Keeping the players from looking around the screen

[diaglo]

ask them what kind of game they want you to run?

if they want to see the maps and see the mechanics you use. tell them it will make the game easier for them. and less fun for you.

let them see behind the wall if that's what they want and you want. it is just going to make it a different game then the one you are running now.

 

[Morrus]

Ask them why they're doing that? What's the point? How old are they?

My players never do that. But if one did - well, they're just ruining it for themselves. It's not like the can't purchase the module I'm running or something; there's no point me trying to stop them cheating if they're determined to. Luckily, they don't.

If they REALLY want to see the maps and everything in advance, just hand them a copy of it and save time. Then tell them what happens at the end of the next movie they're going to see.

 

[Ulrick]

Warn them one more time to stop. If they don't, then boot the offending player(s). Life is too short to be annoyed by players who want to cheat.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Take down the screen.



Seriously.

Just take it down and let them read whatever they want.




If they enjoy that, run it that way if you also do...

...but I suspect they won't....

...fruit isn't as tasty when it's not forbidden.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Another vote for: skip the screen, use a blank sheet to cover any maps you don't want seen, and just roll in the open. It's transparent, it's fair, and let's them know you won't pull punches.

 

[Oryan77]

Set a booby-trap. A good one is a contraption that is set off by a trip wire. A huge round bolder rolls down the hallway and crashes into the cheating player.

Or you could set up a blow torch that turns on when a pressure plate is pressed down.

Those are just ideas off the top of my head. If anything, you could just tell them that if they don't stop trying to peak, you will just stop DMing them.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Joking: Pepper spray. When someone looks behind the screen when your find is back there, spray until the can is empty.

Serious: Ask them why they keep doing that, and if slowing down game and lessening challenges are things they're really looking for in a game.

I once heard somebody on a different board outline his group's issue. They were playing 3.X, and somebody went online and found a bunch of "tricks" to "win" all the time. They'd fight, extend a Rope Trick (opens a pocket dimension where they can rest unharassed), and then they'd recover spells and kill another group. Then repeat. They did this about four times before the DM did something I thought was amazing.

When the group said "we exit the Rope Trick, and go through the door looking for the next group," the DM simply said, "you kill them, and are able to Rope Trick again. It works all throughout the rest of the fortress. You go on to level up, defeating hundreds and then thousands of opponents and propel yourselves to epic levels. You win."

They were dumbfounded. The DM said, "is this what you want out of the game? To win? Or do you want to play and take some risks?" The group decided they wanted to play, and they picked up coming out of the Rope Trick. They didn't use that "trick to win" or any others like it anymore.

Just make them really successful when they cheat. Look at an NPC or monster stats so they can kill it easier? The NPC or monster dies, then and there, for no reason (still gives full experience). Same things for bypassing traps. But, don't let the game progress like this, just skip over all the juicy combat, saying they win whenever anyone cheats. Then, like the other DM, ask if that's really how they want to play.

If that's really what they'd prefer (winning, but never getting to play out anything again), then you have an incompatible group (from the sounds of it). If it's not, maybe they'll stop, or the other players will make the 24 year old stop acting out.

Just my thoughts. As always, play what you like

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Every time he cheats, declare that a campestri mariachi band pops into existence and serenades his character for 2d4 rounds.

 

[the Jester]

I have a very harsh way of dealing with "peek at dm notes" behavior. I give fair warning first and make sure the players understand the consequences of their actions, but once they know what I do, there is no mercy at all.

In short: A player who intentionally peeks at my notes earns no xp for three sessions. If they miss a session or three, those don't count; there are three sessions of "I'm here to take my medicine" for that player, even if we switch campaigns completely. It's a player issue.

Every time I have done this (and this has been twice ever), the player that earned the punishment learned his lesson right away.

It is quite possible that you could lose a player this way, but if it's a player that is trying to look at your dm notes, that's just fine imho.

 

[Lanefan]

Firmly, politely, ask them to stop.

Then give this warning: "From here on, anybody who looks back here, that person's character dies instantly. No save. No revival. Gone. And I won't stop the game while you roll up another one."

This might cost you a party or two (except the one guy who plays fair, he'll make out like a bandit, or he should do) but if that's what it takes, so be it...

Lan-"every DM's toolbox needs to have at least one +4 Hat of Viking in it"-efan