How do you handle players that ruins the game for everyone else?

[Jhaelen]

Yeah, that's the so-called 'Joker' player type. As a GM I don't mind them, but I also don't particularly care for them. If the other players are annoyed by his character's actions, I'd expect them to deal with it in-character.
If I was one of the players, I'd likewise react accordingly in-game. If excluding his character from the party (terminally or otherwise...) doesn't help because all of his characters act the same, I'd talk to the player. If he isn't willing to tone it down some, I'd either leave the group or ask him to leave.

 

[jasper]

Telling Joe he is annoying Sue is not telling Joe that he is playing his character wrong. It's telling a real life human being that he is annoying other real life human beings and making it difficult for the real life human being-powered adventure at your table to be fun and enjoyable.

A DM-enforced, top-down approach to character punishment is not going to work. You need Sue's PC and Bob's PC and Frank's PC to all agree that Joe's PC has got to go.

No Kreddy K, Sue, Frank, Jasper, need to tell Shidaku,
Group, "Shidaku, you being a jerk. You are gone from the table. See you on Taco Wednesday.".

Shidaku does have point. Don't be a jerk in game to the jerk at the table. You can hit the jerk's pc with max damage, steal his magic items, and make him pick last. The jerk will not get a clue. Or enjoy it.

 

[Eltab]

But I've got a lot of good advice from you guys that I will try. Thanks!

Let us know how it goes; hopefully the problem can be solved.
But if not ... we can offer even more advice (new feature: advice is of questionable value) to muck things up worse !

 

[Li Shenron]

I've tried in-character punishment, but the player doesn't seem to care.

I can see that the other players are annoyed, but no one ever says anything. And also, I have this personal rule, not to interfere with how my players play their characters. But maybe I have to change that...

It's not a matter of interference, it's a matter of a player not getting the spirit of the game. Such spirit is NOT the same for every group, so while one group may have fun with e.g. PCs attacking and killing each other, another group will have the opposite of fun. The fact that one player is happy and everybody else is not, clearly indicates who needs to change, or leave the game.

I do not "talk privately" with such disruptive players. I talk to them immediately at the gaming table, even if it takes some guts to do so! The other players need to know what the DM thinks, and they also need to be able to speak up if they don't agree with it. "Talking privately" only exacerbates the situations where each player have a different view of what's really going on.

 

[Trellian]

I am sure this is not the case here, but there is a character Trait in 5th edition D&D that goes something like "I always throw the plan out the window" or something. I have had a couple of characters in my group with that trait. If this is the case, and the player uses it occasionally, it's flavor and characterization. I have also had players tired of waiting and simply deciding to take action to get the game rolling.

If annoying traits are transferred from character to character in perpetuity, that's different.

 

[schnee]

I do not "talk privately" with such disruptive players. I talk to them immediately at the gaming table, even if it takes some guts to do so! The other players need to know what the DM thinks, and they also need to be able to speak up if they don't agree with it. "Talking privately" only exacerbates the situations where each player have a different view of what's really going on.

This.

It's painful, but it's best to do it quickly and in the open. Letting it go lets the bad feelings fester, and if that happens for too long, the table is toast.

 

[MNblockhead]

Following JonnyP71 comment. It took me 20 years to learn this. DON'T PLAY WITH GOOBERS!
1. Talk with the goober.
2. If the goober does not change his play style, and no social reason * to let the goober stay; kick him to the door.

* Spouse of friend. Spouse. Person who drives you to the game. Mommy making you let goober play.
Note best friend is not an social reason.

Spouse of a friend is also not a good reason. I'm not to going to let the rest of the table suffer to help you keep your spouse happy.

Of course, I'm talking about intractable breaches of game etiquette or common decency. Adults try to talk things out politely first.

If it turns out that it is just a situation where different players want different things out of a game—then hey!—a wonderful excuse to spin up a separate campaign!