Do you have a player like this in your group?

[Rel]

Would you prefer to be described as the mysterious robed guy oder rather something Vaderesque? Or mayby something mindflayery? I am still undecided...

What about a spacefaring Kraken monk with a laser beak?

 

[sniffles]

We used to have a player who would read a magazine or "The DaVinci Code" when it wasn't actively her turn. As such, we would then have to point out which figures were enemies and which ones weren't, redescribe all the actions taken since her last action, at which point she would ask us what she should do, we would list options for her, she'd want us to pick one, we'd try to encourage her to actually play her character, she would almost always opt for firing the crossbow (you've guessed she's playing a cleric of Pelor at this point, right?), we would then have to tell her which dice to roll, and then she would go back to reading and paying no attention to the game.

Notice use of the past tense in my first sentence.

We actually have two of those in one campaign, although neither of them ask the rest of us for suggestions when it's their turn. They just say "What?" when the GM calls on them, and then they stare at the minis on the mat and try to figure out what's going on.

Player #1 is often either reading over his character sheets for other campaigns (he carries them all in one thick binder), or muttering suggestions to the player next to him, who wishes he would shut up. Once he figures out what's happening he usually does something lame like cast 'mage armor' on himself and then does nothing else. He leaves early every session, and his PC usually does more useful stuff as a NPC after the player's gone than he ever does in-character. :\

Player #2 of the Inattentive Duo is usually reading a book or making notes for a campaign he's running. He's in another campaign in which his PC is the star of the show, so he finds it boring to be in a game in which his PC is just one of the gang. We've also come to the realization that this guy has Short Campaign Syndrome - anything he's involved in for more than a year, whether as player or GM, becomes dull to him and he wants a change. :\

Unfortunately, both players are good friends of all of the group, in addition to Player #1 being a GM of the largest number of ongoing campaigns. No one wants to offend them by kicking them out of the game. To make matters worse, Player 2 comes with his wife, who's a good player, and if he drops out she'll go too.

 

[Dougal DeKree]

What about a spacefaring Kraken monk with a laser beak?

Eight-armed gun-fu, eh?

 

[Rel]

Eight-armed gun-fu, eh?

If you think the laser beak is too cheesy, replace it with the most beautiful pair of ruby red lips they've ever seen. Then have the Kraken grapple and pull them toward its giant maw and give them a great big kiss. Then it can release them again with an indellible lipstick stain that'll never wash off.

That should freak 'em out.

 

[Dougal DeKree]

I am fuming!

Hello again!

Yesterday we played after brunching. Finally everyone was finished with small talk and the overall motto was "Let's get started!", dice on the table in the living room, char sheets ready. Together with Boris, I was summing up what had happened in the last session when suddenly Frank interrupted "I saw that you have Bedazzled on DVD - let's watch it!"
After the first silence all i could was ask "What?" "I want to see that movie. Let's watch it." Another player went "You can't be serious, we are here to play and have just started?" "We can play _and_ see that movie." I told him in a neutral (as best i could) tone that no, we were not playing and watching a movie at the same time. Everyone was shaking their heads in frustration, when mere minutes later Frank again fell into his "Where are we?"-routine.

Now: I am going to ask him, why he is behaving that way. If the answer is showing any disregards for the wishes of the other players, i am going to kick him out. I mean, he is reducing the fun for everyone else. What are your opinions? Should i ask? Or just kick him?

Dougal

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

It sounds like he doesn't want to game... he just wants to socialize with his friends. I think the "let's watch that movie!" pretty much proves that.

Personally, if I were the GM of a group including Frank, I'd sit down with him (and possibly the rest of the group - that's your call) and talk - on a non-game-night.

What to mention? "Hey, it looks like you're not enjoying the game. You just seem really bored. Is there anything I can do to make it more interesting? Or, if you want to quit, you know, I understand. There's no sense in you spending time on something that you're not interested in."

I'd also set up a non-gaming get-together night - for example, game on Fri night, then have movie night (or whatever) on Sat. My old group of friends used to do this, as there were some of us who just weren't into gaming.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

You KNOW you deserve it for that Vampire: The Dark Ages game with me and Eva, right?


I think I'd just drop him, and get it done with. Talk to the other players about it, and then act.

P.S.: Do I get to be a villan too?

 

[zantriel]

Funny thing happened at work today, and it fits perfect into this thread. Everyday we start the shift with a quick meeting. Today it was about a upcoming fire drill. The boss spent 10 minutes talking about what to do and where to go. When he was done he turns to this one guy in the crowd, (I’m new and don’t know everyone yet) and this guy has his hand up. The boss says, yes Frank, “Uh, so where do we go?”
The boss says, “The grassy hill at the edge of the parking lot.”
Frank returns with, “What door do we use?”
Once again, “Any door, just meet on the grassy hill.”
Frank one more time, “This is in case of a fire right?”
And… “Yes Frank, a fire, not a tornado.”

Now, does anyone know where the “thread” Frank works?

I about died, the first thing I thought of was this thread.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Now, does anyone know where the “thread” Frank works?

I about died, the first thing I thought of was this thread.

Germany, sp it's not the same guy.

...I wonder i they clone these guys and drop them off all over the planet...

 

[zantriel]

Could be, though it was day three of 7pm to 7am shifts, he may have been asleep, though the boss knew he was going to ask so I don’t know.
One would think they would clone people that would be a bit more… anyways, maybe it is a draw back of the cloning process.