Rowdy came here for help, you only offered that he "was pissed" with his players, wanted to "walk the hell away from the table" and that the problem was him. Decidedly not helpful. Very far from the fun roleplaying is supposed to be.
Okay, I'll quantify my advice - from the evidence I've seen presented here (Which, to be fair is just a small sample of what could be going on at the table and I could be wrong), the Face is not too far out of line and that he needs to lighten up. Addendum: if it bothers him that much, then he needs to talk with the players and get on the same page. He needs to air his concerns, his players need to say what is on their minds - and then everyone needs to compromise. Give the Face his Crowning Moments of Awesome and The Face dials it back some from trying to cheat the doorman, the cabbie, the meter maid, the dog washer. . . . .
Of course, but the player has to make it somewhat reasonable, and it's not a replacement for Influence.
That's fair enough - although I'll contend that sometimes the completely outrageous lies (backed up with judicial use of Unmatched Expertise) can give the player that happy glow that makes games memorable.
Of course I don't see claiming poverty to the vigo as that far outside of reasonable. "You're my long lost dad" - not so much. "Sorry man, I just made the last payment to my other loanshark debtor and I'm skint" isn't that far outside a smuggler's normal operating parameters anyway.
(Quick aside - actually, as a GM I could have fun with a player going "But you're my long lost father!" - sure it closes one door, but man, having a Vigo think you are his son opens up SO many more. You think he's just going to let you fly away after that. "Good going, you've convinced him that you're his son that he never knew. Now go to your room." But I digress. . . . )
Perhaps I read wrong, bit to me it sounded more like the OP was having problems with players continuing along exhausted lines of action. To take the second example, if I was running. I wouldn't have an issue with "Maybe I know something." I have a problem if the Face insists on talking and and bartering it for half an hour of real-time. Its the same problem one can have with a slicer that wants to spend all his time slicing into the kitchen computer.
That I'll agree with - monopolizing the game for a half hour of real time - I could seen need having to put the kibosh on that. There's a difference between "That was well roleplayed. Here, have a blue die" and filibustering.
Edited by Desslok