Flame War? NOT!

-- subtitled: Don't make rash decisions, you're the only one likely to be burned. --

Life has been busy. Fun with my daughter, time spent with friends, work-stress at least not increasing, starting to train to run the Chicago Marathon. But at the same time I keep looking for an opportunity to sit down and just breathe.

Here's an example of what happens when you don't get a break:
Gaming with friends I'm playing a Mystic Theurge. Theurges may not be the most powerful spellcasters but they afford a lot of flexibility and opportunities to tweak for a battle. Well, I took a fairly standard load-out into a day of adventuring. Our plans seemed easy enough to execute... bust down a door... look for trouble... and beat down the opposition. Fair enough until you run into a red dragon that knows you're coming.

Here's where stress comes into play. The entire group is happily joking, singing, telling stories and then BOOM! we hit silent, serious mode. Social time is over boys and girls. Now we started to sweat. We had prepared for lots of fighters, spellcasters using flame, mind control attempts on our fighting dwarf front line, but certainly not one incredible challenge like this.

Now, besides figuring out what to do against a spellcaster that is much stronger than you -- and trying to deal with an interrupting 2 year old -- you must come up with something smart to do that doesn't harm the party members in front of you. The best option I could come up with was to try to further protect the party and prepare for a strategic withdrawal.

Unfortunately, I'd come loaded for offense. I had this new spell that could be interesting but not being very experienced with it the logistics were taking longer to arrange. About the time I was getting a handle on it my wife's patience ran out and she cut into my struggles rather abruptly. I resigned from the effort and we agreed that whatever I chose to do could happen while the next person was going -- I wasn't going to slay the dragon myself.

"Fine," I huffed at last, "I'm going to cast a fireball just behind the dragon..."

Dead silence filled the room for about 15 seconds before 3 other experienced players started to laugh hysterically.

"The dragon feels warm and cozy and thanks you for reminding him of his time in the womb," responded our DM. And then astonished, "Seriously, you should know that. I'll let you make a different choice, funny as that was."

Doh!

Just perfect. This is a choice example of why I need a break.

So, if any coworkers, friends, or anyone I've slighted irrationally happen to read this, please, please, please bear with me as I get things back to normal.


Maybe I should stick to casting Magic Missile at the darkness.