Sorry Bucko but the Galaxy does not revolve around your PC!

[adamlumina93]

Any advice on how do deal a player who thinks the galaxy revolves around him. Example is player has a damaged starship, thanks to a bad roll in an asteroid field, he goes to a local repair shop who says he can fix the ship but the player is going to have to wait about a week so he can tend to other repairs that were inline first. This is going to make player miss a deadline to deliver some cargo. Player now thinks that I am out to get him. Anyone else see a flaw in the players logic or am I really "evil". I am sure we have all had to wait for repairs at some time in our life and this is an ourter rim planet with limited resources. I just try to run the game as close to a real encounter as possible. To note the player has not tried anything to expedite this, except sit in the "motel and whine"

[Ankhanu]

Is the PC unfamiliar with how life and the movies work?? Set backs are par for the course, and often those setbacks can have serious in-character ramifications. As such, it becomes imperative that the PC find alternative methods to attain their goal... pretty standard RPG, comic, novel, TV or movie type of thing to happen.

If he's not willing to go out of his way to succeed, chances are he's going to fail... a lot.
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[vong]

[Esoomian]

I concur I've had my car in the shop for a week now. The original ETA was four days but for the past three days the ETA has been tomorrow.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one to have experienced this and I can't see this type of thing not occuring just because a game is set in the future
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[ifurin]

i would also suggest giving the character another option for the delivery. another ship, incentive for a faster repair job, ect. as long as you don't say "too bad" to the player when they ask about the deadline. if you do that then you might be "evil."

[garhkal]

While i would not make the suggestion to him, if he asks about alternate ways to make his delivery, let him run with it.
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[Matthias777]

Why not turn the whole situation into an adventure hook, or work it into your ongoing adventure? The head tech in charge of working on the ship disappears very suspiciously, and the character finds a clue that sets him on the path to finding him----turns out the guy moonlights as an outlaw tech doing work for blah blah blah...you get the picture.
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[Jamfke]

Give him a "loaner" starship, just fast enough to meet the deadline, but not too fast, under gunned, shielded and armored to say the least, and for fun, have it turn out to be a stolen ship to add spice to the adventure.

Of course, this would look like you're out to get him I suppose, but it would make for a real fun adventure!
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[adamlumina93]

Thanks everyone for the replys, i definately would have given him choices if he would have even made an attempt to better his situation, he is an experienced player that has been spoon fed by alot of GMs and I am not going to play his character for him. Even players at the table were trying to get him to ask for stuff but he just wouldn't take advice and automatically assumed that he was doomed and screwed. On a side note one of the other players contacted an NPC with a ship to finish the run so it was not a bad ending plus they made a contact. 4 satisfied players with 1 not so.

[Vanion]

Players often get frustrated when things happen to their characters that don't seem to tie in directly to the storyline, yet prevent the PC from completing storyline-related goals.

I think it's up to each GM to decide how to deal with said events... as was mentioned above, you can make a mini adventure play out as a result of these events or let the PC find a way to deal with them.
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[scott2978]

One easy way out of that situation would be for the NPC mechanic to see the PC's look, and offer him a "deal"...

Like the following for instance.

"Say, you look like a stormtrooper just shot your dog, what's the matter, is next week not soon enough? Well, I can maybe bump you up in priority, if you make it worth my while. Maybe you could..." :

a) "...run over to Myrkinge's shop over in capital city and pick up the parts I'll need. Maybe he will give you a good price if you offer to do him a favor. Tell him I sent you though."

b) "...take care of a little uhm... problem... I've been having with one of my rivals. Myrkinge's shop has been stealing all the best repair droids in town. He says he bought them over in capital city but I'm sure that MR-16 is my old engine fixer droid..."

c) "...pay me a little extra up front so I can hire a couple more techs. That way I can get the jobs done faster and you can make your deadline."

In short, if a player gave me that "Oh man I'm getting screwed by the GM" vibe, I'd throw in something to make it interesting. If that didn't work I'd probly gloss it over and say they got it done in less time because they were afraid he would call the cops about the obviously illegal goods they are stockpiling in the back room or something.

Of course, the fact that you're getting that vibe is a sign that all is not well at your gaming table. Make sure that your player is WRONG about your motives. It's easy, especially as a novice GM, to get in the habbit of trying to put the players or characters in their place. Just remember, they are BIG DAMN HEROES! so you should let them feel like it.

[schnarre]

I've had to deal with such players in the past. On more than a few occasions, I brought the rule of "Uncertainty Dice" (modified from the 1st Ed. Rules Companion book), & using different dice: the outcome rolled would sometimes allow extra elements to be drawn in. If you have any of the "Dragon Dice" put out by TSR years back, those work well for this.

Other times I will put the player on the spot: "What makes your character so important? Tell me now!" Such results are extreme I'll admit, but you are the ST not him, & the troublemaker needs to be put in their place...it's not pleasant, but it works most of the time. You only decide whether or not the other players should be involved; if the latter then do so privately.

The worst-case scenario is that you can simply give the Ultimatum: "If you've a problem with how I run, you need not play." I prefer smaller groups whose members get along well, as large gatherings can be hard to manage. If the fellow is going to disrupt the game no matter what you try, then it's best that he not be involved.

[Sith'Ari Lizanthrin]

I do something similar Shnarre using a simple 3d6 method for luck dice. If the player is really chaffing at the situation I will let them roll a luck roll or I will roll it. 1's represent bad luck, 6's represent good luck, 2-5 mean diiddly and squat.

They roll their 3d6.

1-1-1 Something really bad or out of favor happens to the pc when they press, maybe this mechanic is tougher than he looks, and is not used to taking crap from space trash, he pulls his blaster now you have a situaytion as his men come to his aid, and your ship is in his damn shop!


6-6-6 The mechanic takes a second look at you, "Wait aren't you "xxx"'s boy? Well I'll be a son of a sith, you are! Cmon lad let's see if we can't get that ship of yours up and out of here, and you have to tell me how the old man's doing. Been ages since I seen him.


1-6-3 The aforementioned, I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine a bit of a hassle that is also something good.


1-1-6 Something bad happens, but if the character is on the ball, they can turn it around.

6-6-1 Something good happens tainted with a bittersweet taste.


Etc ad nauseum. It has gotten to where I drop the dice and the situation resolves itself.

Alexis
*smiles*

[garhkal]

How often do you let them do those luck rolls?
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[schnarre]

Only as needed (varies by game session).