Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Propaganda Depository => RPG Ghetto => Topic started by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 04:57:59 PM

Title: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 04:57:59 PM
I've heard it now and again, "I can't find a group", and "I can't keep a campaign going".  The second issue will be dealt with in the next installment, but some of what follows also applies.  Here's a few simple guidelines that will get you invited back to a game group:

1.  WASH YOUR NASTY ASS.  Gamer funk is unacceptable.  Nothing wrecks a session quite like one person smelling like a horse stall.  Take a damn shower that morning, and wear some Goddamn deoderant.

2.  BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS.  The person hosting the game probably can't affort to feed a half dozen people once a week, so be considerate and bring some snacks to throw into the pot.  Also be advised that being invited to a game does not equal being invited to the host's refridgerator.

3.  "I WAS ONLY PLAYING MY ALIGNMENT" IS NO EXCUSE FOR RUINING EVERYONE ELSE'S FUN.  Who chose that alignment, you Goddamn assmonkey?  Oh, yes, you did.  And now you're using it as an excuse to disrupt the plot, fuck with the other players, and generally ruin the session just to show what an ass you are?  Fuck off.  Get out.

4.  DO NOT PASS NOTES TO THE DM MORE THAN ONCE A SESSION.  See #3.  Notes to the DM should only be used to inquire about your character's status if the other players can't know.  If you're wanting to pick the Cleric's pocket because HURR HURR HURR, also GTFO.

5.  DO NOT TRY TO DO EVERYTHING.  Let the other players have a chance.  Seriously, if you're the Cleric, let the fucking rogue scout ahead, you clanking-ass loud motherfucker.  Do your job in the group, and let other people have a shot.

6.  WE SEE YOU PALM-ROLLING, YOU FUCKING CHEATER.  Who the fuck cheats at D&D? 

7.  DO NOT ASK TO PLAY A HALF-DRAGON VAMPIRE CLERIC.  The player's handbook is there for a Goddamn reason.  Playing a drow or half-fiend or vampire doesn't make you or your character more interesting.  I makes it look like you can't play the Goddamn game without an artificial edge.  It also makes you look like you got confused and came to the wrong damn table.  The White Wolf game is down the street, fart-knocker.  Also, Drow & Vampire characters are used up as fuck. 

8.  TABLE TALK.  Keep it to a minimum.  There is a limited amount of time for gaming, and we can listen to you talk about CSI Miami some other time.  Also, nobody wants to hear about the exploits of the character you ran in some other game.  Lastly, anyone quoting Monty Python at a game table should be lit on fire and pushed out a window.  It's been done, you Goddamn moron.

9.  DO NOT PLAY WoW AT THE D&D TABLE.  If your initiative comes up, and you have to pause your laptop, why the fuck are you at the gaming table?  Put the fucking laptop away and use pen & paper.  Wandering off mid-session is also not an option, unless you're going to the can.  Food & smokes can wait for a break, and if you so much as TOUCH the TV, you should be prepared to get groin-stomped by the other players.  You're here to play the same game as everyone else, you fucking retard.

10.  IF YOU GET DICE-BIT, PUT ON YOUR BIG-BOY PANTS.  Sulking and pouting because the dice are fucking you ruins it for everyone else.  You ever had a bad day at work?  That's what's happening to your character.  Fucking deal with it, or find another hobby.  If you die, quit your sniveling and roll up a new character.

Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 05:00:00 PM
Quote
9.  DO NOT PLAY WoW AT THE D&D TABLE.  If your initiative comes up, and you have to pause your laptop, why the fuck are you at the gaming table?  Put the fucking laptop away and use pen & paper.  Wandering off mid-session is also not an option, unless you're going to the can.  Food & smokes can wait for a break, and if you so much as TOUCH the TV, you should be prepared to get groin-stomped by the other players.  You're here to play the same game as everyone else, you fucking retard.

Jesus, seriously?
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:00:55 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 05:00:00 PM
Quote
9.  DO NOT PLAY WoW AT THE D&D TABLE.  If your initiative comes up, and you have to pause your laptop, why the fuck are you at the gaming table?  Put the fucking laptop away and use pen & paper.  Wandering off mid-session is also not an option, unless you're going to the can.  Food & smokes can wait for a break, and if you so much as TOUCH the TV, you should be prepared to get groin-stomped by the other players.  You're here to play the same game as everyone else, you fucking retard.

Jesus, seriously?

We had one new person open his laptop at the table.  I asked him why.

"Oh, I'm just going to play an MMO when it's not my turn."

"It was nice to meet you.  Get out."
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 10, 2011, 05:01:31 PM
 :mittens:

Yes.

This.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: LMNO on February 10, 2011, 05:02:53 PM
You know, I don't think I've actually seen a D&D game being played by grownups.  I played it in elementary school, but it never went as well as we thought it should.  I'd love to sit in and just watch you play, and see what actually happens when everyone knows what they're doing.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:05:17 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on February 10, 2011, 05:02:53 PM
You know, I don't think I've actually seen a D&D game being played by grownups.  I played it in elementary school, but it never went as well as we thought it should.  I'd love to sit in and just watch you play, and see what actually happens when everyone knows what they're doing.

It's enough fun that I go hooked in 1977, and I've never stopped playing since (I've taken a hiatus now and then, but never for more than a month or two).  You get to have fun with your friends, and not deal with a hangover.  Also, it's for the most part a one-time expense.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 05:13:49 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on February 10, 2011, 05:02:53 PM
You know, I don't think I've actually seen a D&D game being played by grownups.  I played it in elementary school, but it never went as well as we thought it should.  I'd love to sit in and just watch you play, and see what actually happens when everyone knows what they're doing.

Funnily enough, I've never managed to get a long term group with anybody but adults, when I was a teenager things always fell apart after a week or two.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Richter on February 10, 2011, 05:19:06 PM
This needs to be illuminated and framed outside any gaming store that has tables available.

Also:

- Rules Lawyer RIGHT: Pleading, whining, or acting superior is asking to get shut down.  Explain what you're fixing to do, cite the relevant sections of the manual, and accept the GM's call on it.  If you don't like their logic or their call, WHY ARE YOU IN THEIR GAME?
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on February 10, 2011, 05:20:13 PM
I haven't played since college.  The boys won't play with me.   :cry:

I'll have to ask around and see if there is a local group I can join...
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: President Television on February 10, 2011, 05:35:11 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 04:57:59 PM
I've heard it now and again, "I can't find a group", and "I can't keep a campaign going".  The second issue will be dealt with in the next installment, but some of what follows also applies.  Here's a few simple guidelines that will get you invited back to a game group:

1.  WASH YOUR NASTY ASS.  Gamer funk is unacceptable.  Nothing wrecks a session quite like one person smelling like a horse stall.  Take a damn shower that morning, and wear some Goddamn deoderant.
I need to show this to a friend of mine who got my small current group kicked out of a great DM's campaign by doing things like farting into dice tubes and passing them around for everyone to smell. This is the exact same guy who plays high-charisma characters and claims it isn't a blatantly transparent escapist fantasy.

Quote8.  TABLE TALK.  Keep it to a minimum.  There is a limited amount of time for gaming, and we can listen to you talk about CSI Miami some other time.  Also, nobody wants to hear about the exploits of the character you ran in some other game.  Lastly, anyone quoting Monty Python at a game table should be lit on fire and pushed out a window.  It's been done, you Goddamn moron.
I'm afraid I'm guilty of this one.  :oops: Not the Monty Python bit, though. Never Monty Python.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:59:44 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.

That's candy.   :lulz:  Illusion + pit o' vipers = WIN.

I've also stopped handing out "best roleplay" & "MVP" bonus XP, because everyone gets butthurt.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Faust on February 10, 2011, 06:08:57 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:59:44 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.

That's candy.   :lulz:  Illusion + pit o' vipers = WIN.

I've also stopped handing out "best roleplay" & "MVP" bonus XP, because everyone gets butthurt.
Cursed ring of circumcision nipped it in the bud pretty well.

Cork gaming Horror stories:

The guy who eats sugar packets keeping the shared dice in his bellybutton that hangs over his trousers, then putting the shared dice in his toothless mouth.

The misogynist creep who nearly drove away the one girl in the gaming group by continuously coming onto her, when not belittling her.

The guy who insisted on crossing his fingers and putting on a paper hat when he was speaking out of character.

The scat guy.

Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:14:45 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 06:08:57 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:59:44 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.

That's candy.   :lulz:  Illusion + pit o' vipers = WIN.

I've also stopped handing out "best roleplay" & "MVP" bonus XP, because everyone gets butthurt.
Cursed ring of circumcision nipped it in the bud pretty well.

Cork gaming Horror stories:

The guy who eats sugar packets keeping the shared dice in his bellybutton that hangs over his trousers, then putting the shared dice in his toothless mouth.

The misogynist creep who nearly drove away the one girl in the gaming group by continuously coming onto her, when not belittling her.

The guy who insisted on crossing his fingers and putting on a paper hat when he was speaking out of character.

The scat guy.



I've dealt with shit like that.

Also, trying running an all-female group sometimes.

Lastly, cross-gender roleplaying is horrormirthy as hell.  We had this big scary biker that played with us for 2 years, and he ran a female elf bard.

:horrormirth:

Also, stupidity:

"I bullrush the gelatinous cube."
- Randy the dumbass, on his 4th character in a campaign that hadn't yet reached 4th level.

Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:19:40 PM
:mittens:

been hooked on D&D since like ... 1994? Jesus, I was 12. My enjoyment of it has increased as the average age of people at my table has increased. I still think the hardest part of running a game is getting everybody together every week.

I'm playing with a group of complete newbies right now, it's kind of refreshing, but it's also a bit frustrating.


#5 is my biggest pet peeve. I ran a game where the rogue would always wake up early the day before they started excavating a dungeon, just so he could sneak through it without them and map it out. He wanted this cool moment of the party waking up and he's already got a detailed map of the dungeon and some notes about the monsters. He got pissed when I told him he couldn't do that. "Buh-buh-buh.. but that's what my character wants to do..." Yeah dude, but that means that you and I play D&D for 30 minutes while everybody else's character is asleep. BOGUS.

Incidentally, that same character would always try to start businesses in the adventurer's home city. So when they got back from an adventure, his clam farm would have some more pearls waiting for him. But jesus christ, this is D&D, not Sim City. The amount of time we spent talking about his goddamn clam farm could have been spent drinking ale of out skulls and we all would be better for it.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:23:35 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:19:40 PM
#5 is my biggest pet peeve. I ran a game where the rogue would always wake up early the day before they started excavating a dungeon, just so he could sneak through it without them and map it out. He wanted this cool moment of the party waking up and he's already got a detailed map of the dungeon and some notes about the monsters. He got pissed when I told him he couldn't do that. "Buh-buh-buh.. but that's what my character wants to do..." Yeah dude, but that means that you and I play D&D for 30 minutes while everybody else's character is asleep. BOGUS.

Have him come over early.

And then have him run into 3 carrion crawlers in the dungeon (hint:  rogues don't do well solo, and their fort save sucks).

When he rolls up his new character, have him decide if rogue is really his best option.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Faust on February 10, 2011, 06:28:50 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:19:40 PM
:mittens:

been hooked on D&D since like ... 1994? Jesus, I was 12. My enjoyment of it has increased as the average age of people at my table has increased. I still think the hardest part of running a game is getting everybody together every week.

I'm playing with a group of complete newbies right now, it's kind of refreshing, but it's also a bit frustrating.


#5 is my biggest pet peeve. I ran a game where the rogue would always wake up early the day before they started excavating a dungeon, just so he could sneak through it without them and map it out. He wanted this cool moment of the party waking up and he's already got a detailed map of the dungeon and some notes about the monsters. He got pissed when I told him he couldn't do that. "Buh-buh-buh.. but that's what my character wants to do..." Yeah dude, but that means that you and I play D&D for 30 minutes while everybody else's character is asleep. BOGUS.

Incidentally, that same character would always try to start businesses in the adventurer's home city. So when they got back from an adventure, his clam farm would have some more pearls waiting for him. But jesus christ, this is D&D, not Sim City. The amount of time we spent talking about his goddamn clam farm could have been spent drinking ale of out skulls and we all would be better for it.

I got sick of the sim city behavior and the spending real life hours while they dick around in the shop. The shop keepers became the most ill tempered and dangerous aspects of the game, and like The Man, I kept them down in a poverty bracket that owning land or a business was forever out of reach (or until it became a convenient reward).
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 10, 2011, 06:29:03 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:14:45 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 06:08:57 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:59:44 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.

That's candy.   :lulz:  Illusion + pit o' vipers = WIN.

I've also stopped handing out "best roleplay" & "MVP" bonus XP, because everyone gets butthurt.
Cursed ring of circumcision nipped it in the bud pretty well.

Cork gaming Horror stories:

The guy who eats sugar packets keeping the shared dice in his bellybutton that hangs over his trousers, then putting the shared dice in his toothless mouth.

The misogynist creep who nearly drove away the one girl in the gaming group by continuously coming onto her, when not belittling her.

The guy who insisted on crossing his fingers and putting on a paper hat when he was speaking out of character.

The scat guy.



I've dealt with shit like that.

Also, trying running an all-female group sometimes.

Lastly, cross-gender roleplaying is horrormirthy as hell.  We had this big scary biker that played with us for 2 years, and he ran a female elf bard.

:horrormirth:

Also, stupidity:

"I bullrush the gelatinous cube."
- Randy the dumbass, on his 4th character in a campaign that hadn't yet reached 4th level.



Played with a dude whose character was a teenage cat girl. He was very proud of her. Even drew a nice little anime type picture of her and showed it to all of us. The fact that he habitually rubbed his legs and had a strange chuckle didn't help.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 10, 2011, 06:31:39 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:23:35 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:19:40 PM
#5 is my biggest pet peeve. I ran a game where the rogue would always wake up early the day before they started excavating a dungeon, just so he could sneak through it without them and map it out. He wanted this cool moment of the party waking up and he's already got a detailed map of the dungeon and some notes about the monsters. He got pissed when I told him he couldn't do that. "Buh-buh-buh.. but that's what my character wants to do..." Yeah dude, but that means that you and I play D&D for 30 minutes while everybody else's character is asleep. BOGUS.

Have him come over early.

And then have him run into 3 carrion crawlers in the dungeon (hint:  rogues don't do well solo, and their fort save sucks).

When he rolls up his new character, have him decide if rogue is really his best option.

This.  If you can't gack a character who's wandered off to explore alone in ten minutes or less, you're not trying.

Cross-gender RP can actually be done very well.  However, anybody who can't RP someone of their own gender should never be permitted to RP someone of the other.  It's gonna suck worse.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:37:48 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 06:28:50 PM
I got sick of the sim city behavior and the spending real life hours while they dick around in the shop. The shop keepers became the most ill tempered and dangerous aspects of the game, and like The Man, I kept them down in a poverty bracket that owning land or a business was forever out of reach (or until it became a convenient reward).

two of the good pieces of advice in the 4th edition Dungeon Master's Guide --

1. Encounters are the meat and bones of D&D. When players talk about cool shit that happened, 90% of the time they're talking about an encounter. If you're not in an encounter, you should be pushing the game towards the next one. Stop dicking around in shops, it doesn't increase people's enjoyment unless they're really into RPing their characters. Just get to the fucking action!

2. Everybody should get to play in every encounter. If it's a social scene, you need to come up with ways to keep the low-charisma players involved. Write traps so that it doesn't become the DM and the rogue rolling dice at each other while everybody else waits. If a divine being appears, he should talk to the whole party, not just the cleric.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:42:15 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:37:48 PM
If a divine being appears, he should talk to the whole party, not just the cleric. get a new DM

Unless the PCs are epic level, Gods and their immediate henchthings shouldn't even have the PCs on their radar screens.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:46:16 PM
That really depends on what your story is about and how you tell it.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 06:54:05 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:59:44 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.

That's candy.   :lulz:  Illusion + pit o' vipers = WIN.

I've also stopped handing out "best roleplay" & "MVP" bonus XP, because everyone gets butthurt.

I thought it was because we were getting too high level. :(


Also, #4 and #8 :crankey: SO VERY TRUE
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:54:17 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:46:16 PM
That really depends on what your story is about and how you tell it.

Sure, if your players enjoy the notion of Odin showing up and chatting over tea when they're 3rd level, I guess that works.

But it smells a bit too Deus Ex Dungeon Master to me.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:57:17 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 06:54:05 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 05:59:44 PM
Quote from: Faust on February 10, 2011, 05:58:10 PM
The saddest thing, Barring the laptop thing which I've never seen and would probably have a shitfit about if I ever saw it, is that you see this shit in every group.
And even more baffling is that the slim few who appreciate this usually have at some stage been a gm.

The worst habit I had to stomp out of the group was the magpie syndrome.
They see a shiny object and nearly the whole group fall all over each other trying to get it first.

That's candy.   :lulz:  Illusion + pit o' vipers = WIN.

I've also stopped handing out "best roleplay" & "MVP" bonus XP, because everyone gets butthurt.

I thought it was because we were getting too high level. :(


Also, #4 and #8 :crankey: SO VERY TRUE

It was both.  I stopped doing it because

1.  The party was on track for the campaign, experience-wise, and

2.  I didn't want to deal with the post-game one-upsmanship, especially for the role play bonus.  It came down to someone getting butthurt every session, and one or two people expecting it every time.

I'm supposed to be having fun, too, and dealing with XP feeding frenzies at the end of the evening wasn't helping matters.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 06:58:04 PM
Oh. My bad. :sad:
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:59:35 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 06:58:04 PM
Oh. My bad. :sad:

Wasn't just you.  Hell, Enabler would try to turn down the award when she got it, because she didn't want to deal with anyone else stressing that they didn't get it.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.

Yep.  I'm holding onto the cleansweep bonus, though, because it discourages table talk and the wandering off of players.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 07:04:32 PM
what's that?
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:08:43 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 07:04:32 PM
what's that?

If the party clears a dungeon level/encounter region in one session, without their characters leaving the dungeon/etc, I give them a 10% bonus on all XP gained on that level/region.

A level/region is usually about 14 encounters.  A four person group will usually get the bonus, a 6 person group will almost never get it.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.

Yep.  I'm holding onto the cleansweep bonus, though, because it discourages table talk and the wandering off of players.


Yeah, table talk and wandering players do bug me, even as a player.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:11:53 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.

Yep.  I'm holding onto the cleansweep bonus, though, because it discourages table talk and the wandering off of players.


Yeah, table talk and wandering players do bug me, even as a player.

That was a major problem with the campaign at Jake's. 
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:11:53 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.

Yep.  I'm holding onto the cleansweep bonus, though, because it discourages table talk and the wandering off of players.


Yeah, table talk and wandering players do bug me, even as a player.

That was a major problem with the campaign at Jake's. 

Very much so. Way too big of a group.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:17:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:11:53 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.

Yep.  I'm holding onto the cleansweep bonus, though, because it discourages table talk and the wandering off of players.


Yeah, table talk and wandering players do bug me, even as a player.

That was a major problem with the campaign at Jake's. 

Very much so. Way too big of a group.

Naw.  It's just that two members of the group kept leaving the room for 20 fucking minutes at a stretch, with no warning.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:19:56 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:17:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:11:53 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 07:02:02 PM
Probably for the best, then.

Yep.  I'm holding onto the cleansweep bonus, though, because it discourages table talk and the wandering off of players.


Yeah, table talk and wandering players do bug me, even as a player.

That was a major problem with the campaign at Jake's. 

Very much so. Way too big of a group.

Naw.  It's just that two members of the group kept leaving the room for 20 fucking minutes at a stretch, with no warning.

And with the babby and the shitneck, it was hard to focus all the time when they were there.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: President Television on February 10, 2011, 07:27:11 PM
I have an amusing story involving #10.
I wasn't there for that particular session, but before my group got kicked out of the good DM's campaign, a (now former) friend of mine had been annoying everyone else at the table for a while. His first character was cross-gender, and he played her as an incredibly stuck-up bitch that nobody liked. Eventually, the DM decided that she had her memory wiped and was put to work for the church of Pelor. The next session, he came back with a new character: basically, a french-accented elvish rogue who was a horrible ripoff of Jack Sparrow. I played that session long enough to get tired of his atrocious accent, and wasn't able to come back for the next session. When I got back the week after that, I saw the aftermath: chair with tray shoved under the table, with broken pencils and tear-soaked wads of  paper that, upon inspection, turned out to be the guy's character sheet and inventory.
As it turned out, this player had decided that as party rogue, it was his prerogative to pick the pocket of the party's half-orc barbarian, Dim DeLarge. Needless to say, the barb found out when he tried to get an appraisal of his stolen possession (a sizeable pearl, if I recall correctly) from the party bard. The prime suspect, or course, was the recently-met untrustworthy rogue, so the barbarian demanded a confession and challenged him to a duel.
As it turns out, a triple-crit with a greataxe from a character with a STR of 20 will lead to tearful accusations of metagaming.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
Quote from: Unqualified on February 10, 2011, 07:27:11 PM
As it turns out, a triple-crit with a greataxe from a character with a STR of 20 will lead to tearful accusations of metagaming.

Boo hoo hoo. 

The really hard part for a DM is culling a player who isn't working out, if the player's spouse or other friend/relation is in the game.

We used to have a 3 session probation period, where after everyone left on session 3, I'd check a coffee cup that I'd leave on the counter.  If there was a black die in the cup, the new player was out.  If there was more than one die at the end of sessions 1 & 2, same thing.

I now have a very strict 6 player maximum, and a waiting list.  Turns out that running a book campaign geared toward "fun" is fairly rare here.

Also, we have a monthly DM convention here in Tucson, though I've stopped going, after the hour-long heckling session we inflicted on a guy who insisted that the advert listed him as "The best GM in Tucson" (can you believe it?), while he was trying to explain to us why we were all inferior DMs with his lecture time.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 10, 2011, 07:39:46 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
The really hard part for a DM is culling a player who isn't working out, if the player's spouse or other friend/relation is in the game.

Yeah...  My old gaming group from college, did not (to put it delicately) appreciate my husband's playing style.  (That campaign I walked away from was HIS gaming group.)  Watching my friends invite me to a game while trying really hard NOT to say anything bad but not inviting him was painful.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:43:46 PM
Quote from: Luna on February 10, 2011, 07:39:46 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
The really hard part for a DM is culling a player who isn't working out, if the player's spouse or other friend/relation is in the game.

Yeah...  My old gaming group from college, did not (to put it delicately) appreciate my husband's playing style.  (That campaign I walked away from was HIS gaming group.)  Watching my friends invite me to a game while trying really hard NOT to say anything bad but not inviting him was painful.

One really neat thing about Nurse Enabler is that she's the "group glue".  She's not the most outgoing member, but she tends to be the diplomat during disagreements.

I have yet to meet anyone worth knowing that can't get along with her.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: President Television on February 10, 2011, 07:58:44 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
Quote from: Unqualified on February 10, 2011, 07:27:11 PM
As it turns out, a triple-crit with a greataxe from a character with a STR of 20 will lead to tearful accusations of metagaming.

Boo hoo hoo. 
Yeah, he was kind of a whiny bitch. And a sociopath. And a pedophile, as it turns out. Hence why I'm no longer his friend.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 08:06:43 PM
Quote from: Unqualified on February 10, 2011, 07:58:44 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
Quote from: Unqualified on February 10, 2011, 07:27:11 PM
As it turns out, a triple-crit with a greataxe from a character with a STR of 20 will lead to tearful accusations of metagaming.

Boo hoo hoo. 
Yeah, he was kind of a whiny bitch. And a sociopath. And a pedophile, as it turns out. Hence why I'm no longer his friend.

ew
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on February 10, 2011, 09:20:07 PM
Our troubles at the game table usually don't have to do with shitty behavior at the actual table (although we've had some hardcore dunce moments from a few people); it's usually other drama that makes people not want to play with each other for six hours straight.


However, many of us are terribly guilty of #8 (table talk), and I've been an offender more than once. I've generally found that the best solutions include: (a) following the rule that everyone should have something to do in each encounter and (b) allotting a bit of time before the game actually starts to chat it up and get it out of our system.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 09:42:56 PM
the acceptable level of tabletalk varies by group. In the end, D&D is an excuse to hang out with your friends while engaging in some creative/cooperative activity... if nobody objects to the amount of tabletalk, it's probably fine.

at the far end of the spectrum -- I used to play a pure dungeon hack game which was so bare bones none of the characters even had names. It was mostly just something to have on the table while we drank beer and BS'd. We might have gotten through two encounters in one evening. If the DM got up from the table somebody else would sit down and run the monster's turn. It was often very silly. Only lasted about three weeks before we got itchy for more substance.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 09:55:05 PM
I do have to somewhat agree with Cramulus here (even if he is a filthy 4E player  :lulz:) Different people have different playstyles.  I'd *never* be able to run a game for Roger's group (though I do like playing in that style as well), my games are far too story oriented, and lack much in the way of encounters (a combat heavy session will have 3 fights).  It works great for the people I play with though.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 09:58:55 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 09:55:05 PM
I do have to somewhat agree with Cramulus here (even if he is a filthy 4E player  :lulz:) Different people have different playstyles.  I'd *never* be able to run a game for Roger's group (though I do like playing in that style as well), my games are far too story oriented, and lack much in the way of encounters (a combat heavy session will have 3 fights).  It works great for the people I play with though.

GAH!

My players would have my ass if I showed up with only 3 fights.  TGG, in particular, tends to eyeball townsfolk if there's too much time spent buying shit, etc.

"There's no crits in the palace."
- TGG
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 10, 2011, 09:59:57 PM
Heck, one of the most fun games I ever ran was a truly hideously crappy system.  (Anybody remember Teenagers from Outer Space?)  We had a majorly story-driven D&D campaign going, high drama, hell on the nerves, and we'd grab TFOS when that was over to unwind for about a half hour after the session was over.  Snapped everybody out of the mood they were in, everybody went home laughing.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Sister Fracture on February 10, 2011, 10:01:55 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 09:58:55 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 09:55:05 PM
I do have to somewhat agree with Cramulus here (even if he is a filthy 4E player  :lulz:) Different people have different playstyles.  I'd *never* be able to run a game for Roger's group (though I do like playing in that style as well), my games are far too story oriented, and lack much in the way of encounters (a combat heavy session will have 3 fights).  It works great for the people I play with though.

GAH!

My players would have my ass if I showed up with only 3 fights.  TGG, in particular, tends to eyeball townsfolk if there's too much time spent buying shit, etc.

"There's no crits in the palace."
- TGG

I like story oriented stuff (remember when I ran the Guild of Thieves, and the High point of the book was a play?) but yeah, when I'm playing, if I don't get a chance to splodey something, I feel like I COULD splode me some villagers.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 10:02:09 PM
Quote from: Luna on February 10, 2011, 09:59:57 PM
 (Anybody remember Teenagers from Outer Space?)

Holy shit.   :lulz:
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 10, 2011, 10:02:35 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 10:02:09 PM
Quote from: Luna on February 10, 2011, 09:59:57 PM
 (Anybody remember Teenagers from Outer Space?)

Holy shit.   :lulz:

He does.   :lulz:
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 10:03:15 PM
Quote from: Luna on February 10, 2011, 10:02:35 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 10:02:09 PM
Quote from: Luna on February 10, 2011, 09:59:57 PM
 (Anybody remember Teenagers from Outer Space?)

Holy shit.   :lulz:

He does.   :lulz:

Played that in the mid-80s, once or twice.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 11, 2011, 02:38:41 AM
Campaign we had going with that actually ran for quite awhile.  It was great for the purpose, which was kill a half hour, destress, demolish the rest of the snack food, and get our heads back on right before breaking up for the night.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Telarus on February 11, 2011, 06:06:13 AM
These are great Rog. Digesting between render cycles.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Cramulus on February 11, 2011, 01:02:13 PM
yeah dude. These are kickass threads. You've breathed a lot of life into this dusty little subforum.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Eater of Clowns on February 11, 2011, 01:53:14 PM
They're making me want to play D&D, that's for sure.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 11, 2011, 01:55:41 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on February 11, 2011, 01:53:14 PM
They're making me want to play D&D, that's for sure.

They're making me want to run something.  It's been awhile since I've been motivated to do that.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Bebek Sincap Ratatosk on February 11, 2011, 04:03:18 PM
Roger, that OP is mittens and WIN. I cannot agree more with every point!!!

Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Eater of Clowns on February 11, 2011, 11:15:17 PM
I guess my question would be, how does one even find tabletop gaming groups?  It doesn't seem like any hobby shops in my area host any.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 11, 2011, 11:33:40 PM
I've never heard of a hobby shop hosting RPG games, they usually give the table space over to the wargamers and the CCG people.  You just have to know people really.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: President Television on February 11, 2011, 11:58:05 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 11, 2011, 11:33:40 PM
I've never heard of a hobby shop hosting RPG games, they usually give the table space over to the wargamers and the CCG people.  You just have to know people really.

This. That whiny sociopathic pedophile I mentioned a while back? He was the DM's cousin. As much as I hate to admit it, if it wasn't for him I never would have gotten into DnD.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Triple Zero on February 12, 2011, 12:06:17 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:08:43 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 07:04:32 PM
what's that?

If the party clears a dungeon level/encounter region in one session, without their characters leaving the dungeon/etc, I give them a 10% bonus on all XP gained on that level/region.

Heh. I thought a "cleansweep bonus" referred to bonus XP for those who'd help clean up the table afterwards :)

We had something like that, not for cleaning, but for keeping the party journal. I forgot what the bonus was in D&D, but we also played Vampire with the same group, where we got 1XP for keeping the journal that night (1XP actually means something in Vampire). We still took turns, however, cause nobody liked the hassle very much, and the XP bonus always barely made up for it. But the next week (and especially the years after, just like a real journal) it was very useful to get a quick refresher what happened last time (there were always some minor details or just funny shit that you'd have forgotten). It was also a rule that whoever wrote it would read it aloud next week, because most of their handwriting was terrible (not mine though, I used to draw (non D&D) cartoons for a long time, no use if nobody can read the text balloons hehe).

Another thing was the DM would indeed give bonuses for good roleplaying and such, but always just a tiny bit, not much in relation to what everybody gained from the encounters that evening. He'd ask everybody to tell what their character had learned that evening. Which I thought was a really good way to get the players think about that sort of thing, progression of their character outside of just plain stats.

In another group, the DM would grant 1 XP (in D&D, so pretty much nothing)if somebody would crack a particularly good in-game joke or do something odd but awesome. Nobody ever leveled over a joke, of course, it was just his way of showing appreciation for really fun game moments.

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 09:58:55 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 09:55:05 PM
I do have to somewhat agree with Cramulus here (even if he is a filthy 4E player  :lulz:) Different people have different playstyles.  I'd *never* be able to run a game for Roger's group (though I do like playing in that style as well), my games are far too story oriented, and lack much in the way of encounters (a combat heavy session will have 3 fights).  It works great for the people I play with though.

GAH!

My players would have my ass if I showed up with only 3 fights.  TGG, in particular, tends to eyeball townsfolk if there's too much time spent buying shit, etc.

Buying shit is boring indeed, but we were never able to fit more than 3 or 4 fights in a night. I dunno, a good encounter always takes at least 20 minutes in our groups. But then, that was D&D 3.0, I believe they streamlined combat quite a lot in newer versions.

Additionally, we always had some characters that just weren't very good in a fight, but reading these gaming advice threads, I am now of the opinion that was not always a good idea. Cause they usually weren't very good at most other things either ... :)


About tabletalk, in one group (the longest running one, that played D&D and later Vampire and then back to D&D again) we always had the convention that in-character talk was in English, all the rest in Dutch. Since most in-game names and items and whatnot were english as well--oh and of course the dialogue from prefab adventures :)
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 12, 2011, 12:34:56 AM
Heh, thats a hell of a use for being bilingual (or however many languages you dutch really know, I've heard stories).
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Triple Zero on February 12, 2011, 01:58:04 AM
We did shortly consider the idea of Common=English, Dwarfish=German, and Elvish=French ... :lol:

(not that the Elf in the party could speak more than a few half-sentences French, he didn't like it)
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 12, 2011, 06:47:24 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 11, 2011, 11:33:40 PM
I've never heard of a hobby shop hosting RPG games, they usually give the table space over to the wargamers and the CCG people.  You just have to know people really.

Um, every gameshop I've ever been to outside of a mall has a game area for RPGers.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 12, 2011, 07:27:23 PM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/wangchung1.jpg)
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 12, 2011, 07:31:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 12, 2011, 06:47:24 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 11, 2011, 11:33:40 PM
I've never heard of a hobby shop hosting RPG games, they usually give the table space over to the wargamers and the CCG people.  You just have to know people really.

Um, every gameshop I've ever been to outside of a mall has a game area for RPGers.

It's a player thing and not a shop thing in my experience.  The shops I've frequented had space for it, but I never saw anybody using it for that.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 12, 2011, 07:49:35 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 12, 2011, 07:31:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 12, 2011, 06:47:24 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 11, 2011, 11:33:40 PM
I've never heard of a hobby shop hosting RPG games, they usually give the table space over to the wargamers and the CCG people.  You just have to know people really.

Um, every gameshop I've ever been to outside of a mall has a game area for RPGers.

It's a player thing and not a shop thing in my experience.  The shops I've frequented had space for it, but I never saw anybody using it for that.

Part of the problem is that, at least from what I've seen, many players are selfconscous about roleplaying in public.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Telarus on February 12, 2011, 10:22:09 PM
I've noticed that as well. We once had a rip roaring Earthdawn session in the back corner of an Izzy's all you can eat Pizza. It helped that I was playing with my old theatre crowd from Hawaii. The Swordsmaster's sword was named "Chlamydia" ("FEEL THE FIERY BURN OF MY...").  The waitress loved us.

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 12, 2011, 07:27:23 PM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/wangchung1.jpg)

(http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/Smileys/default/roglol.gif)
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 12, 2011, 10:26:58 PM
Quote from: Telarus on February 12, 2011, 10:22:09 PM
I've noticed that as well. We once had a rip roaring Earthdawn session in the back corner of an Izzy's all you can eat Pizza. It helped that I was playing with my old theatre crowd from Hawaii. The Swordsmaster's sword was named "Chlamydia" ("FEEL THE FIERY BURN OF MY...").  The waitress loved us.

:D

Sometimes it works.  Mostly, people would rather play cards in public, though, from what I've seen.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Requia ☣ on February 12, 2011, 10:38:13 PM
There's also that people aren't as picky who they play other games with.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Luna on February 12, 2011, 11:23:57 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 12, 2011, 10:38:13 PM
There's also that people aren't as picky who they play other games with.

Very true.  I've met some good players at comic book stores... and others that my greatest desire was to see how many of their dice I could fit up their nose at the same time.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Don Coyote on May 27, 2013, 12:05:22 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:42:15 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:37:48 PM
If a divine being appears, he should talk to the whole party, not just the cleric. get a new DM

Unless the PCs are epic level, Gods and their immediate henchthings shouldn't even have the PCs on their radar screens.

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 06:54:17 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on February 10, 2011, 06:46:16 PM
That really depends on what your story is about and how you tell it.

Sure, if your players enjoy the notion of Odin showing up and chatting over tea when they're 3rd level, I guess that works.

But it smells a bit too Deus Ex Dungeon Master to me.

Now I can start to put my finger on why I don't want to game with group I was just with anymore...

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 09:58:55 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 10, 2011, 09:55:05 PM
I do have to somewhat agree with Cramulus here (even if he is a filthy 4E player  :lulz:) Different people have different playstyles.  I'd *never* be able to run a game for Roger's group (though I do like playing in that style as well), my games are far too story oriented, and lack much in the way of encounters (a combat heavy session will have 3 fights).  It works great for the people I play with though.

GAH!

My players would have my ass if I showed up with only 3 fights.  TGG, in particular, tends to eyeball townsfolk if there's too much time spent buying shit, etc.

"There's no crits in the palace."
- TGG

Aaaaaaaand there is a second, although it was also, "only a few encounters per session? my wife's character is too hard to injure? I know make each encounter stupid tough ALL THE TIME"
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Q. G. Pennyworth on May 27, 2013, 01:57:23 AM
On the subject of "wasting time buying things," two whole game sessions wasted trying to secure a place to live out of. GURPS cyberpunk. Please shoot me in the face.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 01:12:42 AM
Quote from: Queen Gogira Pennyworth, BSW on May 27, 2013, 01:57:23 AM
On the subject of "wasting time buying things," two whole game sessions wasted trying to secure a place to live out of. GURPS cyberpunk. Please shoot me in the face.

Well, there's:

1.  High fantasy.  Mundane details are not even glossed over.
2.  Medium fantasy.  Mundane details may be a plot hook.
3.  Low fantasy.  Mundane details may occasionally be a plot point.
4.  Why fucking bother.  Mundane details constitute 75% or more of the game, why not just balance your checkbook and award yourself the experience.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Don Coyote on May 28, 2013, 02:06:44 AM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 01:12:42 AM
Quote from: Queen Gogira Pennyworth, BSW on May 27, 2013, 01:57:23 AM
On the subject of "wasting time buying things," two whole game sessions wasted trying to secure a place to live out of. GURPS cyberpunk. Please shoot me in the face.

Well, there's:

1.  High fantasy.  Mundane details are not even glossed over.
2.  Medium fantasy.  Mundane details may be a plot hook.
3.  Low fantasy.  Mundane details may occasionally be a plot point.
4.  Why fucking bother.  Mundane details constitute 75% or more of the game, why not just balance your checkbook and award yourself the experience.
I really hate it when a GM bills a campaign as one thing, then randomly decides that stupid mundane details are important.
Not keeping track of food. Ok.
My bow string breaks because I fumble. WHELP CAN'T RESTRING IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A BOW STRING LISTED ON MY CHARACTER SHEET!! THANKS FOR MY ENCOURAGING MY CHARACTER TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN DIPLOMACY BY LANCE POINT!!!
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Aucoq on May 28, 2013, 07:07:36 AM
Quote from: El Twid on February 10, 2011, 06:29:03 PM
The fact that he habitually rubbed his legs and had a strange chuckle didn't help.

Hey, I didn't know we've played together before.  :lulz:
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 11:52:20 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
Also, we have a monthly DM convention here in Tucson, though I've stopped going, after the hour-long heckling session we inflicted on a guy who insisted that the advert listed him as "The best GM in Tucson" (can you believe it?), while he was trying to explain to us why we were all inferior DMs with his lecture time.

Update:  The assmonkey in question has given Hackfest the Royal Sniff, seeing as how he didn't think of it, and how many people are signed up to play in it.

:lulz:
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Don Coyote on May 28, 2013, 11:55:17 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 11:52:20 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
Also, we have a monthly DM convention here in Tucson, though I've stopped going, after the hour-long heckling session we inflicted on a guy who insisted that the advert listed him as "The best GM in Tucson" (can you believe it?), while he was trying to explain to us why we were all inferior DMs with his lecture time.

Update:  The assmonkey in question has given Hackfest the Royal Sniff, seeing as how he didn't think of it, and how many people are signed up to play in it.

:lulz:
it was  probably too much fun diet him.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 11:56:43 PM
Quote from: six to the quixotic on May 28, 2013, 11:55:17 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 11:52:20 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 10, 2011, 07:35:37 PM
Also, we have a monthly DM convention here in Tucson, though I've stopped going, after the hour-long heckling session we inflicted on a guy who insisted that the advert listed him as "The best GM in Tucson" (can you believe it?), while he was trying to explain to us why we were all inferior DMs with his lecture time.

Update:  The assmonkey in question has given Hackfest the Royal Sniff, seeing as how he didn't think of it, and how many people are signed up to play in it.

:lulz:
it was  probably too much fun diet him.

Are you huffing autocorrect again?   :|
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Don Coyote on May 29, 2013, 12:02:47 AM
I can stop anytime I want to. so stop judging me.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Pergamos on May 29, 2013, 03:55:12 AM
Quote from: Luna on February 12, 2011, 07:49:35 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 12, 2011, 07:31:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on February 12, 2011, 06:47:24 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on February 11, 2011, 11:33:40 PM
I've never heard of a hobby shop hosting RPG games, they usually give the table space over to the wargamers and the CCG people.  You just have to know people really.

Um, every gameshop I've ever been to outside of a mall has a game area for RPGers.

It's a player thing and not a shop thing in my experience.  The shops I've frequented had space for it, but I never saw anybody using it for that.

Part of the problem is that, at least from what I've seen, many players are selfconscous about roleplaying in public.

Some shops will have notices up, groups looking for players.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Q. G. Pennyworth on May 30, 2013, 03:01:59 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 01:12:42 AM
Quote from: Queen Gogira Pennyworth, BSW on May 27, 2013, 01:57:23 AM
On the subject of "wasting time buying things," two whole game sessions wasted trying to secure a place to live out of. GURPS cyberpunk. Please shoot me in the face.

Well, there's:

1.  High fantasy.  Mundane details are not even glossed over.
2.  Medium fantasy.  Mundane details may be a plot hook.
3.  Low fantasy.  Mundane details may occasionally be a plot point.
4.  Why fucking bother.  Mundane details constitute 75% or more of the game, why not just balance your checkbook and award yourself the experience.

Yeah, I'm coming to the conclusion that I don't like the way this GM runs things. We finally got to our first combat and it was nitpicky and stupidly deadly. Rolling hit locations and making checks for crippled goddamn limbs.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Doktor Howl on May 30, 2013, 03:04:05 PM
Quote from: Queen Gogira Pennyworth, BSW on May 30, 2013, 03:01:59 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on May 28, 2013, 01:12:42 AM
Quote from: Queen Gogira Pennyworth, BSW on May 27, 2013, 01:57:23 AM
On the subject of "wasting time buying things," two whole game sessions wasted trying to secure a place to live out of. GURPS cyberpunk. Please shoot me in the face.

Well, there's:

1.  High fantasy.  Mundane details are not even glossed over.
2.  Medium fantasy.  Mundane details may be a plot hook.
3.  Low fantasy.  Mundane details may occasionally be a plot point.
4.  Why fucking bother.  Mundane details constitute 75% or more of the game, why not just balance your checkbook and award yourself the experience.

Yeah, I'm coming to the conclusion that I don't like the way this GM runs things. We finally got to our first combat and it was nitpicky and stupidly deadly. Rolling hit locations and making checks for crippled goddamn limbs.

This is exactly why I run a book game.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Q. G. Pennyworth on May 30, 2013, 03:24:36 PM
<rant>
It didn't even make any goddamn sense. We finally got our first combat at all and it was a gang war outside our apartment, which was fine and all, but then we hook up with the local gang and the first task they give us is "so, you guys go run into their headquarters and kill the three guys in charge while we make a distraction elsewhere." Who fucking does that? Hey, new people that no one knows who have funny accents and don't understand how anything works, how about we put you in a vital position in a plan that we can only attempt once? That's super.
</rant>
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Don Coyote on May 30, 2013, 05:49:47 PM
This sounds like fucking  chart..I mean rolemaster. Also defective DM.
Title: Re: A little handy gaming advice #1: How to be invited back to a game table.
Post by: Doktor Howl on May 30, 2013, 06:09:17 PM
Relevant:

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php/topic,28364.0.html

and

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php/topic,28365.0.html