Dealing with “Murder Hobo” Players: A GM’s Survival Guide

2025-12-01

Every GM eventually meets them—the players who burn taverns, stab kings, and ignore every moral compass. But chaos doesn’t have to ruin your story. In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian breaks down how to identify why players go “murder hobo,” how to redirect that energy into story, and how to re-establish order without killing the fun. What You’ll Learn: Why “murder hobo” behavior happens (and what it really means) How to respond with story, not punishment In-game tools for redirecting destructive choices

Every GM eventually meets them—the players who burn taverns, stab kings, and ignore every moral compass. But chaos doesn’t have to ruin your story.

In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian breaks down how to identify why players go “murder hobo,” how to redirect that energy into story, and how to re-establish order without killing the fun.

What You’ll Learn:

Why “murder hobo” behavior happens (and what it really means)
How to respond with story, not punishment
In-game tools for redirecting destructive choices
Conversation strategies to reset expectations respectfully

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Grab the Toolkit:
Download the Murder Hobo Management Toolkit on Patreon for printable guides, consequence tables, and communication templates.
👉 patreon.com/thebeardednerd

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