A Reflection on "Instigator" Player Styles

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The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide (pages 21–22) introduces several “player types,” each describing a different way people connect with TTRPGs. Some of these archetypes are straightforward, but others are frequently misunderstood. Among the most misinterpreted is the Instigator, a role I personally identify with.

Because of this, I want to unpack what being an instigator really means. Many players claim the label, but few fully grasp the intent behind the playstyle, and that misunderstanding often gives it an unfair reputation.

When people hear the word “instigator,” they usually think of someone who stirs up trouble, provokes arguments, or creates conflict for its own sake. In everyday life, that kind of instigation is tied to frustration, lack of empathy, and poor communication. That’s not what we want in our TTRPGs.

If your idea of instigation is creating unnecessary problems for your GM or party members, you’re not actually an instigator; you’re just being disruptive. If you’re reading this, I’ll make the assumption that you don’t want to be a problem player. True instigators aren’t about sowing chaos. They’re about keeping the game alive and moving forward.

At its core, the instigator’s weakness is impatience, not troublemaking. Instigators thrive in games with brisk pacing and forward momentum. They get restless when things bog down in endless debate or inaction.

If the party spends too long debating how to handle a locked door, the instigator is the one who finally opens it (risking activating a trap) just to move the adventure along. When faced with a glowing relic in a cursed temple, they’ll pick it up (risking a curse), not to ruin things for the group, but to uncover the story that lies beyond.

The key distinction: a real instigator seeks to create progress, not problems.

TTRPGs are collaborative games, and it only takes one disruptive player to derail the party’s plans. A true instigator will not yell at an NPC that the rest of the party is trying to negotiate with, nor are they disrespectfully rifling through the possessions in that NPC’s home while the rest of the party tries to convince them to join their efforts. Only a problem player who does not care whether their group succeeds or fails would do that.

Instead, instigators will improvise a rumor that plays to the NPC’s biases to help with the party’s negotiations efforts. They will comment or ask questions on an unusual possession to build rapport with the NPC like a salesman, even if it’s a total fabrication to their character or something true to their character that the player made up on the spot. The instigator is still a valuable and contributing member who works with the party’s goals.

Instigators are not reckless saboteurs; they’re catalysts. They spark momentum when things stall and breathe life into the story when it risks stagnation. Far from being a problem, a good instigator is an asset to any table. They are someone who ensures that the game doesn’t just sit in neutral, but keeps moving toward new discoveries, challenges, and fun.

So if you see yourself as an instigator, embrace it! Be the spark that keeps the story alive and pushes your group into the adventure waiting ahead.