Greedy DnD DM Charges IRL Money For Items | r/rpghorrorstories

[@derekbowen5820]

The first DM is not just unfairly targeting the cleric player. Imagine how the Monk's player felt that their character's story arc boss didn't even bother fighting them?

[@mrosskne]

Jesus christ imagine saying "story arc boss" unironically. what the fuck happened to this hobby

[@AtelierGod]

Monks are frailer than wizards so he’d probably die anyway.

[@RiveroftheWither]

All because the petty dm is mad the support/utility caster is good at their job. She would rather nuke her game than let op "beat her" at DND.

[@RiveroftheWither]

​@@AtelierGodnot in 5e

[@AtelierGod]

@@RiveroftheWither yes they are, they might have less hp by like 1 per level but a wizard can simply multi class into a fighter and get medium armor proficiency and get a higher AC than a monk ever could when paired with the shield spell or better yet you start as a fighter then multi class into wizard you’ll both have con save proficiency and heavy armor proficiency which if you are a dwarf you can wear while still dumping your strength stat which if you go mountain dwarf you’ll just get medium armor proficiency as a racial bonus and can wear that as a straight wizard, and you’ll still be able to benefit from a full spell caster progression.

[@cozykomala]

I wasn't ready for a DnD session with microtransactions.

[@ranaku603]

That DM is such an amateur. He should've introduced lootboxes instead!

[@superiorrule34]

Throws spear at you.

[@cheeseymacky7061]

*casts fireball on you*

[@queworldwow6262]

​@@superiorrule34roll for the hit

[@ranaku603]

@@superiorrule34 Roll for the hit and if you miss you can reroll just for 2.99$! But only in a limited time window!

[@superiorrule34]

@@queworldwow6262 rolls a 19 hits you right in the chest.

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

My main issue with Doge's analysis of the first story is that the DM purposefully DIDN'T attack other PCs, even when there was a chance with an opportunity attack, just to save it for in case the OP's character backed up while being ganged up on. That's some serious spite and if they laughed it off during that incident they're going to do so again. They've spent a minimum of three sessions doing this. So the question is... why aren't the other players speaking up about this? Do they just not realize? I'd stop talking to DM about this privately and bring the whole group into it. Surely the others can remember 1 character dying 3 times back-to-back-to-back. If they don't see it as a problem even then, it's time to find a new group.

[@sailorsloth8183]

To be fair to the other players, it’s possible they’ve also tried talking to the DM about it one-on-one, and gotten similar responses. If I were the Monk player, I would be really upset that my character’s personal villain didn’t even try to attack me. But OP probably won’t know how the other players feel unless they ask, so I definitely agree with you that it’s a good idea to bring this issue up with the whole table.

[@AtelierGod]

From what I heard they were all newbies.

[@SinnerChrono]

I dont get why people dont leave bad groups..id rather run a game by myself for myself than play with shit people.

[@hollowblaze2320]

Why do I feel like Simba...is judging us lol "I know what you did in your last D&D game."

[@schwarzerritter5724]

I have a story very similar to the first one. Bandits are extorting people on the street. Rogue and Cleric don't want to cause a scene, but Monk and Barbarian attack. Barbarian goes first, activates Rage, finds out she can't get into melee range, so she throws a handaxe. The bandits go next, completely ignore the deranged fairy throwing axes at them and instead target Cleric who, as far as they know, could just be an innocent bystander. Cleric goes down, picks up a lingering injury that gives disadvantage on all charisma rolls and quits the game; about 1 hour after joining the campaign.

[@ShyBiiteVT]

First story: The fact that the DM had the main boss of another player's story arc focus solely on OP is proof that they were unfairly targeting OP. Second story: I would not be surprised at all if it turned out that greedy DM was none other than Bobby Kotick.

[@TigerW0lf]

I would have taken that DM to Small Claims Court. Show him what happens when a con man has to face consequences

[@vampire9545]

Would cost more for the accusers

[@marybdrake1472]

Those weren't micortransactions, they were pay to win macrotransactions. That guy was off the charts greedy, and that is why I have a problem with paid D&D. One too many won't even try to resist the temptation to charge more and milk people dry. And one is too many. As for the first story, the DM targets you and laughs it off once, you leave, period.

[@willlauzon3744]

Pay to play DnD is just dumb. I get it's an investment but the reward is everyone playing your story/game.

[@Creshosk]

Should have reported the greedy GM to whatever organization they used to find the greedy bastard. get him blacklisted so he can't prey on anyone else. Eesh. This video is full of DMs that need to be reported. Even that "Barrell dice" one. I'm sure the store would love to know that a DM running things there is kicking people out of their game for purchasing things from the store.

[@AmaryInkawult]

By the Gods that DM. I'd have left at the microtransactions first introduction.

[@mrosskne]

In another couple years it'll be standard and you'll be considered weird for having a problem with it.

[@AmaryInkawult]

@@mrosskne not if my bat has anything to say about it

[@DunantheDefender]

Ah yes, mindless undead: famed users of combat tactics.

[@fylimar]

Thank you, Doge, for making that joke about EA and Activision for the second story, I was going to write that the party wanted Larian and got EA XD

[@sentientbottlecap]

If EA was a person

[@CallMeKes]

Thank you Doge. I was having a rough morning (had to do blood work, so needed to skip my morning meds, including pain meds [have a severe pain condition], and then forgot my paperwork so have to drive all the way back home to get it). But now I'm home, snuggled in bed with yummy breakfast and DnD Doge to have my morning looking up.

[@TheRealHedgehogSonic]

Looks like they found themselves a DungEAn Master!

[@shadiafifi54]

The first story is clearly the DM targeting OP. Second story, the GM was definitely greedy. Yes, Chronurgy is an OP subclass even in 5e, but a good DM would either try to balance it out or just flat out ban it. This GM got too greedy for his own good and alienated his players. Wizard was smartest in the group. Third story: Clear case of bleed, shame about the game. Fourth Story: GM needs to go to horny jail. Bad GM. Fifth Story: I think the GM was afraid non-standard dice were easier to rig. That, or he's a jackass. Probably the latter because the other players cottoned on to the problems of such a GM and left.

[@DukeQuakem]

As the old says goes: "When in doubt of the DM targeting your cleric, cast Sanctuary and dodge" It will not stop completely receiving damage, but seeing the the DM wasting several turns, legenday actions or AOE attacks trying take you down will confirm your suspicions of him goin' all in against you.

[@paulman34340]

Especially if they play "Diablo Intervention" to get around Sanctuary (Remember this DM went as far as to TAKE CONTROL OF THE PC SOUL to make Revival VERY HARD just to make it permanent and that failed! Surprise she didn't try a BS move like one DM I remember who made even a NAT 20 an autofailure (they DIDN'T say the number to beat till AFTER the NAT 20 was rolled to REALLY cemented that they were going to do this and thought they were smart)

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

Bro that last story is some wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiild gatekeeping. "You stopped before doing [thing] but you explode and die anyway."

[@informitas0117]

Taking that much offense to a, never used, die even hours after it was taken away makes me think there is some mental issue thing on. I know a few people on the autism spectrum and particularly one of them has a very hard time with sudden change. So maybe that's it, but I'm not going to try to arm-chair this DMs life.

[@jessewilley531]

When I ran paid games... I never did microtransactions. Most of the paid GMs in my area did. So, I charged 2X more than them upfront. ($25 an hour or $100 a night whichever was less. Plus, if the game/adventure/character build they wanted required a sourcebook I didn't have, the cost of my own copy of said book. And we were running GURPS IOU... so yeah.... more books made more and more ridiculous scenarios. (Combined GURPS Illuminati University, Illuminati, Hi Tech, Magic, Psionics, Fantasy, Bunnies and Burrows, Alternate Earths, Time Travel, Space, Atomic Horror and somehow Pirates and Wild West.)

[@AtelierGod]

10:47 Maybe He’ll make Baldur’s Gate 4 EAlectric Boogaloo?

[@It_sSophiaUwU]

Did barrel dice kill the last dm's grandma or something?

[@johngleeman8347]

Those damned barrel dice are what his father "stepped out" to purchase some fifteen years ago.

[@phillee427]

It's always nice to hear when a player grows a pair

[@informitas0117]

I know they were young but someone must have understood they were being scammed. Never pay a DM more than the odd snack or meal.

[@alkhemi8175]

The thumbnail... lol, yeah Nami would totaly microtransaction the crew lol

[@jdhilde8871]

Yeah she does

[@mrosskne]

TBH I would totally have the party start as members of an adventuring guild that nickels and dimes the shit out of you with gacha and loot boxes for equipment, makes you buy access to higher level quests, makes you pay for level ups, etc. Eventually it's revealed that the guild is run by demons and the party gets their revenge on an antagonist they genuinely hate and therefore actually give a shit about.

[@dredthizz87]

That would be awesome if I'm understanding correctly... My understanding is you would be charging in game currency...?

[@mrosskne]

@@dredthizz87 yeah not actual money lmao

[@marlin6668]

PEOPLE CHARGE MONEY TO BE A DM??? I should be a billionaire. My life has been wasted.

[@paulmacdonald5135]

Bad enough that video game companies do that with their games but a DM doing it is down right cheap.

[@andrewparsons2391]

Second story- The DM followed after the players, furiously rubbing his huge ears. "Wait, hoo-mons, wait!" But they never returned to Quark's Bar.

[@amitamaru]

Is Simba a paladin or cleric? That choir music gives me wonder.

[@williek08472]

I agree, the Greedy DM would be a great employee at EA

[@Flame-rp6yq]

I've actually seen a very cool looking set of barrel dice that look like bullets, with the case looking like an oversized revolver barrel

[@informitas0117]

Never pay for DMs ever. It's never worth it. "I have no problem paying for a dm, they wouldn't run a game otherwise!" Ofc not they only want suckers at their table! I wanted to shake the pay pig players and yell wtf are they doing!?

[@vortega472]

Ah Simba, more refreshing than a cup of coffee. Oh and speaking of coffee - we got some Lucky - yes my little man I liked the video - ah a rolling kitten, pure joy.

[@Random_Chiroptera]

I look at it from MMO combat logic. Typically the largest damage dealer pulls the aggro. Healers are a strategically primary target, but rarely disregarding higher damage dealers.

[@christianknight1649]

The second story is basically my experience with Destiny: The Taken King. Dropped the entire series afterwards.

[@zakuraRabbit]

If the DM wants to insist on NPCs being paid in real money he should offer them real money as quest rewards too.

[@ShlongConnerry]

It's a wonder that people see a "paid DM" service and don't see it as a red flag.

[@Infinityxero]

In the first one, I'd put the DM on blast and try to get the other players to leave with if it were me. "If anyone hasn't noticed the DM has been only targeting my PC the last few sessions for whatever reason, she'll do the same to you if you do something she doesn't like." Or I'd just keep playing and let the DM reveal their true colors in front of everyone, it'll eventually surface.

[@avsabari1263]

As someone who runs paid games the microtransactions DM really pains me...

[@MaximumAaron]

Lol, I can understand wanting to charge a little to DM a game, a LOT of work goes into that shit. Trying to charge me for anything in-game with actual money, though, would get me to IMMEDIATELY leave the game.

[@williehalderman3351]

I haven't watched this video yet,but I'm going to go ahead and say I'm getting real sick of hearing people defend charging their friends to play a game with them. Now a dungeon master at a local game store deserves to be paid but that's different

[@fred_derf]

The moment the DM asks for real-world money for an in-game asset is the moment I leave the game. I don't play pay-to-win computer games, I'm sure as hell not going to play a pay-to-win TTRPG.

[@D64nz]

If you are getting targeted become the bait and have your whole team get opportunity attacks as they try to go past to get the one at the back

[@crazy36069]

If I was offered a bunch of money to give someone magic items, I ain’t turning that down… (Money is the root of all evil, and I’m evil). Though, I certainly wouldn’t force that to be the only way to get magic items… That’s just too diabolical.

[@symantares9171]

It sounds like the DM works for Activision

[@Shoyro]

It's probably just me, but Simba's face was more horrifying than the horror stories. No offense, Doge.

[@Bonana-xw1jq]

why was your cat high? lol

[@binarydark4811]

I can see EA for that DM, but how he did the campaign microtransactions I would think he was a Bungie employee.

[@TigerKirby215]

I Googled what Barrel Dice are (they're the weird cylindrical dice) and I understand why a DM might not feel comfortable with a player using them, but like... no need to kill a player over them?

[@RandomTrinidadian]

Bless the Simba

[@JacobL228]

Your advice for the first story was kind of bad. The OP already brought up the issue, and the DM dismissed them. Trying again won't do anything. Instead, they should bring it up with the other players so the DM can't make up some story for why they left if they decide to do so.

[@Sanodi21]

First story, while I would say just leave, I think it would be better to take all this publicly. Have everyone involved there while OP talks about how they feel about the game and how they're being singled out like that. Also use examples like the boss from the Monk's story targeting them. Then the other players can also speak to about the game overall. I fully expect it to go poorly if I'm being honest but the DM needs to face the music

[@rocketprime]

Who would be the DM if your cats played D&D?

[@IceLordCryo]

Must. Make. Kittens. Happy

[@Theokal3]

Okay for first story, I call bullshit on that DM. While yes, it makes sense for the enemies to think strategically and shoot the healer first, how the FUCK does that justify reviving them and having his soul not wanting to come back for some reason? And even then, the other players could just, you know, *protect* their healer? Kinda hard to attack the healer first if he's behind the Fighter and the Paladin and protected by spells or blessings. Second story: screw that DM and kudos to the players for not going along with his bs. I mean, seriously? He's already getting paid for each session, and he wanna make them pay for the stuff in-game? Greedy feels like an understatement. Third story: ... Okay that one I kinda sympathize with both sides. On the one side, Jennifer was a bit silly to expect doing nothing but dating sim (It's fine to do that but that's not ALL Cyberpunk is about) and clearly overreacted. On the other hand, if the DM indeed was planning that with the other guy.... yeah, a head up to Jennifer could have saved troubles with this. Fourth story: DM is a certified creep and weirdoe. Completely unnecessary sex stuff and not even asking the players if they WANTED to join the... whatever -some this was. Shame because the premise of having to reconcile a bride and a groom to save a marriage sounded like a fun premise for a small quest. Disturbing that some people think that kind of behaviour is normal for a RPG games. Fifth story: Well, talk about a ridiculously nitpicky and petty DM. I mean it's not like the player had even caused problems, he agreed to use normal dices as soon as the guy told him no for the barrel dices, so what the heck?! At least the other players realized the guy was an issue and left.

[@Rustwyrm]

Story 2 is the future WotC wants.

[@robertdickerson6379]

For the BF getting kidnapped story: I definitely think that Jennifer did overreact. It might be just me, but when the GM said, "It's a dangerous world," it felt like a GM equivalent to "it's what my character would do." I mean, what TTRPG world isn't dangerous? I feel the GM could have done better explaining that the player just wanted to play a new character. But ultimately Jennifer needs to realize it's a game and not take things like this so seriously

[@roberteriksson1248]

I would have said something like “maybe you should investigate it further, there might be something more than what appears on the surface.”

[@SleepyMatt-zzz]

Imagie charging dlc as a paid dm 😂

[@ShiKageMaru]

It's really naive to think the first story DM would change. Simple logic says they're wrong. Undead are usually too stupid to prioritize something not in front of them. There wouldn't be any clerics in that world if enemies always targeted clerics first. Then the healer could just dress like a knight or rogue so nobody would know they were a healer. But my guess is the enemies would just sense that they were a healer. Also, Jennifer did nothing wrong. She might not have handled it perfectly, but having a character suddenly up and die can be pretty upsetting, especially if the player had already been "called out" for the part of the roleplay they enjoyed most that wasn't forbidden or objected to in session 0. So they removed themselves from the situation. OP could have easily kept this private instead of posting it. This kind of situation doesn't belong in dnd nightmares.

[@andrwblood9162]

Aren't barrel dice older than the game Pathfinder? Pathfinder came out in 2009

[@sarsapong]

Is simba alright ? Look like simba is taking psychic damage face some how

[@7thsealord888]

Story #1 - Talk to the DM again, and call her out on her BS. It might make sense SOMETIMES for the enemy to target the obvious healer / magic-user, but this should never be an automatic thing. If no progress is made, then leave, and make sure the DM and others clearly understand why. Story #2 - Nothing else for it, this DM should have been dumped hard when this nonsense first began. Kudos to the players for finally doing the intelligent thing. Story #3 - Jenn over-reacted. It IS a Cyberpunk game, and that means stuff like people getting messed with by gangs and/or corpos should just be Tuesday. Suck it up, rescue the teammate, punish the bad guys, it's really that simple. Story #4 - Eyeew. Yeah, avoid this DM. Story #5 - Another DM that ..... Yikes. If you don't "like" barrel dice, that's your business, but this nutcase took that to a bizarre new level.

[@geeknupthenight7417]

This idea. I like

[@damienhailey118]

Likes are $5, subscriptions $10.

[@willlauzon3744]

So I'm looking to play. I don't think my group is ever going to start as everyone is giving textbook sized back stories for a PC and NPC character. I just want a classic campaign, dungeon, dragon, adventure. It's been three months and still no game. I know it's " not a video game" but damnit I want SOME power fantasy.

[@JKevinCarrier]

That microtransactions DM has a job waiting for them at Wizards of the Coast. :P I had never heard of "barrel dice", so I looked it up. I can see some grounds for objection...judging by the sets I looked at, the dice look so much alike that it would be easy to accidentally (or deliberately) grab the wrong one to roll. But apparently, the DM was just...aesthetically offended? Whatever, dude.

[@animepfp554]

Second DM was just mobile game developer

[@1kokokala10]

Story 3: i kind of get where Jennifer is coming from i personally like my characters to play put romances as its fun for me but if its destracting to the main plot id tone it down a bit. But nothing would upset me if i finally got something my players been striving for and i was soon taken away. This game may just not havr been for her and she did the right thing of up and leaving.

[@REfan2002]

Praise Simba!

[@MadkingLeviticus]

What are barrel dice? Like the bulk, cheap dice game stores often have at the register? What a weird DM

[@Suraht]

Instead of being the standard shape most people know gaming dice for being, barrel dice are generally long and cylindrical, with the numbered sides running lengthwise along the body, which gives the dice a design similar to a wooden barrel.

[@MadkingLeviticus]

@@Suraht oh alright. Those sound pretty cool actually. Thanks for the thorough explanation.

[@caaliber115]

You sound like a robot. Not in a bad way, just like how I'd imagine a robot would talk like.

[@ganmerlad]

Story 1) In video games, yes, you *learn* to kill the healer as soon as possible. But the DM having every enemy think that way from the start of battle is unrealistic and unfair to the player and group. The DM is absurdly saying the group can't have a healer. Or, if it turned out the DM is only picking on that particular healer/player 'for reasons', the DM should be ripped a new one. Story 2) 'Live-service' homebrew DnD. The DM was obviously playing an MMO or two. "I want that new mount/armor in WoW and I can get these guys to pay for it. I'll just do to them what WoW is doing to me. I think that's fair." Yeah, no. You never agree to microtransactions when you play a ttrpg. (WoTC is changing that with OneD&D though. yay :/) Story 3) I've heard this one elsewhere. I don't know how many sessions it took from the *one-time* Jennifer/Cole hook-up to the kidnapping. Either the hook-up was a give-away to Jennifer's player: 'I'm going to start a new character next time, may as well give her a brief romance since she likes it so much'. OR, if it took several sessions, I think the kidnapping/new character may have been to get away from being forced to romance the desperate Jennifer/player. Less drama expected if the character leaves the game than to outright RP rejecting the needy Jennifer/player. But Jennifer's player believed the romance was her right and the other player's desires were immaterial. Urgh. Thinking a bit more now, IF the DM wanted to keep her around and happy, they should have given Jennifer a non-player love interest. The other players shouldn't have to fill that need for her when it was clear they weren't interested and Jennifer wasn't going to stop.

[@Rtrstormghost327]

Greed is one of seven deadly sins but wth

[@Akcruiser2012]

That second greedy DM should be blacklisted forever. Permabanned from roll20, dndbeyond, any ttrpg app, and Baldurs Gate 3. I hope they never host another game again. How do people like that exist?

[@qu1253]

Calling it right now: In a few years, pay2win mechanics in DnD campaigns will become normal and you'll be considered weird for taking issue with it. Same thing happened with video games.

[@unknowfornow35]

ok I am gonna sound dumb. but what are barrel dice?

[@barriehannon6857]

that DM sounds fat

[@sarsapong]

Wow paid to win dnd horay

[@KatarnandKanos]

Jennifer's player did overreact, but this is the problem with having shocking twisted in game without considering everyone at the table. It can absolutely lead to hard feelings out of game if it's something that takes away one player's enjoyment or takes the game in a direction that they wouldn't want to go. Ultimately it's up to Cole's player if he wants to scrap his character and make a new one, but since Jennifer was involved with him they should have given her player a heads up. Would it have changed things? Maybe not, but she wouldn't feel like this was just dropped on her by the DM.

[@rynowatcher]

1st one: yes, the dm is targeting op's character. Every monster attacking every character is a decision the dm is making, so I do not see this as a problem; especially with the dm stating the in game tactic they are using that makes sense in game. The party can negate this by changing their tactics to better protect the healer; this part needs to be brought up by op to the other players to come up with effective strategies for countering a basic tactic like "the mage dies first." I see a bigger issue in that op is not getting tactical support from the rest of the party when this keeps coming up. Rolling to revive is not RAW, so meh? The rules state the soul must be free and within 10 days to be revived, so the dm can decide the cleric's god ushered them into the afterlife as a reward for a good job done if they die. That is always the dm's preview, so a roll of the dice is a bit more fair than RAW, but whatever works for them. A cleric wanting to get closer to their god makes a lot of sense in game. I would be OK with this if it happened to me. I do not see that as a problem; I can just roll up another cleric....

[@doublepegleg9755]

I eat dice I don't like.

[@damienhailey118]

Honestly, I'm a little sympathetic to Jennifer. Her character *was* involved with Cole's, so a private heads-up that his character would get removed like that would've been appreciated.

[@vampire9545]

Pretty sure most villains are into bigotry

[@RdWarrior-x8y]

Paid GMs are cringe grifters. All of them

[@Yoroiful]

Homophobic characters? Based.

[@randallgpreston]

My current DM has a menu of this you can buy for real money. Rerrolls, stats, feats, extra attunement slots, gold, magic items, and loot boxes. He wants to get paid for DM , but he doesn't like charging for the session. Most of my party members buy stuff here and there, but I refuse to put money in the system. Our party is not balanced at all. Luckily, I've been able to find items in the game to still kerp me somewhat relevant.

[@Random_Chiroptera]

CPR is not a great game If you want to do romance, IMO. Especially if you make the newb mistake of taking work from a Corporation, without doing some work for reputable Fixers first.

[@Random_Chiroptera]

What I learned from my own CPR horror stories, with a new character, do not take work from a Corp. Find a Fixer, one with fairly cohesive and surviving crews, and take work from them. Why a fixer with existing crews? This is usually a sign that they match the difficulty of assignments to the abilities of each crew, that way they will most likely survive and have a chance to improve. This is a good place to level up, get some quality gear, and have more Eddies to your name than what you started with. Plus, it helps to have friends in low places in a Cyberpunk game.

[@NewTypeDilemma01]

Speaking of paywalled campaigns, is there a paywall for extremely cringe rp horror stories?

[@antoinelambert938]

Story 2: op is deficient and is why it got scammed so much.

[@ironnoah9461]

Tbh, the only thing you should pay for for a paid game is the admission fee. I have a really hard time sympathizing with that party since they knew that the dude was ripping them off but didn't pull out because "iT wAs OuR OnLy GaMe" I find to be absolute bullshit.

[@nicholasmcevoy4785]

☕☕☕

[@HihiouZabimaru182]

Beep

[@AmaryInkawult]

Seventh

[@CooperAATE]

1st again?