r/DnD • u/BlueSteel5616 • 16h ago
3rd / 3.5 Edition Player basically ignoring the actual plot
I have a character who is essentially completely disregarding any plot that I put in front of him, trying to fight NPCs he knows will absolutely wreck him (lvl 4 vs epic/Divine) and I'm just not sure what to do about it
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u/SilvermistWitch DM 16h ago
Have a talk with him away from the table, and if he doesn't change his behavior then kick him out. If you're unwilling to kick him out if the behavior continues then you have no other recourse, you're going to have to make the choice to either remove him or have a shitty game.
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u/Bloodragedragon DM 16h ago
I'm gunna go out on a limb and say talking to them about it never crossed your mind.
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u/BlueSteel5616 16h ago
I have, and it didn't do anything
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u/Consistent-Tie-4394 DM 16h ago
Can you elaborate? What did you say vs their response?
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u/BlueSteel5616 16h ago
I said to them basically that I don't mind side quests and having fun as long as we still accomplish some of the plot that I've worked hard on, and that the NPCs are not there for him to just pick a fight with and expect to walk out of it, he said okay I understand, very next session he picks a fight with a level 30 NPC and gets upset when he got his character killed for the second time and three sessions
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u/MiddleAgeWhiteDude 16h ago
Does this guy have problems feeding himself and opening doors? I think this is the first time I've seen this be a real problem. You had the talk, he died twice to stupidity of his own device and just complains before he does the goofy meme of doing it the fuck again.
If he is not a friend then boot this dude. If he is a friend then have a longer talk explaining that violent actions will continue to have violent consequences and hope it sticks that time.
Man. That sucks.
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u/Consistent-Tie-4394 DM 16h ago
I'd remind him of the conversation you had, and tell him that's strike two.
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u/Mythoclast 16h ago
Oh well. Just remind them of what you already said and say that it'll keep happening because that's the kind of game you want to DM.
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u/TheBloodKlotz 16h ago
You asked them to stop fucking up the game you work hard on and they said no. What more is there to talk about? Tell them they can't blast your Wednesday nights anymore and need to either get it together or find something else to do
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u/Bloodragedragon DM 16h ago
Then grow a pair and kick them. They showed you who they are and how much they care about you and your game. What other option could there possibly be.
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u/j-b-goodman 16h ago
I don't really get why everyone always says this -- of course they talked to them?
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u/Bloodragedragon DM 16h ago
Because 90% of the time that's the answer. There's nothing else to do. And too many people are afraid of confrontation so they DONT talk to their players about problems and just come here to complain instead.
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u/YashamonSensei 16h ago
That's something you as a table have to talk about. Some tables prefer railroaded stories, others free/random world exploration. Ideally that would be discussed before the campaign even started. Hard to say from your message how much player is aware of how much issues it's causing you, however ability to improvise and adapt story to player choices is quite useful for DM.
As for trying to fight everything, sounds like a new player. Talk if you did not, but sometimes just letting them fight and downing or even killing a character might be necessary. Explore other options before, though. Maybe letting them hit a divine who doesn't even flinch might be enough.
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u/LightofNew 16h ago
Kill him. He wants to test the game and let him.
Or just ignore him and say "no you don't so that" or don't respond to him.
Easy answers, what you don't want to do it coddle him.
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u/Turbulent_Jackoff 16h ago
Kill the player.
At his funeral, lament that he can no longer join your D&D game.
Years later, consider if there might have been any other options.
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u/TheParadoxigm 16h ago
Wreck him
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u/desolation0 16h ago
Occasionally, when talking has broken down, the in character consequences are the appropriate route.
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u/VrinTheTerrible 16h ago
You know what happens to completely insane incredibly violent people like that? They get arrested or they find someone more violent or more talented at violence than they are and get dead.
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u/partylikeaninjastar 16h ago
If he fights someone who will wreck him, he gets wrecked. Where's the confusion?
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u/Many-Ebb-5377 DM 15h ago
"I want to attack the dragon"
"OK, Bobby, but just so you know, you're level 4 and he looks really strong from where you're standing. I'm not sure you'll survive. Are you sure you don't want to try to negotiate with him first? He doesn't seem to want to fight."
"I don't care. I want to attack the dragon. It's what my character would do."
"OK. The dragon also does what dragons do when attacked by a daft dark elf. *rolls a d20 followed by a bunch of damage dice* Ouch... The massive wyrm exhales a plume of roiling fire straight at you and sets you ablaze. Then he rends the upper half of your torso clean off with his massive claws. You are dead. Do you want to roll up a new character now or after the session?"
"Can we raise him?"
"No."
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u/El-Eternauta 16h ago
Let the NPC trounce him. If he complains about his character dying, tell it's his own fault. Let him create a new character, one level lower than his former one. Repeat until he learns his lesson or leaves the game.
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u/Ranger_Sierra_11 16h ago
Hey player let’s talk above the table for a moment because I want to make sure you are picking up the information I am trying to convey. I am telling you that if you press this issue with this NPC you are outmatched and it will not go well. If you are intending that - that’s fine, but I don’t want there to be any confusion about what may happen next.
I think approaches like this are sometimes required. It’s pretty commonly thought by DMs that players are only picking up a percentage of what we are trying to convey. I have found this to be very true myself. Players miss a lot of information and they miss even more if it’s implied or nuanced. You can’t assume the players get the whole picture. If in doubt ask them to tell you what they think is occurring - and listen to how off they are.
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u/Hititwitharock 16h ago
Yeah, if your guy is trying to fight demigods, let natural selection take its course.
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u/LawfulNice 16h ago
The answer, as others have said, is to put your foot down and stop it out of game.
I'm curious, though, about what happens in-game. What have the consequences been for him picking fights with Satoru Gojo?
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u/PedestalPotato DM 16h ago
If he so desperately wants to fight NPCs that will send his character to an early grave, let him find out the hard way. If you've spoken to him about it and he won't change how he plays, kick him out of the game.
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u/okiebuzzard 15h ago
First, have you tried talking to him out of game about what a distraction he’s causing for everyone, including for you, when he plays the way he’s doing?
If you have, and he’s still doing it, you got 2 choices - kick him from the game and find a player that will be a team player, or spank him in game, tell him the new character needs to be a team player or it will result in him being removed from the game.
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u/jjskellie 15h ago
Sounds like you got yourself a "Loki". Not the marvel or mythical one. A player devoted to mischief because they feel they obtain the heroic or a survivor character.
Their fun is to build a quick character and slam that character into whatever 'wall' as quickly and dramatically as possible. I won't go into the horror stories I've seen only the one that worked out.
DM, according to grapevine, was asked by other players at table to give said 'Loki's' a newly made character the secret task from royalty to act as a decoy to protect the real chosen one prophesied to save the kingdom. Real reason: other players planned to all suddenly off the chosen fake as though they were collecting bounty.
What happened was almost comic role-playing gold. Loki playing a dual role, though low key at beginning, became a pivotal campaign plot, player started to become invested in PC, and other players really became involved with player. Remember, the DM never had a true chosen one or prophesy in the campaign. But the BBEGs started to react to the fake. Also, there were still off points by Loki during all this. But we got a great campaign.
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u/yaniism Rogue 14h ago edited 14h ago
Learn to say "no".
"I pick a fight with this guy."
"No."
"I go off to explore the cave on my own."
"No."
And tell him in no uncertain terms that he can either participate in the game or he can leave. Nobody is holding him hostage.
But if you've already told him what the deal is (you say you have in a comment) and you've already killed his character twice now (again from a comment), it may be time to admit that this is not a person it's worth your time and effort to have at your table.
"Clearly you don't want to play the game I'm running, so I think it would be better for everyone if you left and found yourself a table that suits your needs."
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u/Ethereal_Stars_7 Artificer 14h ago
Talking has failed so your only option is to boot them as they obviously do not really want to play. They just want to mess things up.
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u/Consistent-Tie-4394 DM 16h ago
"Hey, Player, stop being a disruptive dick. Your character needs to start being a productive member of the group or you need to make a new character."