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Slow Gameplay but Reluctant to Leave Group

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jimminyjojo
Aug 09, 2009 1:33:33 Here's my dilemma: I really enjoy DnD, but my group (composed of some of my best friends) plays so slowly that gaming with them is hardly fun at all. I don't mean that they are slow and deliberate in planning their turns... most everyone's turns take under a minute. The problem is that everyone acts like they have ADHD when we sit down for a gaming session. There are about 6-7 people in my group and we've been playing "A Touch of Madness", a 10th level adventure for about 3 sessions now. The first session we played for about 5 hours and only got through the first encounter which included killing 4 Grells...

Tonight was just unbelievable. At one point there were 3 different conversations going on, and the DM couldn't hear me when I was trying to tell him what I rolled. Even when he could hear me he would get distracted to make a comment about some side discussion. This is pretty much how the whole night went, and by the end I was just frustrated as we played for another good 4 hours, only accomplishing one encounter.

I'm hoping for some suggestions for speeding up gameplay. We haven't even really started the main dungeon yet, and I'm wondering if I should ditch my friends and try to join a different gaming group or if there is anything I could do to help people keep focused so we can actually accomplish something in the game.

These guys are my friends and I don't want to ditch them, but I feel like I'm at a Turkish bazaar rather than a DnD table these days.
#2
panthine
Aug 09, 2009 2:18:27 Firstly, talk to the DM ~ tell him your concerns about the off-topic conversations and that it is taking the enjoyable aspect out of your gaming experience.

If he has the desire to do anything about it, he will try to police this by asking that players speak on their turn and all off-topic conversation is left for breaks and end-of-game.

You can also help him in this, by politely asking your mates to "be quiet, it is not your turn", as soon as an off-topic discussion starts ~ especially when the DM is engaged with another PC and his actions.

I had to do this in my campaign as the DM as I had 8 PC's and if they all started talking it would be a nightmare. I asked another reliable person to help police it and now majority of the people at my table contribute to keeping off-topic conversation to a minimum by hitting it on the head as soon as it arises.
#3
kuonji
Aug 09, 2009 4:37:23 Tough situation, especially when the DM is involved with the side conversations himself.

Our group has an important rule during sessions: no side/out of game talk allowed.

I adopted the rule from a DM who used it. At first it seemed really annoying and heavy handed, but after a 14 month long campaign in which every session all the players were focused on the game, it was great. It did take a little bit to get used to, and there is still the occasional joke/side remark, but they are typically one liners or really short and non-disruptive for the most part.

It's up to the DM to enforce this. If someone starts in on some side talk, a quick, firm, polite reminder of the rule is usually enough to get things back on track and cut off the side talk. A couple things that can help are to have the session meet up time an hour or so before the actual session starts so people can get side talk out of their system and, if needed, take a break or breaks during the session where side talk can be appropriate.

Definitely speak with your DM about your concerns. Point out how little you actually get done during each session. It might be that the DM would also like to change things but isn't sure how or if anyone is interested. I don't know how often you hang out with these friends outside of DnD, but you might also point out that you have the entire rest of the week to talk about everything else, so focusing on the game for a few hours shouldn't be that difficult.
#4
deacon_liadon
Aug 09, 2009 10:28:20 I know precisely how you feel.

My gaming group is a large one (8 players) and everyone often seems off in their own little world. This has resulted recently in taking up to three hours to do a single encounter because of people not paying attention when their turns are coming up.

All I can say is, talk with your GM and address the group directly. Ask them to concentrate more on the game. Be polite about it. Point out that it's not fair that you can't be heard when trying to take your turn and ask them to show you the same respect that you show them.
#5
CCS
Aug 09, 2009 13:42:10 Here's the great thing about most D&D games: It doesn't really matter how fast you play through an adventure. So you spend 4 hours & finish one encounter. So what? As long as you can claim to have had fun (wich doesn't have to be measured in game terms) with your friends it's all good.
#6
FlashbackJon
Aug 10, 2009 15:37:15 You might try bringing it up to the entire group before a session. I'm sure they ALL want to get more done, but they feel like the session won't be as fun if they don't get to have all their little conversations and side-jokes.

Our entire group came to that consensus a few sessions back, and it's a LOT of work, but it has coming to be just as enjoyable AND we actually get adventuring done.
#7
williamtanner
Aug 10, 2009 16:32:24 I think it comes down to the DM having allowed too many people in the game, and not having the care or command to keep the group on task. I don't think there's anything you can do to get everyone focused. You may want to discuss it with the DM, but ultimately he will succeed, with the help of everyone, or fail.

Until he succeeds, you're having fun or you are not, and that is your guiding star. Playing the game is a secondary concern.
#8
jimminyjojo
Aug 11, 2009 8:58:26 Thanks for the helpful replies everyone. I will definitely have a talk with the DM about the situation before our next session. I agree that having fun is the main point whether you do much adventuring or not. In this case I would like to adventure though... I think the rest of the group is having fun just being together and hanging out, so if my DM isn't willing to enforce some order I may just start my own (much smaller) group.

Thanks everyone

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jimminyjojo Aug 09, 2009 1:33:33	Here's my dilemma: I really enjoy DnD, but my group (composed of some of my best friends) plays so slowly that gaming with them is hardly fun at all. I don't mean that they are slow and deliberate in planning their turns... most everyone's turns take under a minute. The problem is that everyone acts like they have ADHD when we sit down for a gaming session. There are about 6-7 people in my group and we've been playing "A Touch of Madness", a 10th level adventure for about 3 sessions now. The first session we played for about 5 hours and only got through the first encounter which included killing 4 Grells... Tonight was just unbelievable. At one point there were 3 different conversations going on, and the DM couldn't hear me when I was trying to tell him what I rolled. Even when he could hear me he would get distracted to make a comment about some side discussion. This is pretty much how the whole night went, and by the end I was just frustrated as we played for another good 4 hours, only accomplishing one encounter. I'm hoping for some suggestions for speeding up gameplay. We haven't even really started the main dungeon yet, and I'm wondering if I should ditch my friends and try to join a different gaming group or if there is anything I could do to help people keep focused so we can actually accomplish something in the game. These guys are my friends and I don't want to ditch them, but I feel like I'm at a Turkish bazaar rather than a DnD table these days.
#2 panthine Aug 09, 2009 2:18:27	Firstly, talk to the DM ~ tell him your concerns about the off-topic conversations and that it is taking the enjoyable aspect out of your gaming experience. If he has the desire to do anything about it, he will try to police this by asking that players speak on their turn and all off-topic conversation is left for breaks and end-of-game. You can also help him in this, by politely asking your mates to "be quiet, it is not your turn", as soon as an off-topic discussion starts ~ especially when the DM is engaged with another PC and his actions. I had to do this in my campaign as the DM as I had 8 PC's and if they all started talking it would be a nightmare. I asked another reliable person to help police it and now majority of the people at my table contribute to keeping off-topic conversation to a minimum by hitting it on the head as soon as it arises.
#3 kuonji Aug 09, 2009 4:37:23	Tough situation, especially when the DM is involved with the side conversations himself. Our group has an important rule during sessions: no side/out of game talk allowed. I adopted the rule from a DM who used it. At first it seemed really annoying and heavy handed, but after a 14 month long campaign in which every session all the players were focused on the game, it was great. It did take a little bit to get used to, and there is still the occasional joke/side remark, but they are typically one liners or really short and non-disruptive for the most part. It's up to the DM to enforce this. If someone starts in on some side talk, a quick, firm, polite reminder of the rule is usually enough to get things back on track and cut off the side talk. A couple things that can help are to have the session meet up time an hour or so before the actual session starts so people can get side talk out of their system and, if needed, take a break or breaks during the session where side talk can be appropriate. Definitely speak with your DM about your concerns. Point out how little you actually get done during each session. It might be that the DM would also like to change things but isn't sure how or if anyone is interested. I don't know how often you hang out with these friends outside of DnD, but you might also point out that you have the entire rest of the week to talk about everything else, so focusing on the game for a few hours shouldn't be that difficult.
#4 deacon_liadon Aug 09, 2009 10:28:20	I know precisely how you feel. My gaming group is a large one (8 players) and everyone often seems off in their own little world. This has resulted recently in taking up to three hours to do a single encounter because of people not paying attention when their turns are coming up. All I can say is, talk with your GM and address the group directly. Ask them to concentrate more on the game. Be polite about it. Point out that it's not fair that you can't be heard when trying to take your turn and ask them to show you the same respect that you show them.
#5 CCS Aug 09, 2009 13:42:10	Here's the great thing about most D&D games: It doesn't really matter how fast you play through an adventure. So you spend 4 hours & finish one encounter. So what? As long as you can claim to have had fun (wich doesn't have to be measured in game terms) with your friends it's all good.
#6 FlashbackJon Aug 10, 2009 15:37:15	You might try bringing it up to the entire group before a session. I'm sure they ALL want to get more done, but they feel like the session won't be as fun if they don't get to have all their little conversations and side-jokes. Our entire group came to that consensus a few sessions back, and it's a LOT of work, but it has coming to be just as enjoyable AND we actually get adventuring done.
#7 williamtanner Aug 10, 2009 16:32:24	I think it comes down to the DM having allowed too many people in the game, and not having the care or command to keep the group on task. I don't think there's anything you can do to get everyone focused. You may want to discuss it with the DM, but ultimately he will succeed, with the help of everyone, or fail. Until he succeeds, you're having fun or you are not, and that is your guiding star. Playing the game is a secondary concern.
#8 jimminyjojo Aug 11, 2009 8:58:26	Thanks for the helpful replies everyone. I will definitely have a talk with the DM about the situation before our next session. I agree that having fun is the main point whether you do much adventuring or not. In this case I would like to adventure though... I think the rest of the group is having fun just being together and hanging out, so if my DM isn't willing to enforce some order I may just start my own (much smaller) group. Thanks everyone