Why the beer hate? (Forked Thread: What are the no-goes...)

[Chainsaw]

Just curious, but.. is this all mostly hypothetical? Are there actually very many horror stories?

 

[Bumbles]

I can't believe that a group of players would respond in that way.

As a group? They don't. As individuals they do. At least if I treat the group equally though, there's one less thing to argue about.

Is this a hypothetical situation, or has this actually happened?

I've said it before, this is based on experience. Heck, this thread alone should show you how people don't like their personal behavior being questioned.

Now don't get me wrong, there are things you can't solve with a blanket solution, but when one can be, like this one, I'll take it, it saves me some trouble during the game.

Just curious, but.. is this all mostly hypothetical? Are there actually very many horror stories?

Already answered. You, of course, may have had different experiences, but what can I do for you? If you want to educate yourself on the effects alcohol can have on people, there's much better sources than me.

 

[loki8481]

I can't believe that a group of players would respond in that way.

Is this a hypothetical situation, or has this actually happened?

-O

re: the player favoritism aspect,

I played with this one group in college... there were 7 of us total (DM + 6 players).

two of those players were the DM's roommates and another was the DM's girlfriend. they'd often get more playtime than the rest of us, because the DM had no qualms against running a session just for them when they were around, using the same characters they used in our primary game, so they got a pretty good lead on the rest of the group and it always felt like we were just tagging along rather than being actively involved in the game.

 

[Chainsaw]

At least if I treat the group equally though, there's one less thing to argue about.

I hear you, but I think we'd probably just uninvite someone who got nasty or otherwise disruptive when he drank rather than limit everyone else. Gotta have consequences!

Edit: In our group, I think it sort of goes without saying that you're a guest in someone's home and if you become disruptive, for whatever reason, whether because of booze or anything else, that you won't be invited back.

 

[Bumbles]

Gotta have consequences!

People have enough problems recognizing that, so I just take one of the potential trouplespots out of it. There are folks who can contribute to a game if they're not allowed to drink alcohol, and since I'd rather not argue over why another person might be allowed, or how much one person can handle versus another, I don't. Blanket ban may not be completely acceptable to everybody, it's not fair in the sense of giving individual consideration, but it's fair in the sense of treating everybody the same. That's easier for me to handle.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

I'm only part way through this thread, so I apologize if someone has asked this. But I'm struck wondering if this aversion to alcohol penetrates to within the game itself? Does in game drinking bother you? Curious (because the whole anti-drinking this is 100% bizarre to me)

In my case it does, generally. In a fantasy game, where water would likely be unsafe to drink, the character will drink ale, and I've had the classic snooty elf that would only touch high class wine or brandy.

In a modern (superhero) setting though , which is what I play most of the time, I tend to not have characters that drink. Of the 5 I currently play (rotating games), 2 are underage (19 and 20 respectively), 2 choose not to for health or philosophical reasons, and one is an alien amoeba whose personal biochemistry wouldn't process the ethanol.

I once played a smoker, and to be honest, that was actually part of the reason I lost interest in playing the character.

So yeah, in my case, it does affect how I game. If in characters drink it doesn't bother me - but the rest of the players don't really play drinkers or smokers either.

 

[Chainsaw]

That's easier for me to handle.

Whatever works for you and your gang. That's the great thing about this game - it doesn't require us all to play it the same or in the same circumstances.

 

[vyme]

Though I didn't read every last post, I'm quite impressed by the diversity of opinion here.

The people I game with are definitely the drinky sort. Of course, that goes for at the table as well as away from it, so we can all hold our alcohol pretty well. There are some sessions where everyone stays relatively sober, and that's fun. There are some sessions where everyone gets tanked, and that's fun too. Sure I've seen it lead to droopy eyelids (though never outright misbehavior), but I could say the same about the guy who always woke up at 4AM.

What I think is especially cool, though, is that table dynamics largely determine how much drinking is going on. It becomes obvious early on what kind of mood everyone is in, and intoxication levels follow the mood. Is it going to be a joke filled, "remember that time when we were all playing liches...", endless pop-culture quoting sort of session? Or is it going to be a serious, never getting out of character, tactics like a well-oiled machine session? (Incidentally, I've seen both done quite well sober & smashed). Maybe it's because we're all so close and such good friends, but I'm consistently impressed at how the table tends to function as a whole.

Though I'm a smoker (as are most of the others I play with), I don't much care for cigarettes at the table. I like taking a break before/after combat, stepping outside, and chatting with friends that I don't get to see as often as I'd like. Sometimes it's about the game, sometimes not. Either way, I think we all come back to the table a bit more clear-headed, ready to game.

The guy I've been gaming with longest smokes some excellent pipe tobacco at the table, but I love that smell. So it's all good.

As far as "other" pipes go... I find that to be a bit distracting. Lost trains of thought and what not. Especially for the DM. A little is fine, but I've seen it take a much bigger toll on a table than alcohol ever has.

My two cents. Like I said, quite the diversity of opinion.

 

[vyme]

As for in-game intoxication....

I think it's important to know your character's take on alcohol/drugs. Dwarf with an excessive fondness for ale? It's going to affect the game. Maybe his tolerance lets him stay sort of sober as he gets a contact drunk and plies him for information. Maybe he doesn't wake up when the spy breaks into his room.

Barbarian who has never had a drink, then finds himself in a city for the first time, needs to go to a particular rowdy tavern, and gives it a go? A guy with a large axe & a short temper who doesn't understand his limits could cause much fun & trouble for DM & PCs alike.

I once played a sorcerer (3.5), who habitually smoked a mildly-hallucinogenic fungus. Sometimes it helped with the sorcery, other times it was a real detriment (kinda like playing an AD&D wild mage). The other characters had a love/hate relationship with his pipe smoking. Anything that complicates character relationships is good for roleplaying in my book, so even when it went wrong, it was ultimately good for the game.

Even stress between the party teetotaler and the party drunk could make for good story. It's all about how you use it.

 

[SteveC]

Just curious, but.. is this all mostly hypothetical? Are there actually very many horror stories?

From my own experiences, I can say it's very real. I'm from Wisconsin, and went to the UW which is in the running for most partying school each year, so I'll say we drink as much as anywhere else in the country. When I've traveled out of the country, I'd match us against just about anyone in the world.

And alcohol has caused serious problems for me when done in conjunction with roleplaying, enough to end three campaigns, and actually end a couple of lifelong friendships! And the thing was: this was all with people who would sit out on our Union Terrace and drink a pitcher or two with no issues whatsoever. That's why I don't want it in my gaming. I've said it before and I'll say it again: drinking is fine, but I have never had it add anything positive to gaming: at bests it's been a push, and normally it has a negative effect.

Beyond that, a number of posters here have obviously had some seriously bad experiences with drinking in their own life, and simply have no desire to be anywhere around it at all. I can't understand why it's so hard for people to simply accept and understand that. There's a lot being said here between the lines that people should just acknowledge and move on.

I don't think anyone is saying "drinking at a game is bad as an objective moral law," but rather it's, "based on my experiences and values, drinking and gaming don't mix for me and I wouldn't play in a game where they mixed." That's a world of difference, and something I think we should all be able to respect.

--Steve