![]() The best way to keep power gamers from becoming a problem is to talk to your players ahead of time to find out what they want, and tell them how you run your games. If they had a GM that was actually trying to kill the PCs, and the other players were behaving like they were, they would be fine. ![]() How to deal with them: The power gamer is simply used to a different style of gaming. If they fail, it will leave them feeling bitter. If their min-maxed characters succeed, they will break your conflicts and overshadow the other players. They may try to police you by demanding you follow the exact rules of the system, creating arguments that are tedious for everyone. Why they’re troublesome: Power gamers often view the GM as their opponent, since they’re the ones rolling for all the monsters and villains. They engage the game as a series of rules to follow and exploit instead of a story that’s unfolding. What they are: The power gamer views a campaign as a technical strategy game they want to “win.” They have intimate knowledge of all the mechanics of the roleplaying system, and use them to build characters with broken power-combos and min-maxed abilities. Often metagamers simply don’t realize what they’re doing or know any better. If you have one or two players that are metagaming at a more blatant level, gently call them out. That way the players won’t recognize them when their characters meet them. If you narrate any scenes between villainous NPCs to foreshadow or build tension, don’t name or describe the characters that are talking. Ask for regular spot and listen checks instead of only calling for them when they’re relevant to the game. Reskin your monsters so they can’t recognize them from any reference guides. How to deal with them: The easiest way to reduce metagaming- particularly if it’s happening with your entire group- is to reduce the knowledge they have. Their choice to act out of character waters down their roleplaying and calls attention to the mechanics of the game, rather than the experience of the story. Stories require healthy doses of conflict, and a player who metagames trivializes challenges that would otherwise be significant. Why they’re troublesome: Metagaming can wreak havoc on a story. If the character knows the weakness of every opponent listed in the monster manual, acts cautiously after you call for a spot check, or is suspicious of NPCs whose ill intent was revealed out-of-game, you have a metagamer on your hands. While it’s possible to metagame in a positive way, troublesome metagamers help their character succeed instead of improving the gaming experience for everyone. What they are: The metagamer takes actions that are out of character based on their knowledge of the game and the GM. ![]() Many of those players fall into one of following categories: 1. While dealing with unexpected player decisions, group dissatisfaction, or the occasional argument is just another day at the gaming table, sometimes specific players will make your day very difficult. It’s the job of the game master to herd cats through the roleplaying campaign. ![]()
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