D&D General I have been asked for help and I am looking for input

[FitzTheRuke]

It's a table rule issue. Here is the table rule in my games:

"Keep Things Moving. We do this by saying "Yes, and..." to our fellow players. When a reasonable idea is proposed, we accept it ("Yes...") and add to it ("and..."). We don't shut down other people's ideas or try to tell other people how to play their characters unless they ask for help. It's discouraging to others and slows the game down."

So in this case, whoever proposed a good faith idea to investigate the ghost dragon is supported by everyone else. The two people who in this situation are refusing to go would work on finding a way to be okay with it. "Yes, and since we're scared that a ghost dragon is a bit more than we can handle in a direct fight, let's focus on ways to be stealthy when we approach the lair and have an exit strategy if things go badly." Then someone can "Yes, and..." that offer until a plan comes into focus.

I agree. "Yes, and we might just want to have a look around, gather some info, and get the heck out if we actually run into the ghost dragon, because it's probably more than we can handle."

 

[Malmuria]

The DM could do the following

• note that not all encounters are combat encounters. Maybe they can chat with the ghost dragon, figure out what it wants. Maybe it's a ghost of a dragon that was killed by...adventurers? An army? Another dragon?
• the ghost dragon could be a rumor that is false or partially true. Maybe it's a ghost of a dragonborn that became exaggerated into a tale about a ghost dragon?
• hook the players who don't want to go via their backstory or motivations, so they become invested in the quest/exploration
• I would actually recommend the DM be upfront that this part of the world is not really prepared, and that the table will sort of be exploring/creating it together.

 

[Oofta]

As others have said, you have a few options. It's a Scooby Doo mystery and the ghost dragon is completely fake. However, this could be a letdown for the group.

Another option is that it's real and, IMHO, should be terrifying. This is a monster of legend something that, if it notices them, could easily wipe them out with a ghostly sneeze. So the DM needs to set up a way for them to find this out, and that sometimes retreat is the better part of valor. Have NPCs warn them on their way, let them know that a local kingdom is sending a small army to take care of it once and for all and let them run into the lone survivor of a brigade barely alive having only escaped by sheer luck. Heck, have them get close and then just let the fear effect make them run away. Or combine the two, someone was using the legend of a ghost dragon for their own means but accidentally woke the real ghost dragon up and now it's really, really pissed.

This sets up the ghost dragon as a long term nemesis, one that possibly now knows about their existence and will literally haunt their dreams. An alternative is that the dragon offers to make them a deal or casts geas (or similar) or they die. This makes a story arc of either having a new master and dealing with that or looking for a way to break the control.

On a related note, I'd also have them talk to the players. I run an open more-or-less sandbox campaign, but I simply ask that we not completely change direction during a session. Something like this needs to be discussed as a group and even if it's not an ad-lib I still prefer to have some prep time to ensure I can set up encounters that will be enjoyable. Most groups are fine with the reality that DMs don't have an entire world prepped, even if they're okay with the PCs going off the rails.

 

[Quickleaf]

so the background. He put together an afterschool game (if it matters he is a senior in High School and he was an 8th grader when I first met him) this game has 6 regular players that up until now have made almost every game (witch is a small miracle). the game started at 1st level and is now 4th level and they use XP.

the issue. ...cool story about the place haunted by a ghost dragon... however this has turned the entire session into an argument... 4 players want to investigate this (1 of the 4 wants to actually drop what they are doing right now but other 3 just want that next) BUT 2 of them not only don't want to do it but are refusing to go near a 'ghost dragon' at level 4. Now this wasn't just a pause, but they are mid adventure and a 3ish hour session was derailed by this.

his quastion is what to do when some players WANT to do something and some DON'T, how does he as the DM adjudicate this?

When I run for younger players, and they hit a point where they are at loggerheads, unlike with my adult players (whom I can usually say "hey, this is eating lots of our game time, can you find a way to resolve it in the next few minutes?"), with youngers I try to propose a compromise.

Part of them accepting my compromise, yeah, it is in the compromise being wisely imagined and presented well, but I'm sure part of that is also the authority of me being older. So this may not be AS effective for your High Schooler acquaintance, but here's what I would say to the players:

"You've heard of (midway point connecting current plot to the ghost dragon-haunted place - probably at edge of the map), and so-and-so asks you to venture there to discover why people are vanishing and learn why there is an unusually high level of ghostly activity in the area."

This acknowledges:

• Concerns of the 2 players who are "nope, that's too tough for us at 4th level", by giving them an intermediary adventure zone that's still something kinda familiar (i.e. connected to current plot & at edge of map).
• Desire for majority (4 players) to go towards the ghost dragon storyline.

While also being firm that:

• Just because 1 player is loudly asking to go after ghost dragon right now, the DM doesn't cater to just 1 player's desires, but to the entire group.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

murder tornado

okay thanks, now I have to go stat that up too

 

[billd91]

I agree with @jgsugden , Don't. If it gets 'bad' enough, then help the players out by having them talk about it out of character. "Hey everyone, let's talk about this out of character for a moment..."

As far as helping the PCs come to some kind of decision, I agree that it's a player-based dispute that should be handled among the players. But since it is also derailing the session with unproductive arguing, that's a group dynamic issue that is worth wading into. My advice would be to tell the players to put the discussion on hold until after the session.
And if it helps to "lift the veil" a bit, just tell them that there are parts of the world that are sketched out and not fully developed yet but that the interests they express will help them, as DM, prioritize what to more fully develop.

There are a number of other areas that, as DM, I try not to get involve in - treasure division being another significant one. But when any of those player-managed topics starts to put players at serious loggerheads, that's my cue to put on my Group Management hat.

 

[AnotherGuy]

Many here seem focussed on what the Ghost Dragon is which I feel is unimportant. The DM can plan information gleaned/rumours heard, the travel, the obstacles and the actual creature whatever it is - the real issue is what does one do with the current adventure in mid-progress and how does one resolve the issue amongst the players.

Like some have said, do not have the DM interfere. Answers questions they may ask, but let the characters hash it out during play. Could abandoning the quest result in any consequences/repercussions - those could be communicated to the PCs. Otherwise just inform them of the passage of time.
If the PCs have a henchman or two or familiar NPCs , you could use them to roleplay them for and against the idea.
Perhaps one highlights the possible treasures to be found, another informs them of the terrible rumours they heard of the place, a third would perhaps steer them to the people in the know or a craftsman who is said to produce weapons ideal for hunting dragons...etc

 

[Vaalingrade]

okay thanks, now I have to go stat that up too

I have a War Tornado for WoE stated. It's an air elemental with serious anger issues.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Hmmm, probably offer a middle ground between going all in to fight it or ignoring it completely, some town or city closer to the ruins or listening to the hearsay in the local tavern on what kind of experiences people have had, a DMPC who’s also planning to investigate the ruins who’s going ahead to scout and will be waiting at said closer town for 3 days if they do decide to come along

 

[Stormonu]

If the players want to go for it, and it may possibly mean splitting the party I might throw some warning signs, but its there choice. I would make it clear though, that I need some time to prep that direction of the game properly. Those that want to stay on the current path, we could continue that. The others, I’d DM as far as I felt comfortable ad-libbing, but there would likely be some stutter before we got to encountering the Ghost Dragon. Them’s the breaks.