HELP PLEASE BY WEDNESDAY!!!

[Angelsboi]

Trouble making PC doesnt show intrest in plotline created for him. I need this plotline to end by this wednesday.

Can anyone help??

http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8037

 

[Angelsboi]

bump

 

[Piratecat]

In my opinion, if a PC doesn't show interest in a plot line, let him ignore it. Then follow through the consequences and let them deal with the results. I usually make a note to avoid that type of adventure in the future, too!

BTW, bad form to bump a thread until it's most of the way down the page.

 

[Dungeon Master]

In my opinion, if the player doesn't show any interest in the plot line, don't force him into it. In the event a player or group decides not to follow a certain path, I simply keep a stockpile of side trek type adventures handy and let them plow their own trail.

If the plotline effects the player and they don't follow up on or get hooked into it, as Piratecat said, follow through with the consequences!

Especially with new groups, I usually run a few basic adventures then hook them into a plotline and thus the campaign is begins.

I'd throw some ideas at you but I have very little time for my own campiagn as is, with FT work and some writing projects currently. Good luck and hope everything works out for you.

 

[Ashtal]

Angelsboi, you have to understand that it will be difficult to impossible for someone on this board to help you flesh out what looks like an entire game session for you. Many of us have our games to run and can only afford a few suggestions or nudges in the direction we individually think is best.

Right off the bat:
Why is this player not interested? Does he feel railroaded? Does he feel like he has no input into the process? Does he feel that it does not suit the character? Are there real life issues playing with his mood come game time?

If you have the option: switch players. Player A may not be grooving on the plot, but Player B may be very excited. You could always claim that A was actually a feint, meant to confuse the opponent.

If the players just decide to pull out of the subplot, as others suggested let it run its course without the interference of the PCs. Stuff happens, right? If the PCs could have stopped it, they will share some of the blame.

That said, I think you are trying to push your games into too much of a television show. This may or may not be working for your players - ask them and see. If it is, then maybe you are either not planning enough (like the lack of a game structure for the Chess game, something I would think would be integral to this plot line), or are planning yourself into a corner.

And never bet on what the PCs will do, either. I see in the link that you are assuming the PCs (IIRC) were going to flee the site. Who knows? What if they decide to disguise themselves and stick around to see what happened. What if they decide to turn themselves in? What if they decide to fight there way out? Contingency plans are important and if you aren't letting your PCs have options of what they can do next, it may be taking the life out of their enjoyment and may explain why your player has opted out of this plotline.


Ashtal

 

[Angelsboi]

well the player in quetsion says he LOVES the way things are going but hes always on his cell phone during the game.

And they will flee because they are in the middle of town square fighting. They wont be able to disguise themselves in the middle of everything.

Im not asking for a FULL game, just what i should do about this player and help to quickly wrap up this plot.

 

[Ashtal]

Easy.

Ban the cell phones.

Unless he's waiting to hear whether a family member is about to give birth or if someone makes it through a life-threatening operation, there is no excuse for sitting at the game table and chatting on a cell phone.

Good lord, that would drive me up the wall.

Tell them to turn off cell phones and pagers when they are at the table, unless there is an emergency. Doing otherwise is pretty damned rude, IMO.

 

[Sodalis]

Angelsboi

hes always on his cell phone during the game.

This is something that really annoys me. there is nothing more annoying than to have a game slow down (or even stop) cause soem guy needs to explain to his GF that he is in the middle of a DND game.

What I do is to ask that everyone shuts off their phone before the session. If someone is expecting an important call, then I allow him to make it vibrate. and if it does ring, and his turn comes up, he loses his turn- simple as that.

I don't think it is fair to make the other people wait cause you have to take a call, or that a friend neds directions to get to the mall...

and if something comes up like an opposed str check- i have another player lopok onto his sheet for teh bonuses, and such- but that is about as gracious as I will get.

I had a session a couple weeks back where a guest popped up in th emiddle of our game and wanted to watch. we invited him to play, but he declined. All throughout teh game, he was carrying on side conversations with the players- one after another- It annoyed the hell outta me. So i ended the game with a couple cliche points and stopped the adv.

My point is- you know when the games are scheduled, and if you cant make it- don't. But if you do come, at least show the courtesy to the other players and DM to be involved in the game. I can understand if it was important stuff, but for the most part, interrupting calls are just friends that need to talk or something- and I cant stand those....

Edit:

Ashtal:
Ban the cell phones.

Unless he's waiting to hear whether a family member is about to give birth or if someone makes it through a life-threatening operation, there is no excuse for sitting at the game table and chatting on a cell phone.

Good lord, that would drive me up the wall.

Tell them to turn off cell phones and pagers when they are at the table, unless there is an emergency. Doing otherwise is pretty damned rude, IMO.

I guess my rants and emotional outbursts shold be a lil shorter. My entire post was summed up by your three lines...

 

[Angelsboi]

ill try that.

But its kind of hard when its Me, 3 other gay men and the token straight guy.

But hes the only man on the phone. The straight guy and his girlfriend are cool with his gaming

 

[Sodalis]

Angelsboi

ill try that.

But its kind of hard when its Me, 3 other gay men and the token straight guy.

But hes the only man on the phone. The straight guy and his girlfriend are cool with his gaming

what's gay or straight have anythign to do with it? Just because you are one or the other doesnt mean you have any special priviledges...

just say so nicely- before the game day... "guys, we are having trouble keeping the game flowin when people are calling, and accepting calls in teh middle of the game, and so I would like toimplement a new rule- please have you phone off during the session. If you have important calls you are waiting for, then you can have it on virate so it wont disturb other players. If you do choose to accept a call during the game, you will lose you turn."

Most people would think this as fair, and if they dont... too bad.