OP like that! I'm sure those who "Tagged along" out of amusement have likely turned on Player 4 and/or DM over this, despite the fact THEY enabled it as well! Oh well good riddance if such a group collapsed in on themselves! Also OP is still the better Fighter! Player 4 Fighter had the help of a coward of a DM to ignore player agency to Diablos Ex Machina OP Fighter. I'm sure he and DM have already played out a bad fate for GF character to COPE with their action backfiring on them and her leaving the group which will cause TENSION as DM showed he's willing to throw his self-respect and professionalism as a DM away to placate Player 4, who's to say Player 4 won't assume he can keep exploiting it, or the others won't become paranoid of this possibility

[@dalejhunter1]

I never got that mentality. I assume the group is a genuinely good group if the GF hung out with them. This prank of theirs was just... mean. Like really mean. Body of an adult, mind of a group of brats, I guess.

[@N3rd_love]

Sounds like that 1st group was super toxic and OP was just the straw that broke the camels back

[@fateric007]

People actually track their rations? We don't even bother with it.

[@seto_kaiba_]

Honestly, if your party has 14 players-I’d be raising an eyebrow if there was no PVP. A game like that sounds fun though. Factions interparty rivalry juxtaposed with traditional adventuring sounds fun if you can believe it.

[@unluckyone1655]

I feel kindof bad for saying this, but story 1 was probably one of the funniest horror stories i have ever heard

[@ranchoth]

Happy ending: the jester later went to settle down for a nice, quiet job as a fruit cart license inspector in Al-Qadim.

[@nividicus]

1st story guy is low-key the ahole could've just borrowed or bought the ration off someone (later gave his gold to them so he definitely had some) instead of stealing from players

[@BlackRainRising]

Okay story 2 peeves me right off. Why let the person play, why not just say "hey no this won't work do you have a different idea in mind" not just off the person after wasting their time in character build... DM is a dick and fighter is a dick for instigating it. In the first game I ran we had 3 rogues, 2 fighters and a wizard... no one bitched, they had fun and I winged encounters based on what was on field so I didn't just outright stomp the party with a slew of casters or something ludicrous. I did keep putting a lot of sneaky bandits to keep the rogues busy so I was engaging everyone directly, I didn't just off a character because "there's too many of one kind" fuck that, have fun with what's there!

[@keybladewizard49]

Story 2- I hope eventually you're able to get past the horrible experience, and get to play the fighter you were so excited for in a way better party.

[@newbienoah9461]

Nah, judging from Pouty's behavior. I highly doubt that talking to him would work.

[@Nikodraws149]

Man, I hate stories where people bully new players so much. Like? Don't you want people to like and enjoy the same thing you do? I do not understand the mindset required to say "I'm going to make this the worst experience possible for this person who's trying to enjoy the hobby I love."

[@starofjustice1]

Gatekeepers come in all kinds.

[@BlueTressym]

The first story is funny but at the same time, I can't help but wonder why OP's first resort was to steal food instead of asking if anyone had some to spare and asking to cadge or buy some from them. I mean, unless everyone actively hates them, which we know they didn't, they're not going to let them just starve. Quite apart from that being an AH move, it's not in their interest, in general, to have an ally (supposedly, at least) not at their best. I know OP's PC has thief skills but that didn't compel him to steal rather than just ask, with an offer to pay the money for them. I'm not denying, BTW that it was a vast overreaction on the part of all involved but OP, just ask, you numpty. The second story is infuriating and OP was well shot of them. I'm glad his GF was supportive and I hope he does get back into the game, as the problem wasn't a bad game; it was arseholish people. Likewise, the third story is infuriating AND stupid.

[@Gbusjones]

2 or 3 sessions over the whole campaign... and they let you play a 1e bard? That is a extremely lenient dm. Bard required levels in fighter, mage, and rogue... and not multiclassed.

[@ceecee6521]

Maaaaan, I liked the old thumbnail better. I can see Luffy losing his shit over rations.

[@Wtfzipcode]

i swear, ive heard horror stories from that first user before

[@crinosG]

Honestly I wouldn't feel too bad about that first story. That sounded like the Balkan powder keg of DnD groups, If something that minor set off that catastrophe then anything would have done it.

[@ES-pj6hc]

Luffy is perfect for this One

[@BCBpwns]

Just wanna say youre doing an amazing job doge, keep up the good work

[@b003]

Note passers phffft! Never heard of "Zone of Truth", wow.

[@sunnyinvader4048]

First one is funny as hell

[@GarkKahn]

Ok if the 2nd story happened to me i would throw dnd to the trash can too

[@valivali8104]

Sounds like Pouty was role-play terrorist in low, manipulative way.

[@DevilFruitZero]

I hope those assholes come across the story and feel deep shame.

[@barriehannon6857]

that DM sounds fat

[@thedungeondelver]

I've run 14 players for months at a time; my group is much smaller now (just 10). I've run games for 24 at conventions. It's actually pretty easy.

[@arellajardin8188]

Second story: I rode in a car with no AC on a hot day, now I won't ride in cars anymore. I ate a pizza with burnt crust, so I'm turned off pizza. At one Chirstmas, I got socks a d argued with my sister, so now I don't attend Christmas.

[@Wraithspartan]

Effectively what that OP said. Thank you for illustrating just how ridiculous this mentality is.

[@informitas0117]

Story 2 must me fake, else my faith in the rpg community is gone.

[@rynowatcher]

Last one: I will say that is not an overly antagonistic dm for the time. One of an assasin's core abilities in 1e was the ability to attempt an assassination of anyone you knew about on down time with a single roll, and the setting was very politically divided (think game of thrones), so it is entirely possible you might be targeted for the situations of your birth because someone you never met because your death would cause a shift in the line of succession to someone who is more favorable to their political position. Especially if it is early in the game, I would not be upset, personally, but the context is lost on people that do not know the setting. It is like being mad about dying to a random encounter in dark sun.

[@willropa4226]

He seems pretty antagonistic at the end though. Can't just say an uber-powered wizard that suddenly poofs in, disintegrates a character, and ensures that revival is not an option is just "Bad luck". That's some intention right there.

[@rynowatcher]

@@willropa4226 RAW in 1e & 2e, a political rival or PC can hire an assasin, roll a d100, and based on the result, you might just die. That was just how the rules worked. You can do things like hire a spy master and guards to modify that roll, but it was quite literally out of your hands how that turned out. You had a 3% chance of catching a disease going to a new area, and there were save or die poisons caused in level 1 dungeons in the official modules. This was not considered antagonistic at the time so much as challenging. It was also the norm to have a few characters you are playing at the same time; your henchman would become your main character and you would play them. Generally, the system encouraged less attachment to a single character. It is also the reason pc's had large families in those days; if Cohen the barbarian died you could scratch out the name and write Carl the Barbarian, who is here to avenge his brother, and the game continues.

[@CooperAATE]

1st, glad to be back

[@Doodle1776]

I don't have an issue with killing a new players PC is they screw up. But doing it on purpose is BS. Every time a player dies (in total eight in the last couple of months between my groups) I try to get them back into the game asap with their new PC. It's rude as hell to have someone just sitting around watching everyone else. Lame as hell.

[@paulman34340]

Worse thing was DM "Diabolus Ex Machina" OP character to get the outcome he and player 4 wanted! It would be one thing if the odds were build against OP on purpose where the dice CAN create a possibility to survive! But DM went as far as MAKING an impossible roll and FORCING a death (no dice rolls to dodge, block, ETC) and fudging death Saves! Hopefully OP GF was a Lynchpin to the Group. Cause with her leaving, they will collapse and I say GOOD! Fuckers need to suffer for acting like Jackasses!

[@BCBpwns]

First!

[@slagarcrue85]

Was every body in that second story except the girl friend suffering from some type of brain damage. It sure as hell looks that way? Our they just entitled man babies. Ohhhh sick burn!