Comments on: Dealing With Damage Monkies http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies Ramblings of a Nerd who likes to play D&D Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:48:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: The ODB! http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-8455 The ODB! Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:02:45 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-8455 The guys I used to play with in high school were all damage monkeys. There came a day when I decided that the party being able to wipe out a GRAND MASTER OF FLOWERS! in a couple rounds was obscene. The next major opponent I threw against them was one they couldn't hit at all. Their weapons just bounced off him and he would always take out the spellcasters first so they couldn't cast. His secret? Armor that made him invulnerable to magical weapons. He also possessed a hat that granted him free action. That combined with a cloak draped over his arm that could deflect one attack per round made him nearly unbeatable...that is until he got into a good grapple. :evil: The guys I used to play with in high school were all damage monkeys. There came a day when I decided that the party being able to wipe out a GRAND MASTER OF FLOWERS! in a couple rounds was obscene. The next major opponent I threw against them was one they couldn’t hit at all. Their weapons just bounced off him and he would always take out the spellcasters first so they couldn’t cast.
His secret? Armor that made him invulnerable to magical weapons. He also possessed a hat that granted him free action. That combined with a cloak draped over his arm that could deflect one attack per round made him nearly unbeatable…that is until he got into a good grapple. :evil:

]]> By: Shale http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-8416 Shale Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:24:49 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-8416 Personally, having played D&D since I was six, (my parents having nerdiness roughly equaling mine) I've faced my share, and sometimes been, a damage monkey. First off, I usually put more actual role-playing into my story, just because most players don't seem to take an interest in developing their character as a <i>person</i>. Teach these damn nerds some social skills! (no offense) There was one time I had joined a game by my friend's request, and found myself in the middle of some mongo monty hauling! One guy in particular, he who I took over for as DM, had made his character practically a god due to a mix of psionics and magic, and expected me to let him continue use of him as a player! So I took the easy way out - they all woke up chained to walls in separate rooms of a dungeon, missing all but some basic clothing. Oh, and for the godded character? Someone had put a cursed ring on 'em that he couldn't seem to take off, which inhibited all but his weakest spells. I got some major death glares on this one, but it ended up being a really fun quest to remove that ring. Not they ever did it, mind you, (blame the idiot who felt like waking up the dragon) but it was still a pretty good run, and it made them think! Personally, having played D&D since I was six, (my parents having nerdiness roughly equaling mine) I’ve faced my share, and sometimes been, a damage monkey.
First off, I usually put more actual role-playing into my story, just because most players don’t seem to take an interest in developing their character as a person. Teach these damn nerds some social skills! (no offense) There was one time I had joined a game by my friend’s request, and found myself in the middle of some mongo monty hauling! One guy in particular, he who I took over for as DM, had made his character practically a god due to a mix of psionics and magic, and expected me to let him continue use of him as a player! So I took the easy way out - they all woke up chained to walls in separate rooms of a dungeon, missing all but some basic clothing. Oh, and for the godded character? Someone had put a cursed ring on ‘em that he couldn’t seem to take off, which inhibited all but his weakest spells. I got some major death glares on this one, but it ended up being a really fun quest to remove that ring. Not they ever did it, mind you, (blame the idiot who felt like waking up the dragon) but it was still a pretty good run, and it made them think!

]]> By: 47 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-8283 47 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:55:18 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-8283 During one of my rare bouts as a PC, I was an orcish berserker with a fullblade during my playthrough of Red Hand of Doom. So, I was lucky enough to see this problem from the player's perspective. I would consider ways that my DM could account for my character, while watching with interest to see what he'd actually do. <strong>Send More Powerful Foes After Him</strong> - If the damage monkey does not engage the enemy for whatever reason (failed save, distraction, etc.) then you're going to have a complete disaster. If you hold back on your attacks as a result, your evil plans become painfully obvious to the party. If you don't, someone's going to die. - Higher CR means more XP means the PC just got more powerful. In some cases, this is desirable since barbarian two-handers become less significant with time, but in other cases, such as with pre-published adventures, it can be problematic. - I'll also add that continuing to subvert a player's character choices by tailoring encounters against his PC is an exceedingly poor practice. Reward character choices, don't punish them! How about, instead: <strong>Keep Him Occupied.</strong> All the damage in the world means nothing if the target only has 5 hit points. A swarm of minions between the damage monkey and his target can slow him down considerably while letting him get some use out of his Cleave feat. Rather than a single powerful wizard, consider two, each at opposite ends of the battle field. You could have the most distant one be involved in the casting of a very powerful spell, that will be completed any round, but not if you can stop him first! <strong>Destroy His Overpowered Weapon</strong> The character might be overpowered due to a specific weapon. Perhaps it was a mistake on your part, or the party chose to pool their wealth for the purchase without realizing the consequences to their own enjoyment of the game. Regardless of the situation, live and learn, but do not punish the player for your own mistake and attempt to rob him of his item. A better solution would be to focus on the other PCs, increasing their power to match. With a little care, powerful items can be dropped that are only useful to specific characters. Or perhaps a character discovers an unknown aspect of their ancestry, leading to the acquisition of a template? <strong>Check His Character Sheet</strong> Good advice. I also recommend searching the Internet for any particular issue that comes up. If it's serious enough for you to be concerned about, odds are someone is ranting about it online. Might I add: <strong>Talk To Him</strong> If you feel that there is a serious problem with a player character and you're unable to deal with it on your own, take the player to the side after the game and relays your concerns to him. You should be able to reach some sort of compromise and he'll walk away less upset than if you had just robbed him. And a final suggestion: <strong>Don't Try To Kill Him</strong> Because you'll only get upset when you fail to do so! :twisted: (true story) During one of my rare bouts as a PC, I was an orcish berserker with a fullblade during my playthrough of Red Hand of Doom. So, I was lucky enough to see this problem from the player’s perspective. I would consider ways that my DM could account for my character, while watching with interest to see what he’d actually do.

Send More Powerful Foes After Him
- If the damage monkey does not engage the enemy for whatever reason (failed save, distraction, etc.) then you’re going to have a complete disaster. If you hold back on your attacks as a result, your evil plans become painfully obvious to the party. If you don’t, someone’s going to die.
- Higher CR means more XP means the PC just got more powerful. In some cases, this is desirable since barbarian two-handers become less significant with time, but in other cases, such as with pre-published adventures, it can be problematic.
- I’ll also add that continuing to subvert a player’s character choices by tailoring encounters against his PC is an exceedingly poor practice. Reward character choices, don’t punish them!

How about, instead:
Keep Him Occupied.
All the damage in the world means nothing if the target only has 5 hit points. A swarm of minions between the damage monkey and his target can slow him down considerably while letting him get some use out of his Cleave feat. Rather than a single powerful wizard, consider two, each at opposite ends of the battle field. You could have the most distant one be involved in the casting of a very powerful spell, that will be completed any round, but not if you can stop him first!

Destroy His Overpowered Weapon
The character might be overpowered due to a specific weapon. Perhaps it was a mistake on your part, or the party chose to pool their wealth for the purchase without realizing the consequences to their own enjoyment of the game. Regardless of the situation, live and learn, but do not punish the player for your own mistake and attempt to rob him of his item. A better solution would be to focus on the other PCs, increasing their power to match. With a little care, powerful items can be dropped that are only useful to specific characters. Or perhaps a character discovers an unknown aspect of their ancestry, leading to the acquisition of a template?

Check His Character Sheet
Good advice. I also recommend searching the Internet for any particular issue that comes up. If it’s serious enough for you to be concerned about, odds are someone is ranting about it online.

Might I add:
Talk To Him
If you feel that there is a serious problem with a player character and you’re unable to deal with it on your own, take the player to the side after the game and relays your concerns to him. You should be able to reach some sort of compromise and he’ll walk away less upset than if you had just robbed him.

And a final suggestion:
Don’t Try To Kill Him
Because you’ll only get upset when you fail to do so! :twisted: (true story)

]]> By: Initial Reaction of 4th Edition | D&D Nerd.com http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-7064 Initial Reaction of 4th Edition | D&D Nerd.com Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:57:03 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-7064 [...] far, it seems like 4th Edition may be a power-gamer’s paradise. And I’m not fond of power-gamers at all. So it appears that it may be more difficult to create encounters that are actually challenging, [...] [...] far, it seems like 4th Edition may be a power-gamer’s paradise. And I’m not fond of power-gamers at all. So it appears that it may be more difficult to create encounters that are actually challenging, [...]

]]> By: Colin http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-3485 Colin Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:22:29 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-3485 DR 10/Piercing is your friend here. That way, the party rogue has a chance to shine. Or you could just twink out the AC to absurd levels, and let the mages spam thigs with save DCs at it. Or, both. DR 10/Piercing is your friend here. That way, the party rogue has a chance to shine. Or you could just twink out the AC to absurd levels, and let the mages spam thigs with save DCs at it. Or, both.

]]> By: Verkan http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-3472 Verkan Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:47:29 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-3472 Ahhh you mean George. :mrgreen: One of my players, who professes an intense dislike for anything d20, will make a min/max melee damage monkey at every occasion. Sometimes the lipstick and eyeshadow will change, but it is basically a fighter/barbarian designed to do the maximum amount of damage possible. I've been taking great delight in starting many of the encounters at 70 feet, just inside his charge range, but outside the rest of the parties. A couple of easy-peasy warm-up encounters, where George slaughters everything ( lets see, thats a 32 to hit for 46 points) killing the 10hp gnoll. Then I have the Bigger Bad Guy. So lets day the party has dispatched 2 groups of low level mooks. The next group is a bunch of low level mooks, with one or two leveled mooks mixed in. All basically looking the same. (1st orc hits for 12, the other 4miss, and this orc hits for... ermmm, 17 doesn't confirm... 42). Longer story short, George has died more than any other player, and almost half the total deaths. I'm running a party of 8-10 PC's, 1 cohort and 1 NPC through Return to Temple. Hopefully he will learn that being all alone in front of everyone else is not always a good thing. Ahhh you mean George. :mrgreen:

One of my players, who professes an intense dislike for anything d20, will make a min/max melee damage monkey at every occasion. Sometimes the lipstick and eyeshadow will change, but it is basically a fighter/barbarian designed to do the maximum amount of damage possible.

I’ve been taking great delight in starting many of the encounters at 70 feet, just inside his charge range, but outside the rest of the parties.

A couple of easy-peasy warm-up encounters, where George slaughters everything ( lets see, thats a 32 to hit for 46 points) killing the 10hp gnoll.

Then I have the Bigger Bad Guy.
So lets day the party has dispatched 2 groups of low level mooks. The next group is a bunch of low level mooks, with one or two leveled mooks mixed in. All basically looking the same. (1st orc hits for 12, the other 4miss, and this orc hits for… ermmm, 17 doesn’t confirm… 42).

Longer story short, George has died more than any other player, and almost half the total deaths. I’m running a party of 8-10 PC’s, 1 cohort and 1 NPC through Return to Temple. Hopefully he will learn that being all alone in front of everyone else is not always a good thing.

]]> By: Other Uses For Dice - Taking Care Of Those Problem Players | D&D Nerd.com http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-1997 Other Uses For Dice - Taking Care Of Those Problem Players | D&D Nerd.com Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:14:02 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-1997 [...] sure you’ve had a bad player here and there, as many DMs around the world do. Rules Lawyers, Damage Monkies, players who do nothing, etc. They’re all a pain in the rear for us. Sometimes, they can tick [...] [...] sure you’ve had a bad player here and there, as many DMs around the world do. Rules Lawyers, Damage Monkies, players who do nothing, etc. They’re all a pain in the rear for us. Sometimes, they can tick [...]

]]> By: Delwynndwn http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-1063 Delwynndwn Wed, 23 May 2007 17:27:48 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-1063 I never did stop to think about that. But then, I think our last session was more heavily RP than hack-'n-slash, even though it started out as a massacre thanks to our Damage Monkey. It was still fun, and rather amusing, though. :) I never did stop to think about that. But then, I think our last session was more heavily RP than hack-’n-slash, even though it started out as a massacre thanks to our Damage Monkey.

It was still fun, and rather amusing, though. :)

]]> By: Wolfcat http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-1057 Wolfcat Wed, 23 May 2007 10:27:58 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/dealing-with-damage-monkies#comment-1057 :mrgreen: I find 'tougher monsters' to be a pretty straightforward way of dealing with it, but I did think of one other thing that you can do: Make the campaign heavily RP-based. Now if you're looking to do a hack-and-slash game, this option is pointless, but a more story/RP-based campaign puts emphasis more on skills rather than fighting ability, which evens things out somewhat. :mrgreen: I find ‘tougher monsters’ to be a pretty straightforward way of dealing with it, but I did think of one other thing that you can do: Make the campaign heavily RP-based. Now if you’re looking to do a hack-and-slash game, this option is pointless, but a more story/RP-based campaign puts emphasis more on skills rather than fighting ability, which evens things out somewhat.

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