For Example: This previous week, the party saved the town from a group of kobolds. The Lord Warden wish to reward them and was giving them praise. However, the party knew of a band of thieves that are plaguing the town and made comments to the Lord Warden that he wasn't doing a good enough job. The Lord Warden was not pompous and actively tries to thwart the thieves but tried to explain that these tings take tact and time.
I tried to keep my cool and have the Warden not get angered, but sometimes I get stumped. For the Lord Warden is a caring and good ruler, but not a push over. I want to set an example but don't want to ruin the adventure...
Any ideas on how to deal with or what to say to players with egos that are quite large?
If they have to learn the hard way, then so be it.
PC- We took down all the kobolds, and you guys haven't gotten a single thief, come on dude.
Warden- Do you think you could do better? Afterall the kobolds were the little league threat, if you think you can end the thieves by all means do so. Tell you what, I'll deputize you for two weeks, and I will have my men stop activly looking for them. If you can end it in that time, you can keep the deputization (Throw in some RP rights, and a cash bounty), but if you fail I want ____.
PC- Totally we can do this! You've got a deal.
-Now here you have the options.
The PCs get their butts handed to them by the thieves, and your warden can do some gloating, or light mocking, but then doesn't collect on his reward.
The PCs get their butts handed to them, and the warden takes the reward, and does some real admonishing, explaining how the PCs ought to have more respect and watch themselves in the future.
The PCs win, and get to do some gloating over the warden, who is polite and lets them have their glory. They then become his go to guys, for future quests and he feeds their ego when in relation to the town. (Provided they don't pick on him, if they do he can call in his gaurds for a beat down, or he simply refuses to deal with them any further, and they find themselves blacklisted from adventuring jobs. No one wants to work with them anymore because of their attitude).
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Personally, I would do the third. It gives a quest hook, and doesn't set the PCs up for defeat in unwinnable fights. It does though provide a "Hey quit being such jerks" if they mess up the second time. You can then have someone willing to give them a probationary job, and let them work to restore their good name. Additionally, before they go on the thieves quest, out of game mention their attitudues. This gives them a chance to correct it, if they do they are rewarded. If not they have to find much less glorious work.
The first suggestion starts off heavy handed, with them loosing, but it can realy have an impact. They might not like it as much but the point is made without serious consiquences.
The second is basically a flat out punishment. They won't like it, but it definatly getsthe point made.
Sure, the Lord Warden would be upset by their comments—he's honestly doing everything he can, but at the end of the day, he's not one of the heroes, he's just a NPC. In a situation like you described, I would second Krusk's suggestion about offering them a deputization—if the Lord Warden is really serious about cleaning up the place, he might welcome their assistance (even if they are a bit rude and uncultured).
But I would resist the urge to smack the players down every time they want to pop off a one-liner, especially if it is in-character and relevant...that is roleplaying. This is the way the heroes in the movies and books and television shows and video games that are ever-so-popular these days behave. In its own way, that sort of behavior is cool. They're just trying to recapture some of that, emulate it in their own way, and that isn't a bad thing (not always).
My 2¢.
Have a rival band of adventurers show up at the town. They are all nice and diplomatic and get the cream of the good jobs. Make sure it happens onstage so the players see what the choices are. When the rivals manage to wipe out the thieves, get some really nice loot (especially good if a few really choice items the PCs were hoping to get are included in the loot).
Of course these rivals happen to be a couple levels lower than the PCs, so eventually what can transpire is the Warden sends them off to take care of some other threat and they get in over their heads. Now if the PCs have maybe learned a bit about how to be diplomatic they can get a chance to both fix things up and show up some rivals, which is always fun for them.
Anyway, I'll try those ideas out in my next session this upcoming weekend. Hopefully things work out. I'll let you know what happens.
In a situation like you described, I would second Krusk's suggestion about offering them a deputization—if the Lord Warden is really serious about cleaning up the place, he might welcome their assistance (even if they are a bit rude and uncultured).
I'd like to "third" Krusk's suggestion - the party is, in their impolite egotistical fashion, begging to be allowed to take down the thieves. It would be a great start for a new adventure arc and - IF the party survives - they'll have a patron and base of operations for future adventures. It might have seemed like a problem at the time, but it's a great moment for your campaign.
Good roleplaying is more than just behaving in a fashion consistent with your character. Good roleplaying is finding ways to effectively interact with the plot and support everyone else's fun while behaving in a fashion consistent with your character.
If your players are, intentionally or otherwise, playing their characters as jerks, feel free to thank them for their genuine efforts to bring interesting characters to your game, but ask them if they can find ways for their characters to maintain their integrity while not alienating every last NPC they encounter.