So I am running D&D5e for some of the middle school kids at the public library, but the question is more general…
So I am running D&D5e for some of the middle school kids at the public library, but the question is more general than system.
Because of some difficulties traveling (bad roll), they had a random encounter with a group of gnolls that was meant as an obstacle. I tried to depict the gnolls as big and very dangerous. I had some of the gnolls leave in small groups to scout but made it clear that they weren’t too far away. I let them spy the group without being discovered, and they were discussing options of sneaking around but losing time vs. a risky distraction that would let them barge through – when the paladin decides to literally shout Leroy Jenkins and charge into the group. I asked, “Really, are you sure you want to do this? You’ll be outnumbered, there’s more out there, and the rest of the group wants to avoid combat,” he still wanted to charge.
Long story story short, he and another player have dead characters, two other kids are running but are being chased, and only 1 kid has a character who actually snuck away. I’m not worried about it fictionally, but how do you manage your group dynamic when one player torpedoes the game? Especially if their ages are 12-14, and there is out of game dating drama that I don’t get involved in going on as well? And the kid who started the whole ball rolling just returned to the group after a summer hiatus?
