Sometimes it’s absolutely valid to say “guys. This is a clue your +4 wis character would pick up on. You’re just stupid yourself”.
At least in our group it is
The worst is when they ignore your subtle clues so you slap them with a huge neon sign, and they decide it’s too obvious and start chasing down a dead end.
Rule of threes. Every clue should be presented to the party three different times, in three different (increasingly aggressive and hard to dismiss) ways. Maybe the first is a note in a locked chest. The second is a note on the dead body of a relevant NPC. And the third is a note on an enemy courier who is very obviously trying to get it to the BBEG. That last one is important, because it gives the party a chance to murder-hobo, while still providing them with the clue.
If, after three times, they still haven’t gotten it? The BBEG gets the message, and {bad thing} happens in the background, (which probably makes their eventual assault on the BBEG’s lair harder.)
My group consists of veterans to newcomers (it’s always such an honour).
Me: ok guys so you’re all captured by the local law enforcement/gestapo and escorted to the city gates towards the prison district.
Most players: oh no what do we do? Let’s carefully plan something.
New player once the doors unlock: * starts graciously doing acrobatics all over the place killing guards and even kissing a guard while she stabs him in the neck.
Like goddamnit guys, the clue was gestapo guards taking you away. The new one gets it!!!
Next scene:
You’re in your pub looking for information. It is filled with one, or two plains clothes gestapo but mostly innocent NPCs
New Players: oh no what do we do? Let’s carefully plan something.
Most players: *starts graciously doing acrobatics all over the place killing civilians and even kissing a patron while she stabs him in the neck. Full on Murder Hobo.
That one player: Has already tried to fuck half the building.
I can now confidently say that I am a Veteran because I have no idea how the players should’ve known to just start murdering people.
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@The_Picard_Maneuver Well, yeah^^ I don’t even waste time constructing in-depth scenes with clues when I’m a GM/DM. I just give the players an “Education” or “Common Sense” skill and have them roll on that or Int or Wis. I also spend a good portion of game time making sure they haven’t attributed the points I gave them in their “Education” or “Common Sense” skill to a combat skill. The nearly always do & nearly always say “but I thought…”
There will always be clues…
