Things that annoy you as DM?

[KenM]

free xp wantabes . Yes I skipped the last 6 months of gaming due to evercrack can't my character be bump 7 levels?

I play with a guy in my game that when he is not working, or at the game, he is playing evercrack. He mentions evercrack at least 2 times every game. He does not ask for free XP, but he is always unprepared. He plays a wizard and always has to level up his character before we start, look up spells, stats for monsters that he summons, ect.. Very annoying. He plays evercrack so much that last year he told us he went and bought a whole new computer system so he could play evercrack on two computers at the same time. He has two accounts, ect.. Its sad really.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'd think the guy who wanted to climb the tree IRL to show me how his character did it was spastic and probably a little unhinged. Someone who memorized the stats of all monsters and spouted them off wouldn't be welcome at my table if he continued to do that after a warning. And RL violence isn't tolerated in my social situations, ever. These are things few people have much experience with IRL, so we have to rely on abstractions to decide how much a battle axe blow hurts, or exactly how difficult it is to scale a rocky outcropping in rain and a 20 mph wind.

But you're willing to give someone a bonus, or deny their attempt, at a 'social' skill based on exactly what I brought up here.

Few people IRL can turn anyone who is hostile into bestest buddies, but you expect everyone to try in order to attempt a diplomacy roll.

These examples you give differ substantially from social situations in game though. First, barring the possibility the player is one of the unwashed, socially inept gamers, all people have some experience speaking with others and should be expected to at least ATTEMPT to role-play through what their character is saying to accomplish his goal.

And barring those confined to wheelchairs or otherwise incapable of physical action, everyone has fought, climbed, run, etc. How is one set of requirements reasonable when another is unreasonable?

You're applying a double standard here.

So I don't think it is at all unreasonable to ask a player to roleplay through the dialogue his character is using to influence others. It doesn't have to be a brilliant Shakespearean monologue, as long as some effort is made. A non-attempt (like I detailed earlier) would result in an automatic failure in my game, no matter what the roll was. Simply relying on the numbers strikes me as supremely lazy on the part of the player, and while it might be ok in a less roleplaying intensive game, it won't fly in my game. Each DM has to make that distinction for his game though. To me, it shows the player isn't even willing to expend the energy try to view or experience the world from his character's point of view, and its rather insulting to the DM since he spends a lot of time prepping for the game every session.

Just like not even trying to climb a tree?

 

[d4]

Players who try to bend the combat rules by performing off-the-wall stunts during combat. "Okay, I'll climb up into the tree, tie my rope to the branch, and swing down while slashing with my sword. Will that allow me to avoid recieving an AoO from the giant?"

wow, i'm constantly try to encourage my players to do more stuff like this! unfortunately, they don't often attempt it... they're usually so ingrained in the "must not take unreasonable risks, must only use logically sound tactics" mindset that they forget combat is supposed to be fun!

 

[Gothmog]

But you're willing to give someone a bonus, or deny their attempt, at a 'social' skill based on exactly what I brought up here.

Few people IRL can turn anyone who is hostile into bestest buddies, but you expect everyone to try in order to attempt a diplomacy roll.

And barring those confined to wheelchairs or otherwise incapable of physical action, everyone has fought, climbed, run, etc. How is one set of requirements reasonable when another is unreasonable?

While its true that most people can't turn a hostile person into a friendly one IRL, simply having the player roll with no explanation of what he is doing is killing a chance at roleplaying. The distinction is that RPGs in general (barring LARPing) are mostly social and not physical games. If a player is so inept that he can't even do a halfway coherent job trying to describe what he is doing while interacting with another character, he probably is in the wrong hobby. And while most people have climbed, run, and maybe been in a fight (though I seriously doubt and hope that they haven't used an axe, sword, or bow on someone), those activities are inappropriate at the gaming table. Conversely, asking a player to roleplay his character's interaction with other characters isn't inappropriate.

You're applying a double standard here.

Possibly, but its a double standard my group and I are willing to live with. Like I said, each group has to decide on its own, but it just blows my mind someone could justify ONLY using the dice roll to determine success of a social activity. I've only run into two people like this in the 20 years I have gamed, and they have had some SEVERE mental issues. I guess I use it as a way to weed out the wheat from the chaff in the games I play in.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

All players are irritating. It's the third rule of GMing.

That being said, I really hate players who think you're an entertainer and they're your audience. They expect to be entertained and don't think they're supposed to contribute anything to the game.

 

[Acid_crash]

time to rant time to rant....god I love doing this...I know some of these have already been said, some more than once, but some of these just can't be stated enough no matter what they are:

Players who try to tell the DM how to run his game.

Players who complain when the DM hurts their character in combat.

Players who complain when they are told that the game is not a hack-fest but they make combat machines anyway and then complain because there isn't enough combat to satisfy them, and then when there is combat they complain that they feel they are being railroaded into it.

Players who play the same character over and over and over again, no matter what race or class it is.

Players who don't try to roleplay at all.

Players who sleep during the game, play video games (this one really pisses me off), or just stop paying attention. I put a lot of hard work into the game, and I'll be damned if a player is going to start playing a video game in the middle of a game.

Players who complain that writing or typing a single page background is too much work. If I can plan for six to eight hours a week on a game, then coming up with a one page background shouldn't be too much trouble to ask.

Players who always go, "I swing my sword, did I hit. Cool, 10 damage." over and over and over again without trying to put any excitement into the combat. Talk about boring, bring on the cinematic action Puh Lease!

Players who roleplay loners, or characters who always leave the middle of combat just because they feel like it, and do this all the time...and then players who do this who complain when the other party members kill his character for ditching them so many times. When that happens I think its as funny as hell to hear the player wine and complain.

Players who make character that don't fit the mold or desires of the campaign structure...especially when they do this on purpose just to spite the DM.

Players who show up late, or dont' call at all to say that they will be late, or a no show. Very disresectful towards the DM who spent all that time putting a game together.

Players who don't move their own miniatures during combat.

Players who expect me as DM to know all the spells for them so they don't have to keep track of it themselves.

Players who leave in the middle of combat to have a smoke break.

Players who suddenly leave early and didn't tell me as DM before the game began.

Players who don't read any emails I sent to them about the upcoming game.

Players who are not prepared and don't try to be prepared.

ummmmm...I'm trying to remember if there are others, but for now that will do.

I really think that if any players only are reading this, they should really take this stuff to heart.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

That's just bunk. It sounds like you run a game with little RP at all. How is that statement memorable? I hate it when a player pulls that in my game. It ruins the opportunity to roleplay.

I do not expect my players to have glorious speaches, but I do expect them to take their time and say what they mean. If it sounds bad (broken, choppy etc), then the roll means that it is perceived as charismatic.

Don't use numbers as an excuse for bad, or no, RP.

Some people are uncomfortable giving speeches in front of other people regardless of how well they know them. If a player has a problem with getting up and giving a speech then out of respect I'm not going to press the issue. Sounds like you run a game where you don't care about the personal issues of your players as long as they conform to your idea of role-playing. One of my players is a devout Catholic, think I am going to force him to get up and give a stirring sermon about his cleric's god when I know that would make him uncomfortable? I think not! I encourage my players to role-play out their character but I don't force them at the expense of their enjoyment of the game.

 

[Belen]

Some people are uncomfortable giving speeches in front of other people regardless of how well they know them. If a player has a problem with getting up and giving a speech then out of respect I'm not going to press the issue. Sounds like you run a game where you don't care about the personal issues of your players as long as they conform to your idea of role-playing. One of my players is a devout Catholic, think I am going to force him to get up and give a stirring sermon about his cleric's god when I know that would make him uncomfortable? I think not! I encourage my players to role-play out their character but I don't force them at the expense of their enjoyment of the game.

Please....if playing a cleric of another deity is too much for a devout Catholic to handle, then he should not be playing that character.

I do not force my players to roleplay. However, if someone says, "I make a rousing speech to the villagers" then roll a die, then they had better be prepared to fail.

It is not in my interest to role play for my players. I am not going to carry the entire game because they are lazy. The game is about being social, not about my dictating everything that happens and having to speak for them too!

 

[KenM]

I do not force my players to roleplay. However, if someone says, "I make a rousing speech to the villagers" then roll a die, then they had better be prepared to fail.

Like someone else said, some people are VERY uncomfortable getting up and speaking to people, be it large groups, or small groups. Roleplaying is about having fun and playing someone different the yourself. If you automatically have the player that just rolls fail, you are unfairly penilizing the player IMO.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Please....if playing a cleric of another deity is too much for a devout Catholic to handle, then he should not be playing that character.

Who the hell do you think you are to judge someone else's faith? He enjoys playing the game and is a great roleplayer but he is NOT going to get up and say "ALL PRAISE BE TO TORM!!!" and I am certainly not going to force him. There is something called MUTUAL RESPECT that Players and DMs must all posess otherwise you might as well pack it up and forget dealing with anyone in ANY social situation... not just gaming. You wouldn't gay-bash if you had a gay player out of mutual respect. I'd hope that you'd ommit any instance of rape from the game if you had a rape victim in your group. Gaming is supposed to be FUN and forcing players into uncomfortable situations is NOT FUN.