Thanks DYA.
It's not like I am endlessly ragging on this player. I've said he can sometimes be good, and I have said he is an old friend. I do not want to kick him out and am searching for alternate ways to resolve the issue without conflict, which involves trying to make some changes and improve myself as well. I've said this more than once. Yet some people on here seem to want to attack me endlessly as if I am the one causing all of the issues.
I'll repeat, NONE of the other players had an issue with ANYTHING. Well, perhaps his buddy that he brought in, but they are really close, so they will be more likely to stick with each other, but the other players are fine. If it were all me, I'd be happy to step aside and be a player all of the time. I would rather be the player than the DM any day. Not only is it fun to portray your character and not know what to expect next, but I don't have to deal with problem players as much as well.
The whiner has a long history of complaining in a non-constructive manner. He'll scoff at me when I am DMing, challenge me, complain, pout, and make a scene. If you want to act like he is the victim, fine. If any of you are going to act like that I must assume you are a similar type of player because I can't make heads or tails of any other reason why you'd defend this type of behavior, even IF I made mistakes as a DM. Pouting, throwing a temper tantrum, and making the campaign difficult for other players due to your behavior is unacceptable PERIOD, far more than DM mistakes on CR.
And don't say the adventure was too hard. It wasn't. I had it specifically set up to make the encounter an an even playing field. While the PC's were 5 at 10th level, they all have very high stats, are very competent players, and are loaded with more magical items than your typical 10th level character. More like a 14th or 15th level character. All things considered they were more like a party of 12 or 13th level regular powered characters. Not only that, but they were aided by a 15th level NPC (whom the PC's were informed of before hand that he was a spy against the common enemy) and the PC's learned throughout the dungeon that the enemy battled most of the constructs and monsters, thus clearly they weren't at full capacity and prepared to battle the PC's.
All things considered, it was a pretty tough battle, but one I expected them to overcome. The other players were fine with it, just the one who always has a problem with something wanted to complain... besides perhaps his friend he brought into the game whom has strong ties to the player and not to me. But even he didn't raise much of a stink.
Was I perfect? No, there were some things I did that could have been improved upon. But when I do something that's messed up, I am open to talk about it maturely away from the table or after the game. I am not about to throw a fit, ruin everyone's time by moping around, etc. It's a game, my life goes on afterwards.
I picked up some good things I want to do here. I want to open a stronger dialogue with the player, express my concerns to him and listen to his complaints as well. This was we can get it out in the open and hopefully move on. Knowing my friend, I expect him to be more condescending to me when we have this conversation but I am trying to avoid looking at it this way. It's hard because I know him and he doesn't admit he does anything wrong, ever. Since I have known him, about 13 years, I honestly do not know if I could think of a single time I would recall him admitting he was at fault on something. Knowing him so well it's hard to be optimistic about this but I will try to. Like I said, he is a good friend and I like the guy, but we just have completely different styles of gaming and it's a struggle. Which is why I am considering for the first time in forever of bringing in new people to add to the diversity of the group.
I hope it works out.
