Summary
When you’re running a game ofDungeons & Dragons, sometimes, it can be tricky to navigate the many different types of players you might have at your table as Dungeon Master. Players might not get along with one another, or they might not vibe with your DM style.
Whatever the exact issue, nothing tanks a long-running Dungeons & Dragons game faster than terrible player archetypes. We’ve all been in that situation, which is exactly why we’ve created this list. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and examine some of the worst types of players you can have at your table as a Dungeon Master.
10The Rules Lawyer
I Object!
Every table has at least one. While it’s great for DMs or players to advocate for using the correct rules, sometimes, rules-lawyering can go too far, even in Dungeons & Dragons.
There’s nothing worse than someone who argues with the DM on every single roll, ruling, or decision they make. Ultimately, the DM’s final decision in the matter is law. That’s the best way to keep games running smoothly. However, the rules lawyer is likely to fight you at every turn, so be prepared if you have one of these types of players at your table.
9The Third-Person Narrator
It’s My Character, Not Me
One very common thing you see nowadays is people narrating in the third-person, from an almost omniscient point of view. While this is fine on occasion, players who take more of a third-party approach to their character can often derail stories that the DM is trying to tell, and can almost take on a kind of backseat DM role.
For example, some players will tell other players what they might be feeling or how they might react to something their character is doing. This should be avoided at all costs. There’s nothing worse as a DM than having to remind a player that they are their character, and that they’re not a secondary DM.
8The Player Who Doesn’t Like Stories
It’s Just A Game
While there’s always room for Dungeons & Dragons tables that are just about gameplay mechanics, stats, and rolling dice, ultimately, the point of a DND game is to try to tell a compelling story. If you’re a DM who’s interested inweaving together a complex narrativefor your table, there’s nothing more annoying than someone who doesn’t want to assist in telling a story at all.
This type of player will sometimes just flat out refuse to speak character, describe their actions in any kind of interesting way, or even disengage from the narrative altogether. This can prove incredibly frustrating as a Dungeon Master, especially if you’ve put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into crafting an interesting story.
7The Interrupter
I Attack!
Though it’s not always a good idea, every DM, every once in a while, likes to narrate a cutscene of sorts. Sometimes, you’ll spend hours laboring over the best way to introduce a main antagonist, or set up a climactic boss battle with music, lighting, and more. However, sometimes, players will interrupt you midway through your introduction, kicking off combat too early.
While technically, this is totally within a player’s jurisdiction, this can prove incredibly frustrating as a DM. Just because you’re spending a few minutes monologuing as the central antagonist of the campaign doesn’t mean that players should take advantage. Setting up scenes and establishing tone is important in DND, and some players just want to hack-and-slash.
6The Solo Act
I’m Kind Of A Lone Wolf
At the end of the day, Dungeons & Dragons is a cooperative storytelling game. Players and DMs should always work together to come up with cool ideas, compelling stories, and create a seamless gameplay environment. However, some players are insistent on striking out on their own.
These solo act players can prove incredibly irritating to DM for, as they always want to go off on their own side quest, and ignore the party’s primary objective. Railroading these players can also prove frustrating for the whole table. Avoid lone wolves at all costs.
5The Porter
I’m Porting This Over From My Last Game
Every table has a different set of rules, and every table has different things that they like and don’t like.Some DMs allow homebrew, others just don’t. However, sometimes, you’ll get a player who joins your campaign from another table and tries to port things over that just aren’t allowed at your table.
This can cause a lot of friction. Obviously, you want to support your player in any way that you can and allow them to play the type of character they want. However, if they try to port over a broken magic weapon or multiclass that you just don’t allow at your table, this can prove super frustrating and cause fights.
4The Scene-Stealer
I’m The Greatest Star
The point of a well-thought-out Dungeons & Dragons campaign is to make the adventuring party feel like heroes in a fantasy realm. Every player at the table needs their moment in the spotlight, and this can prove highly rewarding for DMs to balance. However, there are often players who think of themselves as the ‘main character’ of the group.
These players' main character syndromes often get in the way of other players' enjoyment and can cause a lot of tension. These types of players will often attempt to co-opt another player’s cool moment, and this can be incredibly disheartening. Plus, litigating between two players who are frustrated by this dynamic can prove taxing for DMs.
3The Advantaged
Can I Have Advantage?
This is a less-understood archetype, but they’re always lurking in the shadows of DND tables. This type of player is always trying to argue for giving themselves some kind of advantage on a roll. They’ll try to arguethat their backgroundor a cosmetic part of their character description should equate to advantage on a skill check or attack roll.
Dungeons & Dragons has very clear rules for giving advantage and disadvantage, and ultimately, this should always be at the DM’s discretion. However, this annoying player archetype will constantly try to argue that they should have bonuses to their rolls, which is often tedious and wastes time.
2The Me Versus You
It’s Not A Competition
Again, Dungeons & Dragons is meant to be a cooperative game, and that includes the Dungeon Master. Of course, as a DM, you’ll be throwing monsters at your players, traps, and other pitfalls, but that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily against them in any way. However, there are some players who feel that DND should be a competition between players and DMs.
This is often grating and annoying. This type of player is always trying to undermine your authority or find ways to break your game in two. Having to navigate this kind of player is tricky too, as ultimately, they’re never going to trust you, and will only see you as the DM as their enemy.
1The Cheat
There’s Always One
This last player type is an absolute no-go. But they do exist. Sometimes, as a DM, you’ll run into a player who actually cheats at Dungeons & Dragons. They’ll fudge dice rolls, hide modifiers and features from their DM, and so much more. Sometimes, they’ll even fail to mark off HP or other conditions.
In combat, especially, this is a total non-starter. you’re able to try having other players watch their rolls. But, ultimately, if someone is cheating, it’s just impossible to run a solid DND game. This type of player should be permanently banned from the game forever.
