Swarmkeeper
Hero
For my next campaign, I'm seriously considering setting a paper-character-sheets-only rule. That immediately eliminates the temptation of flipping from DnD Beyond or electronic character sheet to just take a "quick peek" at the latest Pavlovian notification. In fact, I might ban all electronics at the sessions, except at set breaks. I'm fortunate that the player pool where I DM is large enough that I can screen out the, er, screen-addicted. Or maybe such a rule will help some of them break the habit, if that's what is going on.
I mean, it seems self-evident that practicing mindfulness, practicing presence, allows one to extract the greatest joy out of the game. Allow yourself to be immersed (however you like to define that term). Listen carefully to what the DM and the other party members are saying. Think about how your character would think/act/feel in response. Then be ready to tell us about it when your turn comes around. It's really easy to do this as a DM because you literally have no time to think about anything else other than the session. If you drift off as DM often, the game is ultimately going to fizzle out. It's in the DM's best interest to be completely present at the table. At the very least, it is a matter of respect for the players to do the same. Don't get me wrong, I love me some good puns and pop-culture references and silly jokes at the table that might break "immersion" for some - but to me that is one signal that you're engaged and present and paying attention. And that's really what I'm at the table for: to have fun and get stuff done (to paraphrase one of ENWorld's gurus of DMing). Be there with me at the session, people - the internets can wait until we take a break or until after the session.
I mean, it seems self-evident that practicing mindfulness, practicing presence, allows one to extract the greatest joy out of the game. Allow yourself to be immersed (however you like to define that term). Listen carefully to what the DM and the other party members are saying. Think about how your character would think/act/feel in response. Then be ready to tell us about it when your turn comes around. It's really easy to do this as a DM because you literally have no time to think about anything else other than the session. If you drift off as DM often, the game is ultimately going to fizzle out. It's in the DM's best interest to be completely present at the table. At the very least, it is a matter of respect for the players to do the same. Don't get me wrong, I love me some good puns and pop-culture references and silly jokes at the table that might break "immersion" for some - but to me that is one signal that you're engaged and present and paying attention. And that's really what I'm at the table for: to have fun and get stuff done (to paraphrase one of ENWorld's gurus of DMing). Be there with me at the session, people - the internets can wait until we take a break or until after the session.