arrrgh, player problems [Archive] - Wizards Community

arrrgh, player problems [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Konal
10-12-04, 02:07 AM all right, about an hour ago i ended the third session of a campaign that i think will unfortunately end very soon. see, okay here it is

1 of the players is a druid with an animal companion

1 of the players is a cleric

at one point in the game the cleric chose not to heal the animal companion because he had used most of his spells already, healing up the fighter, the druid player got mad and prepared healing spells the next morning to heal his animal companion (ape), they then argued over this, the druid said it was the clerics job and the cleric explained why he didnt want to

later throughout that session they kept bringing it up and would bicker about it, we'd tell em to shut up and move on, but now when they bring it up it grinds the play to a halt and ruins the fun for everyone else

they're both at fault and ive told them this as well as telling them not to bring it up or try to explain themselves because it will only escalate and get worse, i've also told them that every time they start it up again im gonna start docking exp, to make matters worse, theyre roomates

one asked the other why adn the other said we'll talk about this tomorrow, so i went home to type this and play mortal kombat and read up on the next part of the module, but seriously, its like im recess authority trying to seperate two little kids who cant get along

i dont want ideas on whos at fault, i would like for people to share similar stories or give ideas on how to help them end it, because i dont wanna waste my and everybody else's time setting it up so we can play for half an hour, yell for three hours, then quit the campaign because theyve got a problem
shift244
10-12-04, 03:21 AM er.. from the post, i'd assume that they were not being in character? as in they were not RPing the disagreement on the healing.

if they want to argue over it, and refuse to stop, i'd suppose you can either kill both characters off or somehow put them out for awhile, while the players learn a lesson. that way, you can get on with the game.

not a very good idea.

or i'd call them up and let them know that if they want to start it next session, they might as well not come for the sake of the other players.

optimistically, they may have forgotten about it by now and things will just go fine. except i might consider not inviting one (or both) to any session again until they grow more mature.. if i cannot put up with them.
amethal
10-12-04, 05:30 AM In character, this kind of discussion or argument between the cleric and the druid about the priority given to animal companions when healing is in short supply can lead to a great role-playing experience, due to the clash of philosophies.

Out of character, constant bickering between players that the cleric is not "doing his job" and how other characters have "a right to be healed whenever they want, pets and all" is a nightmare.

You need to make sure you get the former, and not the latter.

My response, if people are constantly acting out of character, is to request that they play their characters.

Or that they go and have their argument somewhere else, while the rest of us get on with the game we came to play.
gannaid
10-12-04, 05:55 AM When I DM and I have players doing too much out of character stuff, I tend to start declaring there out of character comments as in character comments. If they continue to argue then the noise attracts a wandering monster or more. If it was just horseplay about making fun of the king they get to talk there way out of it.
pres_man
10-12-04, 05:36 PM at one point in the game the cleric chose not to heal the animal companion because he had used most of his spells already, healing up the fighter, the druid player got mad and prepared healing spells the next morning to heal his animal companion (ape), they then argued over this, the druid said it was the clerics job and the cleric explained why he didnt want to.

What was the problem? The druid healed his companion, problem solved right?
Tyrian
10-12-04, 07:28 PM The problem, as it appears, is that the druid player doesn't want to "waste" spell slots on healing for his critter. Sounds like the player has an expectation of clerics being nothing more than medicine bags.

at one point in the game the cleric chose not to heal the animal companion because he had used most of his spells already, healing up the fighter, the druid player got mad and prepared healing spells the next morning to heal his animal companion (ape), they then argued over this, the druid said it was the clerics job and the cleric explained why he didnt want to

My take on this is that the druid player needs to educate himself on the varying roles a cleric can take in a party. Cleric =/= Healer. More importantly, even if that is the role the cleric player has chosen for his char, Cleric =/= My Own Personal Doctor. The needs of the party should come before one player's wants. As I bolded above, the cleric used his limited amount of healing on the fighter... sounds like the tactically superior decision to me.

Not an easy situation, certainly, but if your players are remotely mature it should be one that can be handled by OOG discussion.

Good luck with that! :)
pres_man
10-12-04, 10:28 PM Besides it with the shared spells of a druid and their animal companion it only makes sense for him to heal himself and his critter at the same time.
Finley DaDum
10-13-04, 03:14 AM Besides it with the shared spells of a druid and their animal companion it only makes sense for him to heal himself and his critter at the same time.

Just beat me to it this is by far the best reason that the druid should be doing healing for his animal companion himself. It also makes quite a bit of sense character wise, think about it would the druid even trust this rather sentient oriented cleric heal his freind and companion.

Show em this thread and then tell em to grow up.
pres_man
10-13-04, 07:19 AM Also a basic understanding of psychology would help the druid see that he should be healing his companion.

1 person in the party tells it to attack stuff and it gets hurt.

Another person touches it and makes it feel better.

Who is the animal going to be more friendly towards?
Prachett
10-13-04, 04:00 PM Also a basic understanding of psychology would help the druid see that he should be healing his companion.

1 person in the party tells it to attack stuff and it gets hurt.

Another person touches it and makes it feel better.

Who is the animal going to be more friendly towards?

Ah.. is this a trick question? The animal would be more friendly towards its master regardless of who told it to do what...?
pres_man
10-13-04, 05:49 PM Animals have been known to turn on their masters.

My point is that if the druid is not roleplaying companionship with his animal, why would it stay with him. The druid repeatedly puts it in positions to get hurt and the cleric repeatedly heals it (makes it feel better), its going to start relating feeling good with the cleric and hurting with the druid. Now if the druid was doing the healing this would off set the hurting. But this druid doesn't seem to want to do that. Why? Not a very good roleplayer would be my guess, and probably not much of a pet person in RL.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Konal 10-12-04, 02:07 AM	all right, about an hour ago i ended the third session of a campaign that i think will unfortunately end very soon. see, okay here it is 1 of the players is a druid with an animal companion 1 of the players is a cleric at one point in the game the cleric chose not to heal the animal companion because he had used most of his spells already, healing up the fighter, the druid player got mad and prepared healing spells the next morning to heal his animal companion (ape), they then argued over this, the druid said it was the clerics job and the cleric explained why he didnt want to later throughout that session they kept bringing it up and would bicker about it, we'd tell em to shut up and move on, but now when they bring it up it grinds the play to a halt and ruins the fun for everyone else they're both at fault and ive told them this as well as telling them not to bring it up or try to explain themselves because it will only escalate and get worse, i've also told them that every time they start it up again im gonna start docking exp, to make matters worse, theyre roomates one asked the other why adn the other said we'll talk about this tomorrow, so i went home to type this and play mortal kombat and read up on the next part of the module, but seriously, its like im recess authority trying to seperate two little kids who cant get along i dont want ideas on whos at fault, i would like for people to share similar stories or give ideas on how to help them end it, because i dont wanna waste my and everybody else's time setting it up so we can play for half an hour, yell for three hours, then quit the campaign because theyve got a problem
shift244 10-12-04, 03:21 AM	er.. from the post, i'd assume that they were not being in character? as in they were not RPing the disagreement on the healing. if they want to argue over it, and refuse to stop, i'd suppose you can either kill both characters off or somehow put them out for awhile, while the players learn a lesson. that way, you can get on with the game. not a very good idea. or i'd call them up and let them know that if they want to start it next session, they might as well not come for the sake of the other players. optimistically, they may have forgotten about it by now and things will just go fine. except i might consider not inviting one (or both) to any session again until they grow more mature.. if i cannot put up with them.
amethal 10-12-04, 05:30 AM	In character, this kind of discussion or argument between the cleric and the druid about the priority given to animal companions when healing is in short supply can lead to a great role-playing experience, due to the clash of philosophies. Out of character, constant bickering between players that the cleric is not "doing his job" and how other characters have "a right to be healed whenever they want, pets and all" is a nightmare. You need to make sure you get the former, and not the latter. My response, if people are constantly acting out of character, is to request that they play their characters. Or that they go and have their argument somewhere else, while the rest of us get on with the game we came to play.
gannaid 10-12-04, 05:55 AM	When I DM and I have players doing too much out of character stuff, I tend to start declaring there out of character comments as in character comments. If they continue to argue then the noise attracts a wandering monster or more. If it was just horseplay about making fun of the king they get to talk there way out of it.
pres_man 10-12-04, 05:36 PM	at one point in the game the cleric chose not to heal the animal companion because he had used most of his spells already, healing up the fighter, the druid player got mad and prepared healing spells the next morning to heal his animal companion (ape), they then argued over this, the druid said it was the clerics job and the cleric explained why he didnt want to. What was the problem? The druid healed his companion, problem solved right?
Tyrian 10-12-04, 07:28 PM	The problem, as it appears, is that the druid player doesn't want to "waste" spell slots on healing for his critter. Sounds like the player has an expectation of clerics being nothing more than medicine bags. at one point in the game the cleric chose not to heal the animal companion because he had used most of his spells already, healing up the fighter, the druid player got mad and prepared healing spells the next morning to heal his animal companion (ape), they then argued over this, the druid said it was the clerics job and the cleric explained why he didnt want to My take on this is that the druid player needs to educate himself on the varying roles a cleric can take in a party. Cleric =/= Healer. More importantly, even if that is the role the cleric player has chosen for his char, Cleric =/= My Own Personal Doctor. The needs of the party should come before one player's wants. As I bolded above, the cleric used his limited amount of healing on the fighter... sounds like the tactically superior decision to me. Not an easy situation, certainly, but if your players are remotely mature it should be one that can be handled by OOG discussion. Good luck with that! :)
pres_man 10-12-04, 10:28 PM	Besides it with the shared spells of a druid and their animal companion it only makes sense for him to heal himself and his critter at the same time.
Finley DaDum 10-13-04, 03:14 AM	Besides it with the shared spells of a druid and their animal companion it only makes sense for him to heal himself and his critter at the same time. Just beat me to it this is by far the best reason that the druid should be doing healing for his animal companion himself. It also makes quite a bit of sense character wise, think about it would the druid even trust this rather sentient oriented cleric heal his freind and companion. Show em this thread and then tell em to grow up.
pres_man 10-13-04, 07:19 AM	Also a basic understanding of psychology would help the druid see that he should be healing his companion. 1 person in the party tells it to attack stuff and it gets hurt. Another person touches it and makes it feel better. Who is the animal going to be more friendly towards?
Prachett 10-13-04, 04:00 PM	Also a basic understanding of psychology would help the druid see that he should be healing his companion. 1 person in the party tells it to attack stuff and it gets hurt. Another person touches it and makes it feel better. Who is the animal going to be more friendly towards? Ah.. is this a trick question? The animal would be more friendly towards its master regardless of who told it to do what...?
pres_man 10-13-04, 05:49 PM	Animals have been known to turn on their masters. My point is that if the druid is not roleplaying companionship with his animal, why would it stay with him. The druid repeatedly puts it in positions to get hurt and the cleric repeatedly heals it (makes it feel better), its going to start relating feeling good with the cleric and hurting with the druid. Now if the druid was doing the healing this would off set the hurting. But this druid doesn't seem to want to do that. Why? Not a very good roleplayer would be my guess, and probably not much of a pet person in RL.