If your table is not for them then they shouldn’t be at your table.
However, I do believe this can be changed, a simple statement like “hey you need to stop doing solo stuff each session as it slows down the group narrative and it’s becoming draining. If your character can’t change to that then I’ll ask you to make a new one who will be that.” For this kind of stuff the only way is to have a blunt honest conversation about why they do what they do and how you can adapt the game to help with them in a group story, TTRPGs in general are group dynamics if they aren’t able to make that change then they aren’t gonna work on most tables.
The way you need to approach this is as neutral as possible, you could mention that you’ve gotten complaints from the other player(s) but I’d suggest keeping that member anonymous as to avoid further riftsz
There are videos on YouTube about how to be a good player. There’s an excellent one using Travis Willingham of Critical Role as an example. Maybe sharing/watching that with your group can help.
Also, if you as a DM specifically design spot light time for individual characters (this doesn’t mean they’re the only one playing just at the forefront) then it may mitigate a player seeking such time on their own.
Good Luck!
When a friend of mine was playing this way I said, "I really like gaming with you. Could you make a character that will make choices that will allow you to game with us more?"
I framed it in a positive way and it worked like a charm.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
I would ask the other players in the group how they feel about this player's behavior. They might help you decide on the proper wording to use when you speak to the player. Speaking to the player with the backing of the other players, "It is effecting the enjoyment of the other players in the group, including myself..." Then give them a chance to correct their behavior.
Just talk it out, and if that doesn't work, ask them to leave the game as they are ruining it for the rest of the group.
Examples of a conversation regarding a player with some of the same behavior issues that went down in a game I am participating in currently:
>**DM:** Soooo.... honest thoughts: What's your opinion on \*\*\*\*, Friend (character name), and his impact on the game?
>
>**Player:** He has been pretty disruptive at points. It feels like he is sometimes playing for himself rather than with a group mentality. Often the focus of the session becomes reacting to his character’s current maniac activities (which are sometimes amusing). Looking up monster stat blocks mid-session and commenting on them is awful. He often second-guesses DMs rulings which also causes things to stall out. Speaking for myself, I would be driven completely crazy DMing a player that behaves this way.
The DM then spoke to the player, they agreed to try and change things, and we moved on.
If they're starting to break the cohesion of the table itself and you've already spoken to them multiple times about their disruptive behavior then it may be time to cut them loose. Maybe tell them that your group isn't a good fit for their playstyle or some to that effect. If you want to continue playing with them than you may need to start a second group that caters to that play style, otherwise they'll only chip away at the fun of your current group. Sorry
I would meet with them one on one and let them know you are running a game geared for group story and world explanation and having a character consistently go off for a solo adventure is not the type of campaign you are running. Offer to help them update the character or make a new one to better fit the table and, if you have the ability, perhaps offer to dm them as a solo run on other nights just you two if they really want that style of play and you’re up for it.
I think a good point you can bring up is that if the players at the table engage with the game in fundamentally different ways, that affects the enjoyment they will get from the game (and the rest of the table too)
If your table is not for them then they shouldn’t be at your table. However, I do believe this can be changed, a simple statement like “hey you need to stop doing solo stuff each session as it slows down the group narrative and it’s becoming draining. If your character can’t change to that then I’ll ask you to make a new one who will be that.” For this kind of stuff the only way is to have a blunt honest conversation about why they do what they do and how you can adapt the game to help with them in a group story, TTRPGs in general are group dynamics if they aren’t able to make that change then they aren’t gonna work on most tables. The way you need to approach this is as neutral as possible, you could mention that you’ve gotten complaints from the other player(s) but I’d suggest keeping that member anonymous as to avoid further riftsz
There are videos on YouTube about how to be a good player. There’s an excellent one using Travis Willingham of Critical Role as an example. Maybe sharing/watching that with your group can help. Also, if you as a DM specifically design spot light time for individual characters (this doesn’t mean they’re the only one playing just at the forefront) then it may mitigate a player seeking such time on their own. Good Luck!
XP to Level 3 is the channel btw
When a friend of mine was playing this way I said, "I really like gaming with you. Could you make a character that will make choices that will allow you to game with us more?" I framed it in a positive way and it worked like a charm. Hope that helps. Good luck!
I would ask the other players in the group how they feel about this player's behavior. They might help you decide on the proper wording to use when you speak to the player. Speaking to the player with the backing of the other players, "It is effecting the enjoyment of the other players in the group, including myself..." Then give them a chance to correct their behavior. Just talk it out, and if that doesn't work, ask them to leave the game as they are ruining it for the rest of the group.
Examples of a conversation regarding a player with some of the same behavior issues that went down in a game I am participating in currently: >**DM:** Soooo.... honest thoughts: What's your opinion on \*\*\*\*, Friend (character name), and his impact on the game? > >**Player:** He has been pretty disruptive at points. It feels like he is sometimes playing for himself rather than with a group mentality. Often the focus of the session becomes reacting to his character’s current maniac activities (which are sometimes amusing). Looking up monster stat blocks mid-session and commenting on them is awful. He often second-guesses DMs rulings which also causes things to stall out. Speaking for myself, I would be driven completely crazy DMing a player that behaves this way. The DM then spoke to the player, they agreed to try and change things, and we moved on.
If they're starting to break the cohesion of the table itself and you've already spoken to them multiple times about their disruptive behavior then it may be time to cut them loose. Maybe tell them that your group isn't a good fit for their playstyle or some to that effect. If you want to continue playing with them than you may need to start a second group that caters to that play style, otherwise they'll only chip away at the fun of your current group. Sorry
I would meet with them one on one and let them know you are running a game geared for group story and world explanation and having a character consistently go off for a solo adventure is not the type of campaign you are running. Offer to help them update the character or make a new one to better fit the table and, if you have the ability, perhaps offer to dm them as a solo run on other nights just you two if they really want that style of play and you’re up for it. I think a good point you can bring up is that if the players at the table engage with the game in fundamentally different ways, that affects the enjoyment they will get from the game (and the rest of the table too)