[Name Redacted]
I’ve given it some thought, and I’m not going to join your gaming group. Your group’s dynamics and use of game time differ vastly from the game environment I prefer.
Your understanding of the rules also seems a bit lacking in places, and from experience I know I will not enjoy playing under a DM who does not fully understand the rules. I asked initially about any house rules, and aside from some class restrictions, you said you had none. It would have been fine if you had, but as a player I need to know about them, because the agreed upon rules (normally the PHB, etc, w/ additional house rules) make up the physics of how the world works. When the DM alters rules through misunderstanding, that is the equivalent of suddenly the physical properties of the real world no longer working as they have been shown to work through history – it radically alters how one would act in the game. I don’t enjoy finding these “surprises” come up in a game every week (thus why I asked about house rules to begin with.)
Please don’t take this as a bash on you or your group – you are free to play any way you choose. I am merely trying to offer constructive criticism, as you indicated that you’ve had several players “flake out,” and leave your group. My hope is to aid you in understanding potential reasons why they may be doing so.
The sneak attack thing. It seems your whole group misunderstands how flanking and triggering sneak attack works. I honestly encourage you to ask on the Wizard’s boards about rogues “flanking from range” to gain sneak attack. I’ll even include some links to old threads that discuss it. Also, look at the 9th level Ranged Flank ability of the Whisperknife prestige class from Races of the Wild. Now, ask yourself why the class would grant that as one of its top-tier abilities (and limited to 10 feet, no less) if any rogue could flank from 30-foot range to begin with…
By the rules, flanking is only able to be done in melee, and only applies for those who are involved in the flank. But, I encourage you to get your own answers. In any event, I would caution that, should you keep your flanking rules as they are now, you should mention them to any other prospective players. I know it would have radically changed how I would have made my character, had I known this house rule from the beginning. (I would have made an Arcane Trickster type character that was getting “free” sneak attack with rays almost every round…)
The sneak attack/flanking thing is just a part of a general encouragement to better understand the rules. There were a few other (relatively minor) instances during the evening when you, and the group, displayed a lack of rules understanding. You had a good presence and story-telling abilities, but they are not the only aspects required of good DM’s. A good working understanding of the rules basics is also essential, and in my opinion you have some work to do there. That’s not to say you need to know every nook and cranny of the rules, the Lord knows I need to look things up all the time, but the commonly-encountered combat and magic item rules should be firmly grasped.
Having the dogs run around and play fetch with squeaky toys was very distracting, and I could see that barring many people from joining your group. Just something to consider as you try to recruit players.
Lastly, it seemed there was too much else going on. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy the quesadilla, but I can eat at home. I came to play D&D. Everything we did in game while I was there (all 8 hours) could have been accomplished in about 3 hours of game time in most other games I’ve played in. Don’t get me wrong, I love long game sessions, but not if I feel the time hasn’t been well utilized. I need to have gotten a solid 6-7 hours of gaming in while there for 8 hours; my time is too valuable and the opportunity costs too high otherwise.
As to the threads about ranged flanking, here is a DM asking about ranged flanking:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=995900 Here is one with a player asking if he gets ranged sneak attack when two party members are flanking his target:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=998587 Here is one that tries to argue that the rules should allow ranged flanking, even though they do not:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1011489 Anyway, I wish you luck in finding a player that fits your group’s gaming style, and I hope this email provides you with some insight into possible reasons why some players haven’t stuck around in the past.
-"KSB"