I saved half the D&D group at least. Goodness gracious!

[Nyaricus]

Hey SoA,

Well, it sounds like there are some problems. The best thing to do has a few parts to it, IMO...

Sit down and have a talk with them. Preferrably, not at this get-together you are having, but perhaps a couple days after it. They need to know what they are doing is disruptive, and that they should take it elsewhere. You don't start ranting about home hockey is better than lacrosse when playing soccer, do you? No!

In game, the thing to do is to take what everyone says literally. If they make a comment that the king sounds like a fat ass after your description, they say that to the king himself in-game. It's brutal, but it works and keeps people on topic and watching what is said.

Other than that, thats all I have for now. Good luck with you game, hope this works out alright

 

[Sound of Azure]

Thanks for all the tips, everyone.

It doesn't look good at all right now. After talking to Player #3 this morning, he's been getting a lot of hints from Player #1 that he wants to sever ties with Player #2 completely. Hopefully I can clear things up tomorrow about what he wants to happen.

I'm predicting that we'll probably just socialise from this point, rather than game together as the group has been. Of course, it doesn't preclude gaming in general, or being in games with either (which is good).

Still, it's not over until it's over, eh? (good ol' positive thinking, hehe ) Plus, I still need to chat to Player #4 and a few of the non-gamer friends involved. What a soap opera!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Throw both of the problem players out. Continue on with the two fun folks and pick up two or more new players if you decide you need them.

Life's too short to moderate playground disputes among adults.

 

[Kristivas]

How did it turn out?

 

[Sound of Azure]

Well, that's it then.

After asking around today, and significant chatting with all the players, we've decided to disband as far as playing goes. Players #3 and #4 are staying on if I can still get the game together, but as a safety measure #1 & #2 are not invited (we'll still get together to see a movie and socialise generally, however).

I said that I was happy to have everyone at the game, so long as they follow some guidelines on behaviour and avoid certain topics so we could all have fun. That... didn't get a good response. :\ Something about being controlling and not caring enough to back up a friend in a bind. Jeez!

Even after that, I guess I avoided some kind of weird fight during a session or something. It still feels kind weird, you know? I had some friends back in y home town that enjoyed arguing with each other, no matter how outrageous it got. Maybe it's like that? I just don't understand how it got to that point, that's all.

Then again I guess it's not my problem, and I have two very good players at the table. Maybe I can find a few more floating around somewhere. On the other hand, a two person team would be kinda cool too. We'll see.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. It's made figuring things out a hek of a lot easier, even if things kinda suck right now.

Back to the evil planning stage, I guess. hehehe...

 

[The Forsaken One]

Killing the good mood for one afternoon to save all your futures ones sounds like a sound investment to me. And just sit down, have a talk, dispense some justice by whippin if needed and then get on with the game and make it a good afternoon with plenty of XP and loot.

Loot always saves a bad afternoon <3.

 

[Sound of Azure]

Yeah, probably.

The only trouble is that I now have to keep records on Players #3 and #4 under different numbers! This is really going to ruin my filing system!

I mean jeez! How inconsiderate!

Seriously though, I should have done something earlier. Ignoring the problem made it worse. Sometimes silence is taken as approval, unfortunately. Never mind. We can all (in theory) concentrate on having fun, and not worrying about offending anyone. I'll see how it goes.

 

[librarius_arcana]

Find common ground, remind them why they are all there,
and then try and make any disagrements more "formal" and less personal,
Sometimes all you need to understand is a better perspective,

Make it your job to maintain respect within the party,

 

[librarius_arcana]

Hmm, politics eh? Try to stay neutral as long as possible then in the end jump in with the side that seems stronger an share the spoils.

Or you could just talk to people as a group and call people out when they're ripping others behind their backs. I don't reccomend this though. It is not the way to achieve true power.

w..t..F!

 

[Sound of Azure]

Well, we're gonna try and take gaming out of the equation with ex-Players #1 and #2 for a while, and see if that will simmer things down. Gonna go slow, though. I don't want to seem like I have an agenda or something...that would would be trouble. Luckily I have a few people that have got my back now that I have explained things.

Kinda glad I don't need to knock any heads together. Reason should prevail eventually, but on the whole I am more cautious with both these guys now.

At least this incident has inspired me to write a formal table rules document for the upcoming game.