D&D, Drinking, and Drunk DMs [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D, Drinking, and Drunk DMs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kajinoryu
05-20-06, 11:20 PM I'm the oldest of the group I play D&D regularly with, a group of 7, sometimes larger depending on college course schedules. I don't drink, and avoid situations where people expect me to be drinking. Recently, all of them but my little brother turned 21 (bro has a few years to go), and alchohol has become a regular thing on the Saturdays that we would spend on D&D. I wouldn't mind all that much. I've been to some of thier parties and not had a drink, they understand that I avoid it because of family history. Unfortunately, while drinking, they lose focus on the game, we get nothing done, and it becomes a chore to just stay and try to stick it out for the rest of the night. Our bi-weekly sessions have not occured in a month and a half because of the recent attitudes developed. They've cancelled D&D for a kegger, a strip club, and because they were too drunk to start playing two hours ahead of time.

So my question is: Is there a good way to try and convince them, or at least the DM, that alchohol is not a good thing to have at the table, or will leaving be our best choice of action? The players in question (and the DM) know that they all can't concentrate while drinking, know the problems of trying to play while they're getting drunk, and just seem to be unable to stop breaking out the booze. I'm asking on behalf of myself (obviously), my kid bro, and another friend that we've known for 15 years. If we leave, the party count drops from 7 (including my cohort) to 3, and they lose all spellcasters except a paladin.

Thanks for any advice, although I have a feeling I know what most answers will be.
cancerousmango
05-20-06, 11:34 PM Appropriate that the paladin hasn't succumed to the devil drink.

Uh...just tell your friends that there's a time for booze, and that time might not be the table. Heck, videotape your game with them sloshed. In the light of sobriety, your drunken behaviour is embarrassing. I would know.
Werebat troll paladin
05-20-06, 11:37 PM I sort of had that problem with the guys I used to primarily play with. The games were great until the majority of them found pot. Now the game partially revolves around it. Turns lag tremendously and DMing degrades as the DM gets progressivly more stoned. I love playing with them, but it gets frustrating, as I don't touch the stuff. Unfortunatly I have no solution for you, though I do identify with your problem.
stargate525
05-20-06, 11:37 PM Perhaps also host it somewhere you control, and say that no alchohol is allowed on premises?
Insane Pixie
05-20-06, 11:38 PM Your fellow players have abandoned you for a kegger and a strip club?

They are never coming back.
stealth_monkey
05-21-06, 07:27 AM Well, I mean no offence by this, but I'd dare say the reason they're cancelling dnd for drinking/strip clubs etc is because they find them more fun? It doesn't seem to me that there's any real reason to try and force them not to drink, because their actions have shown that the gaming is secondary to them, if you say "party or game, not both" they're simply going to go for party. Sorry to say, but it seems that your group has just drifted into other interests
Witch
05-21-06, 07:36 AM So magically, when they turned 21, alcohol now controls them?

Thank God you can drink alcohol from 16 here - that way the funky experiments happen a little earlier, and people go back to being normal when they've passed puberty.
hmmmm
05-21-06, 07:59 AM Hmmm I have never had this type of problem but I would think that it could get annoying. Just explain to then your problems with them drinking and see if they stop if not go to one of there strip clubs dressed in a full plate and talk in medievil english. :P
Bob Loblaw
05-21-06, 11:10 AM I went through a similar time when I was in the military. If they are anything like the people I hung out with, they are going to spend their time drinking. Hopefully it won't consume them like it did to some of us.

You need to find another group. As was already mentioned, they have chosen to do what they consider to be more fun for them. Just keep an eye on them as their friends to make sure that the alcohol doesn't become a problem. Most people eventually get out of the drunk phase of their lives and into a more sober time.

Until then, find another group.

Good luck.
Luske
05-21-06, 08:03 PM Our group had the same problem a few years ago. It started out as no problem having beer on the tabel but as we play 12-14 hours with a break for food. 1 beer quickly became 2,3,4,5........ All ending in DM having trouble talking and people dieing cause they are all superman now.
We had a laugh over it the first time but when it happend the next 3-4 game sessions. People got annoyed and we put in a rule about not having alchohol at the table anymore.
Cant say we following the rule 100% as a beer can pop up now and then but people never have more then 2
celtredleg
05-21-06, 08:31 PM I went through a similar phase, but I certainly had my share of fall over drunk days. But I and most of my friends decided we could play some days and get hammered on others. Eventualy I got to where I mostly just play. Fewre hangovers.

I have no solution to your problem. It jhappens. I usually have a few younger gamers in my groups, and when they turn 21 I trend to lose about half of them. But I have also lost people to new girlfriends. And strip clubs are something many young guys just have to check out a few times.

Find different players. Keep contact with your current group, but dont expect things to turn around quickly. It tokk them some time to reach 21, it will take them some time to get over it.
kajinoryu
05-21-06, 09:46 PM Appropriate that the paladin hasn't succumed to the devil drink.

Ironically the pally is the first one drinking and main provocator of the habit at the table. He's the one you might consider most christian (no offense intended, this guy really has the best church-going habits and bible study out of all of us, and is first to point it out) out of any of us at the table, an avid hypocrit, a horrible influence and rolemodel for those around him, and I just don't care much to see him. But he's a friend's friend, and I'll deal with it when I need to so that others can be happy.

Perhaps also host it somewhere you control, and say that no alchohol is allowed on premises?

This may have been the reason when I DM'd and before most of us got our own living space outside of our parent's. The current DM lives in a more centralized location for our new homes.

So magically, when they turned 21, alcohol now controls them?

Yep, it's now readily available as the majority of them can buy it. They all turned 21 in the past 9 months, and as a non-drinker I never bought for them. It's sad how they have hardly any food, but plenty of hard liquor and beer to fill up where the food used to be.

They call me up to let me know we're going to play. Each week it's the same thing, "Sorry about last week, we're definitely on for tomorrow. There won't be any drinking this time." Then by the time we get there, they're already at it again.

Anyhow, I guess our course of action here will be to remove ourselves from the game. Seeing as the ones doing the drinking seem to do it the other 13 of 14 days that we don't plan on gaming, I might have to cut myself off from them a bit until the habit blows over. I'm not a big partier, or even a small one tbh, and avoid the noisy, flashy places anyways.
cancerousmango
05-21-06, 11:02 PM So magically, when they turned 21, alcohol now controls them?

Thank God you can drink alcohol from 16 here - that way the funky experiments happen a little earlier, and people go back to being normal when they've passed puberty.I second that. Peeps my age are obsessed with booze here, and I find the whole thing irritating. Due to the illegality of it, they used to drink as much as possible when they could, and now that they're 21, they still think like that. Make it part of everyday culture, it'll lose the mystique.
Muaadeeb
05-21-06, 11:03 PM Change your game time to noon.

:-)
zae
05-21-06, 11:24 PM Change your game time to noon.

:-)

You mean you DON'T start drinking at 10AM? That's just crazy talk!

If it's that recent, they might very well go through the stage then grow out of it, despite how much they seem to love being drunk now. A few of my friends went through the "Yeah, I'm 18 I can vote and drink! I vote we get drunk!" stage, it lasted a few months, then they got over it. It was "Been there, done that" mixed with a loss of money (alcohol's expensive. At least, enough to get drunk on is.) mixed with hangovers.

Then again, I know some who will skip at any opportunity to drink themselves stupid. So you might end up needing a new group.
Tzor
05-21-06, 11:26 PM When I was in college the drinking age was 18. Even then we had what was called the DRUNK/KNURD who were either pulling all nighters or dead drunk.

I was never like that, and I don't recall my college gaming group being like that either. Too many ROTC students in the group I suppose.

There is a place for responsible drinking ... but generally the gaming comes first. But that's true for many potential distractions from gaming, from excessive puns, to having food begin to take over all the gaming time.
Engilbrand
05-21-06, 11:58 PM I play with a group where one of the player's would spend most of the day drinking. We'd play for about 6 or 7 hours. He'd drink bear the whole time. His character wouldn't do much, and then he just started being an ass. After 2 or 3 games, he decided to quit after getting yelled at for being an ass. When you spend an hour complaining that your sister rolled her eyes at you and can't differentiate between her and her character, there's something wrong. An I think the guy's 30. Tell them no alcohol, no drunks. If they can't handle that, leave. It shows that they don't care about the game and they don't respect you.
Don't get me wrong. I played in quite a few games that involved alcohol, but it was kept to a minimum and we knew our limits. Once or twice, that was fun to do. But to do that every time? What's the point of "playing" at that point?
Fend
05-22-06, 12:52 AM once played under another dm... one of my first times playing not Dming for a change.

They had drinks at the table. 1 thing of Polish Fortified Spirits with Tabasco Later and i was to gone to keep playing. (yes i am a cadbury... but i had been nursing some beers before that point).

drinking and dnd dont mix with me...

another time we were spose to be playing a session of dnd on my 18th (since i was only having my close freinds over) in the end they ended up not playing while i sat there trying to bait them to the table. unfortunantly they instead got the new player - a our new lady gamer - drunk and she ended up regretting ever showing up. I didnt get drunk tho. so i kept things kind of undercontrol. but suffice to say it broke the current group at the time up. and ill never let my players drink at the table again.
freelancer_bob
05-22-06, 07:02 AM Yeah, some of our guys went through a phase of drinking at the table. whole bottles of vodka. each. That sorta messed up the game. They're clean now, which is good, cause their livers. Man, their livers. I gotta admit, it was fun, sometimes. Now, we might have a beer now and then, but never more than one or two. When Dming, NEVER more than one, most likely not even one.
atog_eater
05-22-06, 10:08 AM they spend thier sat evenings drinking? change your dnd evening to friday. young people get drunk, its what they do - im suprised they weighted untill they were 21 - i was out at 14 (although here in the UK the drinking age is 18).
babysamurai
05-22-06, 10:42 AM I definitely like the odd drink or two...or twenty seven.

So do half of the people I DM for (this is the UK after all).

Which is why we play on Sunday - work the next day.

Not that any of us are past drinking on a "school night", its just that Sunday is our relaxing, chill-out D&D day.

I'm the only one to ever have a drink while we play, and it is usually 1 to 3 beers (Stella) at most (I prefer spirits).

If it was that American ferret-pee, I could probably chug about 13 or so without feeling a thing, but that's beside the point.

I wouldn't want to get too ripped while I DM - it would be a let-down and a waste of time for all of us. We all have full-time jobs and play fortnightly, so you can imagine how irritating (to say the least) it would be to have your DM slurring his speech and forgetting all sorts of details (like putting on pants).

In short: Only in extreme moderation should you mix alcohol and D&D.

...then you might have the time of your life.
Robo_Mafia_Latte
05-22-06, 11:55 AM tell them if they come you'll give them 5 bottles of fine wine........then give their characters 5 bottles of fine wine each
Romtos
05-22-06, 04:50 PM Beer on the table is fine. It's just something you can do, but not too much. I never drink more than 3 bottles on a session. After that it could be affecting my DM-ing. Most of the guys don't drink at all, some do. That way their just isn't a problem, as long as you know what you're doing. People at the age of 21 should be able to handle their drinking. Damn, I'm 17 and I know my limits. At 21, it's just plain said if you don't.
J.Augustus Rose II
05-22-06, 05:40 PM Beer on the table is fine. It's just something you can do, but not too much. I never drink more than 3 bottles on a session. After that it could be affecting my DM-ing. Most of the guys don't drink at all, some do. That way their just isn't a problem, as long as you know what you're doing. People at the age of 21 should be able to handle their drinking. Damn, I'm 17 and I know my limits. At 21, it's just plain said if you don't.

I agree. It's pretty sad that people can't handle five drinks over a 14 hour period. If you don't know how to handle yourself while drinking then you shouldn't be doing it.
Arcane
05-23-06, 05:20 AM It sounds to me that your friends are on the slippery slope to being alcoholics. It sucks, trust me. Explain to them the dangers, show them several people who've messed up, and tell them that you're not going to play until they start playing sober, and don't drink in the game. I, personally, don't drink as I 1) am underage, and 2) have a family history of drunkenness. I also know that I have an addictive personality...but I digress. Try to keep them away from constant alcohol, and I would recommend not playing when they have ANY alcohol in them.
J.Augustus Rose II
05-23-06, 07:25 AM Drinking once a week on the Saturday they play D&D is far from being "on the slippery slope to being alcoholics." :rolleyes:
Witch
05-23-06, 07:32 AM Damn, I'm 17 and I know my limits. At 21, it's just plain said if you don't.
I'm 18, yet I don't know my limits.
Much because I prefer not to discover them - I quit drinking after 2 alcoholic beverages.
Been drunk once, and I never want to be again.
Romtos
05-23-06, 08:42 AM I'm 18, yet I don't know my limits.
Much because I prefer not to discover them - I quit drinking after 2 alcoholic beverages.
Been drunk once, and I never want to be again.
Discovering your limits is not about checking how much you can drink before you pass out. It is about knowing how much you, personally, can drink in a certain situation. In D&D, you have to be quite sharp and it is a good thing to know exactly how much you can drink before you have had too much. That way, you can enjoy you're lovely beer and you don't have to worry about anything, and others won't get frustrated.
Sereno
05-23-06, 11:24 AM Drinking once a week on the Saturday they play D&D is far from being "on the slippery slope to being alcoholics." :rolleyes:

Not necessarily becoming alcoholics, but they are definately on the road to binge-drinking.

Enough college kids die each year from binge-drinking to be concerned.

A couple of beers (or mixed drinks) around the table is no big deal; there's a reason why alcohol is called a "social lubricant." :)

Getting drunk IS a problem. Despite how cool you think you are, you don't do ANYTHING better when you're drunk than when you're sober ... except maybe vomit. :)
Insane Pixie
05-23-06, 08:39 PM This thread shouldn't be advice on how to get them back, or a bunch of "zOmG dr1nk1ng izzz b4d" posts.

They are having more fun drinking and going to strip clubs then they are playing D&D. That's obvious, seeing as they've been skipping out on sessions. Unless they drink themselves into a coma, there's no reason to even think about intervening. They've left D&D for a hobby they find more satisfying, and it'd be selfish of you to try and force them back.

Alternatively, if they're drinking at the table, what's the problem? They have impaired judgement and might make stupid in or OOC decisions. They might find that they have more fun while they play drinking, or while they and other players are too. It's sort of like why people and compelled to play Kender.
Duvanok
05-24-06, 01:02 AM Your fellow players have abandoned you for a kegger and a strip club?

They are never coming back.

I somewhat agree. Your friends have chosen the new found freedom of being able to drink in public places over the D&D game you've all been playing for years. It is sad, but the drinking experience is novel for them which means it is sure to wear off sooner or later. It is probably not a good choice to wait around for them to be done with their frat-boy phase. After all, some guys never come out of that phase. My advice is to talk to your group about how they would feel playing an alcohol free game once a month, instead of twice. Try it. And if that doesn't work out then, unfortunately, it is time to find a new group.

Good luck.
DarthMarasmus
05-24-06, 01:48 AM I've been known to have a drink or 5 while playing or DMing, but nobody complains because I'm a happy and funny drunk. And I spread them out enought that I didn't get sloshed, just nicely buzzed. There are really only a few people in my group that do drink, but the others don't have a problem with us having a few (it's my house, so I don't have to drive home, just find my bedroom). However, like I said, we've never gotten drunk while playing, so it hasn't been a problem. I did once create a character while I was drunk (NG Shield Dwarf ranger), which was quite interesting...
Aeolius
05-24-06, 01:48 AM They are having more fun drinking and going to strip clubs then they are playing D&D... They've left D&D for a hobby they find more satisfying, and it'd be selfish of you to try and force them back.

Entice them back with a strip club in the game. Offline, dancers never get involved with patrons. Break that one rule, and you're golden. Up the ante to a mature game... involve drugs, but keep the consequences.

C'mon... a pole-dancing succubus... they'll never turn back. ;)

Alternately, ask them to invite their newfound scantily-clad friends to a D&D game... that ought to be a reality check in and of itself ;)
Bob Loblaw
05-24-06, 01:59 AM Alternately, ask them to invite their newfound scantily-clad friends to a D&D game... that ought to be a reality check in and of itself ;)

I'd join that game! Sign me up!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kajinoryu 05-20-06, 11:20 PM	I'm the oldest of the group I play D&D regularly with, a group of 7, sometimes larger depending on college course schedules. I don't drink, and avoid situations where people expect me to be drinking. Recently, all of them but my little brother turned 21 (bro has a few years to go), and alchohol has become a regular thing on the Saturdays that we would spend on D&D. I wouldn't mind all that much. I've been to some of thier parties and not had a drink, they understand that I avoid it because of family history. Unfortunately, while drinking, they lose focus on the game, we get nothing done, and it becomes a chore to just stay and try to stick it out for the rest of the night. Our bi-weekly sessions have not occured in a month and a half because of the recent attitudes developed. They've cancelled D&D for a kegger, a strip club, and because they were too drunk to start playing two hours ahead of time. So my question is: Is there a good way to try and convince them, or at least the DM, that alchohol is not a good thing to have at the table, or will leaving be our best choice of action? The players in question (and the DM) know that they all can't concentrate while drinking, know the problems of trying to play while they're getting drunk, and just seem to be unable to stop breaking out the booze. I'm asking on behalf of myself (obviously), my kid bro, and another friend that we've known for 15 years. If we leave, the party count drops from 7 (including my cohort) to 3, and they lose all spellcasters except a paladin. Thanks for any advice, although I have a feeling I know what most answers will be.
cancerousmango 05-20-06, 11:34 PM	Appropriate that the paladin hasn't succumed to the devil drink. Uh...just tell your friends that there's a time for booze, and that time might not be the table. Heck, videotape your game with them sloshed. In the light of sobriety, your drunken behaviour is embarrassing. I would know.
Werebat troll paladin 05-20-06, 11:37 PM	I sort of had that problem with the guys I used to primarily play with. The games were great until the majority of them found pot. Now the game partially revolves around it. Turns lag tremendously and DMing degrades as the DM gets progressivly more stoned. I love playing with them, but it gets frustrating, as I don't touch the stuff. Unfortunatly I have no solution for you, though I do identify with your problem.
stargate525 05-20-06, 11:37 PM	Perhaps also host it somewhere you control, and say that no alchohol is allowed on premises?
Insane Pixie 05-20-06, 11:38 PM	Your fellow players have abandoned you for a kegger and a strip club? They are never coming back.
stealth_monkey 05-21-06, 07:27 AM	Well, I mean no offence by this, but I'd dare say the reason they're cancelling dnd for drinking/strip clubs etc is because they find them more fun? It doesn't seem to me that there's any real reason to try and force them not to drink, because their actions have shown that the gaming is secondary to them, if you say "party or game, not both" they're simply going to go for party. Sorry to say, but it seems that your group has just drifted into other interests
Witch 05-21-06, 07:36 AM	So magically, when they turned 21, alcohol now controls them? Thank God you can drink alcohol from 16 here - that way the funky experiments happen a little earlier, and people go back to being normal when they've passed puberty.
hmmmm 05-21-06, 07:59 AM	Hmmm I have never had this type of problem but I would think that it could get annoying. Just explain to then your problems with them drinking and see if they stop if not go to one of there strip clubs dressed in a full plate and talk in medievil english. :P
Bob Loblaw 05-21-06, 11:10 AM	I went through a similar time when I was in the military. If they are anything like the people I hung out with, they are going to spend their time drinking. Hopefully it won't consume them like it did to some of us. You need to find another group. As was already mentioned, they have chosen to do what they consider to be more fun for them. Just keep an eye on them as their friends to make sure that the alcohol doesn't become a problem. Most people eventually get out of the drunk phase of their lives and into a more sober time. Until then, find another group. Good luck.
Luske 05-21-06, 08:03 PM	Our group had the same problem a few years ago. It started out as no problem having beer on the tabel but as we play 12-14 hours with a break for food. 1 beer quickly became 2,3,4,5........ All ending in DM having trouble talking and people dieing cause they are all superman now. We had a laugh over it the first time but when it happend the next 3-4 game sessions. People got annoyed and we put in a rule about not having alchohol at the table anymore. Cant say we following the rule 100% as a beer can pop up now and then but people never have more then 2
celtredleg 05-21-06, 08:31 PM	I went through a similar phase, but I certainly had my share of fall over drunk days. But I and most of my friends decided we could play some days and get hammered on others. Eventualy I got to where I mostly just play. Fewre hangovers. I have no solution to your problem. It jhappens. I usually have a few younger gamers in my groups, and when they turn 21 I trend to lose about half of them. But I have also lost people to new girlfriends. And strip clubs are something many young guys just have to check out a few times. Find different players. Keep contact with your current group, but dont expect things to turn around quickly. It tokk them some time to reach 21, it will take them some time to get over it.
kajinoryu 05-21-06, 09:46 PM	Appropriate that the paladin hasn't succumed to the devil drink. Ironically the pally is the first one drinking and main provocator of the habit at the table. He's the one you might consider most christian (no offense intended, this guy really has the best church-going habits and bible study out of all of us, and is first to point it out) out of any of us at the table, an avid hypocrit, a horrible influence and rolemodel for those around him, and I just don't care much to see him. But he's a friend's friend, and I'll deal with it when I need to so that others can be happy. Perhaps also host it somewhere you control, and say that no alchohol is allowed on premises? This may have been the reason when I DM'd and before most of us got our own living space outside of our parent's. The current DM lives in a more centralized location for our new homes. So magically, when they turned 21, alcohol now controls them? Yep, it's now readily available as the majority of them can buy it. They all turned 21 in the past 9 months, and as a non-drinker I never bought for them. It's sad how they have hardly any food, but plenty of hard liquor and beer to fill up where the food used to be. They call me up to let me know we're going to play. Each week it's the same thing, "Sorry about last week, we're definitely on for tomorrow. There won't be any drinking this time." Then by the time we get there, they're already at it again. Anyhow, I guess our course of action here will be to remove ourselves from the game. Seeing as the ones doing the drinking seem to do it the other 13 of 14 days that we don't plan on gaming, I might have to cut myself off from them a bit until the habit blows over. I'm not a big partier, or even a small one tbh, and avoid the noisy, flashy places anyways.
cancerousmango 05-21-06, 11:02 PM	So magically, when they turned 21, alcohol now controls them? Thank God you can drink alcohol from 16 here - that way the funky experiments happen a little earlier, and people go back to being normal when they've passed puberty.I second that. Peeps my age are obsessed with booze here, and I find the whole thing irritating. Due to the illegality of it, they used to drink as much as possible when they could, and now that they're 21, they still think like that. Make it part of everyday culture, it'll lose the mystique.
Muaadeeb 05-21-06, 11:03 PM	Change your game time to noon. :-)
zae 05-21-06, 11:24 PM	Change your game time to noon. :-) You mean you DON'T start drinking at 10AM? That's just crazy talk! If it's that recent, they might very well go through the stage then grow out of it, despite how much they seem to love being drunk now. A few of my friends went through the "Yeah, I'm 18 I can vote and drink! I vote we get drunk!" stage, it lasted a few months, then they got over it. It was "Been there, done that" mixed with a loss of money (alcohol's expensive. At least, enough to get drunk on is.) mixed with hangovers. Then again, I know some who will skip at any opportunity to drink themselves stupid. So you might end up needing a new group.
Tzor 05-21-06, 11:26 PM	When I was in college the drinking age was 18. Even then we had what was called the DRUNK/KNURD who were either pulling all nighters or dead drunk. I was never like that, and I don't recall my college gaming group being like that either. Too many ROTC students in the group I suppose. There is a place for responsible drinking ... but generally the gaming comes first. But that's true for many potential distractions from gaming, from excessive puns, to having food begin to take over all the gaming time.
Engilbrand 05-21-06, 11:58 PM	I play with a group where one of the player's would spend most of the day drinking. We'd play for about 6 or 7 hours. He'd drink bear the whole time. His character wouldn't do much, and then he just started being an ass. After 2 or 3 games, he decided to quit after getting yelled at for being an ass. When you spend an hour complaining that your sister rolled her eyes at you and can't differentiate between her and her character, there's something wrong. An I think the guy's 30. Tell them no alcohol, no drunks. If they can't handle that, leave. It shows that they don't care about the game and they don't respect you. Don't get me wrong. I played in quite a few games that involved alcohol, but it was kept to a minimum and we knew our limits. Once or twice, that was fun to do. But to do that every time? What's the point of "playing" at that point?
Fend 05-22-06, 12:52 AM	once played under another dm... one of my first times playing not Dming for a change. They had drinks at the table. 1 thing of Polish Fortified Spirits with Tabasco Later and i was to gone to keep playing. (yes i am a cadbury... but i had been nursing some beers before that point). drinking and dnd dont mix with me... another time we were spose to be playing a session of dnd on my 18th (since i was only having my close freinds over) in the end they ended up not playing while i sat there trying to bait them to the table. unfortunantly they instead got the new player - a our new lady gamer - drunk and she ended up regretting ever showing up. I didnt get drunk tho. so i kept things kind of undercontrol. but suffice to say it broke the current group at the time up. and ill never let my players drink at the table again.
freelancer_bob 05-22-06, 07:02 AM	Yeah, some of our guys went through a phase of drinking at the table. whole bottles of vodka. each. That sorta messed up the game. They're clean now, which is good, cause their livers. Man, their livers. I gotta admit, it was fun, sometimes. Now, we might have a beer now and then, but never more than one or two. When Dming, NEVER more than one, most likely not even one.
atog_eater 05-22-06, 10:08 AM	they spend thier sat evenings drinking? change your dnd evening to friday. young people get drunk, its what they do - im suprised they weighted untill they were 21 - i was out at 14 (although here in the UK the drinking age is 18).
babysamurai 05-22-06, 10:42 AM	I definitely like the odd drink or two...or twenty seven. So do half of the people I DM for (this is the UK after all). Which is why we play on Sunday - work the next day. Not that any of us are past drinking on a "school night", its just that Sunday is our relaxing, chill-out D&D day. I'm the only one to ever have a drink while we play, and it is usually 1 to 3 beers (Stella) at most (I prefer spirits). If it was that American ferret-pee, I could probably chug about 13 or so without feeling a thing, but that's beside the point. I wouldn't want to get too ripped while I DM - it would be a let-down and a waste of time for all of us. We all have full-time jobs and play fortnightly, so you can imagine how irritating (to say the least) it would be to have your DM slurring his speech and forgetting all sorts of details (like putting on pants). In short: Only in extreme moderation should you mix alcohol and D&D. ...then you might have the time of your life.
Robo_Mafia_Latte 05-22-06, 11:55 AM	tell them if they come you'll give them 5 bottles of fine wine........then give their characters 5 bottles of fine wine each
Romtos 05-22-06, 04:50 PM	Beer on the table is fine. It's just something you can do, but not too much. I never drink more than 3 bottles on a session. After that it could be affecting my DM-ing. Most of the guys don't drink at all, some do. That way their just isn't a problem, as long as you know what you're doing. People at the age of 21 should be able to handle their drinking. Damn, I'm 17 and I know my limits. At 21, it's just plain said if you don't.
J.Augustus Rose II 05-22-06, 05:40 PM	Beer on the table is fine. It's just something you can do, but not too much. I never drink more than 3 bottles on a session. After that it could be affecting my DM-ing. Most of the guys don't drink at all, some do. That way their just isn't a problem, as long as you know what you're doing. People at the age of 21 should be able to handle their drinking. Damn, I'm 17 and I know my limits. At 21, it's just plain said if you don't. I agree. It's pretty sad that people can't handle five drinks over a 14 hour period. If you don't know how to handle yourself while drinking then you shouldn't be doing it.
Arcane 05-23-06, 05:20 AM	It sounds to me that your friends are on the slippery slope to being alcoholics. It sucks, trust me. Explain to them the dangers, show them several people who've messed up, and tell them that you're not going to play until they start playing sober, and don't drink in the game. I, personally, don't drink as I 1) am underage, and 2) have a family history of drunkenness. I also know that I have an addictive personality...but I digress. Try to keep them away from constant alcohol, and I would recommend not playing when they have ANY alcohol in them.
J.Augustus Rose II 05-23-06, 07:25 AM	Drinking once a week on the Saturday they play D&D is far from being "on the slippery slope to being alcoholics." :rolleyes:
Witch 05-23-06, 07:32 AM	Damn, I'm 17 and I know my limits. At 21, it's just plain said if you don't. I'm 18, yet I don't know my limits. Much because I prefer not to discover them - I quit drinking after 2 alcoholic beverages. Been drunk once, and I never want to be again.
Romtos 05-23-06, 08:42 AM	I'm 18, yet I don't know my limits. Much because I prefer not to discover them - I quit drinking after 2 alcoholic beverages. Been drunk once, and I never want to be again. Discovering your limits is not about checking how much you can drink before you pass out. It is about knowing how much you, personally, can drink in a certain situation. In D&D, you have to be quite sharp and it is a good thing to know exactly how much you can drink before you have had too much. That way, you can enjoy you're lovely beer and you don't have to worry about anything, and others won't get frustrated.
Sereno 05-23-06, 11:24 AM	Drinking once a week on the Saturday they play D&D is far from being "on the slippery slope to being alcoholics." :rolleyes: Not necessarily becoming alcoholics, but they are definately on the road to binge-drinking. Enough college kids die each year from binge-drinking to be concerned. A couple of beers (or mixed drinks) around the table is no big deal; there's a reason why alcohol is called a "social lubricant." :) Getting drunk IS a problem. Despite how cool you think you are, you don't do ANYTHING better when you're drunk than when you're sober ... except maybe vomit. :)
Insane Pixie 05-23-06, 08:39 PM	This thread shouldn't be advice on how to get them back, or a bunch of "zOmG dr1nk1ng izzz b4d" posts. They are having more fun drinking and going to strip clubs then they are playing D&D. That's obvious, seeing as they've been skipping out on sessions. Unless they drink themselves into a coma, there's no reason to even think about intervening. They've left D&D for a hobby they find more satisfying, and it'd be selfish of you to try and force them back. Alternatively, if they're drinking at the table, what's the problem? They have impaired judgement and might make stupid in or OOC decisions. They might find that they have more fun while they play drinking, or while they and other players are too. It's sort of like why people and compelled to play Kender.
Duvanok 05-24-06, 01:02 AM	Your fellow players have abandoned you for a kegger and a strip club? They are never coming back. I somewhat agree. Your friends have chosen the new found freedom of being able to drink in public places over the D&D game you've all been playing for years. It is sad, but the drinking experience is novel for them which means it is sure to wear off sooner or later. It is probably not a good choice to wait around for them to be done with their frat-boy phase. After all, some guys never come out of that phase. My advice is to talk to your group about how they would feel playing an alcohol free game once a month, instead of twice. Try it. And if that doesn't work out then, unfortunately, it is time to find a new group. Good luck.
DarthMarasmus 05-24-06, 01:48 AM	I've been known to have a drink or 5 while playing or DMing, but nobody complains because I'm a happy and funny drunk. And I spread them out enought that I didn't get sloshed, just nicely buzzed. There are really only a few people in my group that do drink, but the others don't have a problem with us having a few (it's my house, so I don't have to drive home, just find my bedroom). However, like I said, we've never gotten drunk while playing, so it hasn't been a problem. I did once create a character while I was drunk (NG Shield Dwarf ranger), which was quite interesting...
Aeolius 05-24-06, 01:48 AM	They are having more fun drinking and going to strip clubs then they are playing D&D... They've left D&D for a hobby they find more satisfying, and it'd be selfish of you to try and force them back. Entice them back with a strip club in the game. Offline, dancers never get involved with patrons. Break that one rule, and you're golden. Up the ante to a mature game... involve drugs, but keep the consequences. C'mon... a pole-dancing succubus... they'll never turn back. ;) Alternately, ask them to invite their newfound scantily-clad friends to a D&D game... that ought to be a reality check in and of itself ;)
Bob Loblaw 05-24-06, 01:59 AM	Alternately, ask them to invite their newfound scantily-clad friends to a D&D game... that ought to be a reality check in and of itself ;) I'd join that game! Sign me up!