336
votes
Accepted
Player claims their wizard character knows everything (from books). Solutions?
There are a number of reasons why the character's book knowledge may not be useful at a given time. There are also a number of reasons why the character's knowledge wouldn't be as extensive as your ...
- 54k
334
votes
Players skipping side quests just to have a laugh at the DM
If they habitually skip the prepared content: "That's all I've got. See you next time."
If you've prepared a certain amount of content and the players choose to skip it without a convincing in-...
- 29.6k
247
votes
Accepted
How do I manage a player who is handling traps by metagaming?
What's wrong with what he's doing? As far as he can tell, this is a good strategy. He's exceptionally tough, and running through traps has worked for him in the past, so he believes it'll be fine in ...
- 17k
194
votes
Accepted
How do I handle my players killing things by catapulting a folding boat?
The folding boat explicitly says that it takes an action to speak the command word. If your player is using his action to cast catapult, he doesn't have an action left to properly incant the command ...
- 79.1k
189
votes
Accepted
How can I get a player to accept that they should stop trying to pull stunts without thinking them through first?
Clarify the situation
Whenever my players propose a plan that will in no way work, I first assume that I didn't describe things well enough.
Rogue: I sneak into the throne room, steal the document we ...
- 17.1k
183
votes
How to stop a player constantly using Detect Magic/Evil?
Considering there is a casting time and a bunch of cues that he's doing this, how is the world reacting to his constant spellcasting? It seems that the real solution is there.
Do his fellow players ...
- 77.9k
162
votes
Players skipping side quests just to have a laugh at the DM
Show Them Why
Before discussing it "off the table", you should first try to integrate this issue into the narrative. Based on some of your comments, it sounds like there's a bit of an adversarial ...
- 3,805
160
votes
How to work with a player who cites ADHD as reason for disruptive behavior
Your player is not taking ownership of their condition
A disclaimer before I start, first I'm not familiar with the AL's rules and recourse for DMs dealing with problem players. Secondly, I'm not a ...
- 31.1k
158
votes
How can we handle "firing" our DM?
Tell him the truth, because that's what friends do
Sometimes, talking around or avoiding an issue increases trouble, rather than decreasing it. This looks to be a case of that happening.
You ...
- 139k
155
votes
Player wants to steal items from previous character
If the player wants their old character to reappear as an NPC, then they have to accept that that character is now an NPC. That means you are playing that character—and you get to play them according ...
- 323k
154
votes
Accepted
My warlock is blowing all their spell slots on the easy fights, making the hard fights harder for the party. What do I do?
Don't apply a Limit Curse
I know this isn't the sort of answer you were looking for...but slapping restrictions on a player character because you don't like the way they are playing is not cool. The ...
- 61k
153
votes
Accepted
Problems with Party Formation: "You're the DM, you can figure it out."
Don't run the campaign
It is often important (but not always) for the party to have a preexisting, long term reason to stay a party. It is especially important in situations like this, with non-...
- 9,651
153
votes
Player claims their wizard character knows everything (from books). Solutions?
This can be solved mechanically
Just to take a different tack: If he wants to recall how to steer a boat, ask him to make a roll against his Navigator's Tools Proficiency, and/or Vehicle Proficiency. ...
- 31.3k
150
votes
Accepted
Why is burying yourself not such a great plan?
I wasn't comfortable with some assumptions people are readily making in their comments, so I did some research and a few calculations. I also incorporated some suggestions made in the comments.
The ...
- 1,633
149
votes
Accepted
Punishing a player for instant-actioning
No, it's not fair to punish a player in this way. But it's not okay for this player to take an unfair share of control over the game, either.
You are the DM — you are in control. You are in the Big ...
- 240k
143
votes
Accepted
My group member is displaying disturbing behavior, what do I do?
It seems like there are 2 different problems in this scenario.
1. You have a problem player
If a player is doing anything to make you or any other person uncomfortable or not have fun, then they are a ...
- 21.2k
136
votes
Accepted
New girl gamer in our D&D group is causing weird tension - what to do?
Since I started DMing D&D a long, long time ago, I found that the dynamics of a mixed group of male ande female players is a tad different from a one-sex only group of players. This is purely ...
- 14.8k
131
votes
Accepted
As the Dungeon Master, how do I handle a player that insists on a specific class when I already know that choice will cause issues?
The class played doesn’t matter, and arguing about it only hurts your position
This situation really, really wouldn’t be any better if she was playing a sorcerer. If she ignores her prepared spells, ...
- 323k
130
votes
Accepted
A player always wants to recruit NPCs into the party. How do I handle this?
Your first instinct-- gently talking to the player-- is a very good one. You can easily follow that up with a less gentle discussion laying out the basic idea that tabletop RPGs (unlike computer RPGs)...
- 37.9k
130
votes
How do I rein in a player who talks over my descriptions?
"Excuse me. Please be quiet. I haven't finished speaking, when I have you can talk as much as you want."
This isn't a game problem, its a manners problem.
- 191k
129
votes
Accepted
A player was bucking my style and I lost my temper. What can I do from here?
You
I'll deal with your issues first: you are an angry 14 year old.
Don't sweat it; everybody was, is or will be. Maturity can in fact be summed up as learning not to punch the face of someone who ...
- 191k
128
votes
Accepted
Dealing with (supposedly) in-character bullying
First and foremost, I am sorry you have to put up with Kevin.
Bullying should not be tolerated1. Ever2!
Sadly, your experience is far from unique. Kevin acts in the manner of a sexist bully and ...
126
votes
My own Party are ruining the game for me. What should I do?
Short answer: stop playing with people who abuse you
What could I do if most people are just going to keep on stealing what
I earn and making the game not fun to play?
You are being picked on. ...
- 139k
125
votes
Player claims their wizard character knows everything (from books). Solutions?
Roll with it
Let's address this by taking things back to 5e fundamentals. Working from, "How To Play", from PHB page six.
1. The DM describes the environment
"You've taken over the ...
- 13k
122
votes
Player claims their wizard character knows everything (from books). Solutions?
Give him exactly what he wants.
I know, I know, but please, hear me out.
So, you've read all of the books you could possibly get your hands on and have acquired hundreds of years worth of knowledge? ...
- 31.4k
122
votes
Accepted
Is there any way to stop a player from charging into every room?
Yes, let his character get the fate he deserves
Storytime:
In one of the first games I ever ran at a convention, there was a player that was doing exactly what you described: charging ahead, ...
- 12.1k
119
votes
Players skipping side quests just to have a laugh at the DM
Invest less of your prep time in skippable events
Here's an example of a skippable event: "You see a weird thing. Want to go poke it?"
Here's an example of a non-skippable event: "Night is falling,...
- 79.1k
119
votes
Accepted
What to do if a player expected much more than DM gave?
The ruling seems very reasonable
Originally the goblins were at a reasonable advantage and knew it. Successful intimidation made it so they weren't that sure anymore, probably assuming that the PCs ...
- 10.8k
117
votes
Accepted
How can I handle a player who pre-plans arguments about my rulings on RAW?
Agree as a table that rules discussions happen out-of-session
We have had this issue at our table. Rules debates that have gotten out of hand and players (including and sometimes primarily me in the ...
- 90.7k
116
votes
Best way to kill a problematic fellow player character?
The obvious solution would be to go to the authorities (the city guard?) with your evidence. They're certainly searching for the villain who burned down all those inns and killed all those people. ...
- 79.1k
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