I've got a bit of an issue with a player who has been prone to bad moods in the past, but in the last few game sessions has been making some of the other players (and I suppose myself) a bit uncomfortable. When things haven't gone his way in the game he has gotten really annoyed out of character, and has basically said he thinks the game hasn't been fair. The other players have privately told me they disagree, so I'm less likely to feel the fault is my own. The details aren't important, but what is relevant is I know he has some chronic pain issues, which affects his mood.
I already know what needs to be done; talk to the player privately, and have another 'session 0' at the start of the next game. I'm just not sure the best way to bring this stuff up without putting him on the spot or making him feel like he has been talked about behind his back (which I guess he has been). Any advice from people who have had to have a difficult conversation with a friend?
Not certain about the difficult conversation. My approach to such things have always been individually tailored and based upon a pattern of thoughtful bluntness.
However, it might be helpful to encourage them to run a few one-shots of their own. That would give them a chance to run things their way, as well as give them a better understanding of what happens behind the screen. Unwarranted frustration can often be the result of misaligned expectations, or a lack of vocabulary to express what is really being felt. Getting everyone on the same page can put things into context and make communication easier.
Talk to the player privately. It doesn't have to be at game night, or at the table. Everyone I play with we have each others' email, Discord, phone numbers, Facebook, plenty of ways to contact and talk when it's not us there in person, or playing via Discord.
Ask them what they think hasn't been fair and openly discuss it with them. If 5 people feel the game is fine, and 1 person does not, then that player obviously isn't meshing with the group or the rulings that were set down in session Zero. Or they need help.
If the reason is chronic pain, or emotional turmoil, or any other physical or mental or emotional issue, that is not on you, or any of the other players in the session to fix. Tell the person to seek professional help. Seriously, I'm not being callus. They may need help and not know how to ask for it.
Talk to them in one of those ways. If you don't have at least one of those, set one of those up. It gives the group, and the DM, the ability to talk and joke and discuss matters that aren't for while you're sitting around the table before a game.
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I've got a bit of an issue with a player who has been prone to bad moods in the past, but in the last few game sessions has been making some of the other players (and I suppose myself) a bit uncomfortable. When things haven't gone his way in the game he has gotten really annoyed out of character, and has basically said he thinks the game hasn't been fair. The other players have privately told me they disagree, so I'm less likely to feel the fault is my own. The details aren't important, but what is relevant is I know he has some chronic pain issues, which affects his mood.
I already know what needs to be done; talk to the player privately, and have another 'session 0' at the start of the next game. I'm just not sure the best way to bring this stuff up without putting him on the spot or making him feel like he has been talked about behind his back (which I guess he has been). Any advice from people who have had to have a difficult conversation with a friend?
Not certain about the difficult conversation. My approach to such things have always been individually tailored and based upon a pattern of thoughtful bluntness.
However, it might be helpful to encourage them to run a few one-shots of their own. That would give them a chance to run things their way, as well as give them a better understanding of what happens behind the screen. Unwarranted frustration can often be the result of misaligned expectations, or a lack of vocabulary to express what is really being felt. Getting everyone on the same page can put things into context and make communication easier.
Talk to the player privately. It doesn't have to be at game night, or at the table. Everyone I play with we have each others' email, Discord, phone numbers, Facebook, plenty of ways to contact and talk when it's not us there in person, or playing via Discord.
Ask them what they think hasn't been fair and openly discuss it with them. If 5 people feel the game is fine, and 1 person does not, then that player obviously isn't meshing with the group or the rulings that were set down in session Zero. Or they need help.
If the reason is chronic pain, or emotional turmoil, or any other physical or mental or emotional issue, that is not on you, or any of the other players in the session to fix. Tell the person to seek professional help. Seriously, I'm not being callus. They may need help and not know how to ask for it.
Talk to them in one of those ways. If you don't have at least one of those, set one of those up. It gives the group, and the DM, the ability to talk and joke and discuss matters that aren't for while you're sitting around the table before a game.