Do you let your players...?

[schporto]

I deal with case by case. I mean its not like the players are sitting around a fire and drinking ale while discussing various tactics. I don't make them role play all their discussions about things when hunkering down for a week at the inn. But if they're getting obsessive about placing that fireball just soooo, or actually start talking about 'blocks' instead of attempting to flank safely. Yeah that's a bit overboard. But again, you gotta figure the characters have discussed some of this when the players have said something like "we go eat dinner, and have some beer at the inn". Do you role play all 4 hours in that inn and every discussion going on? No? Well that's were they've shared some of the tactics and now its coming up in game.
Well that's how I play it. If they get in some funky really unique situation then no there shouldn't be much ooc discussion.
-cpd

 

[thundershot]

I hate "table-topping" but I really guess it depends on how you're running your game. If it's just a loose "let's get together and play some D&D" where the main goal is to just have fun with your friends I'm sure tabl-topping would be allowable. If you're actually trying to run a role-playing game where players are "role-playing" characters including dialogue in a realistic manner then table-topping is a big no-no. I've even seen table-topping go so far as a player who's character isn't even there was offering advice. That *really* pisses me off.

Usually, when I see any of my players table-topping I just say, "There's no way you could talk to their character that way. Remember, we're trying to role play."

~D

ROFL! That reminds me... a few years ago, the characters were split up, and one group was discussing plans with their sentient ship. I was using the ship's "voice" and talking to the characters there. Then one of the others chimes in, as if she was there, and without missing a beat, in the same voice of the ship, I said "You're not here... bitch."

It took 10 minutes to recover from everyone laughing.. and to this day, everyone uses that phrase when someone talks when their character isn't there.


Chris

 

[drnuncheon]

Re: !!

hell, my groups make plans to craft a ring of greater elemental resistance fo each of us and let the fire FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, we've got a Monk and a Rog/Ftr, both with Improved Evasion and great Reflex saves, so we don't worry so much about 'getting in the way'.

J

 

[dreaded_beast]

the dm for my group does it on a case by case basis. our group is a mixture of trying to seriously role-play, but having fun above all else. but then, it also depends on everyone's mood. *shrug*

 

[Enceladus]

When the combat round comes to your turn, should the other players be allowed to give tactical advice?

Unless it can be done in character as a free action during combat yeah, otherwise to sit and strategize is a tad unrealistic so it just isn't done. My players feel the same way so it works for us.

 

[Sullaf]

Unless it can be done in character as a free action during combat yeah, otherwise to sit and strategize is a tad unrealistic so it just isn't done. My players feel the same way so it works for us.

I think this pretty much sums it up...

 

[kkoie]

Well you could say that any time the players talk to each other, its never going to be OOC, that its IC. Thus if they decide to give each other tacticle advice, they are essentially using their action for that round. Of course any group of players who enjoy OOC tacticle discussions won't like this... but then who knows.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

Sure I do, if they want. it is a social game and we are there to have fun, so if some one wants to offer a bit of advice that is good.
ken

 

[Dieter]

Something recently clicked in, and I asked my players to stop doing it, and I didn't get a favorable reaction.

When the combat round comes to your turn, should the other players be allowed to give tactical advice? One of them casts a fireball, and someone else will say "if you put it here, you won't fry any of us". Shouldn't he be able to decide that on his own? If he accidently fries something, I'd much rather them deal with it in character... But am I wrong to not want them to give OOC advice like that?


Thanks
Chris

If the two party members in question are nearby (i.e. within earshot of eachother) and the suggestion is audible to the mage (i.e. no orcish wardrums playing in the background)...yeah sure. I mean, that's common sense...right?

 

[Murrdox]

The only time I really forbid table-talking is when the characters have to think quickly to get themselves out of a situation, and giving them 20 minutes to talk the situation over amongst themselves is just too much.

In these sorts of situations, I'll let them table talk a bit... then I'll address the character who is going first, and just say "Okay, what are you doing, you don't have much time to think this through."