Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheGreenMan 12-07-05, 09:54 PM	I have joined a recently established group of weekly players that seem to be less into rules knowledge and plot involvement than the previous group I have played/DMed with. I am not a complete rules lawyer by any means but I am having a hard time enjoying the game as much as I could because: A.) Plot hooks and character interaction with the story is sometimes hard to hook into. Probably becasue the DM doesn't consider the adventures from the perspective of the character's motivation. (Give my character a reason to go on this trip.) B.) Rules knowledge and game balance are not very as smooth as I think they should be. Encounters are either too easy or way too hard. And when they almost kill us, our bacon is saved deus ex machina. I am a support class and don't get to affect much because the heavy hitters ignore/ don't know all the slight rules that would limit them from monopolising the game. C.) we slog through boring details when the DM should whip us forward and then combat sometimes has a too much page flipping. D.) Too much seems on the wing that most activites don't add up to a continuous experience. XP is not given. Are all these signs of an inexperienced group that can change with practice or are there long time groups that just slog around like this? I ask because they are all mature people (really), but the experience is just spotty. And I don't want to be a jerk and be a back seat DM or correct the other players when they forget a rule all the time. And I don't really feel like looking for a new group becasue everyone has really good playing characteristics and are nice people to get allong with. What do I do? :confused:
fatal error 12-07-05, 10:08 PM	Take up the mantle of DM after a bit more of having them get used to you. Show them how it's done!
smoker 12-08-05, 02:11 AM	Jeez. Lighten up. The older people get, the less they care about rules. I know 2nd ed rules better than I know 3e. Was everyone having a good time? That's my measure of how well the game is going. If everyone is laughing, having a good time, and not following all the rules, that's a great group. If everyone is concerned about rules and quiet, that's a pretty dull group that I wouldn't want to play in. smoker
The Phantom Flan Flinger 12-08-05, 03:43 AM	I agree with Fatal Error. Tell them you've been dying to dust off your old campaign for so long and have been waiting for a great group like this to really make it work. Then show them how it's done! You may find that the DM isn't that fussed about DMing and this is why the gameplay is occasionally spotty. If they don't like your style then fair enough and you're back to the age-old decision "Do I put up with a less-than-stellar game because, on balance, I do enjoy the sessions?" with nothing lost. Smoker is right in that getting along and having a good time out of game is 80% of a perfect session (who wants to play with someone they don't like?), but since you've already got that sorted it sounds as though you could really add to the other 20% (the in-game experience) provided you do it via gentle nudges and not a big stick.
Gailbraithe 12-08-05, 04:39 AM	"Hey guys, I have a great idea for a short campaign. What do you say [Insert current DM's name], think I could take a turn DMing after this adventure wraps up?" Proceed to object lesson.
TheGreenMan 12-08-05, 10:31 AM	Jeez. Lighten up. The older people get, the less they care about rules. I know 2nd ed rules better than I know 3e. Was everyone having a good time? That's my measure of how well the game is going. If everyone is laughing, having a good time, and not following all the rules, that's a great group. If everyone is concerned about rules and quiet, that's a pretty dull group that I wouldn't want to play in. smoker Things would be fine if everyone was satisfied. Like I said, my character is getting hosed. The other players are taking all the action becasue of a rules lenient DM and there is no plot reasons for my character to do anything. I have nothing to contribute. Story wise or tacticaly. I've been bored.
TheGreenMan 12-08-05, 10:34 AM	Take up the mantle of DM after a bit more of having them get used to you. Show them how it's done! I was thinking this was the best way, but I have been trying to avoid being a DM all the time. I have a nasty habit of doing DM duties all the time. Don't get me wrong, It's fun, just time intensive.
The Phantom Flan Flinger 12-09-05, 08:29 AM	Ah, you must have an old adventure that you can dust off and update with a minimal amount of work. It would only have to run for two or three sessions - just enough for you to introduce whatever rules/areas of play that you think are going unrecognised or unappreciated, and showcase the benefits of good DM habits such as giving every player a turn to speak and every character a chance to shine. If the players and the usual DM like these extra touches and techniques, they will adopt them automatically in future games. (Or that's the theory, anyhow.)
Cymraegmorgan 12-09-05, 09:11 AM	Things would be fine if everyone was satisfied. Like I said, my character is getting hosed. The other players are taking all the action becasue of a rules lenient DM and there is no plot reasons for my character to do anything. I have nothing to contribute. Story wise or tacticaly. I've been bored. Then create a contribution. Get the group to go with your character on a quest to find The Lost Wossname. Pump the DM for clues about said Thingy and grease the wheels. Be proactive if you want more plot. You probably will not have trouble getting everyone to go along, if they are as relaxed as you infer.