D&D General What wastes time at your table?

[J-H]

Before I make a poll on a topic, I should make sure it's complete.

What do you see happen at your D&D/RPG table that wastes time and slows down the game? I'm not talking about things that are part of the fun experience like everyone rabbit-trailing onto Monty Python jokes for 5 minutes... unless that's actually something your table prefers not to do.

What I've seen to start us off:
1) People being late. Ugh.
2) Repeated "Oh, it's my turn. I'll start finding my dice now."
3) Rolling dice and then having to cross-reference to character sheet to see what to add to give the total.
4) Looking up the details of what spells do while people wait. I'm the DM and I sometimes do this...but I have to pay attention during everyone's turns and the last fight had 5 enemy casters + 2 summons. I still feel bad about it.

 

[el-remmen]

I don't know if it really "wastes" time - but about every other session there is a point where some rule comes up we have not dealt with yet or often but that seems like it might - so I insist on looking it up - but the 5E PHB index is SO FRIGGIN' TERRIBLE I struggle to find it. Seriously, I get mad whenever I look at that index.

Other than that, sometimes when we first get started we run a little slow because folks are having a smoke outside or my wife (who does not play) is catching up with one of her best friends (who does) or folks have to seek out where the pets are hanging out in the house to give them pets and scritches.

However, overall? This is the most focused group I have ever had the pleasure to run for.

 

[TheSword]

I think making complicated tactical decisions mid combat, and agonizing over the ramifications. If someone does this too much I sometimes say ok, you miss your go and get to go top of the initiative next round. It tends to be just one or two players I’ve come across like this and it normally annoys the other players as much as it annoys me.

The other thing would be trying to work out exactly where to play a template to get true maximum people and again agonizing over the decision. Make a decision!!

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Not knowing the rules is probably the biggest obstacle. I started playing video games after a hiatus and (if I want to keep playing) I have been forced to learn how to play the game. The game doesn't have a GM to remind you of things. If you don't learn, your character dies (or otherwise fails). You can reload, but you'll get bored if you just keep trying and failing.

Point #3 in the OP is one that comes up a lot. Other issues come up with "unwritten" rules for efficient playing.

 

[mrpopstar]

Before I make a poll on a topic, I should make sure it's complete.

What do you see happen at your D&D/RPG table that wastes time and slows down the game? I'm not talking about things that are part of the fun experience like everyone rabbit-trailing onto Monty Python jokes for 5 minutes... unless that's actually something your table prefers not to do.

What I've seen to start us off:
1) People being late. Ugh.
2) Repeated "Oh, it's my turn. I'll start finding my dice now."
3) Rolling dice and then having to cross-reference to character sheet to see what to add to give the total.
4) Looking up the details of what spells do while people wait. I'm the DM and I sometimes do this...but I have to pay attention during everyone's turns and the last fight had 5 enemy casters + 2 summons. I still feel bad about it.

Here's my list:

• People being late!
• Incomplete character sheets.
• Unfamiliarity with class features gained at level-up.
• Needing to look up spells.

I make the request that the descriptions of spells in spellbooks and spells known be included as an appendix to character sheets, but not everyone makes the effort.

Character sheets are viewed as being very personal and I respect that. Three of my bullets pertain to them, but I don't press. The game doesn't suffer as a consequence, which is the important thing.

 

[prabe]

Related to your "finding my dice" thing, I think it can feel like wasted time if there's a difference in how quickly the players do the math for their characters' actions--and whether people are rolling multiple attack/damage dice at the same time.

There is a player at my tables who is occasionally slow to find her damage dice, but A) she's taking the very good notes I rely on to keep the campaigns self-consistent and B) she's my wife; so, I'm not likely to complain much.

 

[mrpopstar]

However, overall? This is the most focused group I have ever had the pleasure to run for.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Playing online introduced a lot more "dead space" in the game, and it took me a while to figure out why. It usually occurs after I describe a room or a situation, and wait for the players to react.

"What do you do?"

"..."

What I figure out is that at a table, the players can read each other's body language to see who is going to speak up, and online they can't, so they tend to wait extra long before speaking.

I've been trying to solve this by just calling out what characters I think would be most likely to react first.

"Paladin, you've seen interesting carvings like this before, how do you investigate?"

"Warlock, you're usually the first to speak, shay do you do?"

"Rogue, do you do anything before the barbarian opens the door?"

 

[J-H]

Playing online introduced a lot more "dead space" in the game, and it took me a while to figure out why. It usually occurs after I describe a room or a situation, and wait for the players to react.

"What do you do?"

"..."

What I figure out is that at a table, the players can read each other's body language to see who is going to speak up, and online they can't, so they tend to wait extra long before speaking.

I've been trying to solve this by just calling out what characters I think would be most likely to react first.

"Paladin, you've seen interesting carvings like this before, how do you investigate?"

"Warlock, you're usually the first to speak, shay do you do?"

"Rogue, do you do anything before the barbarian opens the door?"

In the game I'm just starting up, I've got one guy who's been really quiet. I'll try to remember this to get him more engaged. He's new to the game, as is his GF.

 

[Zardnaar]

Table rules in combat you have around a minute of real time.

Can't do it dodge action next players turn tough luck.

Attendence I expect you to turn up around 75% of the time. Can't do it might be replaced.