eriktheguy
First Post
Is the warden the only defender?
If not, you don't have a problem. The character is just playing a striker with less damage and more defense. He probably enjoys striking but doesn't like getting KO'd or stunned. Wardens can handle both, and have decent damage output, so a Warden-striker might be a good choice for him. Don't gang the monsters up on him unless it is opportune, target the rest of the party and let the real defender protect them. Praise your player for his unconventional interpretation of class roles. Reward him by occasionally throwing a condition or load of damage his way to be shrugged off.
If he is the only defender you have a problem. And that problem is the player, not the warden. The fact that he doesn't care about the rest of the party is bad. What should happen with a lousy defender is that the rest of the party gets targeted and is in big trouble. If they go down, his low damage output won't be enough to finish the fight. You can't "teach him a lesson" by doing this, because TPKs suck. You also can't just have all the monsters gang up on him, because that's what they want. He doesn't understand that he needs the party, but you can't call him out on it without ruining everyone else's day.
Finally, stunning and hordes of minions are a bad idea. Countering a party that does 'too well' is a basic DM instinct, and a wrong one. You should design your encounters to challenge the players strengths and occasionally (but not catastrophically) reveal their weaknesses.
The most important thing is to talk it over with the player. If he's not interested in defending then the party needs a defender, give the job to another player or an NPC. Consider letting an experienced player control a second character. If he realizes that having no proper defender is a problem and wants to take the role, then your problems are solved. You can now focus attacks against the rest of the party and trust him to help protect them. He might even appreciate the significant increase in oomph his character gets when creatures ignore his mark.
I should note that many fighters in my campaigns play their characters just like your Warden, as alternative strikers. It can work really well as long as the group was some form of defender.
If not, you don't have a problem. The character is just playing a striker with less damage and more defense. He probably enjoys striking but doesn't like getting KO'd or stunned. Wardens can handle both, and have decent damage output, so a Warden-striker might be a good choice for him. Don't gang the monsters up on him unless it is opportune, target the rest of the party and let the real defender protect them. Praise your player for his unconventional interpretation of class roles. Reward him by occasionally throwing a condition or load of damage his way to be shrugged off.
If he is the only defender you have a problem. And that problem is the player, not the warden. The fact that he doesn't care about the rest of the party is bad. What should happen with a lousy defender is that the rest of the party gets targeted and is in big trouble. If they go down, his low damage output won't be enough to finish the fight. You can't "teach him a lesson" by doing this, because TPKs suck. You also can't just have all the monsters gang up on him, because that's what they want. He doesn't understand that he needs the party, but you can't call him out on it without ruining everyone else's day.
Finally, stunning and hordes of minions are a bad idea. Countering a party that does 'too well' is a basic DM instinct, and a wrong one. You should design your encounters to challenge the players strengths and occasionally (but not catastrophically) reveal their weaknesses.
The most important thing is to talk it over with the player. If he's not interested in defending then the party needs a defender, give the job to another player or an NPC. Consider letting an experienced player control a second character. If he realizes that having no proper defender is a problem and wants to take the role, then your problems are solved. You can now focus attacks against the rest of the party and trust him to help protect them. He might even appreciate the significant increase in oomph his character gets when creatures ignore his mark.
I should note that many fighters in my campaigns play their characters just like your Warden, as alternative strikers. It can work really well as long as the group was some form of defender.
