How have you gotten rid of unwanted players?

[Barak]

I used the tried and true method of, at the end of a session, saying "Alright, so how's gonna make next session? Raise your hand. Ohhh.. Not so fast there Tom."

 

[MadMaxim]

I just tell them to leave. It worked well the first time. I just hope I don't have to do it again.

 

[MonsterMash]

Kill the character, take their stuff

Kill the player, take their stuff

Usually works for me [/jk]

 

[lukelightning]

Luckily I've never had an unwanted player situation, however I have played in a game where I didn't care for anyone else in the game. They were all a bunch of rude loudmouths and racist to boot: Once they started to refer to monks as "gooks" or "chinks" I just quit.

If I were to ever encounter a situation in which I wanted to get rid of a player, first I'd have to make sure this person really is a disruption or whatever for others as well, and it's not just me getting irritated at him/her.

Assuming others find this person troublesome I think it would be best if one of two people ask him to leave: Either the DM (sorry, DMs, this is one of your "other duties as required), or, more ideally the person who initially invited this person to the game, if there is such a person.

 

[Mercule]

Read "The Cask of Amontillado".

Actually, I've only gotten rid of one player mid-stream, and it was shortly after 3E came out. He was a nice enough guy. His style just didn't mesh with the rest of the group (to put it mildly) and almost seemed to be trying to get his character killed (no, your wizard can't jump the 20' wide pit). Since I'm not exactly noted for my tact (the words are there, but I get the vocal inflexions wrong), I asked the guy who brought him into the group to handle it -- they'd been friends for years whereas I'd only just met the fellow. I feel a bit bad about not doing it myself, but I really do thing I'd have botched it.

In high school or college, there were a couple of times where a player was tolerable for a time, but wasn't invited back when we changed systems or after the summer break.

 

[domino]

You know, you're absolutely right. Arsenic I add to the spaghetti sauce (it smells like garlic); cyanide goes in the cannoli (it tastes like almonds)!

Actually, it tastes like bitter almonds, which is completely different from normal almonds.

And it tastes like bitter almonds because bitter almonds have cyanide in them to begin with.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

Hmm, I generally play online, so the "Ban them / remove them from the Yahoo group works quite well. Soemtimes i get a nasty personal email, but then not downloading their mail is easy enough..

Hey, I explain the problem first, but then I use the ban hammar.

Life is too short, and this is online

 

[Tiew]

D&D makes me feel guilty because it's one of the areas where I'm very exclusive. I tend to only run a few games for friends and only invite people I know will work and don't let them bring friends I don't know. It makes me feel like I'm a bit of a jerk, but for me fun playing D&D is a delicate thing, easily turned into frustration.

Because I'm so picky and don't play very often I've never had to ask anyone to leave. I one time played in a game where it turned out I was replacing somebody. They didn't tell him they were playing and they had me jump in. He came by in the middle of the game though, so that forced them to handle things maturely. One of the them pushed the door closed and held it while the others hid. Then they waited for him to go away....

Aaah, that was a wierd group. Only went a couple of times but each one was a unique social experience.

 

[lukelightning]

If I was the problem player I would at least like an explanation of what the problem is and possibly fixing it. The only possible problem I could ever imagine I'd cause is that my characters tend to be a bit goofy, not crazily story breaking goofy, but more comic relief-ish. I've never seen a game that didn't have that sort of action, but I could imagine some non-D&D games, such as Vampire or Call of Cthulhu, that tries for a more serious tone. Of course I have no problem adapting to the genre/theme, but my default character personality is "wisdom as a dump stat."

Actually, it tastes like bitter almonds, which is completely different from normal almonds.

I think you are totally wrong, Domino, and I can prove it. Let me taste this cyanide and I'll tell you it doesn't taste like bitter almond at all... *lick* uh, I guess you're right... *thump*

 

[frankthedm]

Not called them back for the next game IME Few got this hint

Told them not to come back Had to keep telling one person this.

Made it unpleasant for them to be there I use this one when someone brings thier girlfriend.

Killed their character I kill lots of PCs anyhow, though No mercy sometimes gives a hint.

Blamed the other players And the other players were glad to help in this regard.

Cancelled the game entirely Twice.

Changed your game to be what they wouldn't likeThe mere threat of Call of Cthulhu/ Delta Green: PX Poker Night got an entire group worth of undesireable gamers to leave and never return. The host of our game was amazed how well it worked.