D&D 5E Do you time your players in combat?

[Rya.Reisender]

I'd rather just take away their cell phones.

 

[Horwath]

In our last session, I got quite annoyed, because all of my players were on their phones during combat, ignoring what was happening, who was attacking whom, and more importantly; not planning their next move, and every time play passed to the next person, they spent 5 minutes going through the phb to find which spell they want to use, then they'd ask who's been attacked, who's attacked, what status the enemies had etc.

This is clearly childlish and disrespectufull behavior.

I would 1st warned them about their behavior. 2nd time I would just pull their phose out of their hands and turn it off. On the next session I would just show them the way out. If apps on their smartphone are more fun that playing the game then D&D is just not thier thing and they should not waste everyones time.

 

[Glomb175]

This is clearly childlish and disrespectufull behavior.

I would 1st warned them about their behavior. 2nd time I would just pull their phose out of their hands and turn it off. On the next session I would just show them the way out. If apps on their smartphone are more fun that playing the game then D&D is just not thier thing and they should not waste everyones time.

I think snatching their phones and throwing them might be a bit extreme

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[Horwath]

I think snatching their phones and throwing them might be a bit extreme

Sent from my HTC 10 using EN World mobile app

not throwing them. They are somewhat expensive. Some of them atleast.

I said just snatching them and turning them off(regular way, not by a brick wall )

 

[Glomb175]

not throwing them. They are somewhat expensive. Some of them atleast.

I said just snatching them and turning them off(regular way, not by a brick wall [emoji14] )

Oh sorry "show them the way out" I misread

Sent from my HTC 10 using EN World mobile app

 

[Horwath]

Oh sorry "show them the way out" I misread

Sent from my HTC 10 using EN World mobile app

haha!

that was meant for players on 2nd session that repeat the behavior.

 

[MNblockhead]

Well the first thing I would do is see if there is something I could be doing as a DM. Is there something in the way that I'm running the game that makes players feel disengaged?

If it is just a matter of someone not being ready, I'll move to the next person and come back to the person that was not ready after everyone else, including the monsters have gone.

But even this is rare. If I find that I'm looking for ways to punish players, rather than politely keeping the game moving, then I need to have a talk with the players.

 

[wedgeski]

No, I don't do that, but if I was DM'ing random tables of strangers every week a-la AL, I might consider it.

This is not to say I don't urge people along or outright demand an action if they're taking their time, especially in situations where carefully ratcheted tension is bleeding away.

 

[Davelozzi]

The best advice I have ever seen on this issue (which came from these boards, years ago) is to use notecards to track initiative. If someone isn't ready when it's their turn (within reason, as per your judgement as DM), simply hand them their card and tell them that they are delaying and to jump back in when they are ready, then move onto the next player/opponent in order.

 

[LordEntrails]

Put all the phones in a pile and the first one to pick up their phone buys the beer?