When players don't play well together.

[Oryan77]

So who else has players in their group that are interested in totally opposite things in D&D? Does it cause your group problems?

Half of my group (the guys) are more into combat, character optimization, and figuring out every possible use of their characters abilities during an encounter.

The other half of my group (the girls) are more into roleplaying & character development (not so much focused on crunchy goodness & more interested in who/what they are & will become).

Every game, I see one side get annoyed with the other side. Either one of the guys will get annoyed when a girl forgets to use a spell or forgets about AoOs during combat (even if its one time out of a hundred), or a girl will make fun of one of the guys attempts at roleplaying.

It is never over anything serious. I just find it strange that players act this way towards other players. Granted its been awhile since I was a player, but I never had anyone "get on my case" about my ability to play. And I'd never get on someone else's case about their ability to play. I've always been laid back as a player and dealt with whatever came my way...even if it's due to another players screw-ups.

 

[rgard]

So who else has players in their group that are interested in totally opposite things in D&D? Does it cause your group problems?

Half of my group (the guys) are more into combat, character optimization, and figuring out every possible use of their characters abilities during an encounter.

The other half of my group (the girls) are more into roleplaying & character development (not so much focused on crunchy goodness & more interested in who/what they are & will become).

Every game, I see one side get annoyed with the other side. Either one of the guys will get annoyed when a girl forgets to use a spell or forgets about AoOs during combat (even if its one time out of a hundred), or a girl will make fun of one of the guys attempts at roleplaying.

It is never over anything serious. I just find it strange that players act this way towards other players. Granted its been awhile since I was a player, but I never had anyone "get on my case" about my ability to play. And I'd never get on someone else's case about their ability to play. I've always been laid back as a player and dealt with whatever came my way...even if it's due to another players screw-ups.

I must be in touch with my feminine side as I enjoy the roleplaying part as much as the tactical part. That said, I use the roleplaying part to advance my agenda concerning the tactical issues at hand.

To expand a bit...I find that the best DMs are those who give equal time to both approaches.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Asmor]

Well, here's what I'd do...

First, have a talk with los chicas... Speaking as a dyed-in-the-wool roll player trying to learn how to role play better, it's very, very difficult when people make fun of you. When people start making fun of you for using an accent or using uncommon words (like "succor" and "proselytize"), all it does is encourage you to shut your yap and stay in the background during roleplaying encounters.

Next, have a chit chat with the dudes. Explain to them that patience is a virtue, and suggest that instead of getting angry with the females, it might be better to politely suggest better tactics-- in moderation! They shouldn't be telling the ladies what they should do every turn. In fact, it might even be better to make suggestions only out of combat...

Reminding them to take attacks of opportunity, of course, is just common sense... That's something you as the DM, and all the other players as well, should be on the lookout for. Remember, it's not you vs. them. If you see a chance for someone to take an attack of opportunity, remind them.

 

[Oryan77]

If you see a chance for someone to take an attack of opportunity, remind them.

Well, not that I'm wanting to focus on the details, but I was referring to the player doing an action that causes her to receive an AoO against her.

Once in a blue moon she might forget that she receives AoO while doing a ranged attack in melee position. The guys focus on the rules part of combat with a fine tooth comb and they rag on the girls if they aren't doing the same thing & forget something minor.

Everyone is pretty darn good at reminding each other about the rules. They even remind me about things that might actually harm their PCs.

I'm not really ranting about anything, or looking for advice. I was just wondering how common it is for players to be hard on other players play styles. I feel bad seeing players be laughed at for poor roleplaying or yelled at for overlooking spells or rules.

 

[Mortellan]

I feel for you there. The game is increasingly being pushed as a tactical game and not a roleplaying game. I am having a similar problem to yours (all male) and it seems to be divided along either age or resource lines. Some of my oldest players are happy to RP all day w/o much combat and rarely optimize unless pointed out to them by the others. They also generally possess fewer books. The younger or more resourceful players have all the books and sorry to say also play video games alot. They RP less and tweak the rules harder. Here's to hoping 4e can level my playing field again.

 

[Agamon]

I find it interesting that you have a stereotypical group, Ryan. In my groups, the gender/game-style lines are not so clear cut.

That said, I've never really had that problem. Everyone, in both my groups, kinda enjoys everything to some extent and no one gets annoyed when the game goes from one style to another. So I have no advice, but here's some pity.

 

[Oryan77]

I find it interesting that you have a stereotypical group, Ryan. In my groups, the gender/game-style lines are not so clear cut.

Well, one of the girls seems to also enjoy combat as much as roleplaying...she's just not stuck on the tiny details of it (the rules). She tries her best though. The other girl (my wife) really hates combat. She likes kicking butt & feeling powerful, but she just hates the tactical side to it.

The guys say they like roleplaying, but when I try to engage them into it, it doesn't seem like they really care to roleplay

Everyone has a good time together though.

 

[interwyrm]

I have a similar problem in my current gaming group. I am what you might call a... goal-oriented player. It's not that role-playing is not a part of the game for me, it's that I am interested in chatting with NPCs only to further in character goals - not just to chew the fat.

There is another player in the group who ends up taking up about twice as much screentime as everyone else simply because he wants to say useless things to NPCs. I assume that he gets some enjoyment out of this sort of play, but it holds no appeal for me, and I often get irritated with him for it.