Elitism and its repercussions.
- Thread starter Death_Jester
- Start date
Painfully
First Post
Zhure has the right idea, but starting a new group is different than filling in a group that is short of people.
When starting a campaign, I try to emphasize group participation. Some people have it in their heads that attacking other player's characters is more fun than completing a mission or group objective. To me, they are being selfish and inconsiderate to the others who came to enjoy a night of gaming.
Other problems need to be persistant before I usually take notice. Table behavior should be reasonably polite. Personal hygene should not offend the person sitting next to you. And do bring your character sheet to every session.
I think, or at least would like to think, that problem players usually know who they are before the group erupts into, "we don't want to play with you anymore." If that is not the case, then it's important to let the person know exactly why he was incompatible with the group. Dodging the real issue doesn't help anybody.
Be honest. Be polite. And if you can't do both, then be honest.
When starting a campaign, I try to emphasize group participation. Some people have it in their heads that attacking other player's characters is more fun than completing a mission or group objective. To me, they are being selfish and inconsiderate to the others who came to enjoy a night of gaming.
Other problems need to be persistant before I usually take notice. Table behavior should be reasonably polite. Personal hygene should not offend the person sitting next to you. And do bring your character sheet to every session.
I think, or at least would like to think, that problem players usually know who they are before the group erupts into, "we don't want to play with you anymore." If that is not the case, then it's important to let the person know exactly why he was incompatible with the group. Dodging the real issue doesn't help anybody.
Be honest. Be polite. And if you can't do both, then be honest.
Death_Jester said:
Great! The last two gaming experiences I've had with new groups were pretty awful!
Death_Jester said:
Dear So-and-so;
Hi! Thanks for responding to our game questionairre! You'd be surprised how many people didn't! I appreciate your time!
Unfortunately, most of our respondants wanted to play in a game of Political Intrigue, and since this wasn't high on your list, we're going to start that type of campaign with the interested parties, instead. Feel free to drop by, if you change your mind, and if not, then maybe we'll be starting something more in line with your interests the next go-round!
In any case, thanks, again, for your time and efforts. They were appreciated, and we hope to game with you soon!
Sincerely,
Signature...
Silver Moon
Adventurer
I think you guys have watched way too many episodes of Survivor - this sounds way too much like voting somebody "off the Island".Death_Jester said:
Past experience has showed me that generally peer pressure and the cold shoulder will resolve all problems like this. The only time we've ever collectively kicked somebody out of the group was when we felt we had no choice as a young male player was making inappropriate advances towards a female player and make her feel uncomfortable. It did put a strain on my relationship with him afterwards, as we both belonged to another social group.
Emiricol
Registered User
I would not be offended to receive a questionaire. Also, if I did fill it out and then was told, "your style doesn't fit our style, but thank you very much for your interest" I would be delighted not to have wasted much of my time, or have had to endure gaming that was opposite of what I wanted to do.
I think the advice above, "Be honest, be polite, and if you can't do both, be honest," is the best course.
*edit: advice above. Not below. I have my settings show the latest at the top. Sorry for any confusion
I think the advice above, "Be honest, be polite, and if you can't do both, be honest," is the best course.
*edit: advice above. Not below. I have my settings show the latest at the top. Sorry for any confusion
Last edited:
Cbas10
First Post
I think that lists of questions sent out to prospective players is very pretentious and egotistical. I am, however, very curious about the questions presented to the original poster. On the other hand, I do think that it is proper and polite to make a posting for what sort of qualities/tendancies a DM wants in players when he is starting a new game with a new group.
Personally, my games are always invitation-only, so I tend not to run into this problem. When I do misjudge a player, invite him to play, and find out that he is not all that compatible with the group, the rest of the group usually beats me to being brutally honest. There is no beating around the bush; whether a player is being a game-time rules lawyer, a number-crunching min-maxer, or an omniscient OOC knowledge wielder, we allways do the same thing: Tell them "we don't play like that here, but here is a bit of constructive advice on how to have fun in this sort of game." If that player still shows some of those tendancies, but is obviously trying to fit in and not derail the game, I'll certainly keep inviting him back to play. I am certainly not shy about telling a player not to come back because he constantly takes time out of the game to argue rules, for instance.
Personally, my games are always invitation-only, so I tend not to run into this problem. When I do misjudge a player, invite him to play, and find out that he is not all that compatible with the group, the rest of the group usually beats me to being brutally honest. There is no beating around the bush; whether a player is being a game-time rules lawyer, a number-crunching min-maxer, or an omniscient OOC knowledge wielder, we allways do the same thing: Tell them "we don't play like that here, but here is a bit of constructive advice on how to have fun in this sort of game." If that player still shows some of those tendancies, but is obviously trying to fit in and not derail the game, I'll certainly keep inviting him back to play. I am certainly not shy about telling a player not to come back because he constantly takes time out of the game to argue rules, for instance.
The few times I've had to garner new players, I've done the opposite approach and gave a list of what we were looking for to the person we thought would fit in best; it allowed most incompatible people to exclude themselves.
We'd then invite them in for a game. It always seemed to work out OK, since we were dealing with friends we already knew. If it hadn't, we are good about being upfront and honest with telling someone it just ain't working out. And then, we could repeat the process with someone else and they'd not have any hard feelings about being "2nd choice" since they never were in a contest to start with.
We'd then invite them in for a game. It always seemed to work out OK, since we were dealing with friends we already knew. If it hadn't, we are good about being upfront and honest with telling someone it just ain't working out. And then, we could repeat the process with someone else and they'd not have any hard feelings about being "2nd choice" since they never were in a contest to start with.
Goddess FallenAngel
Explorer
I would be interested in seeing the questions on the little "test" posted. I guess my answer would be based on what the questions were.
Bendris Noulg
First Post
A questionaire? Nope. Wouldn't fill one out.
As a GM, I wouldn't do a questionaire, although I make it very clear how the game is played at our table. Anyone claiming to still have interest is invited.
Unfortunately, we've had people lie about it just to give us a bad night.
As a GM, I wouldn't do a questionaire, although I make it very clear how the game is played at our table. Anyone claiming to still have interest is invited.
Unfortunately, we've had people lie about it just to give us a bad night.
Saeviomagy
Adventurer
Personally I'd try a slightly deceptive route.
Don't present the survey as "would you be suitable for our game?". Present it as "I'm starting a game and I'd like to see the sort of things that people want in a game".
Then pick the ones which match the game you were starting in the first place, and do it in a manner which seems totally unrelated to the survey.
Don't present the survey as "would you be suitable for our game?". Present it as "I'm starting a game and I'd like to see the sort of things that people want in a game".
Then pick the ones which match the game you were starting in the first place, and do it in a manner which seems totally unrelated to the survey.
