DM in need for some help :)

[Kalva]

So, i am the DM for my friday night group. Some of my friends like to mess around (alot) while we play and i cant get a story going. One of them always try to kill the other players while his character is good. I have to put alot of rules in while we play and it just gets boaring.

Does anyone have any tips?

-thank you

 

[fba827]

for the issue of one player always trying to kill the others... if the PCs don't _want_ to work together, find a reason why they _have_ to work together.

Are they each ordered by their teacher/mentor/king/etc to work together? Maybe each of their relatives were the ones that hid an ancient artifact and therefore it will require one of each of thier bloodlines to open the doors to the artifact that the party will want to get. Maybe they are all convicts but they are told to do something for the law in exchange for getting their sentence reduced, etc.

How you do it depends a lot on the nature of the story and plot that you want to try and create. but the basic idea here is, you need a strong reason that they either a) want to work together or b) have to work together. with out that, it becomes a free for all.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I think you and the group need to sit down and talk about what kind of campaign you want to run. If inter-party fighting is what they all want, then fine. But if it is what one player wants, the group needs to tell him to cool his jets or replace him.

Be forthright about everything that you want and get the players to be the same. If it is all on the table, it will help, I am sure.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Need more information.

Is everyone friends? Are these strangers that game together?

Is the person trying to kill the other players always the same player and always trying to kill the same player?

 

[NotanNPC]

jerk gamer

Everyone makes great suggestions. For the group as a whole, their input may help you bring more focus and make the game more inviting for them. My first question to the guy (even if he was my friend) trying to kill other PCs would be, "what's your problem".

It almost sounds like he/she's just griefing...just like the guy that kills teammates to get the tank or airplane...I don't know...if the guy's a friend it's tricky...

 

[Riastlin]

I think you and the group need to sit down and talk about what kind of campaign you want to run. If inter-party fighting is what they all want, then fine. But if it is what one player wants, the group needs to tell him to cool his jets or replace him.

Be forthright about everything that you want and get the players to be the same. If it is all on the table, it will help, I am sure.

Must spread XP before giving to Dice again, but this sums it up perfectly.

 

[ghaladen]

I have to repeat the question, is everyone friends here? Or are you playing with strangers?

One thing I've noticed is if someone is having a bad day, typically they'll bring their stress to the game. A big key thing I do with my players before we start is sit down for 30 minutes and catch up with my players on how their week's been. A lot of people will get the grief of there crap job, relationship issues, life issues out in the open during that time, and it generally makes for a better game, as people are aware that one person is stressed and they at least be a bit mindful towards them during the game.

Another big thing I've learned is it's good to be friends with people outside of the game. Go watch movies, go out to dinner, etc, but be friends with each other outside of the game. Simply because it's easier to ask people to be more mindful during the game since to a stranger asking them to behave sounds more like an insult.

Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[LostSoul]

The best way to introduce a "story" into a game is to play up the consequences of the PC's actions. You have to do this with an eye to what would make sense - you don't want to be a dick about it. If you play up the consequences of the PC's actions in a realistic manner, then their actions will have meaning beyond the instant and things will get interesting.

Don't try to force what happens to the PCs, either. Down that path lies boredom - since you're never going to be surprised by what happens.

 

[ghaladen]

Actually, a good resource for you (and for everyone who's a DM, really) is a guy named Sean Connors. He does a YouTube video series of tips for DM's, and he goes into a lot of player issues.

http://www.youtube.com/user/theoutsiders68

 

[Kalva]

Thank you everyone, that helps alot. i play with friends too lol.

Also, do you guys prefer the D&D books like Heroes of the fallen lands and Heros of the forgotton kingdoms to make characters or use the online generator. it seems like the online generator from Wizard is a little over powered.