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My players just don't get along most of the time.

They, and I say that as all of them, get into some kind of argument and don't find a compromise. They sit and argue for sometimes about 20-30 minutes about the dumbest things such as "Are there weapons in a weapon shop?"

It is usually the same person causing the problems, but once he starts, that sets everyone off and they all start causing problems left and right. Most of the issues start with the same person doing something other players don't like so they all give him a piece of their mind.

Conclusion

Do I need to find new players or try and find a way for them all to get along?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Hi Izaya, and welcome to the site. Check out our tour to see how we work here. Which game are you playing? Games can be like a toolbox with which we can partially address some of the issues to some extent -- e.g. we can advise you on how to handle spotlight within the scope of your game to resolve #3. It won't be relevant to all of the solution, but it is better for us to understand what you're playing than to have no idea. Answerers will probably assume you're playing something like D&D, and if you are it would be helpful to have that confirmed. \$\endgroup\$
    – doppelgreener
    Jan 2, 2018 at 17:27
  • \$\begingroup\$ Probably related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/26487/… \$\endgroup\$
    – Carl Kevinson
    Jan 2, 2018 at 18:34
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    \$\begingroup\$ Is this actually a problem? By that I mean are the players having fun doing whatever it is they're doing (perhaps at the absence of your fun), or is nobody enjoying it at all? \$\endgroup\$
    – Stop Being Evil
    Jan 2, 2018 at 18:38
  • \$\begingroup\$ This one player... is it that the things he's saying are unreasonable or out-there, or is it that the rest of the players pile on in an argument-mob when he's making otherwise reasonable choices? \$\endgroup\$
    – Ben Barden
    Jan 2, 2018 at 18:41
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    \$\begingroup\$ @MichaelW. No hes not to into playing his character, cause him and my other players think its weird to act like their character. He just does dumb things for the sake of it, it seems like. \$\endgroup\$
    – Izaya
    Jan 2, 2018 at 20:42

1 Answer 1

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You have a problem player. They can be made a non-problem player, though.

Specifically, you have one player who regularly says or does dumb things, and turns the game into an argument about the dumb things they're saying or doing. This may or may not be conscious on their part, but at some level, it's almost certainly giving them something they want. If you read page 6 of your DMG, this player is an Instigator. He wants to start things and make things happen and be the center of attention. Right now, he's doing that by sparking off arguments with the other players.

So, the trick here is to pull him aside, one-on-one, and call him on it. Then try to figure out between the two of you ways where he can get what he craves (that sweet, sweet attention) without tearing apart the group in general. Talk with your other players, and see how they feel about the whole thing. If you're lucky, the chance to be the center of attention from time to time in a way that isn't hostile will be appealing enough that he won't feel the need to hog the spotlight constantly by being disruptive at other times.

Essentially, your options here are keep going with arguing and roleplaying split 50/50, figure out a better way for him to get what he wants while not warping the experience for everyone else, or get rid of him. If you decide that you yourself are not going to accept the first option, that should give him plenty of incentive to help out figuring out the second.

Incidentally, if he likes the antagonistic attention, and he doesn't mind RPing characters who are destined to go down in flames, you might look into letting him play some of the villains for you sometimes. Give him the stat sheet, let him run the villain side of the encounter, and let him really ham it up, while you sit back, rest for a moment, and let yourself plan ahead a bit. The idea here is to find a way to let him channel these urges productively, while still letting the other players have enough spotlight that they aren't feeling left out. Reading up on the Instigator type and how to keep them happy would also likely help.

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