Do you keep players in your group who don't contribute?

[KingCrab]

Give him time to get to know everyone and learn the group dynamics. He may change drastically. I know I'm shy in a new group.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I've never had that partiuclar problem, actually. I had a player leave the group, once, but in retrospect that was my fault, not the player's.

 

[Bishop Odo]

Give him a few sessions, then ask if he’s comfortable, after all it better that he’s reserved at the beginning, rather then trying to take over. He might turn out to be smart enough to quietly work himself into the game and the group.

 

[JRR_Talking]

he is cold and calculating, and just biding his time before he takes over your group and has you voted out

or maybe he is just quiet and new.

 

[DragonLancer]

The guy is new, so give him time to get used to everyone and your game. Try talking to him before the next game, see what he liked and didn't like, and mention that you thought he was a little quiet and was everything alright?

 

[NewJeffCT]

Some people are happy to remain in the background. Robin Laws calls this type the casual gamer. This guy might not be naturally quiet though, he could just be holding back cause he's new.

Great point Doug. I've often seen people saying on here (and elsewhere) that the DM should give everybody equal chance to shine. However, some gamers are happy just being in the background and are happy with an occasional shining moment... while others need a bit more "screen time" if you will.

 

[Drowbane]

Emirikol,

Thats kinda how I was in one of my SD groups. That group was (is, I assume they're still gaming) big on RP and characterization... which I'm not all that comfortable with around people I don't know very well. So, my characters (first one got cut in twain by a Red Cap's crit) were quite a bit quieter than he should've been.

This "noob" just sounds shy and/or inexperienced. Try not to freak em out too much.

 

[el-remmen]

Was he a noob in the sense of being new to the game, or being new to your group?

Either way, he might just be shy and needs to warm up. ..

 

[Wombat]

I had a guy like that once.

He lasted three sessions. He was late to two of them and spent a long time yakking with his girlfriend by cellphone on the third.

I talked to him, then sent him a curt e-mail: get involved, be on time, participate, or please give up the seat to someone else (I had a couple of other people who wanted in at the time).

So he left.

And we got a better player.

 

[rowport]

I had a guy like that once. ... He was late to two of them and spent a long time yakking with his girlfriend by cellphone on the third.

In what way does this behavior remind you of the OP's description? It sounds like your player did not care about the game and was rude. The OP's player was quiet, but not rude or disengaged.