Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dravidius Dec 05, 2008 5:58:47	It has come to my attention that one of my players is basically trashing our game on another message board, saying that other players are "stealing his kills" like there are points for getting x amount of kills. And just generally trashing the game. Am I within bounds in telling the player he is no longer welcome at the table, it that too extreme? I am very upset about this, because I and the other players put a lot of work into the game, but I do not want to overreact. I would love to kick the person out of the game, and would if it were not an RPGA game. I have plenty of other people who want to play in our game, as I already have a full RPGA table, they are waiting in the wings and playing when others cannot make it. Anyways thanks for any advise you who are more experienced can give me.:D
#2 WolfStar76 Dec 05, 2008 6:40:15	It has come to my attention that one of my players is basically trashing our game on another message board, saying that other players are "stealing his kills" like there are points for getting x amount of kills. And just generally trashing the game. Am I within bounds in telling the player he is no longer welcome at the table, it that too extreme? I am very upset about this, because I and the other players put a lot of work into the game, but I do not want to overreact. I would love to kick the person out of the game, and would if it were not an RPGA game. I have plenty of other people who want to play in our game, as I already have a full RPGA table, they are waiting in the wings and playing when others cannot make it. Anyways thanks for any advise you who are more experienced can give me.:D It seems to me there are a couple ways this could go. In a pinch, you could cite the RPGA Rules for "Unsporting Conduct" which, according to the Penalty Guidelines can call for a caution or warning, and repeated offenses can lead to session or play area ejection. Of course, those rules and guidelines are a bit out-of-date, but they're most recent version we've got. On the flipside of the coin, there's nothing in the RPGA rules that says you have to "save a spot" for this player either. Depending on what your table registration rules are, it may be as easy as switching to a first-come first-serve solution - though that may affect your "good" players as well. In either case, I'd recommend you speak with the player in question. Let him know that others have found his comments and are unhappy about them. See if there's a reason he's bad-mouthing the game "behind the game's back" as it were. It may be that just communicating with him openly will fix the problem. There's no need to be heavy-handed about it unless/until the problem is confronted and shows no signs of changing.
#3 Keith53 Dec 05, 2008 6:45:54	What kind of game play is this? If this is a home play group and you are the regular DM, you are certainly within your rights to tell the gamer he is no longer welcome. I would make an attempt first to explain there is no game mechanic effect of "who gets the kill," but he may see it as bragging rights, like the proverbal "notches on a gun." That by itself would not bother me, but I don't know what other trash talk is occurring. If this is a game day or convention, i.e., something that is meant as a public event, then you should discuss your unhappiness with the Senior GM for the event. No one can force you to accept a disruptive player at your table, but many event organizers will be unhappy if a DM walks away from a table because of a personality clash. Are there sufficient game tables that each session is marshalled, and the troublesome player can be vectored to a different DM? Or is the player so troublesome, the Senior GM/Event Organizer might want to ask him to leave the Event, or at least talk with the individual to seek behavior moderation? Too many unknowns to give a single recommendation. Keith
#4 dravidius Dec 05, 2008 6:48:52	Thanks a lot for the help. I will speak to him and hopefully it will clear the air.
#5 Solodan Dec 05, 2008 10:04:29	Also, remember that message boards lose a great deal of meaning when words are put to internet. Jokes, sarcasm and also the tendancy to brag about the size of our optimized character's weapon of choice sometime come through inappropriately online. Give the guy a break but at the same time approach him face to face.
#6 dravidius Dec 05, 2008 10:41:59	I completely understand what you mean Solodan. I have responded in a concise non offensive manner in the thread, and will be discussing it with the group and him on the next game night. I feel that it is important for the group as a whole to know, and also have the chance to voice any concerns they may have about policy and things that go on in game. Perhaps a survey or just a question and answer session regarding what they like and don't like about the game. I certainly do not wish to loose players, but I also do not want the groups fun as a whole to be compromised by one or two people who are not happy. Thanks again for the help. This board continues to be a source of information and great advise to me as I run my games.
#7 Madfox11 Dec 08, 2008 4:02:51	Keep in mind when you express your concerns in front of the whole group the player might feel rather threatened especially if the majority supports you. In my experience it is much better to first talk with the player in private and just mention to the rest of the group you did so.
#8 jr_tyner Dec 20, 2008 19:36:26	I made that post a month before the DM even saw it and made this thread. I only complained about one kill because I was soloing an enemy because for that one game I was a Barbarian and my rage only activated when I delivered the killing blow. So I went though all this trouble to go into rage so I could better help the party with the rest of the creatures. And when the DM said the creature was on it's last leg, another character move away for the creature it was hitting, so he could get the killing blow. This also mean the creature he was beside didn't take any damage, and I had to spend my next turn moving. And when another player approched me about this in PMs on this board, and I felt threatened by what he said. I acussed him of harassing me and reported his replies to me on this board. After his messages where deleted from this board for baiting, he accussed me of harassing him on the other board, and the DM posted on their public board that I'm no longer welcome at the table and not to come to the store while they're playing.
#9 dravidius Dec 20, 2008 21:01:13	Once again to address the honesty issue with this situation, you were asked to not come in the game room and distract us while we were playing. I don't have any control over you coming to the store or anything like that. I never brought this up on our boards until you did, and I was planning on dealing with it privately, but since you chose to make it a public battle, that is where I engaged you. Please stop posting half truths to complete strangers in an effort to discredit the group. Thanks all and have a great game.
#10 jr_tyner Dec 20, 2008 21:17:39	What is your problem with me? Every time I ask you what I did, you say you don't want to talk about it. You have to talk about it, or nothing will ever change. Half truth's? Here is a direct copy of you telling me that: "If we are there playing please do not come back there and interrupt or cause a problem.". How am I not suppose to take that as you saying not to come when you're playing? When did I bring it up? What did I say? What have I ever said to discredit the group? EDIT: This makes no sence to me, at all. 1. This was a one time deal that happened a month before anyone replied and you made this thread. 2. You said that you responded in a concise non offensive manner in the thread, and will be discussing it with the group and me on the next game night. In the thread you said "This is the first last and only time I will say anything on this matter. farewell". I'm sorry, but that is not speaking with me, and how are we suppose to talk at the next game night when you told be not to come? 3. I am just trying to speak with you and work things out. Why won't you communicate with me? 4. I am not "bad-mouthing the game" because all I said was that I felt we weren't working as a team. 5. I was not talking "behind the game's back", it was a reply on this board to something someone else was saying. 6. How can I change if you won't tell be what the problem is? 7. This was only our second game. There was a game mechanic effect for me killing that guy with my barbarian character. Afterwards, we had at least 3 great games with me playing a fighter. You personally said "good job with keeping the baddies focused on you in the temple and well done with the rat king.". Then someone drudged up a dead comment, and I get auto-banned. You never approached me face to face.
#11 WolfStar76 Dec 21, 2008 6:12:24	[VCL] Gentlemen, I'd like to request this discussion be move to a private arena - either PMs, E-mail, or face-to-face - as it isn't a conversation the rest of the RPGA needs to read about. While it appears there's been some miscommunications in the past, now is the time for you both to start from a clean slate, start the conversation over anew, and see where it can go, lest you quickly find yourself re-hashing old wounds to no result. I hope you can get it fully resolved to everyone's satisfacation. [/VCL]
#12 dravidius Dec 21, 2008 6:50:26	Thanks Wolf. I I hope everything can be worked out to for the best.
#13 arnold_judas_rimmer Dec 23, 2008 15:01:39	Good luck when you talk to him off-line.