Catch 22

[teh bunneh]

So I've got a good group of players in my FTF Fantasy Hero game. Been gaming with them for years, mix of personalities, etc.

One of my players is what I call a "Game Fish" -- he bites every plot hook I throw out. Another of my players (who is my best buddy) has been fairly withdrawn lately. He's playing a character that doesn't do much talking, just in it for the money, etc. Plus, this player has also been taking a lot of classes -- full load+, every semester, to try to finish his degree early, so frequently during games he tries to catch up on his homework.

So, I've been spending a lot of my GM time with the Fish. I say, "Hey, you hear rumors of a dragon to the east," and he's like, "A dragon! Great! I do research on dragons and talk to people from the area and look up old maps and learn new spells to fight dragons and etc." My other player is like, "I'll just hang out by myself; once a decision is made I'll do whatever the rest of the party says."

But, the second player hasn't been having much fun. He's told me that he's unhappy that the other PC gets all the plot hooks. So I'm caught in kinda a catch-22 situation. I want everyone involved, but the second player just isn't making the effort to get his PC in the middle of things. I even tossed him a specific plot hook a few weeks ago, and he was like, "As soon as I can foist this person off on an NPC, I'm outta here."

So, what to do? Keep focusing my attention on the guy who's really into the game, or stop paying him so much attention and try to focus on the guy who's only sorta into it? And how the heck do I get the sorta-into-it guy more into it?

It's rather frustrating. :(

[JohnTaber]

Hi Keyes_bill: I had a thought...

Give the fish a lead that requires him to get information and help from Mr Inactive. Maybe you could have the other players help you drag this other player into the action a bit more? Players can often say things that the GM cannot... ;)

[Cygnia]

Talk to Major Major and tell him bluntly that tossing him plot hooks do no good if he refuses to bite.

[Peregrine]

As busy as he is, he may (consciously or unconsciously) be looking for a way to gracefully exit the game to focus more fully on his school.

[Derek Hiemforth]

Hi Keyes_bill: I had a thought...

Give the fish a lead that requires him to get information and help from Mr Inactive. Maybe you could have the other players help you drag this other player into the action a bit more? Players can often say things that the GM cannot... ;)This is freakin' brilliant, John! Rep on the way...

[Derek Hiemforth]

As busy as he is, he may (consciously or unconsciously) be looking for a way to gracefully exit the game to focus more fully on his school.If so, it must be unconscious. I wouldn't think he'd be complaining about not getting any plot hooks if he actually trying to bow out...

[Captain Obvious]

Have goons keep attacking him, ransacking his room, picking his pockets...they want something they think he has. He can't just ignore it, because it doesn't end on its own.

If he can't get interested in why all these guys are after him, he can't get interested.

[Savinien]

Could be the Captain has it right. Don't just throw him a hook he has to bite on, he is the hook for the plot itself. Case of mistaken identity or whatever.l

[Thia Halmades]

Hi Keyes_bill: I had a thought...

Give the fish a lead that requires him to get information and help from Mr Inactive. Maybe you could have the other players help you drag this other player into the action a bit more? Players can often say things that the GM cannot... ;)

Got him for you, Derek. He's right, Bill; make the PC "the hook" and let the players bite him. :eg:

[TygerLily]

As busy as he is, he may (consciously or unconsciously) be looking for a way to gracefully exit the game to focus more fully on his school.

I'm going to support this theory. He might know consciously he should bail from the game and work on this school work, but also consciously knows he needs the game as his only real break from school/work/responsibility. So he's torn between what to do. I finished grad school, worked, had a newborn who was premature, as well as an older daughter, moved and was a full time single mom for 2 months as hubby had to move for the job 2 months before the rest of us could come...oh and had a house on the market and was finding a new job in the new town. So I can relate to how he might feel. During all that I played CoH not because I had time or even had any real interest in the game during the time, but because it was my own downtime. I would be on teams and just follow the lead, because mentally I was off thinking about the next day and what I had to get done. But if I left the game, I felt like my brain was overheating.

He might feel bad because he's *not* getting the plot hooks because he wants to enjoy the game (thus he complained). But then knows he's not enjoying the game and thus his comment about pushing the character off and exiting the game. I would sit down and talk to him and say "hey, you're stressed, overworked, and I want to help. So tell me how I can help you enjoy this game more to give you a break from school/life, but not put more pressure/stress on you?" Maybe he could use not to play as often or maybe he needs shorter sessions when you do play.

It also sounds like he might be suffering a little depression, based on his wanting plot hook comments and then saying he just wants the character pushed off and be out. Depression is actual common when students are stressing over finishing school and juggling everything. It comes from being overworked and the constant fear that a ball will fall out of the juggling pattern. So just talk to him. You said he's your best bud, so see how you can help him...that's my advice ;)

[input.jack]

Talk to Major Major and tell him bluntly that tossing him plot hooks do no good if he refuses to bite.

I have to second this advice.

[Spence]

It could also be he has lost interest in the type of game. If the group has a fair history he may feel an obligation to the group and not want to just drop out. But maybe the genre has lost its luster and he is just not engaged. And with everyone else having a great time he doesn't want to be the "one who ruined the game".

[Nevenall]

You know... I've had moments like this as a player, and I know my friends have too. Perhaps he's more interested in your company then the current state of the game but, like they say, you can't please everyone all the time.
I wouldn't make a huge deal out of it. If you feel compelled, find out if he's currently reading something you can steal some plot elements from to engage him more.
Or maybe he's bored of his character and would welcome the chance to make a new one.

Also, it could that he's just roleplaying a disinterested mercenary character. Really well :)