If it's the DM's job to make sure the players have fun...What is the PLAYER'S job?

[Fifth Element]

Also to make sure everyone has fun. The reason the DM is often singled out is that he has the greatest input into how the session goes. He bears the greatest responsibility for the session. That doesn't mean the players can sit like lumps and just soak up the fun.

 

[Bullgrit]

Expanding on this idea (if Aberzanzorax doesn't mind):

What are some examples of Players hindering the fun of the game, for the DM or for the other Players? I'm not asking about examples of over-the-top crazy Players doing weird, freaky things. I'm meaning Players that you don't hate, aren't so bad that you kick them out of the game, but they just have a way of killing joy with regular play.

For example, from my own experiences: The Player who just never knows/memorizes/understands one of his character's regular abilities. I played with two fellow Players who never knew the turning rules for their clerics -- and we were playing in an undead-fighting campaing. Every time they wanted to turn undead, (at least a couple times, each, per game session), they had to look up the rules. They didn't even have the page bookmarked!

That kind of thing, to me, kills fun, because it caused an otherwise excting battle to grind to a halt while they spent minutes looking up, reading, understanding, and then using the rules.

I say, it is the Player's "job" to put some effort in, between game sessions, to learn the rules for your character. Not doing so is not putting in your own work for the game -- the DM puts in his work, creating the whole adventure and campaign.

Bullgrit

 

[Doug McCrae]

It can vary, depending on the system. In point buy or other high freedom systems such as Mutants & Masterminds, and 3e with lots of supplements, which are very vulnerable to abuse, it's the players job not to abuse the system. The players don't have that responsibility in more class-based low freedom systems.

Power = reponsibility, as always.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I use an iPad as a character sheet, and I'm the most attentive (I think) player in my game. Electronics aren't always a problem.

 

[fanboy2000]

Let's assume it IS the DM's job to make sure the players have fun. What, then, is the player's job?

To entertain the DM.

 

[coyote6]

The players job is to provide me with fun. It's all about me.

Yes, all players, even yours.

Speaking of which -- some of your players have been letting me down. Let's try to work on that, eh?

 

[fanboy2000]

What are some examples of Players hindering the fun of the game, for the DM or for the other Players? I'm not asking about examples of over-the-top crazy Players doing weird, freaky things. I'm meaning Players that you don't hate, aren't so bad that you kick them out of the game, but they just have a way of killing joy with regular play.

For example, from my own experiences: The Player who just never knows/memorizes/understands one of his character's regular abilities. I played with two fellow Players who never knew the turning rules for their clerics -- and we were playing in an undead-fighting campaing. Every time they wanted to turn undead, (at least a couple times, each, per game session), they had to look up the rules. They didn't even have the page bookmarked!

That kind of thing, to me, kills fun, because it caused an otherwise excting battle to grind to a halt while they spent minutes looking up, reading, understanding, and then using the rules.

I say, it is the Player's "job" to put some effort in, between game sessions, to learn the rules for your character. Not doing so is not putting in your own work for the game -- the DM puts in his work, creating the whole adventure and campaign.

Good question. Players hinder the game when:

1. The player doesn't know how their own abilities work. (E.g. the turning example above.)

2. The player doesn't know how other people's abilities work, and insists on grilling them about it while the other player is trying to do stuff. (E.g. "how are you charging and using Howling Strike at the same time?")

3. The player tells me I have the rules wrong, when I don't. Repeatedly.

4. The player consistently asks me dumb questions.
Me: So the orc moves back five feet.
Player: Moves or shifts?
Me: Shifts.
Look, if the movement is only one square, just assume it's a shift unless there is something that prevents me from doing that, o.k?

 

[Uder]

What are some examples of Players hindering the fun of the game, for the DM or for the other Players?

To be fair, DMs can do a lot of these as well, and I'm sure there are worse things, but I've seen these:

Player picks a PC name that pulls everyone out of the game every time it comes up.

Player never, ever pays attention to anything but combat rolls.

Player decides to suicide a character and assumes everyone else (even the whole campaign) must die with it.

Player shows up in no shape to play - very drunk, falling asleep etc.

Player shows up unprepared to play - no dice, books, paper, pencils, etc.

Player insists on taking game materials home (char sheets, campaign notes, group treasure sheets), and forgets them.

Player flakes - shows up very late, leaves early, or doesn't show up at all (without any notice).

Player asks to reschedule whole sessions around their schedule... and then doesn't show up.

Player asks everyone to cancel a whole session to fit their schedule... and then calls up looking for something to do that day.

Player brings baggage to the table (esp. if it involves other players).

Player brings friends, children or SOs "just to hang out and watch."

Player insists on playing extremely evil/good PCs when everybody has agreed not to.

Player has 100% encyclopedic knowledge of their character, their weapons, feats, and spells, where it will be (build-wise) in ten levels, etc. ... and have no idea what is actually going on in the game.

Player is unwilling to learn the rules on how their character works.

Player rules lawyers, but only when it benefits them.

Player rules lawyers, but badly and wrongly.

Player buys the adventure you're using and read it.

Player buys/downloads the adventure you're using and shares it with the rest of the group.

Player is a salesman or business owner and can't "turn off" - is constantly trying to sell things to other players and the DM.

Player consistently cheats.

Player accuses everyone else of cheating all the time.

Player is not able to handle being kicked out of a group, so he convinces your landlord to let him into your house while you're away, "retrieves" his character sheet, and tears up your game notes... crippling the campaign for the remaining players.

 

[CleverNickName]

Player is not able to handle being kicked out of a group, so he convinces your landlord to let him into your house while you're away, "retrieves" his character sheet, and tears up your game notes... crippling the campaign for the remaining players.

Yikes, dude. I'd be pressing charges.

 

[Mallus]

I'd be pressing charges.

And finding a new hobby.