Hi everybody! I'm a sorta new DM and I am running Decent into Avernus for three players.
Aasimar Monk
Gnome Fighter- Human Wizard (Gnome died)
Elf Ranger
My problems: Monk wants to steal all the socks from NPC's, Wizard is gripping with previous character death, Ranger is stealing stuff and murdureing everything... Help?
There are several resources out there that discuss the different types of players and how to cater to them. Your monk and ranger sound like the type of folks who want to use D&D to do crazy/random stuff they couldn't do in real life. Sometimes just indulging them for a scene or two each session is enough to "get it out of their system" so they can focus on more serious things. It can help to remind them that their antics are momentary spotlight scenes, but the overall game should be about the party working together.
The wizard sounds like he had an issue with his previous PC's death. Does he feel you were unfair? Does he feel his allies let him down? His griping is him trying to communicate that something about it didn't sit right with him. You should sit down and have a chat about it. How did he see things go down? What does he wish had gone differently and why?
Repercussion. Have an open chat with the group and let them know the possible outcome of their actions. And then follow through.
I assume you mean the Monk is stealing socks literally off the NPCs feet? You realise that’s next to impossible, right? Assuming they’re awake, I would set the DC for something like that as 25+. Higher if they’re wearing shoes. So they’re going to get caught eventually.
The ranger? They’re going to get caught, get a bad rep, people won’t deal/help you anymore, and they’re going to miss out on plot assistance.
At this point it’s worth saying that based on the little you’ve said, the players don’t give a damn about the module you’re running and would prefer a sandbox style game. If that’s the case, it’s a big problem. Modules are railroads. That’s just their nature, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if your players don’t care about hitting points 1,2 and 3 and then saving X to fix Y, you’re in for a long game. And that needs to be a chat all of its own, one that you should have had in session 0. Not all players are cut out for modules, and it tends to get harder with experience. Rookies like modules because they have structure. People who have been playing for ages often like more open worlds with multiple events and the potential to carve out their own epic story.
But if you insist -- you can try Matt Colville's "Running the Game" series on YouTube. First video in the near-100 episode series is here:
However...
Colville's videos assumes the players are taking the game serious. Of the 3 mentioned, 2 (stealing socks and murdering everything) clearly are not doing so. The OP needs to have an OOC conversation abut what everyone wants out of a game and make sure that what HE wants is the same thing the PLAYERS want, or that they can find a way to run a game in which everyone is having fun. Descent may not be the right module for this particular group at this particular time, for example. Maybe they need something more "dungeon crawly" or less serious.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Repercussion. Have an open chat with the group and let them know the possible outcome of their actions. And then follow through.
I assume you mean the Monk is stealing socks literally off the NPCs feet? You realise that’s next to impossible, right? Assuming they’re awake, I would set the DC for something like that as 25+. Higher if they’re wearing shoes. So they’re going to get caught eventually.
If the victim is alive and/or awake, I wouldn't give it a DC. I would just say it was impossible to do without the victim knowing. It is totally ok for the GM to say that a PC cannot do something regardless of how much of a bonus they have or how well they roll.
The murderhobo thing just needs to have consequences.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
Have a talk with them as friends. Don’t be too serious about it, but let them know that you’re not having very much fun when their characters act crazy: you were hoping they’d be epic heroes. Ask them if maybe they could tone down the silliness, making the jokes less disruptive, because the game just isn’t enjoyable for you anymore as it is. Don’t get angry (even if they do) or blame them: they might not have realized that you’re not in on the joke. And don’t engage if they try to argue that what they’re doing is fun; just focus on “it’s not fun for me.” If they have any maturity, they should understand. If not...well, you might just have to take some time off D&D with these people. I’m assuming you’re probably a younger group given the players’ antics, in which case I assure you you’ll find better players as life goes on.
Oh my god, that sounds like a nightmare. I've DMed for a couple people like that and it was always a struggle. What i learned is that if you cant control your players you might need to find a new group. Also if your players want to pull that type of stuff make sure there are some consequences. I hope you can get your players under control. Good luck.
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May your blades stay ever sharp, and your minds as well.
DM: you party is approached by a bug bear.
Newbie: that sounds terrifying its like a bear with wings and pincers!
Veteran No, Its a...
DM: *scribbling furiously* The bugbears mandibles click furiously, everybody roll initiative!
for shenanigans like the sock stealing...if it seems impossible just say it is. you are the referee for the rules. if the party does murder-hobo, make sure there are repercussions. kill a shopkeep...they get kicked out of town or arrested, kill an NPC...they don't get that quest or loot (let them know this through the story)...etc.
side note: one thing that i think helped me is actually music. play suspenseful music when you want them to be scared, play mysterious music when you want them to be intrigued...etc..even young players are trained for this in videogames. music can set the stage.
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Hi everybody! I'm a sorta new DM and I am running Decent into Avernus for three players.
Aasimar Monk
Gnome Fighter- Human Wizard (Gnome died)
Elf Ranger
My problems: Monk wants to steal all the socks from NPC's, Wizard is gripping with previous character death, Ranger is stealing stuff and murdureing everything... Help?
There are several resources out there that discuss the different types of players and how to cater to them. Your monk and ranger sound like the type of folks who want to use D&D to do crazy/random stuff they couldn't do in real life. Sometimes just indulging them for a scene or two each session is enough to "get it out of their system" so they can focus on more serious things. It can help to remind them that their antics are momentary spotlight scenes, but the overall game should be about the party working together.
The wizard sounds like he had an issue with his previous PC's death. Does he feel you were unfair? Does he feel his allies let him down? His griping is him trying to communicate that something about it didn't sit right with him. You should sit down and have a chat about it. How did he see things go down? What does he wish had gone differently and why?
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Repercussion. Have an open chat with the group and let them know the possible outcome of their actions. And then follow through.
I assume you mean the Monk is stealing socks literally off the NPCs feet? You realise that’s next to impossible, right? Assuming they’re awake, I would set the DC for something like that as 25+. Higher if they’re wearing shoes. So they’re going to get caught eventually.
The ranger? They’re going to get caught, get a bad rep, people won’t deal/help you anymore, and they’re going to miss out on plot assistance.
At this point it’s worth saying that based on the little you’ve said, the players don’t give a damn about the module you’re running and would prefer a sandbox style game. If that’s the case, it’s a big problem. Modules are railroads. That’s just their nature, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if your players don’t care about hitting points 1,2 and 3 and then saving X to fix Y, you’re in for a long game. And that needs to be a chat all of its own, one that you should have had in session 0. Not all players are cut out for modules, and it tends to get harder with experience. Rookies like modules because they have structure. People who have been playing for ages often like more open worlds with multiple events and the potential to carve out their own epic story.
Is nobody going to mention Matt Colville's videos on youtube? He probably has something to say about it.
We try not to steal those bits in the constant war of escalation between a couple of the regulars who are keeping count on who can do it the most...
We stopped keeping score long ago.
But if you insist -- you can try Matt Colville's "Running the Game" series on YouTube. First video in the near-100 episode series is here:
However...
Colville's videos assumes the players are taking the game serious. Of the 3 mentioned, 2 (stealing socks and murdering everything) clearly are not doing so. The OP needs to have an OOC conversation abut what everyone wants out of a game and make sure that what HE wants is the same thing the PLAYERS want, or that they can find a way to run a game in which everyone is having fun. Descent may not be the right module for this particular group at this particular time, for example. Maybe they need something more "dungeon crawly" or less serious.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
If the victim is alive and/or awake, I wouldn't give it a DC. I would just say it was impossible to do without the victim knowing. It is totally ok for the GM to say that a PC cannot do something regardless of how much of a bonus they have or how well they roll.
The murderhobo thing just needs to have consequences.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Consequences only work if the players are taking the game seriously.
Otherwise they will just think the consequences are funny or not care about them.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Have a talk with them as friends. Don’t be too serious about it, but let them know that you’re not having very much fun when their characters act crazy: you were hoping they’d be epic heroes. Ask them if maybe they could tone down the silliness, making the jokes less disruptive, because the game just isn’t enjoyable for you anymore as it is. Don’t get angry (even if they do) or blame them: they might not have realized that you’re not in on the joke. And don’t engage if they try to argue that what they’re doing is fun; just focus on “it’s not fun for me.” If they have any maturity, they should understand. If not...well, you might just have to take some time off D&D with these people. I’m assuming you’re probably a younger group given the players’ antics, in which case I assure you you’ll find better players as life goes on.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
Oh my god, that sounds like a nightmare. I've DMed for a couple people like that and it was always a struggle. What i learned is that if you cant control your players you might need to find a new group. Also if your players want to pull that type of stuff make sure there are some consequences. I hope you can get your players under control. Good luck.
May your blades stay ever sharp, and your minds as well.
DM: you party is approached by a bug bear.
Newbie: that sounds terrifying its like a bear with wings and pincers!
Veteran No, Its a...
DM: *scribbling furiously* The bugbears mandibles click furiously, everybody roll initiative!
Thank you everyone for the advice!
for shenanigans like the sock stealing...if it seems impossible just say it is. you are the referee for the rules. if the party does murder-hobo, make sure there are repercussions. kill a shopkeep...they get kicked out of town or arrested, kill an NPC...they don't get that quest or loot (let them know this through the story)...etc.
side note: one thing that i think helped me is actually music. play suspenseful music when you want them to be scared, play mysterious music when you want them to be intrigued...etc..even young players are trained for this in videogames. music can set the stage.