Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SpykedNightmare 12-23-06, 07:29 PM	I am a DnD player who is 18 years old...when I started DnD I was thrown into the mix with a party that was 100% solo oriented, so my playing style morphed into a LOOK AT ME I AM BETTER THAN YOU sort of thing because if I didnt...i would be killed by the players themselves, Lately I have wanted to branch out and play in other groups to kind of Immerce myself into a DnD world...however I have been kicked out of 2 groups now on terms of "you have poor group dynamics" I just want to know any ways I could perhaps better myself and adapt these dynamics in wich I have no clue how to deal with? any input would be greatly accepted ~Spyke
Onikani 12-23-06, 07:38 PM	play a cleric or a bard. Serioulsy be a support character and learn how to shine from teh sidelines. then when you play a more spotlight char you'll understand what's its like to be in the bg.
TheChilliGod 12-23-06, 09:09 PM	Group Dynamics? So, you don't work well with the other group members? Because, so you admitted, you were originally taught differently? I'm pretty sure that you already know the solution to your own problem. Instead of soloing out, keep with the rest of the party and contribute to whatever they're doing at the moment. Don't refuse to do anything the other party members want your PC (or yourself, for that matter) to do, unless you have a better response than "Don't Wanna," or "Make me." And never, never attack another PC (or player/DM). Especially if you haven't got a better reason than "He took my treasure," or "Cuz I don't like paladins." Support classes like clerics or bards might help, since they usually rely on other PC's to be truly effective. But you don't have to restrict yourself to those classes; a wizard with buff spells can be just as effective (as long as, with those damage spells you do have, you keep them out of the party). A rogue that uses flanking a lot is pretty much always in need of another party member to do the flank. A fighter focusing on defense could take hits for the rest of the party while they dish the damage. And so on. By the way, do you have an example of this so-called poor group dynamics? Something happened that might have gotten you booted out of a group? Or an example of your first group's behavior? It's usually a lot easier to help you when we have examples.
SpykedNightmare 12-23-06, 10:10 PM	i cannot give EXACT examples that got me kicked cuz its a culmination but some things they told me is too much of myself shone through my character and myself being a teenager who thinks he is owed something by the world.....ie: one of my character's always wanted to be the leader and WAS always wanting in on the action....he ended up killed cuz he was like me...kill first think later
kelvinaw273 12-24-06, 04:40 AM	So basically, you need to engage your brain, stop limelighting and play a support character and look at how you can help the other PCs. All you really have to do is think 'teamwork'.
albinomonkeyking 12-24-06, 03:08 PM	First of all, I think it is awesome that you realized you needed to fix this and are looking for help, it's discouraging how many threads are about a complete jackass who will never change and always steal the spotlight. That being said, lemme take a shot. Knowing what type of characters you play would be useful, but, I can work around it. Easiest step, if you can find a game to play in talk to the other players (or talk to people from previous groups). Find out what they are playing and start to get an idea for your own character. Ask specific questions, "Is there a tank for the group? A healer? A leader?" this will help for what to make, if there is no leader ask if they want one, make sure to include all the players. Don't completely forgo what you want to do for everyone else, but keep in mind you want to work with them. This could work really well if there is a person on the team who could benefit greatly from another class, like a rogue who needs a flanking buddy, you could be him, or you could make a rogue who is the flanking buddy. The key to this is make your character likeable and talk to the character you wanna get buddy-buddy with. Discuss with him/her what would work as you are making your chacter. These are all ways to work really well with teams, which is what I would suggest. If you think you can handle it you can simply find out the personality and alignment of all the players. If they are all Good and one of them is kinda arrogant, another naive, whatever, simply make a character who does not conflict with that, so a good character who won't mind his teamates arrogance, he simply smiles, whatever. To reaffirm a point, do NOT make an arrogant character, make an extremely well rounded one. You don't want your character to push the others out of the way, you want him to walk with them. So for RPing purposes come up with a different concept than that, maybe he can be proud but he knows true power comes from teamwork, something like that. Keep these in mind the next game you are, when you are going to say something, or when you are going to jump in a take the glory remember why people disliked your previous characters and think again. I have made characters who completely missed out on fights (like a dragon) because he fell into a whole and wandered off alone to try and save prisoners. It wasn't very glorious, I got next to no time alone, (the DM didn't want to take away from all the other players time) and my part in the session consisted of 'You fall in a hole, you climb your way to a ledge, you explore a cave, you find prisoners. Okay! onto everyone else who is fighting the dragon...' This was okay with me because I didn't mind, and sometimes you have to be willing to just let it flow, you don't always have to kill the big boss or be the last man standing. I hope any of that helps and good luck.
SpykedNightmare 12-24-06, 03:34 PM	I have seen and thank you all for your input, to answer some questions that have popped up I usually play Fighters, simply because ive never had any room to grow in anything elce, as i said in my previous posts being started in a kill or be killed inviorment my first game words were "I ATTACK" but I have always wanted to play a character who wasnt always in the frontlines, or somebody who perhaps the group depended on. IE: the ranger keeps watch, the rogue checks traps, the sorcerer casts things, whats the fighter do? Smash stuff....I being the one sho smashes it just isnt the same self glory that the others get...sadly now I do not have ANY DnD games to be in seince the game I was introduced into is more like a video game with dice....you go in a room kill something WOOHOO loot....anyways....I would appreciate more help Than-Q
The Phantom Flan Flinger 12-26-06, 01:51 PM	OK, time to play on that Christmas/New Year spirit of good fellowship, I think. Call up the nicest member of each of your old groups, apologise unreservedly for being an idiot, tell them you really enjoyed the games and miss playing, and ask them if they'd have you back under any circumstances. That should at the least get you a list of the things you did wrong, and with any luck a possible invite back to at least one of the groups. Then have a think about whether you would still enjoy the game even if you couldn't do any of those things. Then either re-join one or both groups or try to find a new one, depending on how the conversations went. Once you're in, tell them up front that you know you're prone to doing X, Y and Z, you're trying to stop, and ask them to help you out by telling you when you're being a jerk. Not everyone can cope with being on the receiving end of so much *ahem* "constructive criticism", but if you can then you can learn a lot from it - while still getting your D&D fix. I say this only because you sound miserable without a game. If you had problems with things they did too and wouldn't really want to join them again, then ignore me. :)
PHGraves 12-26-06, 04:15 PM	My issue was the opposite of yours, yet yielded the same result - My characters were always a way to vent my anger from school/job/family. You may wish to try a trick I found (read: was forced into by a previous group as a last resort). Play your typical fighter type, no need to change your build or try things you are not comfortable with. Set your character up as a bodyguard or hireling of another character. You remain the combat-monkey you always were and, within reason, can maintain your normal persona. The other player, however, has the final say for what you do. A slightly dim-witted fighter-type is perfect for this. Your job is simple, your path is clear. Don't worry about group directions; ignore the party leader if you want. You are there to hit things until they stop moving. Your boss tells you what the targets are. As a bodyguard, you hang back and keep the squishies protected. Barbarians can even work here, Raging if/when your charge is damaged and focusing upon the group that did it.
pflame5000 12-26-06, 07:42 PM	play a true neutral bard, sit on the sidelines, and let everyone else call the shots. If they force you to make a decision, make sure to keep the group in mind and benefit the party over yourself. A big hinderence is when an NPC forces you to answer something on the fly. If you don't have time to think about it, draw it out a little and try to gather your thoughts, then try to give the best answer that will help the group the most.
bhale187 12-26-06, 10:49 PM	I'd say the first and most important step has been taken.........you realized that your game play does not make for good gaming with others. One good solution, as previously mentioned, is to become a support character. A cleric or bard would be good choices. Learning to change the entire way you game is hard, but changing character types may make it easier to adjust your play style. If you continue to play the same type of character it will be easier to fall back into old habits that got you booted from the previous groups. Make a conscious effort to put the group's needs ahead of your own through-out the game sessions. That way when you do slip-up it is easier to overlook when compared to the constant ME, ME, ME style.