I've had several discussions with a couple of my players explaining that they feel like they can't take any actions other players disagree with because it always devolves into an argument or at least a lengthy discussion.
They felt that this was bogging the game down and making it less fun. They felt like it was robbing them of their agency in what their characters could do.
My advice was just to state what their character is doing to me rather than ask out loud if they can or what would happen if they did X.
The player did as I asked and the other players started reactively tackling or otherwise trying to stop the active player. In the moment, I made the players roll DEX Saves to see who could act first and resolved the interaction from there.
After thinking about it, I think I should either disallow the reaction or have them roll Initiative (not to start a fight, but to determine who goes first) with the reactibg player rolling with disadvantage.
I'm curious both what y'all think of this solution and how you handle this at your tables?
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I would straight up tell the players to stop stepping all over any other player’s turns or actions.
As for determining who would act first in that situation then I would have had them roll initiative, that’s precisely what it’s for.
As to whether or not to allow such activity, that’s up to you as a DM. Many DMs disallow what they refer to as “PvP” at their tables. I for one don’t see a problem with it if everyone at the table is mature and respectful I know they won’t take it personally. But that’s your call.
The first rule is the players should not be doing things that will reduce the fun of other players. If the party find a magic item that another player wants for their character but the wizard is holding in order to confirm it isn't cursed that evening the wizard and the wizard then goes into a shot to buy from ink the wizard should not say to the shopkeeper "How much ink will you give me for this magic item"
Out of combat if a character does something that another character could not prevent it should happen, for example if a PC says something to an NPC that another player does not think should be revealed it should be treated as if it happened and the second PC responding as if his friend has suddenly done something stupid / potentially treacherous. It necessary this might need to taken to an out of character discussion
If the second character can do something then there may or may not be a need to go into initiative. In the example above as the player starts blurting out things a sorcerer thinks should not be reveals and they say they will subtle cast silence then the NPC hears the first few words before the silence spell kicks in. I would then ask how the players react to this and if necessary go into initiatve but if for example the first PC realised they shouldn't have said anything their is probably no need for initiative.
If the second character does have a chance to interject then an initiative roll is probably the best option.
I basically agree with IamSposta 100% with some caveats. If the actions X player are taking are extremely detrimental to the party or to another PC’s safety, it’s understandable. So my advice is to 1) shush anyone that interrupts during another players turn. If they can’t provide that level of respect, either kick them out of the room or the group, I am not joking. 2) if the choices of the player acting obviously imperiled the lives of other PC’s, they need to get some kind of advisory that they can’t do that and it could eventually lead to them being kicked out of the group.
I actually have the opposite problem in my game, where the party will be split-roleplaying amongst themselves and I will need to draw their attention to the barbarian who has decided to do something chaotic because they aren't fighting something, or some other event occurring!
The best moment of this was when they were all roleplaying on a boat, and then they stopped dead when they heard me say to the Warlock, with whom I had been DMing her attempt to pet, and then steal, a dog from an old woman, "Does a 17 hit?".
Other such ones have included:
"You notice that the Barbarian is missing."
"You hear some sort of commotion, and turn around to see the Warlock running from a previously locked shop, pursued by a bear."
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I've had several discussions with a couple of my players explaining that they feel like they can't take any actions other players disagree with because it always devolves into an argument or at least a lengthy discussion.
They felt that this was bogging the game down and making it less fun. They felt like it was robbing them of their agency in what their characters could do.
My advice was just to state what their character is doing to me rather than ask out loud if they can or what would happen if they did X.
The player did as I asked and the other players started reactively tackling or otherwise trying to stop the active player. In the moment, I made the players roll DEX Saves to see who could act first and resolved the interaction from there.
After thinking about it, I think I should either disallow the reaction or have them roll Initiative (not to start a fight, but to determine who goes first) with the reactibg player rolling with disadvantage.
I'm curious both what y'all think of this solution and how you handle this at your tables?
he/him, Lucky man, Leftist, Trans Rights, Pro-Union, VOTE!
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I would straight up tell the players to stop stepping all over any other player’s turns or actions.
As for determining who would act first in that situation then I would have had them roll initiative, that’s precisely what it’s for.
As to whether or not to allow such activity, that’s up to you as a DM. Many DMs disallow what they refer to as “PvP” at their tables. I for one don’t see a problem with it if everyone at the table is mature and respectful I know they won’t take it personally. But that’s your call.
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I think a lot depends on the context.
I basically agree with IamSposta 100% with some caveats. If the actions X player are taking are extremely detrimental to the party or to another PC’s safety, it’s understandable. So my advice is to 1) shush anyone that interrupts during another players turn. If they can’t provide that level of respect, either kick them out of the room or the group, I am not joking. 2) if the choices of the player acting obviously imperiled the lives of other PC’s, they need to get some kind of advisory that they can’t do that and it could eventually lead to them being kicked out of the group.
I actually have the opposite problem in my game, where the party will be split-roleplaying amongst themselves and I will need to draw their attention to the barbarian who has decided to do something chaotic because they aren't fighting something, or some other event occurring!
The best moment of this was when they were all roleplaying on a boat, and then they stopped dead when they heard me say to the Warlock, with whom I had been DMing her attempt to pet, and then steal, a dog from an old woman, "Does a 17 hit?".
Other such ones have included:
"You notice that the Barbarian is missing."
"You hear some sort of commotion, and turn around to see the Warlock running from a previously locked shop, pursued by a bear."
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