DMs, when have you found it necessary to fire a player from your table?
- Thread starter jasper
- Start date
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
I've also let players "drift away" a handful of times. One would often attempt to monkeywrench the game, just to see what he could make happen, and another was an inveterate cheater - every roll a success, multiple criticals in every session.
The only time I gave someone a hard boot was over what happened after gaming. He started going on about how the #MeToo movement was filled with false allegations and claims, the usual made-up statistics of falsified reports. When I told him it was past gaming and he had to leave, he got snippy. After that, he got permanently kicked out.
It didn't help his case that he smelled bad, routinely arrived at least two hours to every session, and would try to derail the session if given the chance. In hindsight, he should've gotten the boot long before then.
The only time I gave someone a hard boot was over what happened after gaming. He started going on about how the #MeToo movement was filled with false allegations and claims, the usual made-up statistics of falsified reports. When I told him it was past gaming and he had to leave, he got snippy. After that, he got permanently kicked out.
It didn't help his case that he smelled bad, routinely arrived at least two hours to every session, and would try to derail the session if given the chance. In hindsight, he should've gotten the boot long before then.
Swarmkeeper
Hero
We had a player displaying the following traits a few too many times during one of our campaigns:
- telling others how to play their characters
- dice roll and character sheet anomalies
- rules lawyering resulting in loss of momentum
- arguing at the table with other players and the DM
- disruptive side tangents
- pouting when feeling slighted by the party
- subtly being unwelcoming to new players
We gave the guy a long chance since it was a public gathering spot, none of it was truly extreme, and the actions weren't present at every session. A few players had joined us along the way and left several session later giving me vague reasons. It wasn't exactly bad gaming, just something was off. I finally had reached a boiling point where I felt the fun was draining away. I confirmed some things privately with other players at the table to get their perspectives then met in person with the player to have an adult conversation - he volunteered to leave. It was the right way to handle this particular situation with the result being a clean mutual break. Part of me wishes I had taken action sooner, but as one of the other players suggested, the timing needed to be right for me. Since then, we've taken on a few new players, the group is much more cohesive, and it is way more fun for me as the DM.
- telling others how to play their characters
- dice roll and character sheet anomalies
- rules lawyering resulting in loss of momentum
- arguing at the table with other players and the DM
- disruptive side tangents
- pouting when feeling slighted by the party
- subtly being unwelcoming to new players
We gave the guy a long chance since it was a public gathering spot, none of it was truly extreme, and the actions weren't present at every session. A few players had joined us along the way and left several session later giving me vague reasons. It wasn't exactly bad gaming, just something was off. I finally had reached a boiling point where I felt the fun was draining away. I confirmed some things privately with other players at the table to get their perspectives then met in person with the player to have an adult conversation - he volunteered to leave. It was the right way to handle this particular situation with the result being a clean mutual break. Part of me wishes I had taken action sooner, but as one of the other players suggested, the timing needed to be right for me. Since then, we've taken on a few new players, the group is much more cohesive, and it is way more fun for me as the DM.
Oofta
Legend
I don't know that I've ever fired anyone, but not invited them to the next session? Yes, a few times.
There are some ... odd characters out there. I'm pretty okay with a wide variety of opinions/backgrounds/styles. I had to limit the talks about politics, but other than that as long as the person is engaged and enjoyable it's all good. I also accept that no everyone plays for the same reasons I do.
But there have been a few over the years. The guy who had one of those super-sized dice that he would carefully check when he picked it up and then "roll" it by dropping it on the table. He also thought he was literally a werewolf. As in thought he turned furry when there was a full moon. His wife backed him up on this 100%.
Then there was the guy who played a seven foot tall albino elf with no weapons, spells or offensive capability whatsoever. A PC had to loan him a dagger so he could do something. He said people were just frightened of him when he walked into "just because" with no mechanical reason.
The guy who decided that everything I did was "railroading" because I'm good at improv and he thought I always had things planned out. As an example I dangled a plot line about the dwarves of his clan needing help - he was laughing out load while telling them he wasn't interested. I didn't really care if he followed up or not, it's the PC's choice. But he thought he had "gotten one over on me" because he didn't follow my carefully scripted plot. Although that was one simple example, it was his standard reply to anything his character should have been interested in.
Or how about the guy that insisted he had to play a half dragon half vampire. How this could happen he couldn't explain other than that it would be awesome. Having learned my lesson with the albino elf I just said "no" and he didn't show up for the next game.
There was the guy that always wanted to play an evil character to "explore his dark side" in a really, really creepy way. I'm up front that I don't allow evil PCs in my campaigns so he wrote up a chaotic neutral character that was really an evil sociopath.
Almost forgot the guy that decided it was a good idea to hit on all of the wives of other players. He didn't hit on my wife (kind of insulting in a way!) but she was the DM at the time.
So yeah, I guess there have been a few that I would have booted had the "do not invite them to the next game" hadn't worked.
There are some ... odd characters out there. I'm pretty okay with a wide variety of opinions/backgrounds/styles. I had to limit the talks about politics, but other than that as long as the person is engaged and enjoyable it's all good. I also accept that no everyone plays for the same reasons I do.
But there have been a few over the years. The guy who had one of those super-sized dice that he would carefully check when he picked it up and then "roll" it by dropping it on the table. He also thought he was literally a werewolf. As in thought he turned furry when there was a full moon. His wife backed him up on this 100%.
Then there was the guy who played a seven foot tall albino elf with no weapons, spells or offensive capability whatsoever. A PC had to loan him a dagger so he could do something. He said people were just frightened of him when he walked into "just because" with no mechanical reason.
The guy who decided that everything I did was "railroading" because I'm good at improv and he thought I always had things planned out. As an example I dangled a plot line about the dwarves of his clan needing help - he was laughing out load while telling them he wasn't interested. I didn't really care if he followed up or not, it's the PC's choice. But he thought he had "gotten one over on me" because he didn't follow my carefully scripted plot. Although that was one simple example, it was his standard reply to anything his character should have been interested in.
Or how about the guy that insisted he had to play a half dragon half vampire. How this could happen he couldn't explain other than that it would be awesome. Having learned my lesson with the albino elf I just said "no" and he didn't show up for the next game.
There was the guy that always wanted to play an evil character to "explore his dark side" in a really, really creepy way. I'm up front that I don't allow evil PCs in my campaigns so he wrote up a chaotic neutral character that was really an evil sociopath.
Almost forgot the guy that decided it was a good idea to hit on all of the wives of other players. He didn't hit on my wife (kind of insulting in a way!) but she was the DM at the time.
So yeah, I guess there have been a few that I would have booted had the "do not invite them to the next game" hadn't worked.
Blue
Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Been DMing since the late 80s. Never had to kick a player from a campaign. Occasionally needed to talk to a player about disruptive behavior, min-maxing and such - always to successful results.
While running at conventions I've never kicked a player, but I have avoided running for certain players that I had run for earlier in the convention.
While running at conventions I've never kicked a player, but I have avoided running for certain players that I had run for earlier in the convention.
collin
Explorer
Only under 2 conditions:
1. When a player has literally not shown up more than once (in 10+ sessions), which was not so much fired as just kind of "let go".
2. When a player is so caustic to the entire group that keeping that person is detrimental to even continuing the group. I am not talking strictly about game-play, here. Actually, this would involve more of a player's personality and lack of respect or abuse of others in the group. If a player wants to play a total jerk character and screw their fellow characters/players over, I don't have a problem with that, as long as it is not truly personal. Ultimately, that character/player will get his come-uppings within the game, one way or another.
1. When a player has literally not shown up more than once (in 10+ sessions), which was not so much fired as just kind of "let go".
2. When a player is so caustic to the entire group that keeping that person is detrimental to even continuing the group. I am not talking strictly about game-play, here. Actually, this would involve more of a player's personality and lack of respect or abuse of others in the group. If a player wants to play a total jerk character and screw their fellow characters/players over, I don't have a problem with that, as long as it is not truly personal. Ultimately, that character/player will get his come-uppings within the game, one way or another.
ccs
41st lv DM
3 (maybe 4). But never on the spot/at the moment during a session. It's always been something that could wait until between sessions.
From most recent backwards:
*Tyler - this annoying kid was in the ToA game I'm running down at the local shop. We've got space at the table for 1 DM + 7 players. Theres 4 regular players. So if there's an open seat we'll give you a chance....
Well Tyler here was eager to play - but refused to read (or even understand) the basic rules, his chosen class (barbarian), NEVER stopped talking (including when other people were talking - not even when whoever he was talking at was speaking/speaking to someone else), never had a clue what was going on (because he'd been talking), would miss random sessions, got at least one barbarian killed each session he was there due to refusal to learn, and would sometimes just up & randomly leave the session.
After about 8 weeks of this he'd pissed off all 4 regulars (and i, the DM).
He was spoken to. He was taught. Etc.
And each week it was back to square one....
So we decided that once his current barbarian died that he was getting the boot.
He was oblivious to this & still eager to play....
Eventually his barbarian died (again).
Inbetween sessions I ran into him at the shop while picking something up mid-week. He starts excitedly babbling about the game.
When he paused for breath I just flat out told him that he wasn't invited back.
And listed the reasons.
His response? "Oh. Ok."
And wandered back off upstairs to rejoin the Yugio game he was in.
From most recent backwards:
*Tyler - this annoying kid was in the ToA game I'm running down at the local shop. We've got space at the table for 1 DM + 7 players. Theres 4 regular players. So if there's an open seat we'll give you a chance....
Well Tyler here was eager to play - but refused to read (or even understand) the basic rules, his chosen class (barbarian), NEVER stopped talking (including when other people were talking - not even when whoever he was talking at was speaking/speaking to someone else), never had a clue what was going on (because he'd been talking), would miss random sessions, got at least one barbarian killed each session he was there due to refusal to learn, and would sometimes just up & randomly leave the session.
After about 8 weeks of this he'd pissed off all 4 regulars (and i, the DM).
He was spoken to. He was taught. Etc.
And each week it was back to square one....
So we decided that once his current barbarian died that he was getting the boot.
He was oblivious to this & still eager to play....
Eventually his barbarian died (again).
Inbetween sessions I ran into him at the shop while picking something up mid-week. He starts excitedly babbling about the game.
When he paused for breath I just flat out told him that he wasn't invited back.
And listed the reasons.
His response? "Oh. Ok."
And wandered back off upstairs to rejoin the Yugio game he was in.
Dessert Nomad
Adventurer
I have an opposite story that people might find amusing: Years ago, a friend recommended a homebrew 1e (or 1eish) D&D game during the summer when our regular group wasn't active, so myself and a friend showed up to it. The people playing were a family, it was something like a father running the game, mother and a kid or two plus an uncle and cousin. Seemed a decent bunch, they put tables all in their garage and made a fun Sunday get together of it. The party was escorting some people through goblin territory to try to negotiate a peace with a goblin kingdom, fairly ordinary plot in a typical fantasy world. Some goblin kids started throwing rocks at the camp, so my elven fighter/mage decided to fire an arrow into the ground in their direction to try to scare them off before anything could escalate into a real fight, like an old farmer firing a shotgun loaded with rock salt near trespassers.
Suddenly, the real-life room exploded. One person accused me of trying to sabotage the game, another said 'what if you manage to hit them by mistake', and another (the oldest) started in on a rant about how you can't just nock and fire an arrow, you have to store a bow unstringed and string it first. My response was pretty much 'whoa, if it's a problem I just won't shoot an arrow, I was just trying to scare them off not derail anything', but it fell on deaf ears. The rest of the afternoon was hours of arguing over this, with a thread of 'you couldn't do that so fast, you'd have to do these other steps' 'OK, then you stopped me before I could do it, lets move on?' No, see if you don't unstring the bow the tension is ruined...' intertwined with 'what if you hit the kids by mistake? It's dark' 'but there's moonlight and I have infravision, and I was just shooting into open ground, right next to them' 'no, you could have hit them, here's some numbers...' and 'it's really important that we help the kingdom negotiate this treaty, why are you trying to derail it?' 'but I wasn't, I was trying to get some troublemaking kids to run off...'.
And at the end of this, as me and my friend were heading to my car very weirded out, the mother came and sweetly said "It was good having you over, are you planning to come back next week? we run this game every week!". I mumbled something vague, and once we got in the car we looked at each other and said "did that just happen?" I mean, gamers freaking out over something in the game and ranting or being absurdly 'realistic' about it is pretty common, but the mother inviting us back like nothing untoward had occurred was simply mind-boggling. And that's a set of people who invited a player (me) back even though they clearly shouldn't have.
Suddenly, the real-life room exploded. One person accused me of trying to sabotage the game, another said 'what if you manage to hit them by mistake', and another (the oldest) started in on a rant about how you can't just nock and fire an arrow, you have to store a bow unstringed and string it first. My response was pretty much 'whoa, if it's a problem I just won't shoot an arrow, I was just trying to scare them off not derail anything', but it fell on deaf ears. The rest of the afternoon was hours of arguing over this, with a thread of 'you couldn't do that so fast, you'd have to do these other steps' 'OK, then you stopped me before I could do it, lets move on?' No, see if you don't unstring the bow the tension is ruined...' intertwined with 'what if you hit the kids by mistake? It's dark' 'but there's moonlight and I have infravision, and I was just shooting into open ground, right next to them' 'no, you could have hit them, here's some numbers...' and 'it's really important that we help the kingdom negotiate this treaty, why are you trying to derail it?' 'but I wasn't, I was trying to get some troublemaking kids to run off...'.
And at the end of this, as me and my friend were heading to my car very weirded out, the mother came and sweetly said "It was good having you over, are you planning to come back next week? we run this game every week!". I mumbled something vague, and once we got in the car we looked at each other and said "did that just happen?" I mean, gamers freaking out over something in the game and ranting or being absurdly 'realistic' about it is pretty common, but the mother inviting us back like nothing untoward had occurred was simply mind-boggling. And that's a set of people who invited a player (me) back even though they clearly shouldn't have.
G
Guest 6801328
Guest
I'm not even sure what that means to "fire" a player. It's not a job. It's a game. (Then again, I've never dived into the "DM flaw" thread from which this one spawned, either, for a similar reason. Just because a DM has stylistic/aesthetic preferences that are different from my own doesn't make theirs a "flaw".)
But if the question is, "Under what circumstances have you had to let a player know they are not welcome at the table?" all variants of my answer would fall under the category of "playstyle differences that cause disruption at the table".
But if the question is, "Under what circumstances have you had to let a player know they are not welcome at the table?" all variants of my answer would fall under the category of "playstyle differences that cause disruption at the table".
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