Player Arguments

[The Blue Wizard]

I have DMed for nearly 20 years. I have seen groups of players really gel together, working in harmony to overcome great obstacles and evil in D&D. I have also seen the group, as it changes dynamic with the addition of a new player, become less cohesive. Usually my approach as a DM is to sit back and ride it all out -- I figure that part of the drama of the game is letting players work through their disagreements and frustrations with each other. However, there are lines -- I have expelled players from my game for cussing out others and taking things to a personal level that involves insults. I wont let a player back at the table if s/he does that even once.

With my current group, the "vibe" was excellent until the addition of a recent guy. Its been a couple of months. He is a good player, and not someone I would want to lose, but the dynamic in the group is far different now, and tensions have arisen because of his agressive play style and style of relating to some group members. After game post-mortums hav become gripe sessions...

Its nice to play with friends around the table, but sometimes it doesnt always have to work that way, I know. I am interested: What do other DMs do when the players are at odds with each other??

Cheers,
The Blue Wizard

 

[Adlon]

I too have had NEW additions in my game, over the years. Good players.

But, you owe it to your core group, to have a talk with him, a serious one. If the talk goes nowhere, you have to cut him loose, IMO. Let him know THAT in your discussion, UP FRONT, that his failure to adhere to the game flow will result in his finding another game.

I'd much rather have 3 players that are dedicated and good players, working together, than 4 good players griping at each other, mostly due to the new guy.