Is my homebrew setting unique enough? Players aren't engaging with the lore, derailed campaign...
Hey y'all, I'm really frickken peeved.
I (m, 35) spent countless grueling hours writing a lore-rich, actions-have-consequences, high-fantasy original open-world set in one city that's based in reality but with unique twists (such as elves being an allegory for the upper class and having growing tensions with the working class dwarves, I'm really proud of that subtle commentary). I've been wanting to play in a campaign like this, but every group I tried to join was unfortunately filled at the last minute, so I decided to DM a game myself and created this world (I call it Phandaldeep).
I was very excited to begin, so I set up snacks (mostly candy), recruited some local players (the snacks helped), and we gathered in my basement. I even took the liberty of making them character sheets so we could start playing right away, but these ungrateful pricks hardly even read them and even acted like they didn't know how to!
Next thing I know, as I start narrating the intro, I'm so disrespectfully interrupted as one of them starts to CRY because "I miss my mommy!" The rest of them joined in with this problem player and completely derailed my campaign. GROW UP ALREADY! I was really disappointed too, because I even found these players doing their own live-action roleplay in a sandbox-style game at the local park... you'd think players would have better manners at the table when they're so clearly involved in the hobby already.
I went through so much effort setting this game up that I almost lost my temper, but I kept my cool and simply left the room and closed the door behind me. I was hoping this would clue them in on how immature they're being, but they've only started screaming louder. This sub is right, players really are children.
Anyways, has anyone else been in this situation? I don't know how to get them to care about my setting... might post this to RPG horror stories too for advice.