My first guess is that these two players actually have some sort of inter-personal conflict that isn't being addressed, and it's surfacing in the game because there they can fight with each other without fighting with each other.  Sounds very passive-aggressive to me.

I agree with Dwight, time to get it out in the open and get them talking to each other about what's really bothering them.

Quote from: Serious PaulSo I have a few players who just don't get along IC. OOC they do just fine, and have been friends for years. But every time they play together, IC they butt heads like billy  goats. To the point where it has become noticeable. Now generally my policy is to let nature take it;s course-most of the time these sorts of things work themselves out, one way or the other. But I do feel sorry for one of the player sin this case, since in order to game with us he is investing a significant amount of his limited free time, limited cash, and resources-so I feel slightly obligated to make sure he doesn't have a complete waste of his time, but I want to use the least invasive tactics possible.

Have any of you encountered this sort of thing, and if so what sort of solutions have you tried? How effective were they?

I have from time to time. Typically I give them a threat that only working together or compromising can resolve.

There is also my general rule of not allowing player-characters conflict to become violent--they can argue, butt heads, have disagreements,  storm off, and so on--but if it becomes violent altercation (beyond a friendly punch out fest--which I don't mind as long as that resolves the differences for a while.)

I work hard at making the game fun--that kind of stuff derails things for many people I play with, although some get fun from it, because it disrupts MORE fun for more people than it creates, I simply say no. I've rarely had to do anything about it--allowing players to work it out before it gets that far so we can get on with the game.

Quote from: JackalopeI agree with Dwight, time to get it out in the open and get them talking to each other about what's really bothering them.

There are some people where you really don't want to open that door.

Quote from: NicephorusThere are some people where you really don't want to open that door.

Yeah but those are the people you don't want to open your house door for either.

Quote from: DwightYeah but those are the people you don't want to open your house door for either.

Not necessarily.  There are people who act normally and are fun to be with but who you don't want to give an opportunity to start talking about their problems.

Quote from: David RSerious Paul, do these two players like creating characters who are hostile to each other? Or do they become that way during the course of the campaign?

The latter-they rarely generate specifically to mess with each other, or even with each other in mind. They just seem to get to one point in the game where they go at each other.

Tomorrow is our next game date, so we'll see how I put your (In this case the collective you!) advice to use.

Quote from: NicephorusNot necessarily.  There are people who act normally and are fun to be with but who you don't want to give an opportunity to start talking about their problems.

I thought we were talking about people that are causing a problem already?

Quote from: Arsenic CanaryI've had this exact same problem for years.  Two of my players have known each other for close to a decade and get on reasonably well, but every single time they make characters, they wind up butting heads.  They know this, but seem unable to do anything about it.  It's like it's destiny, or something.

I've tried literally dozens of different methods in an attempt to stem this flood of perpetual bitching, but the solution I've found that actually works is a bit crass, and is as follows:

When they start their (inevitable) bickering, I let out an exasperated sigh and say something along the lines of, "Jesus fucking Christ!  Would you two go get a room and have sex already?!"

This causes one of them to look at me in horror, and the other to laugh nervously.  They stop their bickering, sometimes for the entirety of the game.  Sometimes, they're even civil to each other for a stretch of time.

YMMV, of course.

I second this, although that's probably because I occasionally play with Arsenic Canary here.

But seriously, if there in-character antics are fucking up the game then tell them to STOP FUCKING UP THE GAME! Grow a pair.

What I would do is take the whole group down to the pub and have a few drinks, relax and chat about it.

One way or another something should come out of it and the 'problem' sorted.

Quote from: Serious PaulThe latter-they rarely generate specifically to mess with each other, or even with each other in mind. They just seem to get to one point in the game where they go at each other.

Tomorrow is our next game date, so we'll see how I put your (In this case the collective you!) advice to use.

Neato. Don't forget to keep us posted on what happens! I hate it when people turn up with "my game has a problem!" stories and don't follow up with the resolution.