Players, Characters and Choices

[aegisflashfire]

So I have a player in who I'm having a little trouble getting to jump at plot hooks. He regularly complains about being railroaded if I push the plot along via external forces, (which to me isn't railroading. it just means that if you chose not to participate in the world's events, the events happen without you and you get no say in their outcome) He won't jump at plot hooks, even those directly aimed at him. (What? Your ex-Cop's one failure; the thing that got him drummed out of the police force is lose, actively taunting you, and threatening to kill your former partner if you DON'T participate in the plot hook, and you walk away as Not interested?) But he also has no direction of his own, I ask him where he wants his character to go, and he suggests he goes and hang out at the bar.



*SIGH*

Trying to find a way to get shove this article at him politely...

http://www.giantitp.com/articles/tll307KmEm4H9k6efFP.html

Particularly this part:

[Raven Redstar]

Most groups have one of those players. I've tried running for folks like that. It can be disheartening. Most claim to be roleplaying their character, but let's be honest, they're just being jerks to see what you'll do.

There are a few suggestions I think might help. First, would be to incorporate the corruption points that Don from Shooting Womprats came up with. If players refuse to be heroic, then they become corrupted and eventually have serious psychosis that afflicts them. If I were part of a person's crew and found out that someone would leave a friend and former partner to die at the hands of a madman, I'd throw him off the ship.

The 2nd alternative is that you let him sit in the bar and drink himself to death while the rest of the group has fun. Have him roll stamina checks every so often and let him know you'll get to him when something interesting happens. Clean him out of money and eventually he'll need to adventure, if only to get enough money to go out drinking again. After a session of sitting on his hands, he'll get the point. You can hand him the article to read while he's drinking in the bar.
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RR
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[garhkal]

Talk to him out of game and express your issues. If he does not wish to participate in the game cause he does not want to go out adventuring, ask him how he feels he will ever earn any cash or CP?
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Ral_Brelt]

I would suggest seeing what the rest of the party thinks of his dour nature. If they're bothered by it as well, break the next session a bit early and bring it up in front of the group to this player, asking if he intends to ever participate and help the team. If he comes back flaky, ask if its his char, the party or the system he doesn't like. Then move forward with corrective actions.

[DougRed4]

Yeah, the part of the article you quoted is spot-on. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to remind folks that the reason you're gathering around the table is to have fun. That this rule trumps all others.

I'd probably sit down with that person outside of the game (first) and let them know that proceeding that way isn't going to work.

But, after giving that warning, I'd do just what Raven suggested. I'd have their character sitting at the bar drinking while everyone else adventured on.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[Lane Arroway]

I totally agree with everyone on this topic. It really makes you wonder why this guy keeps showing up to games if he doesn't want to "play"? Is his idea of fun just sitting around?

The problem I have is that half my group wants to be railroaded. I feel that when the game doesn't profide a clear role for a player to fill, they just show up and go along. MMOs and DnD have spoiled things for some people, IMO.
I had a player join in on my main campaign recently. We sat down and talked at length about his character concept and what the group (rebel cell) needed. It was express that an inspiring diplomat was required to gather allies to the cause. His character would be a noble-in-exile from the region who could gather allies and support. Eventually, becoming a true leader.
Instead, he's a spoiled brat who, so far, has pissed off everyone, players and NPCs. He hasn't offered any ideas or suggestions on what to do. As a player he has shown no interest in what or who his character might know to help the group. He's even managed to ignore important parts of the background he wrote or spun them to justify his bratiness.
My guess is, because he doesn't have a special ability or skill that sets him apart from the others, like bardic knowledge, he just uses what's on his character sheet without any imagination. As a player his main goal so far has been to upgrade his weapons and gather as much loot as possible. Sound familiar?
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"This job is 90% talking to people and 10% shooting at them."

[vulture811]

I still cant believe some of the Rp dialogue he used to try and bond with a former slave Lane

[Volar the Healer]

Some people (most perhaps) are just not leaders. Many, due to public "education" and mass media programming simply do not have the ability to think for themselves. He may just simply be a follower.

Don't give him any hooks. Give everyone else in the group hooks, but not him. Keep this up - letting each player have a turn at being the star for one adventure - but just skip over him, again and again...until he asks for a hook.

As long as he contributes to the group, he's OK. Give him reduced XP and tell him what a good job he did. When he asks why he gets less XP tell him what you want as a Director. He will step up because he want to, or he won't because he can't. As long as he's having fun, there's no problem.
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Know Jesus, Know Peace.
No Jesus, No Peace

[Whill]

[cynanbloodbane]

Don't forget the old tried and true tactic of, Showing the players what a real railroad looks like. once they have a little perspective, you can let them off the old plot train!