Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 12:00:56 GMT -8
I've been GM for a group for a long time and there has been a consistent problem. Given the fact that two of the players grew up together, and the other two are younger brother, older sister. Jealousy. Inevitably, at some point during a game, the two friends or the two siblings either openly complain at the table, or pull me aside, and claim that I am favoring the other. Whether it be a shiny new item or power or ability or in game asset that I give to one, the other will eventually complain. I, at first, assumed it was just the rivalry of siblings or old friends, but now I find myself declining running games because I don't want to deal with the BS. I have tried to speak to the players individually and they always place the blame on me, not their jealousy. I believe I am a fair GM, I am somewhat OCD, so making things even is something I tend to do. I am at my rope's end and am very close to stopping this group all together. The main problem with this is I want to game still, but have nowhere to turn other than this group. It also doesn't help that my wife is the sister, making her jealous focal point my brother in law, and the two friends are my nephew and and old friend of mine. I need advice or suggestions on what to do... Thank you in advance to all who reply.
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maxinstuff
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Post by maxinstuff on Jun 25, 2013 14:29:11 GMT -8
It sounds like they are being childish. Are they in fact children/teens??
I suggest you make up a huge list of magic items - 3 or 4 columns on an A4 page in 8 point font.
Next time on of them pulls you aside - grab the sheet out and staple it to their character sheet in front of everyone and say "anyone else need me to square the ledger??"\
EDIT: I am now JOURNEYMAN DOUCHEBAG!!!!!!
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Post by Stu Venable on Jun 25, 2013 14:50:31 GMT -8
The fact that people are jealous over what other people's made up characters have on their character sheets is absurd.
If talking to them doesn't work, and you truly don't have an alternative group to play with, stop giving them in-game assets. Just money. Make sure you give them money in multiples that are easily divisible by the number of players at the table.
It probably is sibling rivalry. That shit runs deep.
When I make my kids dinner, the first thing they do is look at each others plate and complain, "how come Allie got 6 tater tots and I only got 5?" Especially if they're close in age.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2013 6:45:29 GMT -8
I might follow your advice maxinstuff, but I would probably be too tempted to staple it to their foreheads instead. My wife and her brother are 25 and 22 respectively, and the other two are teenagers. I'll try the money, then let them find shops to purchase items at, that way it will be more on their shoulders. I really hope they can get past this petty BS. I love playing with them, just when they aren't making me the bad guy. Thanks again for the help and quick reply. Random side note: I recently bought and started an L5R campaign because of your podcast Stu. I never would have known about it if it weren't for you.
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D.T. Pints
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Post by D.T. Pints on Jun 26, 2013 7:36:29 GMT -8
I might follow your advice maxinstuff, but I would probably be too tempted to staple it to their foreheads instead. My wife and her brother are 25 and 22 respectively, and the other two are teenagers. I'll try the money, then let them find shops to purchase items at, that way it will be more on their shoulders. I really hope they can get past this petty BS. I love playing with them, just when they aren't making me the bad guy. Thanks again for the help and quick reply. Random side note: I recently bought and started an L5R campaign because of your podcast Stu. I never would have known about it if it weren't for you.Now you could just have one sibling play a Crab Clan Samurai and the other play a Crane...That ought to smooth everything out.
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jpk
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Post by jpk on Jul 2, 2013 17:37:08 GMT -8
Now you could just have one sibling play a Crab Clan Samurai and the other play a Crane...That ought to smooth everything out. I've actually always wanted to play an L5R game where all the PCs are from different minor/vassal families of the Scorpion that aren't necessarily getting along. I think the endless in-fighting that had an assumed line (because it would be a failure of Duty to cost the Scorpion Clan a useful samurai) that would all instantly be set aside (largely-ish) when an outsider became a threat or target would be a blast. But that might just be me...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 7:06:47 GMT -8
Sounds like a serious maturity problem, plain and simple. Stu's solution is sound, but even then if one of them finds an item the other didn't know about, don't be surprised if the other is like, "But I didn't know about that helmet. I want that helmet too!!!"
Shame is that it takes a very fun aspect of gaming off the table: plot-based acquisition of items. Some of my fondest gaming memories are based on discovery of amazing items that the group has spent months or even years tracking down. There is only one of them but everyone gets to take pride when Rognar the Barbarian swings the 7-HEADED HAMMER OF THE FATES because we all helped him get it.
Have you tried running item acquisition based adventures? You could run one for each member of the party (though this could quickly get unwieldy) for equality.
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