When You Gave Them Everything, and They Still Want More
By Harnak’s shattered pickaxe, I swear, some players’d whine if ye handed ‘em a dragon’s hoard and a crown that sings lullabies. I’ve seen it: a GM bends over backward, preppin’ sprawling maps, writin’ villain monologues worthy of a bard’s tongue, even handin’ out magic gear shinier than a sunstone. And what happens? The players look up from their dice and say: “So… what else ya got?”
Lad, I’ve been there. Once ran a campaign where I gave the fools their own bloody kingdom. A castle, a council, a treasury fat enough to choke an ogre. By next session they were complainin’ the throne room didn’t have a secret passage to a dragon’s lair. I near lost me beard laughin’. Or cryin’. Hard to tell the difference that day.
📌 Here’s the truth: the appetite of a greedy party is bottomless.
👉 But ye ain’t a tavern buffet, lad. You’re a GM. And if the players keep takin’ without givin’ back, it ain’t generosity anymore — it’s servitude. Don’t let ‘em drain the barrel dry. Come see About Mike’s Tavern and remember why we pour the ale in the first place.
Why Players Always Want More
Some o’ this is natural, aye. Roleplayers are dreamers — give ‘em an inch, they’ll roleplay a mile. That’s part of the fun. But there’s a difference between dreamin’ and demandin’.
If ya hand out too many shiny relics, the hunger grows. Suddenly every rusty fork feels like a relic they’ve been cheated out of.
If ya bend the story to their every whim, then yer no longer the GM — yer a bard on demand, playin’ their favorite tune till yer strings snap.
And if ya run every session like a climax, ye’ve trained ‘em to expect fireworks whenever they sit down, even if the night was meant to be quiet roleplay in a back alley tavern.
This is how prep piles turn into deadweight. Ye’re throwin’ boulders of effort into a cart, but the party keeps askin’ for more horses.
How to Rein In Endless Demands
Set boundaries like a bloody wall. Tell the players straight: the game ain’t about loot showers and dragon every session. It’s about story, tension, and choice.
Make ‘em earn it. Don’t just hand over relics — tie ‘em to quests, riddles, and scars. A blade like Whisperfang should cost sweat, blood, and maybe a pint o’ tears.
Let them fail. If they beg for harder monsters, give ‘em one — but don’t soften the blows. Nothin’ humbles greed like watchin’ a party nearly eaten alive.
Share the burden. If they want more side plots, toss the torch: ask what they’re willin’ to write, or which NPCs they’ll bring to life. If they give ya nothin’, then the story they crave ain’t worth tellin’.
Say no. Sounds simple, but it’s the hardest. A dwarf can swing a hammer for a week, but sometimes the best fix is just sayin’, “No, lad, ya don’t get another dragon egg this week.”
The Heart of the Problem
Greed ain’t always malice. Sometimes it’s a cry for attention. Maybe the party feels the spotlight’s tilted wrong. Maybe they’re bored of fightin’ goblins and want a taste o’ the high table. Or maybe they just don’t realize how much sweat goes into prep.
I’ve told more than one group: “If ye want more, then ye build more. Otherwise, stop pickin’ me forge clean and let the fire breathe.” Funny thing? Sometimes they actually step up. Other times, they realize the campaign already has enough sparkle, and their hunger dies down.
And if they don’t? Well, lad, then it’s time to remind ‘em: yer not their servant, yer their storyteller. By Brunlin’s missing eyebrow, don’t let ‘em forget that.
📌 Ye Ain’t a Bottomless Barrel, Lad
👉 If the table keeps demandin’ more, remind ‘em the ale’s worth savorin’, not guzzlin’. For more tavern-born wisdom, check the GM Wisdom page, send a word through the contact page, or read how to handle derailin’ fools.
FAQ
Q: My players complain even after epic sessions. What do I do?
A: Stop tryin’ to outdo yerself every week. Let quiet moments breathe. The contrast makes the big scenes feel earned.
Q: How do I handle a player who always wants better loot?
A: Make their loot a burden. That sword they wanted so bad? It’s cursed. That armor? It’s got a history and enemies attached. Let greed come with a price.
Q: Should I cut back on rewards completely?
A: Nay, lad. Don’t starve ‘em, but don’t fatten ‘em till they burst either. Balance is the spice of a good campaign stew.
