feartheminotaur
First Post
At the tables I play, no phones. Put them away, put them on silent, etc.* I play on Roll20 a lot and you can't stop it, but it's noticeable when someone is multitasking, and is really annoying since it slooooows the game way down. So, I feel ya.
With friends or face to face you can socially control that. Which is what you should do with your friend. Example: The guy who played a frost cheese minotaur in our 4e game was constantly looking at his phone. We talked to him out of game, but he kept doing it (out of habit - he did it everywher). So, other players would start pointedly ask him questions or the DM would randomly ask "Hey, what's your AC?" or "How many hit points do you have left?". When he'd look up, everyone would say "quit looking at your phone". During combat the DM would announce "wizard is up, and then minotaur"; after the wizard said "I'm done with my turn", the DM gave minotaur (quite) a few seconds then went on "OK, psion, it's your turn". That's what cured him of it, missing combat.
Point is, if it bothers you, then your group should say something or do something; whatever you think will work best. You and his fellow players control what happens at the table - and if y'all let him continue, can't blame him for thinking you're all OK with it. That goes for whatever - cell phone, drinking, swearing, whatever.
As for him being salty: If it seems like the rest of the group was OK with it, then just tell salty point blank "You know if you were more engaged in the game and not your phone, you could help make sure the game goes the way you want. If you're going to abdicate that to check your Facebook or whatever, that's really on you, not the DM". If he's just voicing the groups frustration, then you might consider asking them how they would have preferred you play it, note their answer for the next time, and move on.
* And please, don't give my any "I need my phone" nonsense. I'm over 40 - I remember what it was like before cell phones. We survived just fine.
With friends or face to face you can socially control that. Which is what you should do with your friend. Example: The guy who played a frost cheese minotaur in our 4e game was constantly looking at his phone. We talked to him out of game, but he kept doing it (out of habit - he did it everywher). So, other players would start pointedly ask him questions or the DM would randomly ask "Hey, what's your AC?" or "How many hit points do you have left?". When he'd look up, everyone would say "quit looking at your phone". During combat the DM would announce "wizard is up, and then minotaur"; after the wizard said "I'm done with my turn", the DM gave minotaur (quite) a few seconds then went on "OK, psion, it's your turn". That's what cured him of it, missing combat.
Point is, if it bothers you, then your group should say something or do something; whatever you think will work best. You and his fellow players control what happens at the table - and if y'all let him continue, can't blame him for thinking you're all OK with it. That goes for whatever - cell phone, drinking, swearing, whatever.
As for him being salty: If it seems like the rest of the group was OK with it, then just tell salty point blank "You know if you were more engaged in the game and not your phone, you could help make sure the game goes the way you want. If you're going to abdicate that to check your Facebook or whatever, that's really on you, not the DM". If he's just voicing the groups frustration, then you might consider asking them how they would have preferred you play it, note their answer for the next time, and move on.
* And please, don't give my any "I need my phone" nonsense. I'm over 40 - I remember what it was like before cell phones. We survived just fine.
