When do you boot a player

[DonTadow]

I have a problem player, not fun problem like I"ve had before, but seriously bothering the other players problem. I've talked to him about the behaviors. I experienced the same thing at this game. So I"m wondering, what behaviors warrant booting from a game. I didnt want to retail my story, but I'd like to hear other stories so I can figure out if i'm over reacting or should i give him another chance.

 

[KarinsDad]

Without knowing what he did (or does), how can anyone comment on whether you should give him another chance?


Personally, I would boot a player if other players come to me to complain about that player and after I give him or her a chance to modify the behavior, other players are still complaining.

 

[Mark CMG]

If all or most of the other players are uncomfortable gaming with one particular player, it is up to the person running and/or hosting the game to bring those concerns up with the offending player. If the offending player refuses to adjust their behavior and continues to offend the majority of the players, then there is little choice but to let them know that the matter is out of the hands of the person running/hosting the game and that particular player is no longer welcome. It's really a non-decision, or rather a decision made by the offending player.

 

[howandwhy99]

When do we boot a player?

The same reason we boot a DM.

We don't trust them anymore.

EDIT: Okay, I can think of other reasons where we *might* trust someone, yet still want them gone. But then it's not booting.

 

[Dice4Hire]

To me it is a choice between one player/DM or the whole game. If the player/DM is destroying the game, then they have to go so the game survives.

And yes, I have been the player who needs to go in a couple online games.

 

[Zelda Themelin]

i have booted myself many times. Even from friend's games. If they are playing some game, that I really don't have good time with why bother.

Not all people know when to leave though. One player who got kicked multiple time was enjoying being griefer. He made characters to act like a-hole. He also had tendercy for-in-party conflict type of roleplaying especially when pvp was not allowed. And thus he would be as annoying as he liked without fear of retribution. He also cheated. And mis-read rules when he was in his munchin-phase.

We kicked one for refusing to constantly make characters suitable for game-theme. He on one of those annoying I want to roleplay half-blind-peasant in heroic adventure game and then complain that other people's characters are too good. Good guy for games like call of cthulhu though.

Haresment issues. Player who always was griefing other players. In real life, out of character as well as in game. Goodbye.

Other constant mood-ruining for whatever reason. If someone apperantly wants to make gaming situation as un-fun for other people as possible, no matter what his motivation is, even if he is one of those people who show up and play with their phone whole gamesession and generally act bored. So it would also include booting people who show up not to game. There are other situations to hang with friends, no need to invite these strays to gaming. They just disturb other players. Also we have temporaly banned people from gaming since they insisted bringing their non-playing girlfriends (and in few cases boy-friends) to hang there. In case they were those attention-hungry ones, constantly intruption, if not whole game, player they are hitched with. Once romance ended/become less intese we invited them back.

In those cases people had sense to leave without serious complain. It apprently was disturbing them too.

 

[S'mon]

I have a problem player, not fun problem like I"ve had before, but seriously bothering the other players problem. I've talked to him about the behaviors. I experienced the same thing at this game. So I"m wondering, what behaviors warrant booting from a game. I didnt want to retail my story, but I'd like to hear other stories so I can figure out if i'm over reacting or should i give him another chance.

My normal approach would be to boot the bad player. Take your other players' feelings into account too though - as DM you're in charge, but you don't want to upset your good players if at all possible. You also don't want to be manipulated by one player into booting another player against your better judgement. But if no one likes him then your choice is clear.

 

[Lwaxy]

Only time I had to was when someone constantly took the sportlight, was obnoxiously loud, interrupted the other players and myself constantly, ate most of the food and insisted on rules lawyering when such is not the way we play games.

I later found out he had been kicked from a lot of other games in our area, too.

 

[DonTadow]

Without knowing what he did (or does), how can anyone comment on whether you should give him another chance?


Personally, I would boot a player if other players come to me to complain about that player and after I give him or her a chance to modify the behavior, other players are still complaining.

I understand. I decided not to post it because, I am technically biased. So by understanding the behaviors and situations that other DMs boot for, I can gather an opinion if it warrents it.

This is the behavior in a nutshell

"Only time I had to was when someone constantly took the sportlight, was obnoxiously loud, interrupted the other players and myself constantly, ate most of the food and insisted on rules lawyering when such is not the way we play games.

I later found out he had been kicked from a lot of other games in our area, too."

The player has built 2 characters, both min maxed to superman levels and made combat uninteresting for the other players. He also berates players/characters in game. He pissed the lady of the house off when he went in the refrigeration and pured himself our orange juice (we keep pop on the table). This is only his 4th game. We had a new player join us, and he appeared "jealous" of his character (he was playing a rogue). When i had to retire his summoner synthesis (AC 26, 3 +10 attacks, several +15 skills, 4th level) he built an equally game breaking rogue character.

He's fairly abrasive to the other players. I had a chat with him this week, after I got a unanimous complaint from all players (2 of the 3 players are relatives and the 2 relatives complained before but I didnt want to seem biased) I chatted with him. He's a kindergarten teacher, i figured maybe he's just not understanding us adults. He apologized, realized he can be harsh at times, told me he'd pull back. I helped him all week, some 12 manhours making a balanced new character. He was fairly pouty this game, less abrasive, but still spoke harshly to people and hated that he could no longer be great at every facet of teh game. (he got real upset with me because I told him his character fell asleep while attempting to help the bard with research (he has an 8 intelligence now, and rolled poorly. My wife described his character as "acting out". He attempted to do uncharacteristic things in game, stealing treasures, torturing people. When asked why, he said he's doing it for the king.

I'm not sure if i should give him another week, or just boot him. I don't like when my wife is pissed off. And his pouty gameplay has made her very irritated.

 

[Mark CMG]

They're not yelling, "Boo," they're yelling "Boot!"