JacktheRabbit
Explorer
What do the other PC's do? In most groups I have belonged to that player would have been bombarded with friendly suggestions on what the character can do to help out.
How do I inspire a lax player?
- Thread starter DDK
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StalkingBlue
First Post
DocMoriartty said:
Either that - or in game, the PC would get requests from the other PCs where needed.
Fourecks, you say the player is having fun the way he plays. Don't try to change him. Odds are, he won't budge - except in the long run, to leave your table. Which will be a shame.
If you want to keep the player in, let him be. The other PCs can always ask for help specifically when they think they need him. No reason to be annoyed with the player - and no reason at all to play tricks on him like separating him from the group or forcing an NPC bard on him to get him to "roleplay properly" in the way you'd like him to.
For gods' sake, cut the guy some slack.
I see two possibilities:
1) Casual gamer - he's having fun doing what he's doing and even though it isn't much he's having a good time. If he's enjoying the level of participation, I wouldn't go and force him to be more in the spotlight. Just touch base with him every so often, make sure he's happy, and if he says something, try to work with it.
2) He's not comfortable playing the bard - in this case, I'd see if he'd be interested in playing something simpler, like a fighter. Granted, he may skip over all his neat feats, but at least he'll mostly be hitting stuff.
I agree with the others in the thread: he had no way of knowing that his +2 would have made the difference or not, and others could have added the bonus through other ways as well.
What is laxness to some may be more of an interest in hanging out and watching the fun instead of a desire to lead in the party's adventure.
1) Casual gamer - he's having fun doing what he's doing and even though it isn't much he's having a good time. If he's enjoying the level of participation, I wouldn't go and force him to be more in the spotlight. Just touch base with him every so often, make sure he's happy, and if he says something, try to work with it.
2) He's not comfortable playing the bard - in this case, I'd see if he'd be interested in playing something simpler, like a fighter. Granted, he may skip over all his neat feats, but at least he'll mostly be hitting stuff.
I agree with the others in the thread: he had no way of knowing that his +2 would have made the difference or not, and others could have added the bonus through other ways as well.
What is laxness to some may be more of an interest in hanging out and watching the fun instead of a desire to lead in the party's adventure.
Valmur_Dwur
First Post
couple things bother me about this topic.
1 - what level did they start at? You mention he's 8th level now did they start at 1st or 4th?
2 - I appologize to you before I say this but if he's as smart as you say, perhaps he's bored with your DMing style or the play of the group. Or the game period. I don't know but I think talking to him about what he finds interesting about the game will give you more help than me typing at my keyboard
good luck and let us know if you are able to resolve the problem
1 - what level did they start at? You mention he's 8th level now did they start at 1st or 4th?
2 - I appologize to you before I say this but if he's as smart as you say, perhaps he's bored with your DMing style or the play of the group. Or the game period. I don't know but I think talking to him about what he finds interesting about the game will give you more help than me typing at my keyboard
good luck and let us know if you are able to resolve the problem
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
There's nothing you can do
Yeah, you run into players like this. They say they're having fun, they say they're not bored, but they just sit there, doing nothing, all night.
A couple of things:
1) you have to believe him when he says he's having fun. He's a grown-up (well, so I assume) and he's capable of asking for things if he wants them. Don't try to second-guess him or treat him like a child. He said he's having fun. End of story.
2) he may very well be lying to you. This does not change point #1, but it's certainly possible. He may be bored to tears and too polite to tell you, and keeps coming to the game because he has a crush on somebody there. It's possible, but there's nothing you can do about it. Well, what you CAN do is provide obvious moments for him to shine:
"One of your group must sing us a song!"
"Okay, fine, I sing."
"What do you sing?"
"Huh?"
"Tell me about the song."
Blah blah blah... see if he wants to take advantage of moments of glory for him. If he doesn't, forget it, DON'T try to force him. He won't thank you for it.
3) He may be depressing the other players or slowing down the game. See what they think -- "I've noticed Fred is really quiet -- is that cool with you? Do you think I could be doing more to get him involved?" They may have insights into the situation that you don't. Also, they may be much more frustrated with him than you are and you need to know that.
Wrap it all up and you have a situation in which you don't necessarily have to do anything. If he's cool and the other players are cool, then just shrug and keep on doing what you're doing. If the other players are on the edge of murdering him then you need to take action.
Yeah, you run into players like this. They say they're having fun, they say they're not bored, but they just sit there, doing nothing, all night.
A couple of things:
1) you have to believe him when he says he's having fun. He's a grown-up (well, so I assume) and he's capable of asking for things if he wants them. Don't try to second-guess him or treat him like a child. He said he's having fun. End of story.
2) he may very well be lying to you. This does not change point #1, but it's certainly possible. He may be bored to tears and too polite to tell you, and keeps coming to the game because he has a crush on somebody there. It's possible, but there's nothing you can do about it. Well, what you CAN do is provide obvious moments for him to shine:
"One of your group must sing us a song!"
"Okay, fine, I sing."
"What do you sing?"
"Huh?"
"Tell me about the song."
Blah blah blah... see if he wants to take advantage of moments of glory for him. If he doesn't, forget it, DON'T try to force him. He won't thank you for it.
3) He may be depressing the other players or slowing down the game. See what they think -- "I've noticed Fred is really quiet -- is that cool with you? Do you think I could be doing more to get him involved?" They may have insights into the situation that you don't. Also, they may be much more frustrated with him than you are and you need to know that.
Wrap it all up and you have a situation in which you don't necessarily have to do anything. If he's cool and the other players are cool, then just shrug and keep on doing what you're doing. If the other players are on the edge of murdering him then you need to take action.
Valmur_Dwur said:
We started at 1st. And boy has it been a long time getting to 8th. Like I said early, we've been gaming as a group for over a year and for about 8 months in this campaign.
Valmur_Dwur said:2 - I appologize to you before I say this but if he's as smart as you say, perhaps he's bored with your DMing style or the play of the group. Or the game period. I don't know but I think talking to him about what he finds interesting about the game will give you more help than me typing at my keyboard
good luck and let us know if you are able to resolve the problem
I wouldn't be surprised if it is my fault. The problem is that getting feedback from my group is like trying to pry a banana from the librarians hands! Whenever I've gotten it, it's always been, "Everything is fine and well," and considering they turn up almost every Sunday and sometimes we play till the early morning hours despite everyone having stuff to do on Monday, I've always at least assumed I'm doing SOMETHING right.
And, like I said earlier, I have actually asked him if he's happy with the game and his character and he's always replied yes. The real problem is that other players are starting to grumble about it.
This is what worries me the mostAshtal said:2) He's not comfortable playing the bard - in this case, I'd see if he'd be interested in playing something simpler, like a fighter. Granted, he may skip over all his neat feats, but at least he'll mostly be hitting stuff.
His favourite classes are Psychic Warrior and then Sorcerer and I disallowed Psionics due mainly to the fact that I don't own the book and don't like psionics so can't be bothered learning the rules and don't want psionics on my world. He isn't a sorcerer because we have a sorcerer (this isn't me saying he can't be, just that he doesn't want to be). It worries me because I've seen him play a psychic warrior before and he was far more involved back then.Well, the point is, is that he doesn't try. Everybody else is wracking their brains and trying all sorts of things (admittedly no-one thought of aiding someone else but it's just an isolated example and shouldn't be taken apart and anaylzed so much) whereas he's just sitting back and doing nothing, like always.Ashtal said:
Yeah, could be. I guess part of the problem is that as a player, I'm always thinking of things to do and always wanting to do things so I guess it's hard for me to picture someone as being less... involved.Ashtal said:
