Besides it's the best player advice I can give.
After all DM's love Zombies and they love to outsmart players even more.
Amen. I have a guy in my group that doesn't seem to realize he has this lovely sheet of paper, and that he can write stuff down on it so he doesn't forget. He never remembers how many hit points he has, he never remembers his modifiers (and will frequently declare a miss on an iffy roll, like an 8). I want to brain him, but, he's my meatshield. (He's a Dragonborn Fighter, I'm a human Wizard.)
I have a few players at my table when I DM, actually... I've always had at least one player no matter where I was, that will declare whether or not they succeeded at what they rolled.
I understand if they roll a 17 or better on the d20 for them to think they suceeded, since that is usually true.
What I don't understand is declaring failure when rolling a 7-10 on the d20. I always have to ask "what did you roll?" to get them to tell me the result so I can figure out whether they really did fail or if they are just assuming the game is harder than it is.
Take a look at the power cards that came with the new character sheets, or set your own up on index cards, if your players don't have the whole book to browse through, they might be faster. (At least, less flipping pages!) And, if your players are slowing combat down because they can't make a decision, grab a fast timer (like, say, a 30 second hourglass). When their initiative comes up, flip the timer, and ask, "your action?" If the timer empties before they declare an action, their character spends the round surveying the battlefield (or standing, mouth agape, whatever), and does nothing. Give it a few combats, they'll learn.
Players declaring a hit or miss is just retraining... After EVERY roll, make them add the modifiers they know about, tell them you need to apply mods they may not know about, and get their total. Repeat, even if they roll a natural 20 or natural 1.
Best thread title all month (at least).
Why Thank you.
Take a look at the power cards that came with the new character sheets, or set your own up on index cards, if your players don't have the whole book to browse through, they might be faster. (At least, less flipping pages!) And, if your players are slowing combat down because they can't make a decision, grab a fast timer (like, say, a 30 second hourglass). When their initiative comes up, flip the timer, and ask, "your action?" If the timer empties before they declare an action, their character spends the round surveying the battlefield (or standing, mouth agape, whatever), and does nothing. Give it a few combats, they'll learn.
Players declaring a hit or miss is just retraining... After EVERY roll, make them add the modifiers they know about, tell them you need to apply mods they may not know about, and get their total. Repeat, even if they roll a natural 20 or natural 1.
Good advice all around although my players might very well revolt at the sign of an hourglass.
I have enough trouble making them understand that if they discuss combat strategy during combat it means the enemy can hear their plans.
And, if your players are slowing combat down because they can't make a decision, grab a fast timer (like, say, a 30 second hourglass). When their initiative comes up, flip the timer, and ask, "your action?" If the timer empties before they declare an action, their character spends the round surveying the battlefield (or standing, mouth agape, whatever), and does nothing. Give it a few combats, they'll learn.
I wouldn't make them lose their action, I'd just say they were delaying, and let the next person in initiative order go, then the slow player, and rinse and repeat, and re-insert them in the initiative whenever they make a decision on their action. It takes me maybe, maybe the entirety of the next person's action to decide what I'll probably do next, and even if every other character/monster action changes my mind, I'll still be good to go by the time it's my action again.
The specific player in my group that I'm having this problem with is simply not really paying attention. He'll get a plate of food (usually from the chinese place up the street), and as soon as he finishes his turn, he'll dive into his food, until the whole table goes, "Your move, meatshield!" at which point he does a very genuine, "Huh? What? Oh...." and then looks at the field and goes, "uhm....who did I mark last turn? Who's bloodied?" and asking all the questions he'd have the answer to if he'd just pay a-damn-ttention.
Long story short, I'm very glad to be moving to a new, Forgotten Realms, group next week.
Though, making it a delay rather than losing a turn, as Cohen suggested, seems a fair compromise.
Cohen, I'd suggest spending a half-hour before the session for gab and grub, get all the eating and the chitchat out of the way so everyone can concentrate. Otherwise, put 'im on notice that he has to pay attention, because everything he's asking has already been answered, and he's dragging things down for everyone by not paying attention.
Your players may revolt at the timer, but, point out, if everyone can make up their minds faster, the combats will go faster (and you KNOW how they hate that it drags), and they can get to the treasures and the BIG EVENT sooner.
Though, making it a delay rather than losing a turn, as Cohen suggested, seems a fair compromise.
Cohen, I'd suggest spending a half-hour before the session for gab and grub, get all the eating and the chitchat out of the way so everyone can concentrate. Otherwise, put 'im on notice that he has to pay attention, because everything he's asking has already been answered, and he's dragging things down for everyone by not paying attention.
Oh, we do. Game starts at 1, and everybody is thoroughly encouraged to be early, and ready to play. He usually shows up just after 1, and when someone from one of the other gaming tables (we play at the local hobby shop, for now) orders food, as soon as it shows up, he gets hungry, and wanders off to order. He almost lost a turn last week because it was his turn, and he was ordering food, and we were like, "Your turn!?" and he waves us off. I was ******.
Give this guy a penny to use to set under whatever critter he's got marked, one less thing for him AND for the DM to keep track of.
Start skipping his turn, then. If someone isn't at the table for their turn at combat, put 'em on delay, and if they're not back by the end of the round, they lose their turn. (I'd make an exception for occasional bathroom runs, particularly if they ask another player to handle their turn for 'em.) And, start at 1 on the dot. Traffic happens, and anyone can be held up for a few minutes, but for an afternoon game, he's not likely being held up at work, he's just inconsiderate.
Give this guy a penny to use to set under whatever critter he's got marked, one less thing for him AND for the DM to keep track of.
Eh, it's thankfully no longer my problem, since I'm flipping over to another group for Forgotten Realms.
I have enough trouble making them understand that if they discuss combat strategy during combat it means the enemy can hear their plans.
Sigged that. :D
Sigged that. :D
There is also the matter of them discussing their plan to kill the evil king while in conversation with the evil king.
Player 1: I think he's bluffing what do you think?
Player 2: I say we kill him, he's obviously full of $#!+.
Me as King: Arrest them!!!!!
Player1 and 2 simultaneously: What?
Me as Guard: You were plotting to assassinate the king.
Player 1: But I didn't say that.
Guard: No you just accused him of lying but you are guilty by association.
Player 2: I wouldn't say that I'm not that stupid. I'd have whispered it.
Guard: Obviously sir you overestimate your own intelligence.
There is also the matter of them discussing their plan to kill the evil king while in conversation with the evil king.
Player 1: I think he's bluffing what do you think?
Player 2: I say we kill him, he's obviously full of $#!+.
Me as King: Arrest them!!!!!
Player1 and 2 simultaneously: What?
Me as Guard: You were plotting to assassinate the king.
Player 1: But I didn't say that.
Guard: No you just accused him of lying but you are guilty by association.
Player 2: I wouldn't say that I'm not that stupid. I'd have whispered it.
Guard: Obviously sir you overestimate your own intelligence.
If only, if only...
There is also the matter of them discussing their plan to kill the evil king while in conversation with the evil king.
Player 1: I think he's bluffing what do you think?
Player 2: I say we kill him, he's obviously full of $#!+.
Me as King: Arrest them!!!!!
Player1 and 2 simultaneously: What?
Me as Guard: You were plotting to assassinate the king.
Player 1: But I didn't say that.
Guard: No you just accused him of lying but you are guilty by association.
Player 2: I wouldn't say that I'm not that stupid. I'd have whispered it.
Guard: Obviously sir you overestimate your own intelligence.
:heehee That guard is so awesome.
Use your brains, or Zombies will eat them.
Here's a good example.
Here's a good example.
The cleric walks up to the 220 year old wizened elf elder in front of the tower and says, "Hey, we're here looking for this secret key, here is what it does and here is everything we know about it." to all the elves and anyone else gathered there.
Then when the elders don't know exactly what happened in the clearing, he proceeds to call the elf elders stupid, repeatedly, for not thinking to have their druids "commune with nature" to find out from the trees. The next half hour of game time was the cleric trying to look up some lower level druidic spell or other loophole that would allow us to get a description of what happened in the clearing, interspersing his reading with calling the elders (thus the DM) stupid for not thinking of it.
I requested OOC that he be required to make a diplomacy check to realize that saying, "You're f*ing stupid for not realizing this." is rude and inappropriate. *sigh*
Actually that's incorrect, zombies do not in fact eat brains nor the flesh of the living...
Heresy!
....what? stop looking at me!
Actually that's incorrect, zombies do not in fact eat brains nor the flesh of the living...
According to who? I'm going off of Romero where in fact they do.
According to who? I'm going off of Romero where in fact they do.
It's a running joke from the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer which carried on to some other shows.
Awesome. i'm putting that on the outside of my DM screen.
Feel free, I own the image and encourage you all to spread it however you see fit, royalty free.
According to who? I'm going off of Romero where in fact they do.
Yeah, I understand completely.
Often enough in 3.x I just change "d6 club" to "d6 bite" and give them Inescapable Craving for humanoid meats. Alot just like ghouls w/out the paralysis, whatever. Alot of purists keep w/ the slow shambler types and make them grapple, then bite, etc.
Libris Mortis has some totally decent template for undead, zombies specifically;
Fast Zombies (Dawn of the Dead '04 types, ups speed & Dex, full actions, not just 1 Standard)
Bloodthirsty (little more dmg, Improved Crit on bite, Int dmg [eating of PC brain])
Also, big fan of Mobs (DMG II). Easy way to simulate a horde of zombies.
"Bub" from Romero's favorite of the original 3.
Poor Bub... he just wanted to eat brains and protect the insane doctor. Why did that mean man with the shiny pistol have to be bad to him.
Poor Bub... he just wanted to eat brains and protect the insane doctor. Why did that mean man with the shiny pistol have to be bad to him.
Romero zombies are meat eaters in the general sense. Like the game (recommended btw), "all flesh must be eaten". Bub gets his revenge though in the end for those of you that haven't seen "Day of the Dead '84". Do not confuse this w/ the straight to video piece of crap that's out there now.
The zombies that solely dine on brains are the Return of the Living Dead variety; very fast, clever, speak, tool useage, teamwork, etc. Watch the 1st one, it's decidely the best; fairly graphic, good black comedy too. You gotta' remember it's an 80's flick, so watch for melted cheese.
Romero zombies are meat eaters in the general sense. Like the game (recommended btw), "all flesh must be eaten". Bub gets his revenge though in the end for those of you that haven't seen "Day of the Dead '84". Do not confuse this w/ the straight to video piece of crap that's out there now.
Yup Zombies that can shoot guns is a scary thing.