Name this player type

[Agamon]

I'd like to answer your question, but it would just come up as a bunch of ''s.

 

[Bront]

Sometimes it depends on what previous GM's have let you get away with and how strict you are with interpretations. One of my GMs generaly lets you draw weapons for free in just about any circumstance. So, it's something I have to keep in mind in other games. Other times, it's a player trying to use common sense and reality and impose them on the RAW, which often doesn't work well. Sometimes, it's a player not understanding what he can and can't do, and sometimes it's a player trying to slip one past the GM.

I had one GM, who ran his first game, who ran the entire game in round by round combat mode. He did this specificly so he could deal with a player who was trying to get into everything, but also out of inexperience. It was frustrating, but the end result was that everyone got a fair chance to explore, examine, or otherwise look at things we encountered.

 

[DonTadow]

I have a player like this at my table. This is one of those players who KNOWS the rules of the game but tries to see what they can get away with. I don't mind when newbies do it but i'll be darned if i have to explain standard and move actions to a vetern. HOnestly I find the antics annoying, but I"m the evil DM type.

Case in point. At our last session she wanted to turn into a scarab (even thoug she didn't have a stablock for it and i require that for any transform or summon) then fly pass the 10 headed hyrdra, go over to the sacrafice on the table and attempt to turn back and revive her... all in one turn. I told her she couldnt, and to that i get the usual i want to try anyway. Well I let her, and then i let the hydra swat her across the room and knock her uncounsious for the rest of the round. The impact caused a magical item of hers to shatter.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I find that the use of a battlemat and markers in combat has solved most of these problems. It becomes pretty obvious what you can and can't do when you're restricted to a number of squares worth of movement.

I get more annoyed by players who know, but abuse rules of character creation and item crafting. I have one, and every time his character gains a level I have to go through the new character sheet with a fine-toothed comb, comparing it to the old one. He's been gone the past few months, and the game has been much more fun for me. Now he's returning, bringing his brother, a self-described "powergamer" (First character concept, after being told it's basically a core rules game: "I'd like to run a race from Savage Species." ). I've kicked back Powergamer's first two character sheets for inability to follow the house rules -- and am seriously considering withdrawing the invitation to play before he even plays his first game with us.

 

[Thanee]

Well, there are some people who have a really hard time grasping the concept of actions, combat rounds, etc. They think in different terms.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hussar]

I find that the use of a battlemat and markers in combat has solved most of these problems. It becomes pretty obvious what you can and can't do when you're restricted to a number of squares worth of movement.

I get more annoyed by players who know, but abuse rules of character creation and item crafting. I have one, and every time his character gains a level I have to go through the new character sheet with a fine-toothed comb, comparing it to the old one. He's been gone the past few months, and the game has been much more fun for me. Now he's returning, bringing his brother, a self-described "powergamer" (First character concept, after being told it's basically a core rules game: "I'd like to run a race from Savage Species." ). I've kicked back Powergamer's first two character sheets for inability to follow the house rules -- and am seriously considering withdrawing the invitation to play before he even plays his first game with us.

Dude, there's one thing I've realized after my years of DM'ing. DM's, even bad ones, are MUCH harder to replace than players. If you've got a wingnut like this trying to get into your game, show him the door and explain that you don't feel like playing with idiots. I refuse to deal with stuff like this anymore.

 

[devilbat]

I have a player like that in our game. When he finds the game exciting, he goes into hyper mode. I chalk it up to too much soda, and remind him of the six second round.

 

[Breakdaddy]

I'd call that player "Chaotic Everywhere," from an old Dragon magazine article on the alignments of players.

ROFLCOPTER!!! I remember this article, was a GREAT ONE! Think it was from Dragon Annual 3, but memory doesnt always serve me well!

 

[ZuulMoG]

I'd call that player "Chaotic Everywhere," from an old Dragon magazine article on the alignments of players.

Gotta love those April Issues!

 

[Faerl'Elghinn]

Is there an official term for this kind of player, other than simple derogatory terms like "jerk" or "cheater"?

Well, there is a way to perform all of the actions you describe in a single round of game time--it's a 9th-level sor/wiz spell called Time Stop. Possibly you could explain to the player that if his character has delusions of being a 17th-level plus arcane spellcaster, some special rules should apply to him/her:

When overtaken by a delusional episode (attempting to overstuff a round with actions), the character believes that all actions described are being performed. However, in reality the character is affected as if by a Confusion spell without the option of "behave normally".

Also, each hour, the character should roll a 10% chance to be affected as if by a Confusion spell (normal) cast at--well--17th level.

Instead of trying to fight the player, you can simply encourage the roleplay opportunity afforded by this tendency, and allow those affected by random "attack the nearest creature" results to take care of the discouragement.

As far as a name for this type of player, in second edition (where this type of play was theoretically possible) it might have been a variant of munchkinism. However, in 3.5e, where the possible actions in a round are meticulously defined (almost overly so), the only applicable term would seem to be along the lines of "belligerent moron"...