Analyzing your DnD group [Archive] - Wizards Community

Analyzing your DnD group [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Blairconz
09-03-05, 05:40 AM If you feel that your DnD group continually falls apart or has trouble maintaining interest, try this test ...

Players

The four key elements of a player are ...
1. Free time

2. Participation

3. Co-operation

4. Seriousness

Now give the player a score of 2 (Awesome) to -2 (Awesomely bad) for each area.
If the player has less than a total of 3, consider their continued prescence.

Dungeon Masters

The five key elements of a DM are ...

1. Preparation

2. Empathy toward player's desires

3. Rules Knowledge

4. Imagination

5. Enthusiasm

As before, rate the DM 2 to -2. If the total is 6 or less, you may wish to consider their continued role as DM.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Post your own results if you like.
ShadowDragon8685
09-03-05, 06:34 AM Me, as a player:

1. Free time
2

2. Participation
2

3. Co-operation
1

4. Seriousness
1.5

4.5... Not bad?

A previous DM. (Not naming names.)

1. Preparation
3 (I know you only said 2. This is a 3.)

2. Empathy toward player's desires
-1

3. Rules Knowledge
1

4. Imagination
1

5. Enthusiasm
1

5.... Hmmmmmm.
Szat
09-03-05, 06:49 AM I find the key to any campaign is merely Enthusiasm. Whether it be for combat, roleplay, flavour or just sheer hanging outtage the players AND DM need enthusiasm to drive the game. Enthusiasm is what drives characters to care about what and who they play; prompting not only long lasting campaigns but memorable ones as well.
Ulrich Valdemont
09-03-05, 08:50 AM As I read it, the scale would be:
-2 Awesomely bad -1 bad 0 moderate 1 good 2 awesome

Setting the DC to 3 for players, would leave me with abouve average players. That is great! In fact I do sometimes play in groups like that, but the majority of players would not qualify.

As for the DM, a DC of 6 is greatly appreciated. You know your DM is good, when (s)he makes DM'ing seem easy. Your proposed elements of DM'ing contribute to this greatly.

But for the player-part, I tend to agree with Szat that enthousiasm is verry important. Maybe drop the Free Time and replace it with Enthousiasm?

---------

With this being said, lets see if your scale can be put to good use. Yesterday I DM'ed a group and it didn't go so well. We had fun and all, but it strained the hell out of me to keep things moving and interresting (with a varying degree of succes, I shall add).

(Note that I rated everybody as seen yesterday. For instance I am known for my rules knowledge, yet magic is my blind spot. Magic was important yesterday so I let that weigh heavy)
Player 1 Enth. 1 Part. -1 Co-op. 0 Ser. 1 Total: 1
Player 2 Enth. 1 Part. 2 Co-op. -1 Ser. -2 Total: 0
Player 3 Enth. 2 Part. 2 Co-op. 1 Ser. 1 Total: 6
Group Total: 4 3 0 0

DM Prep. 1 Emp. 2 Rul. 1 Imag. 1 Enth. 2 Total: 7

Ok, so what went wrong here? Co-op was in my opinion the main problem yesterday. I could not get them to work together. And they never took the effort to work out a plan. My adventure beiing a mix of action and mystery, planning is verry important.

Seriousness also wanting. Eh... dare I say it? Player 2 doesn't keep her concentration up. Talks about everyday stuff in the middle of combat. Doesn't listen to NPC's. And she wants presents. Lots. Even when running from a foe (that's what happens when you don't plan. When you plan you NEVER EVER attack an Orc-stronghold at lvl 2, I'm serious... they did. Only survived because they have horses and the Orcs didn't) she still insists that I would never kill her. So she can go look for herbs.

Participation on the other hand - ever so misguided as it may be - from player 2 was high. She seemed to dictate the course of events. Player 1 never said anything, unless asked.

Despite my score of 7, I really couldn't help the adventure going the way it did. It strained me just to keep things moving, and to give plausible answers to the odd turn of events. I could not believe the number of hints they ignored. I doubt that I will give 'm a mystery-type of adventure again, which I regret because they are my favourite.
Blairconz
09-03-05, 11:50 PM Thanks everyone, for the feedback.

@ Shadow dragon: 4.5 is a good score. Anything from three to eight and there isn't a terrible degree of difference. As for your DMing, only your empathy lets you down.

@ Svat: I completely agree with your reasons for playing. I'm too serious for just hanging out, personally.

@ Ulrich Valdemont: The DM "DC" if you will is 7. Free time is absolutely essential, if one player is away or late, then you have to make allowences. Free time should be read "Time management" it also encompasses people turning up and getting started on time. The best thing you can spend on DnD is time. Enthusiasm is folded in with Participation.

You must be one HELL of a DM to keep it together with a group like that. I commend you, sir. Sig this if you please.
Ulrich Valdemont
09-04-05, 08:37 AM You must be one HELL of a DM to keep it together with a group like that. I commend you, sir. Sig this if you please.

Thanks!!! I will.

Makes me feel a littel better. That adventure frustrated the hell out of me. Now that some time has gone over it, I know I have to have a talk with this group before I DM them again.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Blairconz 09-03-05, 05:40 AM	If you feel that your DnD group continually falls apart or has trouble maintaining interest, try this test ... Players The four key elements of a player are ... 1. Free time 2. Participation 3. Co-operation 4. Seriousness Now give the player a score of 2 (Awesome) to -2 (Awesomely bad) for each area. If the player has less than a total of 3, consider their continued prescence. Dungeon Masters The five key elements of a DM are ... 1. Preparation 2. Empathy toward player's desires 3. Rules Knowledge 4. Imagination 5. Enthusiasm As before, rate the DM 2 to -2. If the total is 6 or less, you may wish to consider their continued role as DM. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Post your own results if you like.
ShadowDragon8685 09-03-05, 06:34 AM	Me, as a player: 1. Free time 2 2. Participation 2 3. Co-operation 1 4. Seriousness 1.5 4.5... Not bad? A previous DM. (Not naming names.) 1. Preparation 3 (I know you only said 2. This is a 3.) 2. Empathy toward player's desires -1 3. Rules Knowledge 1 4. Imagination 1 5. Enthusiasm 1 5.... Hmmmmmm.
Szat 09-03-05, 06:49 AM	I find the key to any campaign is merely Enthusiasm. Whether it be for combat, roleplay, flavour or just sheer hanging outtage the players AND DM need enthusiasm to drive the game. Enthusiasm is what drives characters to care about what and who they play; prompting not only long lasting campaigns but memorable ones as well.
Ulrich Valdemont 09-03-05, 08:50 AM	As I read it, the scale would be: -2 Awesomely bad -1 bad 0 moderate 1 good 2 awesome Setting the DC to 3 for players, would leave me with abouve average players. That is great! In fact I do sometimes play in groups like that, but the majority of players would not qualify. As for the DM, a DC of 6 is greatly appreciated. You know your DM is good, when (s)he makes DM'ing seem easy. Your proposed elements of DM'ing contribute to this greatly. But for the player-part, I tend to agree with Szat that enthousiasm is verry important. Maybe drop the Free Time and replace it with Enthousiasm? --------- With this being said, lets see if your scale can be put to good use. Yesterday I DM'ed a group and it didn't go so well. We had fun and all, but it strained the hell out of me to keep things moving and interresting (with a varying degree of succes, I shall add). (Note that I rated everybody as seen yesterday. For instance I am known for my rules knowledge, yet magic is my blind spot. Magic was important yesterday so I let that weigh heavy) Player 1 Enth. 1 Part. -1 Co-op. 0 Ser. 1 Total: 1 Player 2 Enth. 1 Part. 2 Co-op. -1 Ser. -2 Total: 0 Player 3 Enth. 2 Part. 2 Co-op. 1 Ser. 1 Total: 6 Group Total: 4 3 0 0 DM Prep. 1 Emp. 2 Rul. 1 Imag. 1 Enth. 2 Total: 7 Ok, so what went wrong here? Co-op was in my opinion the main problem yesterday. I could not get them to work together. And they never took the effort to work out a plan. My adventure beiing a mix of action and mystery, planning is verry important. Seriousness also wanting. Eh... dare I say it? Player 2 doesn't keep her concentration up. Talks about everyday stuff in the middle of combat. Doesn't listen to NPC's. And she wants presents. Lots. Even when running from a foe (that's what happens when you don't plan. When you plan you NEVER EVER attack an Orc-stronghold at lvl 2, I'm serious... they did. Only survived because they have horses and the Orcs didn't) she still insists that I would never kill her. So she can go look for herbs. Participation on the other hand - ever so misguided as it may be - from player 2 was high. She seemed to dictate the course of events. Player 1 never said anything, unless asked. Despite my score of 7, I really couldn't help the adventure going the way it did. It strained me just to keep things moving, and to give plausible answers to the odd turn of events. I could not believe the number of hints they ignored. I doubt that I will give 'm a mystery-type of adventure again, which I regret because they are my favourite.
Blairconz 09-03-05, 11:50 PM	Thanks everyone, for the feedback. @ Shadow dragon: 4.5 is a good score. Anything from three to eight and there isn't a terrible degree of difference. As for your DMing, only your empathy lets you down. @ Svat: I completely agree with your reasons for playing. I'm too serious for just hanging out, personally. @ Ulrich Valdemont: The DM "DC" if you will is 7. Free time is absolutely essential, if one player is away or late, then you have to make allowences. Free time should be read "Time management" it also encompasses people turning up and getting started on time. The best thing you can spend on DnD is time. Enthusiasm is folded in with Participation. You must be one HELL of a DM to keep it together with a group like that. I commend you, sir. Sig this if you please.
Ulrich Valdemont 09-04-05, 08:37 AM	You must be one HELL of a DM to keep it together with a group like that. I commend you, sir. Sig this if you please. Thanks!!! I will. Makes me feel a littel better. That adventure frustrated the hell out of me. Now that some time has gone over it, I know I have to have a talk with this group before I DM them again.