While I have been DM/GM'ing for a long time I have had a player suddenly change their attitude towards the game. They are not an experienced player, but they are not new to the entire role-play situation either. They have played several campaigns and two different systems (Pathfinder, Cortex and now D20 Modern) and have been roleplaying now for around two-three years.
Recently we ended our last campaign due to real-life events with everyone in the group; we could not meet for months on the old campaign, several people left and we could not continue. We started fresh in the new campaign, new world, new characters etc.
Since starting this new campaign they have been overly sensitive about their new character. Any time this character is injured in combat, they complain because they could not dodge the attack (we are playing D20 Modern, and they have played DnD & Pathfinder previously), then become angry when they are injured. If they fail a skill check, they become agitated and sullen for the next few rounds. I roll my dice first out in the open and tell them the result; this has been to avoid the pouting of this player.
Usually if I sit them down and talk with them (before/after a session) they stop the drama, (and the in-party fighting) but lately it has been an incident almost every session.
I am going to take a break as a DM/GM for a few sessions (we have a GM rotation with another GM/Player) and hope that I can guide this player as a player-player as opposed as a GM-player.
How have the rest of you dealt with the "Sensitive Player"?
Best Answer
Changing Expectations Require Some Effort to Work Out
Your group's social contract is either changing, or needs to be reviewed and renewed. You and your players appear to have different expectations of what play will be like in the d20 setting. You need to iron that out as a group before your next session. Unless everyone on the table is on the same page, you will probably get more of this kind of behavior and feedback.
Besides communicating after each session (it appears that someone isn't actively listening) you already took a great first step:
GM's need to have fun too.
That point -- when you are GM your fun is hurt when players sulk -- needs to be part of the discussion. If everyone isn't having fun, something has to change at the table. "Something" includes the chance that this might be the wrong game for your table, or that the player's expectations need to change to fit the game, or that this player and this game are not a good fit.
Your decision to lead by example (as a player) is a great way to teach by doing.
Before your next session as a GM, open and sincere communication is where your hope lies in integrating this player into the new system. Just accept that this system might not be the kind of fun that this player will enjoy.