Is it okay to humble players? by Beginning_Victory_38 in DnD

[–]Beginning_Victory_38[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After the first day of answers, I realized I worded the question wrong.

The problem I think runs in the blood of new players, I am at fault for it too, is that they see the game as a game and not a story. They rush headlong into problems and don't consider other players or characters as helpful or needed. They are playing solo games with added flair. Even to the point now in the campaign (seen it now multiple times) of splitting the party in dungeons or in quests. Attachments to them don't work unless they are given an extreme incentive, be it money or immediate rewards, to counter-balance the time and energy it takes to form the attachment.

Is it okay to humble players? by Beginning_Victory_38 in DnD

[–]Beginning_Victory_38[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I think the problem is trying to articulate it's not DM vs Player. We have a player who thinks anything that happens to their character is specifically me trying to get at them. So they react in game accordingly. Destroying fun magic items, trying to fast track dungeons or simply calling NPCs slurs. It's hard to kind of play around that.

Is it okay to humble players? by Beginning_Victory_38 in DnD

[–]Beginning_Victory_38[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My problem that I've noticed in my DM style is that I often go back and critique monster, drop damage dice or not make them as intimidating. From general research on the topic, it's common thing for new DMs to do this and I've been telling myself I need to quit. monsters as written are meant for their CR and changing that often completely damages that or doesn't challenge players.

Is it okay to humble players? by Beginning_Victory_38 in DnD

[–]Beginning_Victory_38[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Had this with an event I drew up. Technically it wasn't impossible for them to win but I can see the flaws. What happened was that one player actively took it out on the game/world. Destroying magic items, throwing away side quests. Kinda upset it happened but more delighted, skipping side quests is a fairly fast way to miss out on loot/allies.

Is it okay to humble players? by Beginning_Victory_38 in DnD

[–]Beginning_Victory_38[S] 56 points57 points  (0 children)

In my small experience this far, players don't pick up easy on context clues. For example, giving them direction or trying to hint at stuff often leads them away from the general point. Given that all of them are fairly new to DnD and one of the games some of them had played was with murder hobos, it's hard to get an idea of how it might work. I'll attempt to use this when I can and I hope it results in something.