The social aspects of role-playing games.
45
votes
10answers
2k views
Where can I find other RPG players?
I'd really like to learn how to play pen-and-paper RPGs. I know that it takes a few players to actually sit down and play, but I'm not at all sure where to find more gamers.
How do I find existing ...
65
votes
9answers
2k views
How does a player correct a GM mistake without being a rules lawyer or pushover?
You are playing in a game. The GM says that you need to roll a given roll. The rules clearly state something different. I realize one solution is to go along to get along, then tell the GM after ...
36
votes
14answers
872 views
When and how should I get the players to cut back on their out of character chatter?
I like that my players have all become such good friends. But they're all louder than me. We end up just chatting and hanging out more than gaming because I can't get them to stop having out of ...
39
votes
11answers
942 views
How do I deal with GM burnout?
There are groups that share the role of GM/DM/Storyteller/Ref, and there are those that don't. In either type there is always the threat of burnout - too much responsibility is put into the hands of a ...
24
votes
20answers
820 views
How do you deal with missing players?
If you know ahead of time that you're going to be missing a player, do you reschedule? Or just play them as an NPC or as a group puppet?
13
votes
8answers
581 views
How valid is lying to players about the rolls they are making in The Dresden Files?
In last weeks Dresden Files game, the players followed the bad guy using a tracking spell, and found him in the projects at an apartment that they knew little about. Seeing his car, they decided to ...
23
votes
16answers
1k views
How to design game elements other than combat?
Most RPGs I know about and have played are fighting-centered. That doesn't mean that all gaming is only about fighting, but that most of the rules and character abilities are primarily useful in ...
28
votes
17answers
798 views
How do you reassure a parent who is worried about RPGs being unhealthy for their children?
Are there any constructive steps fellow players and GMs can take when a high-school age player's parents express concern at their roleplaying game hobby?
Assume the player is a healthy creative ...
33
votes
11answers
2k views
Is it practical to run a weekly lunch-hour game of D&D with my coworkers?
I'm looking to get some of my coworkers together and start a lunch time, casual, D&D game. Has anyone done this - is there a practical way to do this?
Our lunch breaks run for about 1 hour, but I ...
23
votes
6answers
1k views
How to deal with players not taking things seriously?
As both a player and GM I play with my group of players (and close friends) on multiple occasions and they will often make fun of either my characters, NPC or a specific situation and won't stop ...
15
votes
5answers
390 views
Specific Items In A Group Social Contract?
Some gaming groups actually do a formal social contract, wherein they explicitly set some of the expectations and rules for the gaming group. What items should a group considering doing a social ...
17
votes
9answers
476 views
Bad group, how to leave?
I have sometimes joined groups whose play style didn't work for me. At some point it became clear that as much as I wanted to enjoy the game I couldn't. And I was probably undermining the fun at the ...
4
votes
3answers
302 views
Mitigating conflict in a 'mixed' nWoD game
The last (and only) time I ran a mixed game (containing Changeling, Mage and Vampire characters) for nWoD. I explained at length that nWoD started with a clean sheet and no one 'instinctively' hated ...
51
votes
21answers
1k views
How can I avoid players spending too much time planning?
Several times when I have played in or ran a game in which the players had an objective and reasonable resources, a lot of (real) time was spent trying to plan for every contingency.
For example, ...
21
votes
6answers
403 views
How do you switch from parenting-mode to GM-mode?
Directly related to this question.
My players are my children. A GM has a different relationship with players than a parent does with children. A parent tries to encourage and nurture children; a ...
16
votes
11answers
513 views
Narrativist Gaming: How do you transition more traditionally-trained players into them?
This was obviously inspired by the corresponding question on GM-less gaming.
For the past couple of years I've become really interested in RPGs that are less about dungeon-crawling and combat and ...
17
votes
10answers
973 views
How do I encourage a GM to use the rules as written?
Related to this question, there are some game masters who either don't know the rules or ignore them properly. They come into conflict with rules lawyers, players who know the rules well and expect ...
16
votes
9answers
739 views
What real world skills can RPGs improve?
What real world skills can be improved by playing Role-playing games? What skills have you or others in your experience improved through gaming?
31
votes
4answers
344 views
What policies should be made at the start of a campaign, to define the desired game experience and avoid bad feelings later?
My group and I work on the assumption that a game system's default assumptions are its manifesto, and that by choosing a system we are choosing to let its assumptions stand except where we institute ...
21
votes
8answers
814 views
How do I make my role playing group a not exclusively male one?
My role playing groups have been, almost exclusively, male. What are some ideas/options for making the group and the experience more likely to attract, and retain, female players?
24
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I quit a game gracefully?
I've been in a game for a while and I've been distracted for several sessions because the game simply hasn't been very interesting to me. The setting and story set by the GM aren't very gripping and ...
23
votes
9answers
1k views
Is there a limit to Rule 0?
Rule Zero: All other rules can be changed by the GM.
I appreciate that there is a massive amount of work that goes into be a GM and the last thing that any GM wants or deserves is to have his ...
14
votes
8answers
359 views
Can rules changes fix interpersonal problems at the table?
Can rules tweaks help deal with some of the common interpersonal problems at the gaming table?
For example:
Someone is not really interested in the game, and reads and ignores play until they ...
7
votes
3answers
180 views
How to gather a group of players in a foreign country?
I am a person who has to relocate a lot due to employment reasons. I tried to build English-playing groups with little or no success. In some cases, I was able to gather only one person or two. Only ...
27
votes
6answers
668 views
How can I check whether an extremely adult/mature plot idea would be accepted by players without revealing any details of the idea itself?
I am running a post-apocalyptic zombie game with a dark and mature story, exploring a number of adult themes. I have complete buy-in from the players; some of them have stated it is their favourite ...
14
votes
0answers
175 views
How can a GM calm down the group when they're chatty? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When and how should I get the players to cut back on their out of character chatter?
Now and then the groups I play in or GM can get rather chatty. They're talking and ...
6
votes
5answers
150 views
What techniques do you use for integrating new players into your campaign?
So, you've found a new player, someone you don't know well or perhaps don't know at all. You have a slot in your ongoing campaign. How do you do it? Do you make sure she's a good fit before inviting ...
5
votes
9answers
290 views
What is best practice for auditioning a prospective new player?
Continuing on this question how is the best way to set up an auditioning session? What gamewise should you do differently? What are the expectations on the group and the potential new person? What is ...
