So, I’m a player in a campaign, but on the side I’m introducing my little brother to DnD. He’s the only character aside from NPCs, so everything rests on him. He doesn’t describe his actions; instead, he says “I walk.” He’s super boring and treats it as though I was the only storyteller, and he just nudges the story. He’s not creative at all and gives up easily, but when it comes to turning points in the story or key moments, he does the opposite of what I plan for. I once centered an entire plot line on meeting one character—and he chopped off the guy’s nose. I try to get him to be more descriptive and creative, but he just gets frustrated and stops participating or paying attention. Help?
It kind of sounds like maybe he really doesn't want to play. Is he only playing to humor you until you give up and stop bugging him about it?
I guess a couple things I would suggest: one, if he just doesn't get into the standard fantasy setting, maybe try out something catered more to his interests. If he likes animals, maybe try Pugmire or Humblewood variants. If he's a sports fan, his character could be a pro football player that an evil wizard has sucked into the fantasy world to compete against an orc team. If he's not into heroics, give Mister Chop-A-Sranger's-Nose-Off a villain's adventure. Maybe your story is dark and serious, and he'd rather play a silly game (or vice versa.) Maybe just ask him straight out what kind of adventure he would like, what kind of character he would make if there were no rules. And try to work with that.
If he has a friend who might like to play, maybe you could invite his friend as well. Not only might it be more fun for him, but he will probably try harder if there's someone he'd want to impress. (Or you might have two kids who don't want to pay attention.)
Till he is getting into it, keep sessions short, and end them on high notes or cliff-hangers. Leave him wanting more. Don't push him too hard on being descriptive and dramatic. Let him just tell you what his character does...maybe make him RP conversations with some NPCs. If he starts liking the game, he will may do more with his character.. Or not--everyone has their own play style.
Invite him to your group sometime as a temporary character, if you can, so he can see how the game is played by experienced players: be prepared for the possibility that he may be obnoxious and embarrassing, and just be chill about it. Little brothers and sisters can drive you nuts. (I had one and I was one. XD ) They grow out of it.
And finally, you say he is not willing to be creative, but that he does things you didn't plan for. Sounds like he must be at least a little creative. Are you rolling with his choices and trying to make the story fit around them? As annoying as it is to have someone do something stupid like chop off random noses, if you tell him too often that he can't do something, or that he's doing something stupid, or that he HAS to do something else, or just prevent him from doing what you hadn't planned for, you will convince him that creativity isn't worth the effort. It is the curse of the DM--you plan a great story that starts out with the hero rescuing someone from pirates, but the player sees the kidnapping and just asks the pirates if he can join their crew. You suddenly have to come up with a new angle on your story where the player is a pirate. Nobody said DMing was easy.
In the end, you can't make him play the way YOU want, but if you can get him to actually put effort into playing the way HE wants, maybe you guys can have fun together.
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Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
There might be a playstyle difference. Some people aren’t descriptive or creative. Seems like a square peg, round hole situation where you may be asking for something he can’t give. Also, not to be pedantic, but “I walk” is describing what he’s doing. Maybe you’re looking for more detail, and that’s not him. How old is he? For younger kids, D&D can work better as a power fantasy where they can act like a superhero who smashes stuff rather than as a character who talks through situations. Maybe he just wants a more hack n slash style. Find a way to point him at the kobolds and let him have at them, see if that works better.
Older sibling who loves D&D here. Hopefully your game works out, but sometimes when you think your younger siblings are old enough for RPGs, they're just not...or not interested. If all else fails, try it again in a few years. It'll be worth it! :-)
I just tried a session where, instead of describing things, I drew them beforehand—it took three times as long to prepare, but it worked out great! He’s more of a visual learner, I guess. Anyways, he started being much more interesting and much less frustrated. Thanks!
It can take a long time for people to be more imaginative and creative in D&D. My friends and I said "I walk" or "I attack" for years before doing more than that. And really, I think the #1 thing that changed us was playing a different game (Champions) where the combat system was a little more conducive to this (for instance, they had a chart of many different melee moves anyone could do, such as a punch, a haymaker, a kick, rather than just "melee attack"). After getting used to saying "Haymaker" or "Martial punch" instead of just "attack" in Champions, we started doing it in D&D as well.
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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.
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So, I’m a player in a campaign, but on the side I’m introducing my little brother to DnD. He’s the only character aside from NPCs, so everything rests on him. He doesn’t describe his actions; instead, he says “I walk.” He’s super boring and treats it as though I was the only storyteller, and he just nudges the story. He’s not creative at all and gives up easily, but when it comes to turning points in the story or key moments, he does the opposite of what I plan for. I once centered an entire plot line on meeting one character—and he chopped off the guy’s nose. I try to get him to be more descriptive and creative, but he just gets frustrated and stops participating or paying attention. Help?
It kind of sounds like maybe he really doesn't want to play. Is he only playing to humor you until you give up and stop bugging him about it?
I guess a couple things I would suggest: one, if he just doesn't get into the standard fantasy setting, maybe try out something catered more to his interests. If he likes animals, maybe try Pugmire or Humblewood variants. If he's a sports fan, his character could be a pro football player that an evil wizard has sucked into the fantasy world to compete against an orc team. If he's not into heroics, give Mister Chop-A-Sranger's-Nose-Off a villain's adventure. Maybe your story is dark and serious, and he'd rather play a silly game (or vice versa.) Maybe just ask him straight out what kind of adventure he would like, what kind of character he would make if there were no rules. And try to work with that.
If he has a friend who might like to play, maybe you could invite his friend as well. Not only might it be more fun for him, but he will probably try harder if there's someone he'd want to impress. (Or you might have two kids who don't want to pay attention.)
Till he is getting into it, keep sessions short, and end them on high notes or cliff-hangers. Leave him wanting more. Don't push him too hard on being descriptive and dramatic. Let him just tell you what his character does...maybe make him RP conversations with some NPCs. If he starts liking the game, he will may do more with his character.. Or not--everyone has their own play style.
Invite him to your group sometime as a temporary character, if you can, so he can see how the game is played by experienced players: be prepared for the possibility that he may be obnoxious and embarrassing, and just be chill about it. Little brothers and sisters can drive you nuts. (I had one and I was one. XD ) They grow out of it.
And finally, you say he is not willing to be creative, but that he does things you didn't plan for. Sounds like he must be at least a little creative. Are you rolling with his choices and trying to make the story fit around them? As annoying as it is to have someone do something stupid like chop off random noses, if you tell him too often that he can't do something, or that he's doing something stupid, or that he HAS to do something else, or just prevent him from doing what you hadn't planned for, you will convince him that creativity isn't worth the effort. It is the curse of the DM--you plan a great story that starts out with the hero rescuing someone from pirates, but the player sees the kidnapping and just asks the pirates if he can join their crew. You suddenly have to come up with a new angle on your story where the player is a pirate. Nobody said DMing was easy.
In the end, you can't make him play the way YOU want, but if you can get him to actually put effort into playing the way HE wants, maybe you guys can have fun together.
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
There might be a playstyle difference.
Some people aren’t descriptive or creative. Seems like a square peg, round hole situation where you may be asking for something he can’t give. Also, not to be pedantic, but “I walk” is describing what he’s doing. Maybe you’re looking for more detail, and that’s not him.
How old is he? For younger kids, D&D can work better as a power fantasy where they can act like a superhero who smashes stuff rather than as a character who talks through situations. Maybe he just wants a more hack n slash style. Find a way to point him at the kobolds and let him have at them, see if that works better.
Thanks everyone! That was really helpful! I’ll be sure to take your advice. ;)
Older sibling who loves D&D here. Hopefully your game works out, but sometimes when you think your younger siblings are old enough for RPGs, they're just not...or not interested. If all else fails, try it again in a few years. It'll be worth it! :-)
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
Also good advice!
I just tried a session where, instead of describing things, I drew them beforehand—it took three times as long to prepare, but it worked out great! He’s more of a visual learner, I guess. Anyways, he started being much more interesting and much less frustrated. Thanks!
It can take a long time for people to be more imaginative and creative in D&D. My friends and I said "I walk" or "I attack" for years before doing more than that. And really, I think the #1 thing that changed us was playing a different game (Champions) where the combat system was a little more conducive to this (for instance, they had a chart of many different melee moves anyone could do, such as a punch, a haymaker, a kick, rather than just "melee attack"). After getting used to saying "Haymaker" or "Martial punch" instead of just "attack" in Champions, we started doing it in D&D as well.
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.