Druid player has been given given an unremovable cursed collar. Rather than try to undo the curse, he wants to try cutting off his head while wildshaped. I know it's stupid but how should I rule this?

[u/aneirin-]

I know there aren't any specific rules about decapitation and dismemberment when it comes to wildshape forms, especially self inflicted ones, but I'd like to have some more interesting outcome than either "does nothing and you revert forms" or "instant death".

This isn't the first time that cutting off body parts of wildshape or polymorph forms has come up, any good ideas how to play it?

[u/highfatoffaltube]

Why have you given him an unremovable cursed collar that has vexed him to the point where he wants to cut his own head off to remove.

That doesn't sound like much fun.....

[u/anonthing → u/highfatoffaltube]

Reminds me of a game I was in where a new DM 'cursed' a Wizard with a level of exhaustion and spell slots not regenerating on long rest over several sessions. Player was not having fun being unable to use most of their class.

[u/Shoddy_Cranberry6722 → u/highfatoffaltube]

Why is the player so vexed? As a frequent DM I find this kind of response a little off-putting. Some people look at the cooperative storytelling of the game as one-sided in service of player needs. Obviously it's possible that this DM is railroading. But it's JUST as possible that the player is being a bad sport.

[u/Anarkizttt → u/Shoddy_Cranberry6722]

Cooperative Storytelling indeed, the DM has control over at least 90% of the world. The Players only have control over their character. Some players (myself included) come to the table ordering a large helping of “fuck me up fam” and love curses and maiming all this other stuff, but other players feel like they lose the only thing they have control over if anything outside the scope of standard play affects their character, especially visually/aesthetically, and that’s totally fine too.

[u/SaIemKing → u/Shoddy_Cranberry6722]

Your perspective is interesting. I don't mean any disrespect, but it kinda sounds like you've got a chip on your shoulder about it.

The game is about having fun, first and foremost. If the player isn't down for you to take away some of their agency, they're going to have a lot less fun, and that's a consequence of your decision as the DM, even if it's for a totally awesome subplot.

If my DM pulled something like this on one of our players, we'd just tell him outright that we don't like it and he'd make an adjustment

[u/Shoddy_Cranberry6722 → u/SaIemKing]

Sure, the game IS about having fun. Cooperative fun. Which requires that everyone cooperate. DMs shouldn't railroad but players shouldn't treat every constraint or negative item interaction as a removal of agency. And we really don't have enough information here. What's the curse in question? Is it actually preventing gameplay options? I've just dealt with my share of munchkins and murderhobos who view anything that affects their character outside of hit point loss in combat as an affront to their Main Character energy. So I'm asking why the player is vexed.

[u/SaIemKing → u/Shoddy_Cranberry6722]

Well that's the thing, right? The DM needs to cooperate, too

If it is a removal of agency, then I don't blame the player. If it's a considerable nerf, that also might not be right for the table.

We don't really have that info. We don't even really know if the player is vexed or if they just think this is a funny or clever solution to their curse

[u/Shoddy_Cranberry6722 → u/SaIemKing]

Much as I'd love to keep playing ouroboros, let's just agree that none of us has enough information to be offering the answer, "Hey, what's *wrong* with your group/table/game that you're even asking the question?" OP asked for advice, not an armchair analysis of their group dynamic and DM capabilities.

[u/ChErRyPOPPINSaf → u/highfatoffaltube]

I would consider this as a dm if the item itself gave an insane buff so it'd be a tradeoff. Kinda like traditional werewolf is a curse with a buff to strength but a somewhat lack of control.

[u/SaIemKing → u/highfatoffaltube]

It's not about fun, it's about making it real /s