My friend doesn't like my character being good

Backstory:
In d&d, my friends and I are playing an evil campaign, and there are two players and the DM. I am playing a wizard and he is playing a rogue. Long story short about my wizard, he's a necromancer with a famous hero-father who swore to become more powerful than their father and not mess up where he had, and he wants to eventually become a lich to get their. He also worships Vecna, and he's got the Vecna holy symbol on his spellbook and such. I wanted him to be sensible so I made Wisdom his second score, and took a feat for some cleric cantrips and such, to fit the Vecna thing. My friend (henceforth referred to under the pseudonym "Joe") is playing a tiefling rogue who is a thief and wants money. The in-game reason our characters are together is that my wizard needs a people person, and his character finds a wizard's utility spells useful.

Problem:
That is the premise, but here's what's going on. It started when I began compiling a list/plan of what my goal was, such as how to make my secret lair and how to protect/hide phylacteries. He didn't like that I was doing it but never really voiced why. Fast forward a bit, we were playing and he got really angry and refused to play one day because his character was "useless" in utility and combat. The DM and I, who have a better understanding of the game mechanics, explained that wizards are utility casters, so the utility was normal, and in combat he wasn't doing well because he never approached things differently than a fighter. He would simply go into melee. For instance, we were in a library and had just found a secret door when we heard a patrol coming nearby, we knew the people here didn't speak our language, so I began to cast Comprehend Languages, but his character didn't move during this time, and later complained that there was nothing he could have done. Later, we leveled up to 6, and it occurred to me for the first time that I might want to multiclass to cleric. I worshiped Vecna, had the holy symbol, high Wisdom, Vecna was Knowledge domain, it all seemed so mechanically and thematically perfect, and the DM said he'd even let me switch the feat for cleric spells I took for a different one. Joe began to complain that I shouldn't be able to multiclass because it didn't fit my character at all. I said of course it did, I had always worshiped Vecna. He said that since I was evil I didn't want to rely on others, which included a god. The DM ruled that I could multiclass. Then I began to choose which feat I'd switch out for, and I wanted to use one from an Unearthed Arcana article from 5e, and I checked with the DM. We had used UA before, so I figured he'd be alright with it, which he was. Joe found out that was happening and made a fuss about how it was too good. I do know that Joe hasn't looked at the feats, because he claimed that none of the 5e feats increased a stat by 1. If you don't play 5e, probably about 10 in the Player's Handbook do. The DM ruled that I could take the feat. I also got to learn two languages from being a Knowledge cleric. I already knew Common, Elvish, Dwarvish, and Giant, so I chose Draconic and Infernal. I checked with the DM to make sure I could take exotic languages since it was from a divine source and no other languages I took would probably be useful. He agreed that exotic languages made sense and that I could take them. Joe said this was entirely unfair because he once had to learn exotic languages by putting things in his backstory. At that time, his character only knew two languages, so the DM said that was why, and my backstory reason was that mine were from a god.

Hypothesis:
I think that Joe doesn't like that my character is ending up more useful than his, partly because I understand mechanics better, partly because my backstory was more in depth, which leads to better roleplaying, and partly because he doesn't quite understand how to really play a rogue.

Question:
Joe is a good friend of mine. How can I make him feel better without making my character worse?

https://i.imgur.com/NnoGhN1.gif

I think the issue is that your didn't inform your friend about class tiers, and that a Rogue will be overshadowed and rendered moot by a Wizard in short order.
At this point you might as well tell him to just kill off his character and roll up a tier 1 character like you did.

...help him make his character better...?

Let's blame you! (Because you kind of blame him all along the speach you gave)

You seem to have invest a lot of time in your character and in the game, I think Joe did not. Maybe it pleases your GM and so he plays more with you than with Joe.
So you had a better start at the game, and the gap is expanding. If you want Joe to be interested, help him close the gap. Ask your GM to give him a backstory, with some revelation about his story (how he was born, what his thief guild is becoming,...) You and your GM have to give him some space in the story to shine.

Which edition are you playing?

One point to clarify (and this will actually matter for some of the advice) - is the campaign you're in generally 3.x, or is it 5e? I'm not familiar with how 5e plays, but 3.x is infamous for caster/mundane disparity. It doesn't just have a power gap, it has a gaping chasm littered with partially-charged wands and the torn-up character sheets of adventurers past.

In general, it sounds like he's frustrated. I'd suggest talking to him some time that's not in the gaming session. You'll need to come to some sort of a compromise. Either tone down your own character, get him up to speed, or some combination of the two. The DM should be involved in this discussion too (though not necessarily present at everything). It's possible your friend is looking for a more hack and slash sort of campaign, and the encounters you've been getting haven't been tailored to that. It's not all on the DM, but if he's built a Fighter, he ought to get some chance to actually Fight.

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Originally Posted by comk59

https://i.imgur.com/NnoGhN1.gif

I think the issue is that your didn't inform your friend about class tiers, and that a Rogue will be overshadowed and rendered moot by a Wizard in short order.
At this point you might as well tell him to just kill off his character and roll up a tier 1 character like you did.

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The differences between wizards are rogues are not as large in 5e. The player in question should be able to contribute just fine if he uses his abilities.

OPs wizard should learn either Animate Dead or Find Familiar to give permanent advantage to the rogue via the a minion and the Help action, allowing for constant sneak attacks. Invisibility on the Rogue to set up ambushes and scouting. Bless as concentration to give your Joe a vital boost.

Joe should be looking for ways you guys can work together. Your wizard should make plans to utilize your respective talents. I've never known a wizard worth his INT that would mind buffing up someone else in exchange for standing in front of enemy pointy/stabbies.

Complaining to the DM about another players build is uncool. So the DM should address that. Above are things you can do, though.

Edit- OP does specify 5e, friendos.

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Originally Posted by Haldir

The differences between wizards are rogues are not as large in 5e. The player in question should be able to contribute just fine if he uses his abilities.

OPs wizard should learn either Animate Dead or Find Familiar to give permanent advantage to the rogue via the a minion and the Help action, allowing for constant sneak attacks. Invisibility on the Rogue to set up ambushes and scouting. Bless as concentration to give your Joe a vital boost.

Joe should be looking for ways you guys can work together. Your wizard should make plans to utilize your respective talents. I've never known a wizard worth his INT that would mind buffing up someone else in exchange for standing in front of enemy pointy/stabbies.

Complaining to the DM about another players build is uncool. So the DM should address that. Above are things you can do, though.

Edit- OP does specify 5e, friendos.

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I totally missed the 5e references, that one's on me.

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Originally Posted by Haldir

Complaining to the DM about another players build is uncool. So the DM should address that. Above are things you can do, though.

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To able to say that means that you have not seen the glory of the half-fiend ranger/ranger.

More on topic: reading OP'S story I see a lot of the DM granting you special considerations and privileges but doing nothing of the same for the rogue. Part of the problem could simply be that you, who are overall stronger than him anyways, are getting even more cool shinies while he is being left behind in both shinies and relevance. RedressING that would be advisable.

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Originally Posted by ZamielVanWeber

To able to say that means that you have not seen the glory of the half-fiend ranger/ranger.

More on topic: reading OP'S story I see a lot of the DM granting you special considerations and privileges but doing nothing of the same for the rogue. Part of the problem could simply be that you, who are overall stronger than him anyways, are getting even more cool shinies while he is being left behind in both shinies and relevance. RedressING that would be advisable.

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So far most of these replies have served as a living endorsement for why I was right to graduate to 5e. Haha.

As a DM I understand how easy it is to encourage a player who is willing and dedicated as opposed to a player who just grumbles. Yes, Joe's DM needs to address this, but it seems Joe is in need of an attitude change as well.

Learn Cat's Grace (or the 5e equivalent), and a few other spells to buff his character. If his problem is that his character isn't powerful enough, well, that's fixable - he's traveling with a wizard.

Buy the Rogue a nice BMX bike.

Then have him watch these: https://youtu.be/Sr-PSjHEk_M

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Originally Posted by Haldir

....it seems Joe is in need of an attitude change as well.

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:confused:

I admit that the caster/UA talk is over my head, but really why is your friend in your grill about your PC?

9/10th's of my 5e D&D PC's are Fighters, Rogues or Fighter/Rogues (I've also played two level one 5e Barbarians, before that I played mostly Fighters and Thieves in 0e and 1e), and my PC's can:

Fire arrows

Swing swords

Track

Sneak

Hide

Climb

Swim

Sometimes Convince

Sometimes heal

And one could entertain

I feel no lack.

Yes my co-players often play casters, and they do cool things, that's part of the fantastic world I'm playing the game to explore. I enjoy the wonder of what their doing, I don't bust out a scale to measure power, 'cuz that's not me business!

My business is putting arrows and crossbow bolts into antagonists that get close to my comrades.

I like playimg Rogues (and/or Fighters).

I just don't get your friend.

Part of the issue is he's got to be having a hell of a hard time getting Sneak Attack in with a 2 man party, one of whom is a squishy caster that wants to stay far away from melee. Given that a Rogue without Sneak Attack IS basically useless in a fight, I can see why he'd be frustrated already.

Show him the Swashbuckler class spec from SCAG and see if the GM might let him swap to that. That would make combat a lot less of a chore at least. "Approaching things differently than a fighter" essentially means only attack once every two rounds as a 5e Rogue.

As for utility, he gets quite a few skill proficiencies he should be putting to good use. Deception and Persuasion can do a lot on the social front, and the GM should be giving him opportunities to use those and all his other skills besides. If he's not, there's the source of his other issue.

Rogues (and non-casters in general) are locked in on what they can do any given day, while Wizards aren't. That can rankle quite a bit.

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

:confused:

I admit that the caster/UA talk is over my head, but really why is your friend in your grill about your PC?

9/10th's of my 5e D&D PC's are Fighters, Rogues or Fighter/Rogues (I've also played two level one 5e Barbarians, before that I played mostly Fighters and Thieves in 0e and 1e), and my PC's can:

Fire arrows

Swing swords

Track

Sneak

Hide

Climb

Swim

Sometimes Convince

Sometimes heal

And one could entertain

I feel no lack.

Yes my co-players often play casters, and they do cool things, that's part of the fantastic world I'm playing the game to explore. I enjoy the wonder of what their doing, I don't bust out a scale to measure power, 'cuz that's not me business!

My business is putting arrows and crossbow bolts into antagonists that get close to my comrades.

I like playimg Rogues (and/or Fighters).

I just don't get your friend.

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The problem lies, as in any edition, in the fact that a Wizard (or insert other spellcaster here) can do all of those things as well. And also cast spells.

The problem is particularly bad in 5e in some ways, given that skill DCs tend to need to be pretty low since skill proficiencies are sparse and bonuses are generally very low, with the vast bulk of any skill check being determined by attribute bonuses, and not proficiency (which for the majority of play is only a +2-3 bonus, while attribute bonuses can hit +4-5 early on). Given that, a lot of DCs are sub-20, so a decent roll can let everyone in the party move along. And if they can't, that's what spells are for.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

:confused:

I admit that the caster/UA talk is over my head, but really why is your friend in your grill about your PC?

9/10th's of my 5e D&D PC's are Fighters, Rogues or Fighter/Rogues (I've also played two level one 5e Barbarians, before that I played mostly Fighters and Thieves in 0e and 1e), and my PC's can:

Fire arrows

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The Wizard will be throwing fireballs or something similar

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Swing swords

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The wizard can swing his staff...or better yet animate dead to swing swords for him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Track

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The wizard will become a cleric and just ask his god where the tracking quarry is and then he'll just scry on him.

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Sneak

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The wizard will just turn himself invisible

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Hide

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The wizard will just turn himself invisible or polymorph himself into a fly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Climb

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And the wizard will be flying or teleporting

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Swim

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The wizard doesn't have to swim because he'll be breathing under water....he'll just walk there...or teleport....or fly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Sometimes Convince

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No need, the wizard will just charm people or better yet just mind control them...or read their thoughts

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

Sometimes heal

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The wizard turned cleric will have done that already

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

And one could entertain

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The wizard will make his minions do that....is the rogue one of his minions?

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Originally Posted by 2D8HP

I feel no lack.

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Neither do I, especially if I play the wizard/cleric

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Originally Posted by RazorChain

Neither do I, especially if I play the wizard/cleric.

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Neither do I, especially since I don't play D&D :smallbiggrin:

Still: do you think there are any ways how to fix this within D&D? Either by other players or by any other way?

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Originally Posted by lacco36

Still: do you think there are any ways how to fix this within D&D? Either by other players or by any other way?

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Sure, just play PCs which are all within a tier of each other.

The problem arises when you've got a T1 (an "angel summoner") in the same group as a T4 (a "BMX bandit").

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Originally Posted by lacco36

Neither do I, especially since I don't play D&D :smallbiggrin:

Still: do you think there are any ways how to fix this within D&D? Either by other players or by any other way?

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The biggest misnomer about D&D balance is the idea that this is something that needs fixing.

They look like problems, but they are tools. In an actual game, if you had played it, you wouldn't notice it, because it rarely rears its ugly head in any actual game. It's a problem in theory-crafting and if your players decide that they want to play something that isn't D&D while using D&D.

The limits of the given tools of any wizard is that his toolbox is on a limited use every day and everything has timers that can expire, or attracts the attention of counter-agents that a mundane character would not. Turning invisible seems like a great option for the wizard in terms of subterfuge, until you realize that it doesn't make you soundless and that certain creatures can still spot you, heck even mundanes can assuming they can pass a DC40 spot check.

Another limitation in factor is that the wizard doesn't have all the spells always available to him, he can prepare some of them during play, but he can't just do it for any immediate situation that calls for an unexpected eventuality right now. Even the massive theorycrafters in D&D seem to assume based on extremely lenient interpretations of rules in their favor rather than the DM shooting them down at any opportunity.

And a good DM can always do well by any given player. Even in this situation it kinda falls to the DM ruling favorably in favor of the wizard, but the rogue made his own mess by never really asking the DM for anything. And the more you talk with the DM, the more sway you have in the campaign.

The Rogue needs other bodies on the field to do most of his combat schtick. Summon him a fighting partner or something.

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Originally Posted by Mordaedil

The biggest misnomer about D&D balance is the idea that this is something that needs fixing.

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Check my question again, please.

I'm not asking anyone to fix the D&D balance or the caster/whatever disparity. My question is: what to do in case we have situation like this (which is not the first of this kind I have seen mentioned here).

I agree with the rest of your post - in my view, GM could fix it by providing more opportunities to the rogue, especially while challenging the spellcaster (e.g. there are two simultaneous threats in a situation - and the spellcaster can't solve them both at once => both have to work to overcome them), as well as helping out with the character (Elan's "dashing swordsman" is good example). But based on what OP stated, I think it's beyond basic repairs - the guy's becoming irritated and at that point logical arguments/suggestions fail very often.

Firstly I would say to change the "my friend doesn't like my character being good" to "my friend's character is overshadowed in game".

I agree with the thread here, and it's a common problem in D&D. One player knows more about D&D so he makes a more powerful character, catches the DMs attention more, and gets more out of it. It's just how things go without care.

Giving his character a boost would definitely be a good thing. Personally, as a DM, when I see this happening I like to throw a template to the faltering character (half fae, half vampire, something small but significant). The power boost lets them compete and it gives their character a new flavour.

Also, consider plot. If he's not engaged, bring him to the centre of attention. You mentioned a backstory for your character, but your friend doesn't seem as good at making them up, so the DM should lend a hand. Maybe he'll discover he's descended from a great hero, or there's a curse in his blood, or he's a chosen one... As a wizard, you're always special. Give the guy with black robes and a knife something too.

Finally, you said you don't want your character weakened...but why not? Honestly, if it made the game balanced and made your characters work together better, it could be worth it. Doesn't have to be long term either. If you quested for a few hours in an anti magic field of some kind, with the rogue suddenly carrying the lost wizard and solving puzzle himself, it'd give him a real boost.

So, short version; give him a boost, work with him and the DM to make his character as special as yours. It's easily doable if you want to do it.

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Originally Posted by Nifft

Buy the Rogue a nice BMX bike.

Then have him watch these: https://youtu.be/Sr-PSjHEk_M

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"Or... I could just summon some angels?"

:smallbiggrin:

See this is the problem with DnD: people thinking they're the victim when they are the ones ruining other peoples fun with their optimizing nonsense, its stupid.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

See this is the problem with DnD: people thinking they're the victim when they are the ones ruining other peoples fun with their optimizing nonsense, its stupid.

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I'd chalk it up to the system design, given that you have to intentionally handicap yourself if you don't want to optimize.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

See this is the problem with DnD: people thinking they're the victim when they are the ones ruining other peoples fun with their optimizing nonsense, its stupid.

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They are the victim of some poor game design, and they are the victim of false advertising.

The PHB presents the 11 core classes as if they were equally good choices. The PHB is lying about this.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

See this is the problem with DnD: people thinking they're the victim when they are the ones ruining other peoples fun with their optimizing nonsense, its stupid.

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Ah, yes, choosing base class options the game provides and taking an option (multiclassing) that makes you a good deal weaker in the long term in this case sure is fun ruining "optimizing", yes sir.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

See this is the problem with DnD: people thinking they're the victim when they are the ones ruining other peoples fun with their optimizing nonsense, its stupid.

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I'd disagree with this one pretty strongly as well. Particularly considering they're playing 5th where the split is nowhere near as big. Now granted as a GM I never would have allowed the feat change when multi-classing but really the heart of the issue here appears to be that the other player isn't playing his role. If you were to pick a wizard and try to go swinging into combat then yeah, you're going to get beat down. Same deal if you try and play a rogue as a fighter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nifft

They are the victim of some poor game design, and they are the victim of false advertising.

The PHB presents the 11 core classes as if they were equally good choices. The PHB is lying about this.

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That too. Bad on multiple levels.

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Originally Posted by Rynjin

Ah, yes, choosing base class options the game provides and taking an option (multiclassing) that makes you a good deal weaker in the long term in this case sure is fun ruining "optimizing", yes sir.

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See, posts like this is what I'm talking about: optimizers think that innocent ignorance is willful bad choices and that these choices should be bad to protect their own conceit that they're better than the people because they made the choice of choosing a class that arbitrary makes some more powerful no reason. then they act as if the person who doesn't know what they're doing is the one ruining their fun, when no one expects someone to ruin everyone elses fun just because of one choice at the start of the game that no one realizes is so pivotal.

Then they act as if someone points that out is referring to the victim, the one who doesn't optimize and just trying to enjoy the game rather than break it. The optimizer not realizing through their cognitive dissonance that their own abilities is whats causing the other person to feel useless for one choice they didn't know was bad, because the choice should've never BEEN bad in the first place! galling, absolutely galling.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

That too. Bad on multiple levels.



See, posts like this is what I'm talking about: optimizers think that innocent ignorance is willful bad choices and that these choices should be bad to protect their own conceit that they're better than the people because they made the choice of choosing a class that arbitrary makes some more powerful no reason. then they act as if the person who doesn't know what they're doing is the one ruining their fun, when no one expects someone to ruin everyone elses fun just because of one choice at the start of the game that no one realizes is so pivotal.

Then they act as if someone points that out is referring to the victim, the one who doesn't optimize and just trying to enjoy the game rather than break it. The optimizer not realizing through their cognitive dissonance that their own abilities is whats causing the other person to feel useless for one choice they didn't know was bad, because the choice should've never BEEN bad in the first place! galling, absolutely galling.

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Do you have anything relevant to the thread at hand to add, or would you like to incoherently rant some more...?

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Originally Posted by Rynjin

Do you have anything relevant to the thread at hand to add, or would you like to incoherently rant some more...?

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I already have made something relevant, its pointing out one of the real problems at work here that causes things like this to happen. Do you have anything relevant, or would like to make more snarky comments because you can't be bothered to respond properly?

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

I already have made something relevant, its pointing out one of the real problems at work here that causes things like this to happen. Do you have anything relevant, or would like to make more snarky comments because you can't be bothered to respond properly?

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What response is there?

You're pissed off at the very fact that the OP wrote Wizard on his character sheet and used that as a springboard to whine about those dirty filthy optimizers ruining everything for everyone.

Which isn't relevant to this thread. At all.

It does not address the issue the OP has: His friend is unsatisfied with what he can do in-game and is starting to become frustrated with OP because of it.

Other people have given advice, including myself.

You have come into the thread to...what? How does your comment help? Where does it advance the conversation to a solution for OP's game? What is its purpose in this context? Why did you think your posts needed to be made?

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Originally Posted by Rynjin

What response is there?

You're pissed off at the very fact that the OP wrote Wizard on his character sheet and used that as a springboard to whine about those dirty filthy optimizers ruining everything for everyone.

Which isn't relevant to this thread. At all.

It does not address the issue the OP has: His friend is unsatisfied with what he can do in-game and is starting to become frustrated with OP because of it.

Other people have given advice, including myself.

You have come into the thread to...what? How does your comment help? Where does it advance the conversation to a solution for OP's game? What is its purpose in this context? Why did you think your posts needed to be made?

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It is related and relevant, can you not see?

if things were equal, balanced, this problem would not exist. what you think its coincidence that the other person is frustrated with the OP? That somehow, the same issue would happen with a Fighter? I doubt it.

and I don't see actual advice that helps, I see people making mocking posts about BMX Bandit and acting as if that solves everything and then saying that only effectiveness matters, acting as if the archetype doesn't matter at all. wheres the advice of how to modify the rogue as a class to be better? where in all this supposed mechanical expertise and hours spent studying the system is an actual fix for this problem, rather than some stupid comment about how they should kill their character and make a tier one/slap some spells or magic items on it and pretend as if its a rogue and try their very hardest to ignore how badly the shoe fits by just slapping spells on it, rather than y'know taking those spells and adapting their effects to rogue abilities that could replicate them without being spells, what a novel concept, its almost as if no one tries it because then the wizard and magic wouldn't be number one at everything.

...Because this isn't a thread based around houseruling the Rogue class. Were you confused?

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Originally Posted by Rynjin

...Because this isn't a thread based around houseruling the Rogue class. Were you confused?

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I don't see how that would stop anyone. its not as if there are rules for when you can houserule something.

When you're not the person running a game, you don't get to houserule things on your own.

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Originally Posted by Rynjin

When you're not the person running a game, you don't get to houserule things on your own.

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Well ask the GM then, if he is anyone worth playing with, he'll allow it.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

Well ask the GM then, if he is anyone worth playing with, he'll allow it.

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If your criteria for "worth playing with" is "allows any major overhaul of a class or system a player might bring to them" I imagine you don't get to play much.

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Originally Posted by Rynjin

If your criteria for "worth playing with" is "allows any major overhaul of a class or system a player might bring to them" I imagine you don't get to play much.

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Well like fan fics 90% of all media is garbage, so it filters out the ones I wouldn't have fun in anyways.

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Originally Posted by Nifft

Sure, just play PCs which are all within a tier of each other.

The problem arises when you've got a T1 (an "angel summoner") in the same group as a T4 (a "BMX bandit").

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I can picture it now.....drifts off into dream mode. {DREAM MODE INITIATED}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFuMpYTyRjw

Party of wizard + rogue, OK.

In combat the rogue needs someone to back him up, so he can get Sneak Attack and the like. Is this being provided? If not, perhaps invest in some henchmen. Also make sure you take up spells that help you both, such as web and hold person.

Out of combat the rogue needs some opportunities to use the skills he has invested in, particularly expertise. These ideally are not skills that you also possess but can buff via spells like enhance ability, invisibility, etc. Have a chat with your DM to give him more spotlight on his character's strengths since you already have yours well sorted out. Your wizard will know he doesn't need to prepare Knock or Charm Person because he has a rogue that can do that for him, freeing up valuable spells prepped.

I'd wager that as a two man party you aren't seeing as much combat as the 'standard' D&D campaign, and that plays to a Wizard's strengths. Find ways to bring the rogue into that more often. Perhaps hand him some extra magic items so he has more that he can do, and give him plenty of time to work while you're busy ritual casting.

Edit: Most importantly, offer to sit down with the DM and Joe to go over his character with him, proposing changes he can make to be more happy with his rogue. Your Dm sounds like he's cool enough for it.

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Originally Posted by Lord Raziere

I already have made something relevant, its pointing out one of the real problems at work here that causes things like this to happen. Do you have anything relevant, or would like to make more snarky comments because you can't be bothered to respond properly?

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The Hate for Win buttons thread is that way ----->

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Originally Posted by Twizzly513

Backstory:
In d&d, my friends and I are playing an evil campaign, and there are two players and the DM.

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You have two big problems right in the first sentence.
1. You're Playing Evil - not just jerkish murderhobos, but actual evil. Evil games have all sorts of built-in problems that if not handled delicately and kept in the hands of veteran gamers who can maintain IC and OOC separation, inevitably produce drama at the table. This is clearly an issue in the specific case, since you mention no shared goals between the two characters.

2. You have only two players - this is not enough. You need a third player. While two players can be made to work mechanically, it is extremely difficult for a GM to balance the concerns of two people properly and leads to the only two players sparring all the time without good resolution - since if the two players disagree there's no real means of arbitration.

My suggestion is to find some additional players (you want to have at least 3 players consistently show up, which usually means drawing from a pool of 4-5) and not play evil characters.

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Originally Posted by Tinkerer

really the heart of the issue here appears to be that the other player isn't playing his role.

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Unless I missed something (which is entirely possible), I don't think that we have enough information to say that the rogue isn't playing his role. Granted, there's nothing to show that he is, either, but certainly not enough to support the contention that he isn't.

What skills does the Rogue character have Expertise in? Could the DM find a way to reward those character choices more often?


What spells do you have that compete with the Rogue's skill proficiencies? Could you find a way to forget those spells?


Is the Rogue still doing Sneak Attack damage every round? In 5E, Rogue can consistently get a lot of damage per round. They might enjoy their 4d6+Dex (~17) compared to your 2d10 (~11).

Alright. Well.

I have not played D&D5e much (just a few sessions, really) and so I don't know the largest points for the Rogue and Wizard in the system, but here's my advice.

First, I hope that your Wizard isn't preparing Charm Person or similar spells. After all, the whole reason that they are working with a Rogue is for the whole people person thing, and possibly disarming spells. It would make little since for your Wizard to basically team up with the Rogue, and then turn around and solve those same problems themselves. Your Wizard should focus on doing your thing, and let the Rogue get the focus of doing their thing when the time comes.

Other people have mentioned combat and yes, I think that supporting your Rogue better would be good if you want to do well. Again, your Wizard is teamed up with the Rogue for a reason, and I'd assume he wants the Rogue to survive (for now). Raise a skeleton or something to tank some hits. Provide DEX buffs to increase the Rogue's AC, to-hit, and damage. There is certainly something that the Wizard can be doing to make the Rogue better at killing enemies, especially if the Wizard wants to be the one staying out of combat range in general.

Second, what is the Rogue's backstory? What is the Rogue's motivations? I see a lot about your Wizard's backstory, plots, and motivations. I can understand why you might not know the Rogue's fully, but there should still be some highlights to the Rogue's story in the game. Your Wizard is getting the fancy multiclass treatment into Cleric, not because of power concerns, but because it fits their story and character and motivations. What about the Rogue? At least, I would assume that your little party is accepting high-payment jobs and going after potential treasure vaults for the Rogue's sake. Is the DM taking the time to craft some interesting things for the Rogue to do or to gain, relating to their desires?

As an aside, if you haven't gained that Cleric multiclass level yet, you might want to look up training rules (such as with new skills) and apply them to your character, to keep things "fair" and put a requirement on learning new languages and abilities.