Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 enig_matic Mar 03, 2011 17:18:42	This is to compliment the thread that was made about DMs. I feel that players can take some of the heat too. To make a great campaign work, it takes some give and take from both sides. So, I'll kick this one off with one that's happening recently and far too frequently for my taste. We have a player that is constantly on his computer when it isn't his turn and not even slightly paying attention to what's going on until his turn comes up. It's always the same inevitable "Huh? What's going on now?" Every five minutes. Another player is fairly new to the game (she's been with us for about five weeks) and refuses to learn. We had her sit beside a DM one game and the pace was going to be slowed right down so that things could be explained step by step and get her involved in rolling the dice, adding and subtracting the numbers, asking questions, etc. Her attention spanned to approximately until the game started when she started drawing on character sheets and texting. My problem is: If you don't want to be here, then don't be here. Our group plays for several hours once a week, a lot of thought and work goes into each game and each encounter. These games are made to be enjoyed, and let's face it, shown off. Every DM likes to hear that their players are loving their game. I can't stand it when someone can't respect others enough to at least stay engaged.
#2 tiejaz Mar 03, 2011 19:13:22	I hate when I've spent many hours fighting alongside someone and they refuse to use team tactics/strategy, or when I don't even know their character's name... I hate people who just sit there waiting for the next battle to happen with their Generic Human Fighter™. I also hate people who play CN or CE just so they can go around killing babies and spitting at guards.
#3 tiejaz Mar 03, 2011 19:16:09	Another player is fairly new to the game (she's been with us for about five weeks) and refuses to learn. We had her sit beside a DM one game and the pace was going to be slowed right down so that things could be explained step by step and get her involved in rolling the dice, adding and subtracting the numbers, asking questions, etc. Her attention spanned to approximately until the game started when she started drawing on character sheets and texting. Texting at a D&D game... that should be an offense punishable with summary decapitation.
#4 enig_matic Mar 03, 2011 20:06:28	^ For truth! You've got a good point with abusing Chaotic Alignments. Next time you've got a party of generic fighters, you should make a puzzle game >_<
#5 cosmo007 Mar 03, 2011 21:44:38	I have an extreme dislike for players who don't pay attention to the game unless their character is directly involved in the scene or encounter. The one who could be offering advice to a fellow (and very new) player who's character has been cut off from the rest of the party and stuck in a room with an ever-growing swarm of monsterous spiders. Instead, they are fiddling with a toy that has been left down within their reach or winking at thier S/O and tittering while thier fellow player struggles. Or, when another character is going through a nice, well played, high-tension scene, won't stop heckling it like it's Santa Claus Vs the Martians. Wow, sorry about that.
#6 gclaw4444 Mar 03, 2011 21:57:02	i just started playing with a group of fellow noobs, and i find it annoying when a player clearly has no respect for the game and just does random **** that sounds cool (which i wouldn't mind if it was part of the role playing aspect, but it's not)
#7 neo_leviathan Mar 04, 2011 1:00:33	I hate it when a player, about to do something that may backfire or cause problems, prefaces it with an "I'm doing this because it's in character for my character, and if I get punished in game for it or it backfires then fine" speech.  I also dislike the "How dare you punish X for doing something in-character!" speeches. I don't care whether something is in character or not, killing the half-orc baker in the middle of the street because he reminds you of the half orc that killed your parents is still going to land you in jail.
#8 sleepyshadow Mar 04, 2011 11:31:32	I dislike the players that do not get involved in the campaign, or who never get attached to their characters. Unfortunately, my group has two of the latter. To quote: "Nah, don't heal me. Let me bleed out. Average party level means my new character will be higher level!" "Do I have to name my character?" "Hey, while you guys are doing the whole dialogue thing, I'm going to run to Taco Bell. Don't worry, I should be back before the next fight starts."
#9 Krusk Mar 04, 2011 11:48:03	List Form. I get annoyed when a player.... Explains a setting to other players/the DM Is a member of the roleplay Police Refuses to learn anything about the other PCs characters or backstories.  Forgets about their own characters backstories Mandates the tactics of the other players. A suggestion is fine, but don't bitch and moan when they don't follow it.  Insists on regular personal side quests (Also annoyed with the DMs who go along with it) Answers IC questions with OC responses. "What do you think killed all these people?" "Well obviously nothing too serious. we are still low level". "Thanks ****, I could guess that. I was asking in game to get some dialogue going." I hate when players get mad that you are not making the optimal choice because a suboptimal one is totally within your PCs motivations and makes the most sense. ...  I hate it when a player, about to do something that may backfire or cause problems, prefaces it with an "I'm doing this because it's in character for my character, and if I get punished in game for it or it backfires then fine" speech. . The annoying thing about those players to me is the "If I get punished in game or it backfires then I quit" speech.
#10 uhm_hoi Mar 05, 2011 8:33:38	The thing that annoys me the most is when a player tries to force the entire group to adept to his character. "Im playing a paladin so everybody should stick to my code of conduct" "Im playing a druid, so if you cut down that tree for firewood i will feed you to my wolf" "Im playing LG, so i should kill that CN PC before he breaks the law" "Im playing an elf, so that gives me the right to kill anyone who wants to play a dwarf. or a half-orc. or a goblin. or anything that isn't an elf and doesn't worship me. i mean elves." These examples might be extreme, but i've seen players bullying others around and justifying it like that and the above examples actually happened.
#11 ObsidianConspiracy Mar 05, 2011 11:28:34	Oh god... players who really cause us problems. There's one guy in our playgroup, no matter what system, he plays a gung-ho nut job and doesn't let the party actually do anything. Literally steals the spotlight, then justifies it with 'Well I'm a righteous paladin' or 'I'm a sagey swordsage' It's really annoying
#12 hellehundt Mar 06, 2011 10:28:46	I hate when I'm the only one that bothers learning the rules in excruciating detail so everyone else is either constantly looking up stuff that's core to their class or just making up rules.
#13 kabooki369 Mar 07, 2011 9:30:44	I don't mean to be a "Possitive Patty" in this "Negitive Nancy" thread, but many of the people you are putting down don't know any better. Rule Lawyers simply desire a fair and competitive game. Spotlight Hogs feel as if they can't shine in a group focused campaign. Rage Quitters are not engaged enough. All, and I mean ALL of these issues can be solved by the DM. Whether through kicking people from the table or having a small side conversation, these problems can actually end up being an asset to your game if handled correctly. Rules Lawyers can be asked to do what they do best, but be respectful about it. Having someone other than the DM able to watch gameplay and keep people honest can be a great relief for a DM. He/She is also engaged.  Spotlight Hogs are natural leaders and conversationalists. As DM, a side conversation out of game can solve a lot. Let them be who they are but make sure to put them in spots where they can't be #1. Let the other PCs flourish and Spotlight hogs will hopefully see that they are part of a diverse group and they can not fufill all the roles needed to succeed in the D&D world. Rage Quitters desire something unique. DMs just have to be sure that D&D can fill that need. If it cannot, kick them. If you feel they are able to enjoy themselves pull your chair a little closer to the table and find out what excites them. Consider this person a challenge.  This is just the way I see it. These players are not to be hated but looked at as a part of D&D. The DM controls the game but also plays the part of psychologist and must adapt to the players.
#14 Apollo_Theron Mar 12, 2011 16:09:15	Being chaotic doesn't justify you killing others that are innocent. Being the face doesn't make you the leader of the party. Being the glass cannon doesn't make you the carry of the party. Being the person that refuses to fight. If it's against your character morals then fine. but just because one of the characters offended you slightly doesn't mean you can sit out.  Since my party is generally nice they still get experience and gold. Even though we have to fight harder battles sometimes. Rule lawyers are acceptable if they is an unreasonable DM. It's annoying when a DM allows flaws, adjusts feat levels, allows nearly everything, and gives unreasonable amounts of gold whether that be higher or lower. I also sometimes feel as if I'm a spotlight kind of guy, however I don't even make overpowered characters. It's just that people in my party typically are nooblets and make bad characters. One example is we had a person that came in as a level 7. He spent all of his money on a bow. He was a ranger and he died in a single round. We have a fighter that likes to walk into hazardous things, note that he has medicore defenses and health. We also have a wizard with 8 HP at level 7, 11HP at level 8. If people say they're going to quit if a DM says something reasonable than it's there fault.
#15 Chaos_Redefined Mar 13, 2011 22:40:11	The main ones that bother me is the ones who fall under the categories mentioned earlier (Rules Lawyers, Spotlight Hogs, Rage Quitters or Backseat Players (one you missed, unless it goes under spotlight hogs), and then point out that someone else is doing it. As an example, I do some reasonable optimization.  I try to keep myself in line with the rest of the party.  Then, we'll have A who optimizes as much as he can.  He's been asked to change his character to something reasonable, and said that he was fine, when the rest of the party was unable to reasonably contribute.  In any non-gaming situation where we talked about D&D, he'd get up me for min-maxing too much. As another example, I have given advice before.  Never have I forced anyone to follow my advice.  I might ask why someone didn't do X, and then when they've given their answer, I'll drop it.  A DM got up me for this, and later, modified a monster mid-combat to make me take the action he wanted to do.  There was no plot reason or balance reason for me to take his action, he just felt that his choice in action was better.  (It was 4e, he felt my character was being cowardly when I was on 1 hp and running away.  So he made it so I couldn't run away.  My character just scraped not getting permanent character death)
#16 parasyn Mar 19, 2011 20:05:25	One thing I know I do that other people find annoying.  I DM quite often and I own all 5 MMs and use them all the time to find the perfect monster for the encounter. As a result whenever I play i know almost every monster in the books, and what their Pros and Cons are. (Ex. in our current campaign which I am playing we entered a city run almost exclusively by Skum, i automatically think "I wonder where the aboleth is......" I definitely need to work on character knowledge vs player knowledge.