Problematic player -- HELP!

[Zero44]

There's a guy who I regularly play with that seems to get a fancy for um...what's the term I'm looking for? Gamewrecking, I think would be an appropriate term. Basically, he figures out what everyone else is going to be playing, and picks the diametric opposite of that(if he can't find out, he goes with chaotic/evil), and spends the entire time stealing from the other party members, attacking them, or instigating them/taking advantage of them, claiming it "makes the game more interesting". He makes every effort to halt the story/plot's progression(going flat outright to attack people or NPCs giving us missions/quests/whatnot, or leaving the party and coming back later to attack us or in some way subvert us). If I tell him he can't play an evil(or whatever the opposite of the party is) character, he accuses me of being 'biased' against that alignment, or biased against him. How do I deal with this guy? Killing his character doesn't work(he simply makes another character that has a different name/race/etc but has the same goals in general). Making deals with him doesn't work. If I tell him he flat out can't play, that's gonna be a storm. HELP!

 

[Olive]

If I tell him he flat out can't play, that's gonna be a storm. HELP!

which is a shame, cos it sounds like that's the only option unless he's willing to remember he's part of a GROUP.

 

[Wormwood]

If I tell him he flat out can't play, that's gonna be a storm. HELP!

You have no other option.

Make sure the the majority of the group feels the same way. If they do, then boot him and deal with the storm.

If the group doesn't have a problem with this idiot, then you may need to find a new group.

 

[BSF]

Sounds like this guys "interesting" is your nightmare. If you can't get rid of him, then you need to leave. Why game with people that are detracting from your fun?

 

[Telperion]

There's a guy who I regularly play with that seems to get a fancy for um...what's the term I'm looking for? Gamewrecking, I think would be an appropriate term. Basically, he figures out what everyone else is going to be playing, and picks the diametric opposite of that(if he can't find out, he goes with chaotic/evil), and spends the entire time stealing from the other party members, attacking them, or instigating them/taking advantage of them, claiming it "makes the game more interesting". He makes every effort to halt the story/plot's progression(going flat outright to attack people or NPCs giving us missions/quests/whatnot, or leaving the party and coming back later to attack us or in some way subvert us). If I tell him he can't play an evil(or whatever the opposite of the party is) character, he accuses me of being 'biased' against that alignment, or biased against him. How do I deal with this guy? Killing his character doesn't work(he simply makes another character that has a different name/race/etc but has the same goals in general). Making deals with him doesn't work. If I tell him he flat out can't play, that's gonna be a storm. HELP!

I pretty much have to agree with Olive, but lets see if I can come up with a better option...

Well, since he seems to be using heavy tools to do what he wants you could bring out a heavy tool yourself. Railroad him somewhat, and see what he thinks about it. Personally I have always liked Pit Fiend devil-princes. They are tough enough to take on just about any individual, and scheming is their life. Although this creates some extra work for you it's possible you could control fire with fire. Force him into servitude, and then "allow" him to fulfill a few missions for this arch-devil. Those missions should be something that you, as a DM, can live with. Go over the side and make it something that would really make your average player puke on the table. Then tell him to do some more, and more and...you get the idea. In the end the player will realize that being evil all the time isn't half as cool as being truly Evil, or he will quit the group himself, or select something a little less evil for his next character.

 

[d4]

Basically, he figures out what everyone else is going to be playing, and picks the diametric opposite of that(if he can't find out, he goes with chaotic/evil)

i don't game with people who intentionally make characters that can't work with the rest of the group.

...and spends the entire time stealing from the other party members, attacking them, or instigating them/taking advantage of them, claiming it "makes the game more interesting".

i don't game with people who are only out to screw with the other players.

He makes every effort to halt the story/plot's progression(going flat outright to attack people or NPCs giving us missions/quests/whatnot, or leaving the party and coming back later to attack us or in some way subvert us).

i don't game with people who are intentionally disruptive and only seek to wreck the game and everyone else's enjoyment.

If I tell him he can't play an evil(or whatever the opposite of the party is) character, he accuses me of being 'biased' against that alignment, or biased against him.

i don't game with people who won't listen to reasonable advice from the DM.

If I tell him he flat out can't play, that's gonna be a storm. HELP!

i would tell him flat out he can't play.

 

[d4]

Go over the side and make it something that would really make your average player puke on the table. Then tell him to do some more, and more and...you get the idea. In the end the player will realize that being evil all the time isn't half as cool as being truly Evil, or he will quit the group himself, or select something a little less evil for his next character.

or, he might actually like doing those kinds of things. in which case, you need to get rid of him as soon as possible. i wouldn't recommend going this route -- if he's as disruptive as you make him sound, boot him now. he's already caused your group enough problems.

 

[hong]

You have no other option.

Make sure the the majority of the group feels the same way. If they do, then boot him and deal with the storm.

If the group doesn't have a problem with this idiot, then you may need to find a new group.

What Wormwood said. Think of booting him as a character-building experience.


Hong "for you and him" Ooi

 

[Mordane76]

Easy fix -- tell him to shove off.

This guy obviously doesn't realize that RPGs are cooperative team events. If he's looking to stab people in the back, he should be playing Risk or poker. The other people at the table, I'm sure, don't appreciate the hassle of putting up with his shennigans, and I know as a DM I would have kicked him out on his duff after the third character of this nature -- the first might be a fluke, the second establishes the premise of a pattern, and the third confirms it.

If this will create problems, think of the problems it's already creating -- are the new problems really gonna be that much worse? The difference between the problems you have now and the problems you'll have after this guy is gone is that if he continues to be a jerk after you tell him why you don't want to play D&D with him anymore, you simply don't have to pick up the phone when he calls.

 

[Oni]

This is what I would do, based on what you have told us.

I would first talk to the rest of the group to make sure everybody feels the way you do, if you're not already certain of this.

Then I would talk to the offending player. In polite but simple and uncomprimising terms tell him that this supposed to be an activity that is fun for everybody involved and that his behavior is ruining everyone elses good time. While that sort play style might be enjoyed by some groups it does not fit the play style of this one. If he cannot have fun in a way that allows everyone to have fun then perhaps this is not the gaming group for him. As sometimes such things are not always immediately obvious to everyone involved you will give him an opportunity to show that he can play the game in a way that is fun for everyone involved, but if he does not show immediate and lasting improvement then you will ask him to leave simple as that.

I would make it clear there are no negotiations, and if he throws a fit simply cut him loose.

This is probably how I would handle things, but that's just me.