Difficult Player

[SeamusRedfern]

I am the DM of a 4e campaign with 5 players: a half-elf bard, a dragonborn paladin, an eladrin wizard, a dwarf fighter, and a half-orc hybrid Barbarian/Fighter. Everyone seems to enjoy playing their characters, especially the bard. The half-orc, however, doesn't seem to care for the story and world I have created for him to play in. When I attempt to further the story with what he calls RP-BS he will interrupt me with conversation that has nothing to do with the campaign. Most recently, after a thrilling encounter on the rooftop of an Inn at night in the rain, he opted to hack through the roof with his axe instead of climbing down. When the city guard captain attempted to arrest him for disturbing the peace and vandalism he resisted arrest and tried to kill him. When that failed and he wound up in a jail cell, he said I'm not done with that guard yet. I will kill him. What is the best way to deal with this player?

Those of you that responded to my post about Unstoppable Undead, the player in question is the DM of that session.

Thanks in advance for all advice.

 

[Trebor62]

he is obviously unhappy with the game the question is why? I am wondering if a rival DM situation has arisen. Just speculating but ask your self could he be jealousy? Could he think I am trying to one up his DM skills? Are your roleplaying skills better leading him to interrupt your "RP-BS" with non campaign related conversation? Could he be worried that the players will like your DMing better than his and cost him his group?

It could also be he really wants to play a half orc barbarian and the story line you have created is not working with that character concept at least at this stage of the campaign. If so try to see if there is a scene you could swing his way such as being the muscle for the Bard and the Bard the protection / assistance

If he is the type that can be talked too try asking what the rub is.

Good luck

 

[Ahrimon]

I don't know about the other game, but my suggestion is:

Be honest. Tell him that you want to DM a game more focused on role playing than hack and slash. Where actions have real consequences. And that while you understand that it is not his prefered play style you would appreciate it if he would attempt to fit his character into the story. And in return you'll make sure that it's not a pure story game and that he will get his chance to chop things into little bits. The interuptions and no consequences expected actions he is taking are disrupting your game.

If he can't accept that then tell him that you are sorry that he doesn't want to play in the story you are trying to tell. But you aren't going to let him disrupt the game for the other players or yourself. You'll let him know when it's his turn to DM again, until then take care and that you hope he finds a group more suitable to his desires.

 

[OnlineDM]

Well, he honestly doesn't sound like a great fit for this particular campaign. I'd talk to him outside the game about whether he really wants to keep playing in this campaign or not. If not, he can drop out of the group for the remainder of this campaign, maybe joining back up in a future campaign (perhaps run by a different DM).

If he really does want to keep playing, talk to him about why he wants that, and what he wants out of the game. Make it clear that this campaign involves more role playing than he seems to want, and you plan to keep it that way. He can't be allowed to disrupt that for the rest of the group (I'm assuming here that they want the role playing).

Sometimes a player's play style just doesn't mesh with the DM's. That's okay. If he's referring to role playing in your game as "BS" then I don't think he's a good fit for this particular game, but it's worth talking to him outside the game before just booting him.

 

[Morrus]

Not only does he clearly not want to play this campaign, he deals with it in a very immature and obnoxious way - he chooses to ruin it for everyone else. He doesn't sound like a particularly nice person to me. I'd put up with those manners for approximately 0.01 seconds.

You certainly need to talk to him (separately - don't try and embarrass him in front of other players) and ensure that conversation ends with a resolution which will end this situation.

 

[Firebeetle]

A.) Establish norms at your table. This should be a discussion at the table with all players. Come up with five norms. Have a suggestion or two ready, but sure to include "don't interrupt the DM" as part of it. Ask about consequences if someone violates norms and agree on some. In the past, I've had a jar and players get "fined" for pocket change. In this case, you may want to remove action points or healing surges or something.
B.) This guy obviously is doing a social dominance play. It is doubtful he would appreciate similar conduct in his campaign. It's time for the adult conversation, and he needs to figure out if he really wants to play or not. Role-playing is not BS in a roleplaying game.
C.) Let the chips fall where they may. If he hacks up the roof, it collapses pinning him underneath with incredible damage. If he wants to kill the guard, give him an opportunity while the guard is distracted by talking to someone. Of course, the someone is a major villain who kills the offending PC immediately. That's right, dead. The PCs now have to figure out who killed their buddy and why. Why the guard was talking to the person and why this person is important. While the offending player makes a new character and thinks about his lot in life. Reward stupidity with incredible misfortune, which is the inevitable and karmic consequence of being willfully stupid.

 

[SeamusRedfern]

I try to do a good job of balancing role-play and combat and his character got himself tied into the main events of the story but he just doesn't seem to care. After every encounter, be it a duel with a dragon or rumble with zombie minions he wants to know what kind of magick items they dropped and how much gold they were carrying. I know that he is a big fan of the "flexibility" of 3.5 but I doubt that he would be this way over not liking the edition. Thanks for the options. I will certainly have a chat with him.

 

[Momeeche]

Why not simply ask the problem player to simply leave?

 

[Morrus]

C.) Let the chips fall where they may. If he hacks up the roof, it collapses pinning him underneath with incredible damage. If he wants to kill the guard, give him an opportunity while the guard is distracted by talking to someone. Of course, the someone is a major villain who kills the offending PC immediately. That's right, dead. The PCs now have to figure out who killed their buddy and why. Why the guard was talking to the person and why this person is important. While the offending player makes a new character and thinks about his lot in life. Reward stupidity with incredible misfortune, which is the inevitable and karmic consequence of being willfully stupid.

I wouldn't advise that. It hews too close to "I have a social problem with another person, and I'm going to use my in-game position to punish his character".

The problem needs to be resolved away from the gaming table. It's a people problem, not a game problem.

 

[wedgeski]

The problem needs to be resolved away from the gaming table. It's a people problem, not a game problem.

Yeah seriously, don't try and "resolve" this in game, because you'll do anything but!