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Difficulty Playing D&D: Player Still Waiting Off Screen After 3+ Hours
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<blockquote data-quote="jrowland" data-source="post: 6672913" data-attributes="member: 94389"><p>Any number of things depending on the adventure I was running. We don't know what your DM was running, but we can surmise a few things. First, <em>IF</em> the adventure was meant to be a "prepare the defenses" skill type challenge, which I think you presumed it to be, then your actions would have taken place in turn. Typically inscenarios like that I handle things in 4 hour blocks: </p><p>Block 1: You ride to allied keep, rest of party rides to town</p><p>Block 2: You plead for help, rest of party prepares for defenses</p><p>Block 3: You ride to town with help (or not) close behind, rest of party prepares for defenses</p><p>Block 4: You arrive in town, rest of party prepares for defenses</p><p>Block 5: Siege begins, adv/dis based on # defenses prepared</p><p></p><p>However, perhaps the orc warband was moving too fast, was too close etc. In that case, I would inform you that you wouldn't have time, the attack could be over before you arrived with help.</p><p></p><p>And so on. The point being The DM should portray what is possible, and while it may seem railroading, sometimes as a DM you have to say: Sorry, that's just not possible. And if, as a DM, I allow you to wander off course, I need to adjust to make sure you are included.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>DM should be willing to prohibit off screen actions if its not viable for what is in store. DM knows/controls the timing of events and a PC wander off-screen and missing those events is a concern. If, as DM, you are unwilling/unable to ad-hoc "split-screen" events you didn't plan for, prohibit it. If you are willing/able then make sure to cut-scene to the other character, preferably at tense decision points for the now off-screen characters. Switching back and forth the tension is a great technique!</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>As a player and DM, I am very forgiving of DMs. Sometimes you have an off night. Sometimes you <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> up. Sometimes the on-screen is very fun/rewarding and you simply forget the off-screen. It happens. Confronting a DM is never appropriate. Having a <em>friendly</em> conversation about your concerns is. And yes, sometimes the other players are annoying. Play nice.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Your indignation is not justified based on a single bad (for you) night. Unless you are being hyperbolic and simply mean frustrated. Frustration is a valid emotion and you don't need to suppress your feelings. You need to find a constructive way to deal with those emotions. Quitting the game may be necessary, but that seems destructive not constructive. It may be necessary if its a pattern with this group, but based on one nights game, quitting isn't the answer.</p><p></p><p>To quote the movie Cool Hand Luke: "What we have here is a failure, to communicate".</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jrowland, post: 6672913, member: 94389"] Any number of things depending on the adventure I was running. We don't know what your DM was running, but we can surmise a few things. First, [I]IF[/I] the adventure was meant to be a "prepare the defenses" skill type challenge, which I think you presumed it to be, then your actions would have taken place in turn. Typically inscenarios like that I handle things in 4 hour blocks: Block 1: You ride to allied keep, rest of party rides to town Block 2: You plead for help, rest of party prepares for defenses Block 3: You ride to town with help (or not) close behind, rest of party prepares for defenses Block 4: You arrive in town, rest of party prepares for defenses Block 5: Siege begins, adv/dis based on # defenses prepared However, perhaps the orc warband was moving too fast, was too close etc. In that case, I would inform you that you wouldn't have time, the attack could be over before you arrived with help. And so on. The point being The DM should portray what is possible, and while it may seem railroading, sometimes as a DM you have to say: Sorry, that's just not possible. And if, as a DM, I allow you to wander off course, I need to adjust to make sure you are included. DM should be willing to prohibit off screen actions if its not viable for what is in store. DM knows/controls the timing of events and a PC wander off-screen and missing those events is a concern. If, as DM, you are unwilling/unable to ad-hoc "split-screen" events you didn't plan for, prohibit it. If you are willing/able then make sure to cut-scene to the other character, preferably at tense decision points for the now off-screen characters. Switching back and forth the tension is a great technique! As a player and DM, I am very forgiving of DMs. Sometimes you have an off night. Sometimes you :):):):) up. Sometimes the on-screen is very fun/rewarding and you simply forget the off-screen. It happens. Confronting a DM is never appropriate. Having a [I]friendly[/I] conversation about your concerns is. And yes, sometimes the other players are annoying. Play nice. Your indignation is not justified based on a single bad (for you) night. Unless you are being hyperbolic and simply mean frustrated. Frustration is a valid emotion and you don't need to suppress your feelings. You need to find a constructive way to deal with those emotions. Quitting the game may be necessary, but that seems destructive not constructive. It may be necessary if its a pattern with this group, but based on one nights game, quitting isn't the answer. To quote the movie Cool Hand Luke: "What we have here is a failure, to communicate". [/QUOTE]
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