Do you have a player like this in your group?

[Tinner]

I'm fortunate not to have this problem. The worst we have is Russ, who can never, for any reason remember the names of any NPC's.
It's no problem though, because he just incorporates that into his characters. And then he just makes up names for them that are half right and half funny. So the warrior Damnon becomes Damn Near. The more sylables in the name, the more ridiculous it eventually becomes. And yes, I DO make him pay for it IC when he messes up someone important's name.

As for a player not able to remember what's on his sheet - (Where's my initiative? What skills do I have?) I solved this problem by sing different colored highlighters to color code the character sheet. So when they ask "Where's my initiative?" I can just say "Blue square."
It has helped newbies, and might help Frank IMO.

 

[Dougal DeKree]

Maybe write the guy a cheat sheet of the basics: "#1: We are in space. #2: You are playing a druid. #3: The skills for your druid are on page 34 of the handbook in your lap...."

I made up the Charsheets myself - on Top of the first sheet are the Words "Spacemaster <Profession>" (in Arial 16 and bold). I handle _all_ tables on my own. I _do_ point every player to the line on the skill-sheet that is needed for the roll. I can not make it any easier, i'm afraid.

But, it does beg the question, are your games boring?

I am biased, but after two years of playing weekly, the other players wanted to increase the pace to two times a week since we play Spacemaster. Also i _do_ ask about the players opinions after each session as to improve the game for them - only positive feedback so far. So I'd take that as a "no".

Maybe Frank has a learning disability?

&

Or is Frank mentally retarded?

He is going for his graduation in Electronics. On the other he rarely tells anything about it, so i can not judge that.

P.S. Please mail me Frank's stuff.

Rel, i read your storyhour and thus one of my scheming BBEGs is already named "Rel". To adjust to your post, i just made Frank his primary target.
Oh and since he won't get it anyway, here is Franks stuff: Repair scanner, Master-Toolkit, Heavy stunner, 4 Energy cells, 17000 Credits, 1 Repair droid, 2 sets of clothes. He'll start naked next time.

IME, if you like the player, finding someone to be their game coach works out well.

The guy that GM's most time is Franks Pal who brought him into the group. He _does_ coach him whenever he's got the time (he's doing a lot of the decisions of the group). Meanwhile even he sometimes stares unbelievingly at Frank after some "We are doing what? Why? You talked about that for the last hour?..." But I think you are right - it's either coaching and good will, or "Byebye".

...I solved this problem by sing different colored highlighters to color code the character sheet...

I color-coded the different fields of skills (Combat, Awareness, Survival, Communications, etc.) as well as stats, saves, weapons etc. Helps the others, i heard.

Thanks for all this feedback. Venting helps

Dougal

 

[HellHound]

And thank you, Dougal. This thread has been great, and reminds me of my friend Darcy, who we would actually wake up on his action... he'd sit up for a second, find a d10 (we were playing cyberpunk, it was always a d10 roll), roll it, and before the die had even stopped rolling, would be asleep again.

And Zantriel - "Volley of six" is our new "what's happening?" line in our gaming group courtesy of this thread.

 

[Rel]

Thanks for all this feedback. Venting helps

Dougal

It's been fun to read and I'm honored that I'm a BBEG in your game.

In case Frank asks, I've already spent the credits on a new hot tub and I'm sitting in it right now playing with the Heavy Stu

 

[sniffles]

This was a fun read. I hope Dougal's situation works out for him. I wonder what would be worse, having a "Frank" in the group, or a guy like the player we have who just warms a chair during most sessions? He knows the rules well enough to GM pretty effectively himself, but he usually just sits there during game sessions where he's a player. Makes us all wonder why he plays.

 

[Thotas]

We used to have a player who would read a magazine or "The DaVinci Code" when it wasn't actively her turn. As such, we would then have to point out which figures were enemies and which ones weren't, redescribe all the actions taken since her last action, at which point she would ask us what she should do, we would list options for her, she'd want us to pick one, we'd try to encourage her to actually play her character, she would almost always opt for firing the crossbow (you've guessed she's playing a cleric of Pelor at this point, right?), we would then have to tell her which dice to roll, and then she would go back to reading and paying no attention to the game.

Notice use of the past tense in my first sentence.

 

[zantriel]

And Zantriel - "Volley of six" is our new "what's happening?" line in our gaming group courtesy of this thread.

Great, glad I my post was of some use, lol.

 

[Dougal DeKree]

Sniffles, i know just a player like the one you describe. He played a barbarian, almost never spoke a word with anyone and simply rolled when it was his turn. However he seemed to have a lot of fun with it - he partook for two years. Ask Darklone about it, it was one of his campaigns. (Sadly Darklone has no internet at the moment, but I'll make him drop by here, when he visits me next time to use my computer )

Oh and Rel, sure you are a BBEG - i still remember the illusion in that temple cackling in front of a spyhole - i will certainly copy that idea with a holograph in some ship. Or should i give you Illusion-Psi-Powers? Hmmm...
Also i thank the gods that Franks druids are nowhere near Speaks with stones - else i would have nothing to do with my cleric in the other campaign.

Oh what joy - tomorrow we will be gaming and one person is missing. We will be sooo fast!

 

[Rel]

Oh and Rel, sure you are a BBEG - i still remember the illusion in that temple cackling in front of a spyhole - i will certainly copy that idea with a holograph in some ship. Or should i give you Illusion-Psi-Powers? Hmmm...

Hehe, I remember that. Feel free to attribute any powers you like to my BBEG alter ego.

Man, I'm really starting to rack up the honorifics! Rel, RBDM, BBEG

 

[Dougal DeKree]

Hehe, I remember that. Feel free to attribute any powers you like to my BBEG alter ego.

Would you prefer to be described as the mysterious robed guy oder rather something Vaderesque? Or mayby something mindflayery? I am still undecided...