There is this player in the group. He has a character with an exotic background. One that seems to justify extensive knowledge of the world setting. One who tries to push the group rapidly toward the eventual epic goals of the party.

This is a fantasy campaign with some scifi elements.

The problem I am facing is: The presence of that player and his character are disruptive of the idea: That the characters are new. Just starting. And have a pretty limited knowledge of the setting. And this player and his character always seems to have a way to shortcut the group's way around things because of that extensive setting knowledge.

I've had occasions where: The player would scoff and generally blow off any plans that the other characters would make to handle more immediate concerns. Always pushing the importance of the epic goal above all else. But never paying attention to the details of how the group actually gets there.

I don't want to place the importance of my experience on beating the campaign. I want to enjoy the ride along the way as I play. I just want to play my character, by its point of view. And if we make it to the epic finale along the way. Well that's just fine by me.

But I don't want to cheat my way to that eventual conclusion. I want to earn that conclusion through my characters own actions and decisions. Come what may.

If it sounds like I am frustrated. Well I am.

Sounds like the ref made a big mistake in allowing that PC to have that background. Sounds like you need to put thr genie back in the bottle.  

Have his PC get conked on the head and wake up an amnesiac with no setting knowledge...

The character itself is overpowered. Has access to powerful things that generally blow the capabilities of the other characters away.

It makes the rest of the characters seem to be the sidekicks or just minions of that one. And that just adds to the frustration of the situation. The characters definitely do not feel like genuine peers of each other.

I find myself in the campaign at times asking myself: Does my character really have a role here?

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;999294The character itself is overpowered. Has access to powerful things that generally blow the capabilities of the other characters away.

It makes the rest of the characters seem to be the sidekicks or just minions of that one. And that just adds to the frustration of the situation. The characters definitely do not feel like genuine peers of each other.

I find myself in the campaign at times asking myself: Does my character really have a role here?

Is his boyfriend the GM or something? How did this even happen?

Quote from: Dumarest;999296Is his boyfriend the GM or something? How did this even happen?

Long time player with years of history. Playing an immediate child of past characters. Which he seems to use as justifacation for all of that extra knowledge and access to stuff.

Are you they player or DM?  

If you are a player you can advocate short term goals in character.  Basicly like Mal or Han Solo.  "Wars long done, we're just hear to do a job."

As a DM.  Either in character or out of charcter tell him he needs to focus on the hear and now, and remind him that the other players have other goals.  

Actully this is a perfect place for Yoda.  "Always to the future he looks, never his mind on, where he was, what he was doing."

Quote from: Headless;999298Are you they player or DM?  

If you are a player you can advocate short term goals in character.  Basicly like Mal or Han Solo.  "Wars long done, we're just hear to do a job."

As a DM.  Either in character or out of charcter tell him he needs to focus on the hear and now, and remind him that the other players have other goals.  

Actully this is a perfect place for Yoda.  "Always to the future he looks, never his mind on, where he was, what he was doing."

I'm a player. I entered the campaign just to be a player.

That problem player is a friend of the GM. But not the GM themselves.

Yes, I have been the most vocal advocate for short-term goals. In fact. My character is always the one character who sticks to the plans that the group makes. Without deviation. And is seen as the most reliable character in the group.

Hmmm, hmmmmm,

Have you spoken out of charcters to the player?  "Look man I know we're destined to save the universe but my charcter doesn't and I enjoy role playing that he doesn't know and doesn't care about this unvierse saving buisness.  Please quit being so pushy."

If that doesn't work.  You may have to adjust your expectations. Possibly even accept your role as second fiddle.  How long a game is this?  For a month or too you could just say "ok this is Luke's show, I'll be C3P0 for a while." But more than a coupple months that won't fly.  

I mention this not because I think you are the problem (but honestly you could be) but becuase you have some control of how you play your character, and none over anything else.

Quote from: Headless;999300Hmmm, hmmmmm,

Have you spoken out of charcters to the player?  "Look man I know we're destined to save the universe but my charcter doesn't and I enjoy role playing that he doesn't know and doesn't care about this unvierse saving buisness.  Please quit being so pushy."

If that doesn't work.  You may have to adjust your expectations. Possibly even accept your role as second fiddle.  How long a game is this?  For a month or too you could just say "ok this is Luke's show, I'll be C3P0 for a while." But more than a coupple months that won't fly.  

I mention this not because I think you are the problem (but honestly you could be) but becuase you have some control of how you play your character, and none over anything else.

The campaign started a few months ago. It's ongoing. The GM didn't give us any indication that he had a set time or date when it would end. He indicated this would be a long term kind of thing. As the characters would have to build up in power to even be able to handle the badguys at the end of the campaign.

But that in the meantime. Anytime one of those badguys entered into the picture, we are supposed to cut and run as fast as we can. So the group can live long enough to become strong enough for that eventual final showdown. A good part of that campaign is dedicated to running away. Which I have no issues with.

Quote from: Headless;999300Hmmm, hmmmmm,

Have you spoken out of charcters to the player?  "Look man I know we're destined to save the universe but my charcter doesn't and I enjoy role playing that he doesn't know and doesn't care about this unvierse saving buisness.  Please quit being so pushy.".

I have to agree, I probably would be a little more diplomatic, but the general idea is to talk to the guy and ask him to chill a little, let the smaller missions germinate and blossom a bit.  Let him know you're down with the epic quest, but just want the journey to add to it. Then he has a choice-- consider your feelings and adjust his behavior or he can refuse. Then you have the choice, stick around as the second banana or bail.  Two legs and a free will . . . .

Could you convince Luke that he's ready for a show down with Vader next time he shows up?  

Take a page from DW's move list: turn the player's expertise against them. Maybe the character knows too much about the wrong thing.

I can certainly see how that might not be fun for you Darrin. It's possible that the other player is unaware of the effect he is having on your fun. It's quite possible that the GM is unaware how much this bugs you.

Are there other players who are also annoyed by this? Or is it fine with everyone except you?

To talk about it, you say what you said here:

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;999294The character ... [h]as access to powerful things that generally blow the capabilities of the other characters away. It makes the rest of the characters seem to be the sidekicks or just minions...I find myself in the campaign at times asking myself: Does my character really have a role here?

Then add on the obvious "And this isn't fun for me." Then you put forth some suggestions on what you'd like the other player to do (and maybe what the GM should do) to make this be a more enjoyable gaming experience for you too. Then they either make some accommodations or you decide that no gaming is better than bad gaming.

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;999285There is this player in the group. He has a character with an exotic background. One that seems to justify extensive knowledge of the world setting. One who tries to push the group rapidly toward the eventual epic goals of the party.

This is a fantasy campaign with some scifi elements.

The problem I am facing is: The presence of that player and his character are disruptive of the idea: That the characters are new. Just starting. And have a pretty limited knowledge of the setting. And this player and his character always seems to have a way to shortcut the group's way around things because of that extensive setting knowledge.

I've had occasions where: The player would scoff and generally blow off any plans that the other characters would make to handle more immediate concerns. Always pushing the importance of the epic goal above all else. But never paying attention to the details of how the group actually gets there.

I don't want to place the importance of my experience on beating the campaign. I want to enjoy the ride along the way as I play. I just want to play my character, by its point of view. And if we make it to the epic finale along the way. Well that's just fine by me.

But I don't want to cheat my way to that eventual conclusion. I want to earn that conclusion through my characters own actions and decisions. Come what may.

If it sounds like I am frustrated. Well I am.

As a DM I can tell you what my players would do. They would ensure that the offending player understood that his current goals and those of the rest of the party do not mesh. They want to discover things on their own and don't want any shortcuts. He should stop with the inside knowledge stuff, and what not.  If he then persists with his foolishnesses his character would meet an untimely death.

Quote from: Shemek hiTankolel;999312He should stop with the inside knowledge stuff, and what not.  If he then persists with his foolishnesses his character would meet an untimely death.

In this case, wouldn't that be a timely death?