Behavior: Expectations and Suggestions for all of Us

In articles past, I have suggested things you could do to breathe life into your character. Considering our last session, I think it is necessary to take on the awkward topic of our behavior as players, not just characters, at a game session. The bottom line is, we all want to have fun and we want to help everyone else have fun. None of us wants to be the guy or gal who’s making everyone else miserable. In that vein, I would like to be the first to apologize for being so uptight last weekend. I really did let everything get to me, and at times I snapped at some of you. For that, I am sorry.

I have decided to break this up into a series of articles that I will post daily, here on the blog. I hope you will all read them in the spirit in which they are intended: which is not to insult or demean anyone. I am not going to point fingers nor am I going to call names. I think we all know, myself included, where we can improve.

I’ve decided to start the series with a list of things that we should, as players, be prepared to do when we get together to game. I’ll follow that up with a list of “Don’ts”, tomorrow. Below are some things you can do to contribute to everyone’s gaming experience.

Five dos
1. Be on time. If the game starts at 5:00, please be there at 5:00. If you cannot make it on time, try to give us an idea for when you will get there. If you will be an hour late, your character can join in the festivities when you arrive.

2. Think about what you want to do on your turn while other people are taking their turns: Time is the single most precious commodity at the gaming table. If you take ten minutes to figure out what your perfect move is during each round of every combat you get into, you’re taking more than your share. Instead of everybody getting a chance to bash through five or six exciting encounters in the course of that session, you might limit them to half that many. Plan ahead so that your turns don’t take forever, and everyone gets to play more D&D. The minute your turn ends, start thinking about what you’re going to do on your next turn. If you’re playing a spellcaster, figure out which of your spells you’re likely to use when your turn comes up again. If you’re playing a fighting character, think about which foe you are going to attack, and whether or not you need to maneuver or use any special feats. Sometimes your plans will get spoiled by things that happen when it’s not your turn, but sometimes they won’t, and you’ll give everybody at the table a little more D&D for their time.

3. Do the math ahead of time: By the third or fourth time you’ve attacked with your longsword, you ought to know what your attack bonus is. Ditto for the save DC on that fireball spell you cast three or four times a night. Don’t figure these things out from scratch each time you pick up the Dice; be proactive and organized. Look at the actions you undertake all the time, and add up your bonuses and modifiers before you come to the table. No one minds too much if you don’t know your character’s grapple check modifier off the top of your head, but you shouldn’t have to figure out your modified attack roll each and every time you make an attack.

4. Stay on target, stay focused, and stay in the game: Every D&D game features at least some amount of senseless cutting up and Monty Python movie quotes for no particular reason. Gaming is fun; it is a social activity. Part of the reason you’re at the table is because you enjoy the company of the people you’re gaming with, and you want to socialize. But try to recognize when people are trying to move the game along and get somewhere, and when people are kicking back and shooting the breeze or watching the Rangers game on TV. When the game is on, pay attention to what is going down. If the Dungeon Master is talking, pay attention! Nothing is more annoying than a DM giving a crucial encounter set-up, adventure background, or key bit of NPC conversation, only to have to repeat himself numerous times because people weren’t listening, or, they were having their own separate discussion, or, they were away from the game.

5. Help your friends to shine: This one is a little tough. When you have the chance to grab the spotlight, it is natural to want to do exactly that. But sometimes it is actually more rewarding to let another player at the table have that moment in the sun. Try to look out for situations that a particular character is suited for, and defer to that other character if you can. Every character at the table is the best at something, so let your friends show off at the things their characters do best.