So, I just wrote up a new campaign for my friends and I to play and make some memories. Three of my players are roleplaying having a good time, but the other two are just not engaging or interacting with the world at all. I don't try to push them in anyway because i beleive it's something for the player to decide when they want to let go and be a goof ball like the rest of us. Sadly the other three players are getting tired of the two never interacting and basically being there to just do damage and and soak some up. Any sugestions would be a god send.
Well first. Maybe try to talk with the players. I don't know how old they are but, sit down with a drink. Beer if that's your thing. Or tea and coffee and hear them out. If they have some backstory, try to weave that into the game. Even if it's just a little. You could also say, steal a PCs soul. And until they get it back they have XXXX benefits and negative drawbacks. See if that gets their attention. But mostly. I think talking to them is your best bet. They may not be enjoying the story, or tired of their characters. There are many reasons. Talk with them and figure it out. And don't be afraid to maybe having to let their characters go. If they don't like where the story is going, but the other three (including you I presume) like it, and it sounds like the other three and really enjoying it. Then I'm afraid they either have to leave until the story chances perhaps, or pick it up and go through with it because the story might change. It really sucks when a player is enjoying they backstory arc, and the others are handing over the spot light and letting the player have his backstory arc, but others are not caring, not paying attention and generally not being there.
I was preparing for the same thing. Having someone who didn't really care what was going on, and did stupid things because he was just on his ipad for 80% of the game, only stopping when I had him roll something. So trust me, I am sorry, but prepare to lose a few players. It could happen. I hope it works out my friend! Let us know how it goes! Best the loot and luck to you my friend!
Yeah I had a discussion with the ones that FINALLY broke out of their shell and started really getting into it. We all laughed even the two who don't interact much. It just makes me feel bad cause I activly try to give them a chance to interact but thould rather park their charcters in the room at the inn and have the other 3 go on a drunken binge lol. Except on is a warforged with 9 int so he just poors ale on his face lol. I think I will give it a few more sessions and see if they can get more comfortable but after that I will sidebar with them and see if they aren't enjoying my story.
There is another thing to remember: Not every player in your game is an ACTOR, some are AUDIENCE MEMBERS and that is fine. Audience members are okay with and in fact enjoy the game tremendously on their terms. As Matt Colville said, "they are creating an image of your world in their head" and getting a tremendous kick out of it. Thinking that they are doing something wrong, and trying to bring them out of their "shell" and wanting them to well play like the ACTORs is really doing them and yourself a disservice. Yes, ask them if they are having a good time. Yes, ask them if there is anything you can do to enhance their fun. Just don't discount the fun they might already be having because they are not inclined to as you said "act like a goof ball".
To me, I would think the other 3 players, whilst engaged with each other, were actually detracting from the game by role playing a debauched night on the town. That is, for me, boring, not just because I am Straight Edge since the 90s, but because in the games I run those are off scene...fade to black, or "After a night of carousing you see enter in the Green Slyph Tavern a man dressed in robes, the robes are odd to you because they do not look like wool. They remind you of thin leather, pale like lambskin. What are your character's thinking?"
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So, I just wrote up a new campaign for my friends and I to play and make some memories. Three of my players are roleplaying having a good time, but the other two are just not engaging or interacting with the world at all. I don't try to push them in anyway because i beleive it's something for the player to decide when they want to let go and be a goof ball like the rest of us. Sadly the other three players are getting tired of the two never interacting and basically being there to just do damage and and soak some up. Any sugestions would be a god send.
-Sol
Well first. Maybe try to talk with the players. I don't know how old they are but, sit down with a drink. Beer if that's your thing. Or tea and coffee and hear them out.
If they have some backstory, try to weave that into the game. Even if it's just a little. You could also say, steal a PCs soul. And until they get it back they have XXXX
benefits and negative drawbacks. See if that gets their attention. But mostly. I think talking to them is your best bet. They may not be enjoying the story, or tired of their characters.
There are many reasons. Talk with them and figure it out. And don't be afraid to maybe having to let their characters go. If they don't like where the story is going, but the other three (including you I presume) like it, and it sounds like the other three and really enjoying it. Then I'm afraid they either have to leave until the story chances perhaps, or pick it up and go through with it because the story might change. It really sucks when a player is enjoying they backstory arc, and the others are handing over the spot light and letting the player have his backstory arc, but others are not caring, not paying attention and generally not being there.
I was preparing for the same thing. Having someone who didn't really care what was going on, and did stupid things because he was just on his ipad for 80% of the game, only stopping when I had him roll something. So trust me, I am sorry, but prepare to lose a few players. It could happen.
I hope it works out my friend! Let us know how it goes! Best the loot and luck to you my friend!
Yeah I had a discussion with the ones that FINALLY broke out of their shell and started really getting into it. We all laughed even the two who don't interact much. It just makes me feel bad cause I activly try to give them a chance to interact but thould rather park their charcters in the room at the inn and have the other 3 go on a drunken binge lol. Except on is a warforged with 9 int so he just poors ale on his face lol. I think I will give it a few more sessions and see if they can get more comfortable but after that I will sidebar with them and see if they aren't enjoying my story.
-Sol
There is another thing to remember: Not every player in your game is an ACTOR, some are AUDIENCE MEMBERS and that is fine. Audience members are okay with and in fact enjoy the game tremendously on their terms. As Matt Colville said, "they are creating an image of your world in their head" and getting a tremendous kick out of it. Thinking that they are doing something wrong, and trying to bring them out of their "shell" and wanting them to well play like the ACTORs is really doing them and yourself a disservice. Yes, ask them if they are having a good time. Yes, ask them if there is anything you can do to enhance their fun. Just don't discount the fun they might already be having because they are not inclined to as you said "act like a goof ball".
To me, I would think the other 3 players, whilst engaged with each other, were actually detracting from the game by role playing a debauched night on the town. That is, for me, boring, not just because I am Straight Edge since the 90s, but because in the games I run those are off scene...fade to black, or "After a night of carousing you see enter in the Green Slyph Tavern a man dressed in robes, the robes are odd to you because they do not look like wool. They remind you of thin leather, pale like lambskin. What are your character's thinking?"