D&D 5E How to "reign in" new players

[commandercrud]

You're only level 1. You can't do that yet.

That should cover it.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I'd guess she's in her mid twenties? Married with a child.....she's my brother in law's wife's sister....so I guess she's my sister in law.....

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Had a session zero last night. I've never run one before, and thanks to your advice (in my thread and others) it went very well. We have four people that have never played before......one is a druid, and the player seems to think she's already 20th level. "I can control the elements, I should be able to make a hurricane".....that's a literal quote....

So, how do I help new players realize they aren't all powerful at level 1? Nicely......

One argument I will probably make is logic.....Look, there are probably thousands of level 1 spellcasters right now on the planet. What would happen to teh world if they could all make a hurricane happen?

I did let her do something overly powerful last night, but I made sure she understood it was not normal she could do it. "The spirits and your god have made it clear this is a glimpse of power you could have, but don't". Then she still tried to do the hurricane thing....

I don't want to crush new players' spirits, but, ya know, we need some limits here people.....

thanks,

Session zero is a good place to discuss exactly what kind of story you are going to tell. Zero to Hero is not something I would have thought to even bring up - but for absolute new people, that may not be where their head is. Lots of fantasy stuff starts out with the protagonists being powerful. But usually most fantasy touchstones are about players discovering or learning new powers as they go - in the context of an overarching plot.

Since you didn't get to lay this out in session zero, you can always start off session 1 with this conversation. And yeah as someone said up there - if they drop, they drop. D&D isn't for everyone.

 

[Zaukrie]

Session zero is a good place to discuss exactly what kind of story you are going to tell. Zero to Hero is not something I would have thought to even bring up - but for absolute new people, that may not be where their head is. Lots of fantasy stuff starts out with the protagonists being powerful. But usually most fantasy touchstones are about players discovering or learning new powers as they go - in the context of an overarching plot.

Since you didn't get to lay this out in session zero, you can always start off session 1 with this conversation. And yeah as someone said up there - if they drop, they drop. D&D isn't for everyone.

Ya, I didn't think of that either......good learning for me.

I've posted a note on Discord, we'll see how it goes.....

 

[The Green Hermit]

I'd guess she's in her mid twenties? Married with a child.....she's my brother in law's wife's sister....so I guess she's my sister in law.....

I call that sister in law in law

 

[The Green Hermit]

Huh, thanks! Not usually a fan of being pedantic, but in this case, thanks. I thought it was reign......

Ya, I'll just have to have a talk with them all. My son was greatly amused at his relatives thinking they were already all powerful.....

Think of it this way, "Reins are for horses and reigns are for kings."

 

[Lem23]

And rains are for the wrong side of the Pennines (ie Lancashire).