How do YOU deal with passive players?

[Wraith Form]

Wondering how the DMs out there deal with players who are passive--? The most obvious solution is that you need to bring the action ("conflict" is the term my Lit teacher would have used) to them, rather than waiting for them to find the conflict.

But how do you get them involved? How do you get them to role-play & come out of their shell? What types of game techniques have you used to get them to take "the bait"?

Any comments, statements, examples, illustrations, rants, hostilities or even insults are welcome. Thanks.

 

[kengar]

Are you talking about a passive group of players or an individual?

If it's a group. maybe you need to get them to define their character's goals a bit more. If they don't feel motivated to pursue the hook of the adventure, then maybe you need to find out what they would pursue.

If it's an individual, you may have what Robin Laws describes as the "Casual Gamer." They might just be happy to tag along with the group and hang out. If so, then don't feel like you have to fix it.

You could try talking to them between sessions and finding out if they are bored or uncertain or whatever. Then work with them to make sure they are having fun.

Good Luck!

 

[Wraith Form]

Are you talking about a passive group of players or an individual?

*SNIP*

If it's an individual, you may have what Robin Laws describes as the "Casual Gamer." They might just be happy to tag along with the group and hang out. If so, then don't feel like you have to fix it.

Good Luck!

Thanks! Uh, yeah, I was talking more about an individual. If the whole group was passive, I'd fire 'em and hire some REAL players.

 

[Kirowan]

If your player isn't shy, I'd leave him alone. Some people are content to just sit and enjoy the gaming part of RPGs. If you have a feeling that he might be nervous about acting out, there isn't too much you can do besides making sure no one cuts on each other's role-playing so he can be sure he is in a safe, accepting environment.

Nick

 

[Ace]

Thanks! Uh, yeah, I was talking more about an individual. If the whole group was passive, I'd fire 'em and hire some REAL players.

Heh

My solution for passive players is to use a variant of a technique called In Media Res-- In the middle of the action

I like to start adventures with "Jalik (or who ever) just as you take a sip of beer a dagger whizzes tword your head. Roll defense (I use a defense roll)

After he rollls (and I fudge the roll ifits not meant to hit him) I will say something like "Its your old enemy the Wizard Arba and he is getting ready to cast a spell. What do you do?"

Nothing get s a player more involved than immanent mayhem and its personal

 

[Wraith Form]

When I say passive, I'm not talking "shy" per se.

First of all, I don't think the particular player I have in mind has gamed much (if at all), so I take that into account--and I don't hold it against him.

Second, I don't think he fully realizes that he can DO things, go and seek adventure rather than sitting and waiting for it. (I say 'adventure,' although we're playing modern Call of Cthulhu so it's not like in a D&D game.)

Last, I only have TWO players! If the other guy doesn't grab the reigns, I have to manipulate events so that the plot comes to the investigators, rather than the investigators...uh, investigating...the plot. (Sometimes that sucks.)

 

[Wraith Form]

Heh

My solution for passive players is to use a technique called In Media Res-- In the middle of the action

I like to start adventures with "Jalik (or who ever) just as you take a sip of beer a dagger whizzes tword your head. Roll defense (I use a defense roll)

After he rollls (and I fudge the roll ifits not meant to hit him) I will say something like "Its your old enemy the Wizard Arba and he is getting ready to cast a spell. What do you do?"

Nothing get s a player more involved than immanent mayhem and its personal

Thank you! Yes, this is good advice, and I'll try to use it to my advantage. In Media Res is essentially a "bring the encounter to them" approach, from what I can tell.

I wonder if the solution is simply that--to bring the steaming, brown, bodily-waste projectiles onto their heads instead of waiting for them to find it. (Kinda tough in CoC, tho, when the whole point is to investigate mysterious happenings.)

 

[kengar]

I wonder if the solution is simply that--to bring the steaming, brown, bodily-waste projectiles onto their heads instead of waiting for them to find it. (Kinda tough in CoC, tho, when the whole point is to investigate mysterious happenings.)

Bringing the 'action' to them doesn't HAVE to be combat. It could be having something freaky and mysterious happen right in front of them or to them. Walls bleeding, their dead grandfather sitting down next to them at a bar and warning them that the they are being hunted, etc.

 

[dreaded_beast]

perhaps you make your concerns known to the passive player. find out if the game is enjoyable for the player, if they are having any fun at all. if they are enjoying the game while still being a "passive" player, then let them know that you would find it more enjoyable on your end if they took a more active role.

 

[Silver Moon]

How do YOU deal with passive players?

I find that cattle prods tend to work rather well.



Seriously though, we have enough leaders in our group that having a few followers seems to work out well. It only becomes a problem on the game night when all of the leaders are absent. Those nights require a little more "push" from the DM.