[RPG] As a player, how can I help the GM when the game goes out of control

problem-playerssystem-agnostic

I've seen numerous games go down the pan when certain players derail the plot, either making it PC vs GM, or making the game more about their ludicrous choices. It might seem overly harsh turn of phrase, but the majority of players decided to launch a space ship at a Blue Sun base, in a game of Firefly, which seemed at the time out of character for the setting. Which for those not familiar with firefly, would be like hi-jacking a star destroyer and launching it into the Deathstar.

The players had been making this sort of brute force decision making throughout the campaign, sometimes with aplomb (taking out 8 Alliance troops without a casualty, in a way that would make Mal jealous), othertimes ruining what I thought could have been interesting games, that the GM had obviously spent a long time preparing for.

For some context, Launch a ship at the enemy had been the solution for three games that campaign out of about 6 sessions, each time the GM losing more and more patience eventually losing interest in preparing for the game.

TL;DR

How, as a player can I step in and help keep the game interesting for everyone and the plot on track?

Answers of find a different group aren't too helpful, as it's a university based role-playing society group, so we only get to chose the game, not our fellow players.

Best Answer

  • Put them in their place: Tell them to try and focus, to calm down and play the game - what you described that they do ruins the fun for everyone not aboard the 'silly train', not to mention the GM loses interest in the game and might stop running it. No point in gathering and playing if not everyone is having fun. Raise your voice if you have to. (not in an angry manner necessarily, just to put the spotlight on you)
  • Oppose their ideas IC: If they keep doing the same dumb thing over and over, seek to actively stop them.
  • Help the GM help you: Give him ideas in how to deal with the situation. Maybe he never gives them access to a spaceship. Maybe they can get in one but not control it. Formulate an in-game excuse of why they can't do that again.
  • Talk to them OOC: Have a calm chat with them explaining that what they are doing is disrupting the flow and fun of the game, and that if they are not going to respect the GM's preparation and the fact that others don't enjoy playing this way, they should leave the group. (This is not about telling them not to have fun, but about respecting the GM and other players and what they consider to be fun)