Dissatisfaction with Your Gaming Group?

[Ramien Meltides]

I'm willing to admit I may be trying to hold this group to a standard it just can't reach. Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to want a better game than I have. I like the suggestion about cutting out all extra work. Maybe next time I won't bring any minis or battlemat.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I don't think it's unreasonable to want a better game than I have.

You're right, it's not. I'm playing in a much better game right now.

That secret dice rolling thing is weird. It's obviously so the GM can 'cheat'. I only once had a GM that did that. He was pretty bad.

 

[DethStryke]

That secret dice rolling thing is weird. It's obviously so the GM can 'cheat'. I only once had a GM that did that. He was pretty bad.

I do not agree with this asertion. I admit, when I was 12 year old and first learning to play, I did cheat some dice rolls and let players live when they shouldn't have (hey, when you're 12 and playing with 12 year olds, you need to do things so people don't throw tantrums at the rec center!). Thirteen years later, I am a much better DM than that. I still throw my dice behind a screen, mostly because I hide notes and little props to pull out during play and I just don't feel like reaching over my screen every time the need arises for me to roll something. That does not mean I cheat. It's a matter of how my setup is, not a matter of allowing me to cheat.

Also, when rogues check for traps & secret doors, I think rolling in secret by the DM is a good idea if you want it to be realistic. If you're going for the computer RPG feel, then by all means let the player roll and therefore know if they rolled well or not. There are pros and cons to that, and no side is 100% right anyway. I can see a good reason for both.

 

[Kashell]

I roll secretly behind the screen as well. I don't cheat the dice...I just hate it when one of my players looks at a check in which he's not suppose to know he failed horribly.

Edit: DM's get better over time.

 

[fusangite]

I have never seen a GM do open rolling. I certainly wouldn't do it as a GM -- my PCs spend the combat deducing the monsters' AC as it is so they can properly calculate power attacks. I wouldn't especially enjoy them being able to figure out their opponents' hit, grapple, damage and saves.

As for your other complaints, from what you have said, with unrealistically non-lethal NPCs, a PC dripping with improbable magic items, potentially fudged rolls and complex storylines that consistently get delayed on plot hooks the PCs fail to find, I'm not sure what these great plots and storylines are that you are referring to. Stories with these handicaps don't sound great. They sound mediocre at best.

And the player who refuses to learn the rules, yeah... it's tough -- I've been there, sort of. The one really annoying player seems to be a near-universal in RPGs.

Just because a GM is good on an abstract level, doesn't mean he is good for you. Even a GM you have enjoyed before might change styles over time or adapt to a different group dynamic. I've certainly left a few players behind over time by changing styles.

I agree with the other posters who have suggested it's time for a new group.

 

[takyris]

I roll secret checks for the players secretly -- this includes many Knowledge checks, as well as Spot, Search, Disable Device, Gather Information, Bluff, Sense Motive, and so forth. Anything where they wouldn't know how well they did, and where that might be important.

Individual players in my group could handle rolling their own Sense Motive check, rolling a 2, and saying, "Oh, yeah, I TOTALLY believe him! Let's do it!" But not everybody could, so behind the screen we go.

As a GM, I could see being annoyed about swapping out a character and then swapping him back in -- if he's important to the storyline, dropping him caused problems for the GM, and then moving him back in might cause new ones. I think that it's important that you bring this up within the context of why you're doing what you did.

Good luck!

 

[ptolemy18]

That secret dice rolling thing is weird. It's obviously so the GM can 'cheat'. I only once had a GM that did that. He was pretty bad.

As a DM, the only dice I roll secretly are for things like Bluff and Sense Motive checks. Sense Motive checks are the one situation where I actually roll for the players instead of letting them roll, too... at least usually.

However, occasionally I will roll some meaningless dice behind the screen and pretend to be interested just to intimidate the players, or make them think something's happening.

Jason

 

[Doug McCrae]

I got the impression Ramien's GM was rolling all the dice secretly, even the PCs attack rolls, ability checks and so forth. I've only seen that done by one referee.

 

[Ramien Meltides]

For me, open rolling is where it's at - there's simply no better way to promote trust in the GM and utter impartiality. However, that's another thread entirely

This DM rolls most of HIS rolls (and ALL the blind player's rolls) behind the screen, along with most of the player skill checks (spot, listen, etc.). The rest of each player's rolls (attacks, damage, etc.) is rolled by the players themselves.

Just to be clear, I think the DM is in favor of switching out characters, he's just not willing to let me do so at a decent level.

Every time I go back I expect it to be my last, but I guess these guys haven't yet found the straw to break the camel's back.

 

[Ricochet]

Every game group has problems such as these. Sometimes you need to just take it and keep playing. Continually arguing with the GM about rules issues and telling other people they need to consider this and that can also contribute to a degenerating gaming session, I know because I have seen it numerous times.

Your gripes seem quite minor to me, and I could see other people feeling the same way and being annoyed at you for it. This could affect the overall mood at the table. This is in no way intended to insult you or anything, but try to go with the flow for a few sessions, see if the gaming tables overall mood is better or worse.

Of course you could also leave the group, but you should be warned it can be very tough to find a new one that plays even close to the style you are familiar with and like. Especially if it is friends, you might want to stick with them in spite of the problems.