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A new DM calls for aid!
So a new DM with a table of new players looking for help. So the problem is I pick a scripted campaign for beginners. It’s story hook only works if the characters are good or neutral, my table is apparently a bunch of Psycho murder hobos and the story is going no where because they keep getting sidetracked by trying to kill everything. Now, I did tell them at session zero they had to have a non evil character. Problem is they’re not playing their character and doing whatever they want. It’s been 2 full sessions and we’ve no progress in the story.
Should I end the campaign and try and start a new one that has a story hook more in line with evil? If so, any suggestions? Or is there a way to get my players to accept there character and play the role without taking players agency away. I don’t want to be a DM that makes their players play a certain way I just want the game to progress. Thank you in advance.
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Personally, for a table of new players, let them go murder hobo, run a 3-session thing for them to go mad.. Then once they have that out of their system, run the story you want, with new characters now they are used to the mechanics a little, seemed to work for our group when we all got introduced to DnD
Beat the shit out of them with a fight they should’ve run from. Keep beating g them until they learn the error of their ways
Couple of options starting over is one of them, but consequences are important. Have a few scenes where the enemies show compassion, they run in to save their compatriots. People getting between them and other people. Sell your world as lived in. Of course. That’s one of many options good luck parsing through all of them. I would say this though “have fun”. Murderhobos are sometimes symptoms of a not well written game and sometimes rooted in the players . I don’t have all the context , I can only say I’ve been on both sides of it.
100% agree with Patrick- actions have consequences. If they want to kill everyone and everything- send the gaurds, the bounty hunters, heck even Heros- they are turning into the bad guys and will be hunted down.
This is pretty normal when everyone’s new. I’d lean in to it and let them get it out there session. Just throw some random monster hunter stuff at them and then get them back in track once they’ve had it out.
Throw an actual dragon at them. An elder brain dragon
Kill them all, write up new characters. Try again
You either help your DM, who is new, or you ruin the opportunity to play under someone willing to DM for you
If they are playing way outside character alignment, usually there are punishments involved for that. Seeing as how the entire table is new, maybe you should all sit down and talk about what kind of campaign everyone is wanting to be involved in. Plus maybe there is a local experienced DM/player that could sit in and help to guide a little bit, just to get things moving along. I’m not a DM, but I am working on a few one-shots to get my feet wet in that area. To alleviate potential for things going sideways, I am building them to be very self contained, so it’ll be easy to plan actions and concentrate on gameplay and not reacting to crazy stuff outside of my expectations in the scenario.
Well before you do anything, I’d have an out of game conversation letting them know. Personally, if MY dm told me I was holding up the game with my shenanigans and turning what should be a 1 shot for babies into a slog I’d feel AWFUL and do everything I could to, not just correct my own behavior, but help keep the others in line whenever we’re trailing off. The point is you’re trying to help everyone learn the game, right? Maybe let them know you’re doing this to help them and that they’re making it hard to help.
Consequences.
You don’t have to DM for them if you’re not having fun. A lot of players seem to think the DM is there just for their entertainment, but the DM is part of the game as well. If they’re ruining it for you, nobody can force you to keep DMing for them
Just killāem off
Talk to the players.
Explain the type of game.
Encourage them to buy into the general theme.
If they’re new they may be overwhelmed by their options and excited by the lack of consequences.
Explain that even in the game world actions have consequences.
The danger is that they go so far outside this starting scenario that it becomes a sandbox where they are being hunted by everyone for revenge or bounty.
Which may be entertaining for a while but they’re going to need new characters soon. Your world will have an equivalent of Judge Dredd.
But talk first.
DM I burn down the bar, because the innkeep is a jerk for not gibing me free drinks. The barkeep comes around the corner of the building finishing donning his full plate armor. Scorched as it is it gleams with holy energy. The mace he brandishes is shaped as the Holy symbol of Tyr….roll initiative prepare for TPK.
Wait why wont the shopkeep sale anything to me. Why are they calling for the guards and shouting Murderers? Oh it’s because you killed her brother and his kids my dude. You are wanted criminals. You are the badguys now. Btw the BBEG retired. He felt you were doing well enough.
Being evil makes no sense in a TTRPG, you just have sadistic, immature friends who care little about the work and prep you put in.
Well, I’d say what kind of world is it?
Based on that, an appropriate response should emerge where the players lose their stuff.
Basically, you have to teach them that they have to detect mission critical npcs, since this isn’t a video game with essential characters.
Tjis is why I dont like premade scenarios. It might be difficult or seem intimidating for a new dm, but I would suggest that you go where your player want. I tend to see this game as a collective story rather than one told by the dm.
Actions define alignments. If they murderhobo, they’re not good people.
Also, as others have pointed out, actions have consequences. Commiting crime means the town militia are now after you. Killing the militia? Now youre on the most wanted lists. Nobody will sell or trade the things you want. Nobody will give you food or lodgings. Other (probably better equipped and more experienced) mercenaries have been hired to bring the party in, dead or alive.
Sounds like there should be a party of brave heroes to put a stop to their evil.
Maybe play it as said group is in the area to do the thing your party isnāt doing and they end up taking a bounty on a group of bloodthirsty murders (your players)
Have a talk with them. If they can’t be a little less evil, drop the game. You’re new and asked them be a little heroic. No dnd is better than bad dnd.
I simply refuse to DM a party I wonāt enjoy. The DM needs to have fun too and for me a lot of that comes from story moments and character moments.
Have the primary conflict of the story continue to play out, let the BBEG start succeeding in the plot you hope plays out, have the BBEG or other baddies start wiping out towns before the group even gets to them (leaving noone to murder)
I allowed this as a one shot. 100%. I then pulled out a horde of 12000 orcs, kobolds, ogres and trolls. Followed up with a flanking of a dragon. When they realized how much work it was to murder hobo they stopped and got it out of their system.
They may also misunderstand completely the alignment system.. Chaotic Neutral doesn’t mean you kill wantonly.. you could also go the Suicide Squad route.. have guards arrest them, and from there have it dictated that resources are low to do x quest.. and by doing said quests they will get time off of their sentence.. let it be known that messengers have been sent to all of the surrounding towns of their sentencing, so enforcement can be unilateral.. or.. you could use a MacGuffin.. a warlock in the employ of the town siphons part of their souls, and should they decide to venture away too greatly from their goal they may be subject to actions equal to their activities.
Send a level 20 bounty hunter and insta kyll their characters.
look, bottomline is that this game is about having fun, if you are not having fun and your players are just trying to derail the campaign or act like murder hobos, I think you can do one of two things:
1. pause the game, and ask them if this is what they really want? a sort of hack and slash game? if so and you are up for it, just draw down a maze or a dungeon and throw in some enemies in there, tell them that at the end is an evil beholder and that is that.
2. if it bothers you that they are like that and you would like a more RP based campaign, ask them if they are willing to have a go at that. if they are unwilling or if they say yes and STILL go murder hobo- for your own sake- leave the table and find players that are more suitable for your own play style
Consequences down to killing them if they don’t get it. Prewritten campaigns often beckon a certain extra level of willing role play of motivation to move the story forward and that’s something players should come to understand instead of just doing whatever sounds fun to them. If they become villains, make actual heroes that put them in their place. If they’re not willing to play a part that contributes to telling the story you’re building for them proactively and addressing them about it doesn’t help it’s time to find new players.
Give them consequences for their actions and reinforce it was because of them