Question

[chainsawbd]

Lets say I join a combat and I'm a wizard. Can I charm a monster (or do anything else that affects the battle, really) even if it's against the wishes of the player who accepted my help or am I bound to do what he wants me to do?

[uttwich]

Once you join the battle you're able to do whatever you want, not necessarily to let the other person win. Hopefully you've negotiated with the person who asked you to join the combat for a share of the treasures. In that case, you could use the Wizard charm to make the monster go away and then take whatever treasures you negotiated. The munchkinly thing about doing this is that you prevent the person who asked for your help from going up a level.

Other options would include intentionally making the other person lose and potentially suffer the bad stuff if either the monster will not pursue you for some reason or if you can automatically run away pretty much no matter what (for example, if you have a Chicken Steed). Then nothing bad happens to you and lots of bad stuff happens to the other person.

Remember, the point is for you to win. Whatever you want to do along the way without cheating (except for valid uses of the Cheat! card) to get you to your goal if perfectly acceptable.

Keep in mind, though, that doing anything that I have described will likely put a target on your back that everyone in the party will start gunning for...

[MunchkinMan]

Originally Posted by uttwich

Once you join the battle you're able to do whatever you want[.]

Bear in mind, you'd best want to do something legal. :-) Yes, I know that was covered later, but it bears repeating.

It really doesn't matter whether you choose to help or were compelled, as a helper, you are not required to do exactly as the player you are helping wishes. You can make it so you both lose the combat, knowing you could Run Away from the Monster(s) and your "friend" couldn't.

[aeronaut]

Originally Posted by uttwich

... Whatever you want to do along the way without cheating (except for valid uses of the Cheat! card)....

A point of semantics here. Valid uses of the "Cheat!" card aren't cheating. And any house rules that have been agreed upon before the game (or during if you're all generous) are also not cheating.

Regards,
aeronaut

[Kirt]

Originally Posted by chainsawbd

Lets say I join a combat and I'm a wizard. Can I charm a monster (or do anything else that affects the battle, really) even if it's against the wishes of the player who accepted my help or am I bound to do what he wants me to do?

What you ARE bound to do is add your power total to the munchkin side of the fight. (You can't say, "I refuse to fight so I add 0 to the munchkin side")

You are not required to: use one-use items, discard cards to power abilities, not play items against yourself, not use abilities against the munchkin side, not enhance the monsters...