As a note: minimum age in the group I think is 23.

23 going on 4.

It is possible the group will shrink, but the most likely outcome is people sticking together to defend the juvenile behavior even if they don't necessarily agree with it. One of the problems goes like this:

PC: "I do *insert disturbing action here*."

GM: "Ok, everyone around you is horrified and runs away, the Imperials have been called and every stormtrooper in this sector is now looking for you."

PC: "Heh, heh, I don't really."

Needless to say, I'd rather the "Just kidding" approach was dropped, like most people did when they left middle school. I'm wondering whether I just apply the consequences anyway, or whether that's just the same as killing the campaign and quitting.

I'll try talking to the worst offenders again. I really think that they think that kind of behavior is ok and that I'm unreasonable for expecting otherwise. But if I ask either of the two worst to leave, the rest of the group will probably dissolve "in support" of their friends and our other two games (D&D and Deathwatch) will be affected as well (yes, they're easily that petty, as previous campaign incidents have shown).

We haven't played a lot in this campaign yet, so I'd really like to settle it before it becomes a pattern. I'd hope that they can understand, or at least respect , that my style of GMing a game doesn't involve the juvenile, disturbing, and inappropriate stuff they seem to think is funny.

As a note: minimum age in the group I think is 23.

See, I still think your best option is finding a new group.

The thing is, there can't be any corrective action because this group isn't doing anything "wrong." They are just doing something that doesn't fit well with what you want in your games. If they aren't going anywhere, that leaves you either sticking around and dealing with it or finding a group that better suits your needs.

That said, I think we can help you find that new group. Where are you located?

Print out your heartfelt OP and the responses above and when you are setting up to play next time just place it in the center of the table.

Print out your heartfelt OP and the responses above and when you are setting up to play next time just place it in the center of the table.

And if that doesn't work I suppose you could announce that you feel "Real life needs more grit" and take a dump on the table in front of everyone....

Personally I was just thinking that as GM you could have the characters captured and do to them what they do to others in the name of "realism".

Personally I was just thinking that as GM you could have the characters captured and do to them what they do to others in the name of "realism".

Bring out the gimp.

I rolled a lightsaber, two phoenixes and three explosions!

Do I win?

And if that doesn't work I suppose you could announce that you feel "Real life needs more grit" and take a dump on the table in front of everyone....

When I read the OP I was baffled. The only story I've known of an intentional* public defecation was my ex-father in law. Apparently for some reason he got mad at the priest at the local church, so when no one was around he got up onto the altar and made a chocolate fudge dragon. But he was 4.

Maybe the OP's players were toilet trained too early, and never got to live their dream...

--------------

* plenty of stories of the un -intentional ... but that's another thread...and probably a different forum...

chocolate fudge dragon...

It's the secret word of the day!

Chocolate fudge dragon. . . .

I. I'm not. . . . I don't . . . yeah.

It is possible the group will shrink, but the most likely outcome is people sticking together to defend the juvenile behavior even if they don't necessarily agree with it. One of the problems goes like this:

PC: "I do *insert disturbing action here*."

GM: "Ok, everyone around you is horrified and runs away, the Imperials have been called and every stormtrooper in this sector is now looking for you."

PC: "Heh, heh, I don't really."

Needless to say, I'd rather the "Just kidding" approach was dropped, like most people did when they left middle school. I'm wondering whether I just apply the consequences anyway, or whether that's just the same as killing the campaign and quitting.

You need to lay down the law. If it comes out of their mouths, then they're doing it or saying it. Play the game with no backsies.

Sex, gore, profanity and general nastiness is usually what the immature think maturity is.
Reality as defined by those with no concept of it.

Knowing how to use them deftly (if at all) is actual maturity.

I started gaming two years ago at 14. The other players were all 16. The magic ingredient to the level of maturity at our table was the GM being is my dad. In our GM's opinion, Star Wars should be a game you can play and fully discuss with your grandmum but YMMV.

Speaking solely for myself, I'm completely lost as to how some of those topics are fun. It isn't juvenile. It's disgusting.

OP, you're in a great position here because it's your game. Back in the D6 days, we once had a GM who insisted on all that sort of stuff; seems every session we were waking up naked and strapped to a table, and I'm not even going to describe what was going on in one 'seedy cantina' we visited... but it certainly wasn't the type of thing that takes place in the same galaxy that has Ewoks in it.

All of us players secretly conferred over the course of a few cigarette breaks, and eventually quietly walked. No muss, no fuss.

I have trouble imagining even wanting to keep your players as friends , much less as players. But of course I don't know them.

Gritty and realistic in a totalitarian state?

Hm, alright, here's my list from Shadowrun when we tried that. Curiously enough, my group wanted hardmode and requested all this. OP's players...may find it a reality check, though:

-Increase weapons damage

-Cameras and sensors everywhere of moderate importance. Locations of these are usually strategically placed and require a specialist to circumvent

-The government pools data in a central location and several subsidaries which security forces can easily call upon; this means any clues you leave travel with you until you leave said government's territory. In the case of the Galactic Empire, have fun doing that.

- Serious crimes may have extra-legal repercussions. Contract killers are a thing, as are the relatives of people your players hurt, wether intentionally or as collateral

-Assassination happens via poisons, bombs and snipers. Evading it becomes a matter of not raising enough flags to be worth assassinating, rather than taking out an eventual assassin.

-Environmental hazards can, and will, kill you. Radiation in space is a thing, too. Hazmat equipment is your friend.

-Proper medical care is something rich or influential people get. The lower classes and dregs of the setting have to make do without, or with charity, which can be problematic.

I don't see sex, gore or any other things on this list. How odd.

"you need to chill dude, it's all good." Hardly rational discussion. I'm either not making my point, or they're choosing to ignore it.

No you made your point, they are ignoring it. This reminds me of League Of Legends players. They only make baseless statements, never bother with premises etc.

If you were all watching tv & set down to watch Star Wars, but instead they keep changing the channel to Friday the 13th, I think you accept that their is a problem. Worse, they want you to WRITE Friday the 13th. Some people are inconsiderate trash. You made your point & they are belittling you. Just remember, under all that inconsiderate drivel is some repressed, sick stuff & there are most likely better people you can associate with.

You obviously aren't making your point very clear. Assume responsibility for this, and make it clear. Don't do it on an individual basis. Do it AT THE TABLE, before session. Don't try to sugar coat it. Don't be a jerk about it - just be clear. Plainly express what your expectations for conduct and content expressed during the game session are. Plainly express what the consequences for meeting said expectations are. Plainly express what the rewards for meeting expectations are. And then do it.

"Players, we need to talk about something that I have spoken to each of you about, privately, already. But since things have not changed, I feel that I need to speak about it openly so that every one of us are on the same page.

I take responsibility for this failure as the GM, because I have not expressed my expectations clearly enough.

My understanding of "Star Wars" is more or less exactly what you might expect to find in any of the official movies and television programs. That means that for the most part, I expect a Rated PG experience; possibly a Rated PG-13 experience if the story or characters call for it. I expect myself to uphold that standard, and I expect anyone who wants to participate in this campaign to uphold that standard. This is not a standard I have created. I am merely stating that we will uphold the standard that the movies and television programs have already provided.

We all have many choices to make during our game time. I want to encourage you to make choices that uphold the standard. Doing so will allow you the opportunity to continue participating in this campaign with the rest of us. We're all friends. We all want to play. But we are all going to be held by the same standard.

Choosing not to uphold that standard is another choice you could make. However, with that choice comes consequence - just like any choice would have that fails to meet the expectation of a standard. And those consequences will be as follows:

1. You might find that I as the GM don't pay much attention to what your character is doing or wants to do for the remainder of that session. As a result, your character will receive less XP than the other characters and the end of session for lack of participation. Afterwards, I will explain to you that I was ignoring your character on purpose; I will explain that I was ignoring your character because you were not meeting the standard; and I will explain the standard and expectation for you again. I will then encourage you to make better choices next session which you are totally welcome to participate in. You will even have the opportunity to regain any loss of XP, by showing me that you respect the standard and are trying to meet the expectation thereof.

2. If it happens again, not only will consequence 1 happen, but you will be informed after session that your character will not be needed to progress story the following week, and that you will not even need to be at the table. You have the night off. That character will miss out on loot and XP for that session. I will explain the standard and expectation again. I will then tell you that this is your final warning. But I will also explain that you still have the opportunity to do better and correct everything by respecting the standard and meeting the expectation.

3. If it happens again, I will ask you to gather your things and leave the table. You are no longer permitted to play in this campaign.

I hope that we are all on the same page as to what is expected. I have expressed the standard, I have stated the expectation, and I have stated the consequences for not meeting it. There is nothing more to be discussed on this matter.

Let's play!"

Reward players who meet the expectation. Provide consequences for those who don't. It's that simple.

You have to give them the opportunity to correct their mistakes. This is about building appropriate behavior and building good habits and etiquette. You can't have an ultimatum. You have to have a process of learning and room to breathe. They spent a life-time building bad habits and bad etiquette. They need some room for error. They need correction and they need support. This system will provide you them with the reward and consequence system they need to understand that the outcome is completely within their control.

This system provides an escalation of consequences. You have to have a steady rise in consequences. You can't go immediately to the final thing. That's just going to make them mad. This would be like if a cop pulled you over for speeding and then immediately wrestled you to the ground, cuffed you, threw you in the back of the squad car, and booked you. That would be unreasonable. But it is reasonable that they give you a speeding citation and send you on your way. See the difference?

I mentioned in an earlier post that you as the GM have done what is expected by letting the rest of your group know how you feel and they have responded by not respecting you wishes and not even really compromising much, if any. You should just stop and find another group to play with, life is too short for sh*tty RP'ing. You've made the effort but this p*ssing in the wind just gets you wet.

A lot of good things have been said here already.

Anytime I sit down with a group, even if they're people I've gamed with for years, I let them know what tones and themes I'm wanting to play, and what tones and themes are just not acceptable. I've learned to do that the hard way. Had one particular player, a very good friend of mine, always wanting to be excessively dark and violent with his characters. I told him what I wanted, and he just can't do it. We don't game together anymore, but he's still one of my best friends.

Meanwhile, you are a player at that table - even if you're the GM. Everyone at the table needs to be happy. If someone is unhappy with what's going on, a change has to be made. Sometimes that change means the game is going to end. That's a shame, but it happens.

Thanks again for all the good advice. Sometimes I feel like my standards for language and behavior tag me as "old fashioned" and while I continue to uphold them for myself, I don't generally push them on others. Running a Star Wars game is a bit different though, I think that the Star Wars standards are similar to mine as shown in the movies, books, and TV shows.

That said, the issues mostly revolved around two players. One of them has left and the other is behaving within reason for now. I like the Edge of the Empire setting because of the potential for "dark" situations in the Star Wars universe. But "dark" doesn't have to mean disgusting, emotionally disturbing, or depraved. The X-Wing books where they had to deal with General Derricote and his engineered virus was pretty dark, giving some seriously difficult choices to the characters. I like bringing that type of darkness into play, but not not the more personal level of depravity discussed above. I think there's plenty of grit and dirt in the universe without going in those directions.

As a GM I experienced a similar dilemma. My players wanted to play a version of Han Solo that didn't return to help (or even care about) Luke Skywalker at the end of Episode 4. I explained to them that Star Wars, to me, is an heroic setting where the PC's, at least to some degree, and for whatever reason, cooperate and help each other out. I explained that they all were making characters that would backstab each other and go in different directions. They agreed. It just wasn't the game for me to GM. #learnedthehardway