Southwest Missouri
This is easily solved. Two words: shock collar.
a simple cattle prod or squirt bottle will suffice, since subduing him long enough to put it on will be a problem.
It's like the bacon of doughnutsGreat now I want a Bacon Doughnut...
@Nether: Dunkin' Doughnuts. In my area Krispy Kremes get old fast.
Zombie Donuts makes the Bacon Maple Bar.
They are pretty awesome.
Where is this and why haven't I heard of it before!?
I would just like to point out BBT you kinda De-Railed your own thread...Anyways On-Topic: Maybe look into a small handheld video game or something to keep him distracted when it isn't his turn. It might only be useful short term but it would probably prevent any damage for that time frame.
I really hope you kill his character like the last guy. Was such a good read :D
I really hope you kill his character like the last guy. Was such a good read :DThis is very different situation.
If anything, he will end killing his own character.
Ok where can I read this?
And Best of luck dealing with him.
My last suggestion: Help him along his way into his characters unwitting suicide?
|
I really hope you kill his character like the last guy. Was such a good read :DThis is very different situation.
If anything, he will end killing his own character.
Ok where can I read this?
And Best of luck dealing with him.
My last suggestion: Help him along his way into his characters unwitting suicide?
You can read that tale(from beginning to end if you want) right here.
Just to be clear, these are two very different people.
So can I get a general list of what has been suggested?
Assuming this is a real situation,whats the saying, if you don't confront it, you allow it? So either do something about it, or realize you're choosing to not do anything about it and endure.
Quick update:
This previous session, he has gone back to falling asleep immediately after arriving.
Normally, I would be pleased, but I was revved to confront him.
I will attempt to try next session.
And Why do you keep him around again?
Seriously Though, if you can stand having him sleeping then let sleeping cats lie. And yes I mean cats. Dogs would behave themselves more than this guy seems to be behaving.
If he starts causing trouble then you can confront him.
Then you have Leverage.
If he wants to stay tell him he has to behave and be respectful to the rest of the group.
Are you a friend of anyone in the group, or just a new comer?
Have you talked about it with the GM? That you haven't known him that long shouldn't preclude you from talking to him.
Were I the GM, and I had a player who was either falling asleep or breaking other people's stuff and behaving like a self-entitled idiot, then I'd very much be relieved to have another player come to me with his concerns and ideas as I myself would probably be trying to figure out what to do about the situation.
|
|
As I said earlier, the DM has given the "give him time" statement.
I believe he is uncomfortable with confrontation.
With the player going back to sleep upon arrival, I think his action will fade a bit in the minds of others.
This will make it more difficult once he goes back to being awake, and acting badly again, as I will have the constant of his actions to support me.
While I am gracious of his fall back into sleeping, the problemdoes not go away, but simply delays it, and makes it harder to rally support later.
As I said earlier, the DM has given the "give him time" statement.
I believe he is uncomfortable with confrontation.
I know I will sound like an @$$ for saying this but...
If he really is uncomfortable with confrontation he shouldn't be a GM. It is one of the duties of a GM to make sure everyone is happy.
While this includes the problem-player it is a good of the many versus the good of the few situation.
Well, the DM is a "blossoming" DM, so I try not to ask too much.
He has yet to master all aspects of DM duties.
Ok then. I can understand that and I retract my statement.
Though being able to handle confrontations is a skill they need to develop quickly.
|
|
Update: Still back to his sleeping, which I should be glad about.
I am, but I worry the time will put his past behavior beyond the groups memories.
I fear, that should he be back awake, and at it, my confrontation will seem unwarranted, as "he doesn't do it all the time".
The thing is, he does, but only whilst awake.
Either way someone will come off looking bad. Maybe you should look into working with another person and do a Good Cop/Bad Cop style intervention.
|
|
I still have not got the full answer as to why he is there. He likes the idea of being part of something?
The DM is "newish", and does not seem to have his confrontation skills mastered.
Also, as stated, the flips between sleeping, and obnoxious, make it difficult for the DM(and I) to adjudicate a proper response.
That is where the Bad Cop comes in.
Assertive Cop could work. The BSTIYEBYEO Cop would work if the Good Cop can rain you in.
Even Bi-Polar Cop could be good if it is only you willing to stand up.
Going back up the thread a bit...how long/what criteria for you and the GM becoming friends? I ask b/cause I have a new gaming group and have gamed w/them about 6 months. 1 is an old friend, the other 2 I met through these boards and now game w/in real life.
I know personal things about them, they do about me, we chat online/over emails, but I don't know if we're each other's friends. Is that normal? Is it an age thing (we're all late 30's/pushing 40)?
PS: now doing searches for interesting doughnut places in MN...
|
|
Only one player there is an old friend, and most of the rest I've known about 10 months tops. The old friend is the one who introduced me to the group.
Everyone there is mostly early to mid 20's, whilst I am very early 30's.
This is the same age dynamic as my other group, and I have been gaming with them for years. I have always been able to deal with troublemakers in that group, when they rarely appear.
What is your position in the other group?
What is your position in the other group?I am a player. I am often a "co-conspirator" for the DM as well.
A player after my own heart.
|
|
Everyone there is mostly early to mid 20's, whilst I am very early 30's.Wow! You come across as really old! Maybe even as old as me!
I'm still not used to this medium...
I am the eldest of five children.
I am often told that I am the "older guy", even amongst groups older than me.Been that way most of my life.
|
Everyone there is mostly early to mid 20's, whilst I am very early 30's.Wow! You come across as really old! Maybe even as old as me!
I'm still not used to this medium...
I am the eldest of five children.
I am often told that I am the "older guy", even amongst groups older than me.Been that way most of my life.
I don't think your picture does you any favours....
@BBT: I am often told I am the funny old guy by my groups... even though I am the youngest by about 2-3 years.
On-Topic: I wonder if his sleeping is impacting on the GM's Self-Confidence in his campaign and GMing ability... I know one of my friends had a player who would sleep or be bored and cause a scene when she started. It almost made her quit. That is until I confronted him.
We ended up losing 2 players but the group became more cohesive and is still technically together.
NOTE: It was my "Ruining of the Disrupter's Fun" that helped us become friends.
NOTE2: I forgot about this until I talked to her today and mentioned this thread. She then reminded me of that incident.
Regarding the original topic, I've been through something similar before, and have even been the man-child before.
I'll start with the latter, as I believe it gives me the best insight as to what's going on. When I acted the man-child (just this last monday, in fact), I feel that what I did was potentially more distracting. The GM was quite soft-spoken, and so I (and other players) were missing key bits of information as I would play music or funny videos on my laptop, and actually started looking up porn to prove a point to another player mid-game. Realizing what a douche I had been, I promptly apologized after the game and promised to not let it happen again.
The reason for my ass-hattedness was simply that I was bored. Out of my mind. And I expect that might be part of what's happening with your man-child. Doing things like sharing a funny story, drumming on a dice tin, and smashing minis together in "play-fighting" just screams of him trying to occupy himself because he's bored. As does the sleeping. Obviously, I cannot confirm that this is the case. But based on my experience, I'd say it's more likely than not.
Regarding my experience with a disruptive player, it was a bit different. He had a license, and a car, but refused to drive himself because he "doesn't like driving." This led to him begging a ride home after we'd gamed, while the rest of the group shot the sh!t on the back patio, which was quite annoying to the rest of us.
He would also consistently dispute game rules. Not in a normal rules-lawyer way, though, but rather through his own personal interpretation of events.
GM: "All Right. You see the spirit rise from the grave. Make a will save."
Player: (Rolls.) "I got a seven."
GM: "As you see the spirit rise, you're overcome with supernatural terror. You become frightened for 4 rounds."
Player: "No. I'm a half-orc! And a fighter! I wouldn't be scared of a ghost."
Thus ensues a stupidly long conversation on how the freaking game works, after which said player folds his arms and remains grumpy for the rest of the game.
He was also often quite loud, and considering that we were in an apartment, we'd tell him to keep it down, even going so far as to tell him to use an "inside voice". He then screamed "THIS IS MY INSIDE VOICE!" and complained--loudly--about us telling him what to do.
How did we attempt to solve this problem? Diplomatically. We sat down with him, relayed our problems, and he shrunk back into his chair and said "okay" a lot.
The problems persisted, so one of our players--the one who knew this player for the longest time--sat him down alone and told him that he was basically on gaming-group suspension for a month. If, after that time, he felt he could be mature and come back, he was to contact us and let us know.
He never contacted us.
Conclusion
Overall, my suggestion would be to handle this diplomatically. If you're the newest guy, and you don't know everybody too well, you can't really get rid of man-child yourself. Generally, The Decision in these situations goes to the GM or the Host. Talk to them. You mentioned that the GM's new-ish, and isn't really into confrontation. Offer to confront this player together. As far as what to say, treat him like an adult. Outline what he's doing wrong, and outline consequences if these behaviors persist. Also ask if he's bored or tired or anything, though don't let it turn into a ranting session for him, as that could potentially just reinforce the problem.
If they do persist, then I'd either get the rest of the group to nut up and kick him, or, if you're okay with losing this group, let them know you can't deal with his crap anymore and leave. You've already mentioned that you have a much more interesting and pleasurable group that you also game with. I'd say stick to them.
...Catch Phrase,
-Chris
It's probably just me, but there's something interesting about reading on how one deals with inter-party drama. Maybe because it's educational or some such...
Maybe you could try counselling the DM a bit, give him some pearls of wisdom from years of experience?
|
|
It's probably just me, but there's something interesting about reading on how one deals with inter-party drama. Maybe because it's educational or some such...
Maybe you could try counselling the DM a bit, give him some pearls of wisdom from years of experience?
Well, I am trying to introduce him to my other DM.
The fact that they both make their own beer should get things going.