Having trouble with my gaming group

[IronWolf]

The DM is the one that lets the game die sometimes. After we finish a task, he'll kinda page through his notes for a few minute. The whole table jsut gets silent.

It might be worth trying to speak directly to him about the issue and see if things change from there. Barring that I think the suggestion of offering to DM a game is a good one. If even that doesn't fly, I think ZoE's idea of just you and your friend running a game isn't all bad. As he mentioned you can get a good start on a world and then slowly start recruiting players over time. With a little advertising and watching the gamer looking for gamer classifieds here and at WotC you might be able to put together a realy solid group.

Good luck!

 

[Mystery Man]

OK, I will try to address each issue:

I don't want to drop out of this game necessarily, becuase this is the ONLY game availble right now. I already made some posts on the gamers-seeking-gamers section, and got no response.

We've TRYED interacting with them. They jsut don't respond. We've asked them questions, and asked what they want to do, and they alway say "dunno." It's SO aggrivating.

The DM is the one that lets the game die sometimes. After we finish a task, he'll kinda page through his notes for a few minute. The whole table jsut gets silent.

I know it sounds like im griping-- im really not. I'm jsut trying to accurately illustrate what its like.

Get the entire group together and start the conversation off like this:

If no one minds I've got this little one shot adventure I found and I'd like to run it, if it's ok I've brought these pregenerated characters to save time....

Run a game!

 

[Hussar]

In this day and age, the cry of "There's no group to game with" isn't really all that true. With programs like Fantasy ground, Kloogewerks, OpenRPG, a group is as close as your computer. Granted it's not tabletop, but, then again, it sounds like your tabletop isn't all that much of a loss anyway.

Just tossing out some ideas.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

This group doesn't want to "get into the game" the way you do. You're either a Method Actor or Story Teller in the midst of a bunch of Hack and Slashers. They are there to kill things. The pause is so that the DM can read up on the next encounter - quite possibly because he hasn't prepared the module. I think there's little you can do given you've tried to lead by example and gotten stony silence. Try some solo RPing with your friend - can he DM? - which is actually quite fun at times. I kept a game going for a year after the group folded with just one player.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

In this day and age, the cry of "There's no group to game with" isn't really all that true. With programs like Fantasy ground, Kloogewerks, OpenRPG, a group is as close as your computer. Granted it's not tabletop, but, then again, it sounds like your tabletop isn't all that much of a loss anyway.

Just tossing out some ideas.

"Computer gaming" over the internet is NOT the same as sitting next to live people at a table. It's not the same ballpark. It's not really even the same sport IMO. It never will be until virtual reality becomes... a reality.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Well, I'll jsut cut to the chase. There is no role-playing in my group at all. Shoot, theres almost no PLAYING happening. When we're in town or whatever, no one does anything. Me and my friend (James) struggle really hard to interact with people. There's 4 other players, so you think that people would be doing stuff and it'd be fairly entertaining. Nothing. In combat, we (james and I) have to direct people (trying not to sound demanding) jsut to get stuff done!

COMMUNICATION. First and best solution to just about everything. It's pretty clear that for whatever reasons they just don't want or need to play the same way you do. That's a problem - but it's not a problem for them, right? If it were they'd... do something. Especially when you're trying to get something more substantial happening.

Transitions are the worst. 5 minutes of solid silence isn't unusual after a fight, or traveling, or what not. One time, James purposely was being quiet when we were trying to plan out how to nab a bad guy, and I was throwing out my ideas and asking people what they thought. Nothing.

The primary obstacle here would seem to be the DM who has no clue about pacing nor actual roleplaying. Work at it from that angle. If you ask for it, but he can't/won't give you what you want then show him. He may not really know what you mean.

What should I do? I want to go to them and tell them that they need to get into the game more, but I don't want to sound like a prick.

Fortunately you have a partner in crime - your friend. If you want roleplaying, just roleplay - RELENTLESSLY. Never break character except when necessary to get OOC information. If the other players don't respond in kind; if the DM doesn't respond in kind then just continue to roleplay off each other. Whenever anyone else does respond actively then run with it. Encourage it by responding in kind. Keep that up for a while and see what happens. If nothing else YOU should enjoy it more. Don't let a group of wet blankets smother your fun by infecting you with their dull reactions.

You say "it's the only group in town" as it were so that does limit your options, but don't discount the idea of taking over as DM. Of course you need to be ready to do so, and it helps to WANT to do so, but what can it hurt to ask the group if you could start your own campaign, either as a replacement or in addition to your current game. See if it helps to shake things up a bit that way.

Ultimately you can't force people to play in ways they don't want to. All you can do is talk to them and encourage them. If you need to go BACK to the local game store and try again to put together a new group - and that doesn't mean you need to appoint yourself as DM if you can find someone else to take the position.

 

[Whimsical]

Check out all of the relevant player finder links in rpgindex.com. My favorite is AccessDenied.net.

 

[fusangite]

So, aside from uncomfortable silences, what mainly happens during each session?

What are the people's social relationships like outside of play? Who knows whom? What are people's ages and genders? I'm trying to get a mental picture of this group of people awkwardly sitting around but doing little else.

It sounds to me like you have a viable group of three players: the DM, James and you. So, put together a gaming group with the three of you and try to recruit interested, active players. A small group is a whole lot better than a dysfunctional group. There are a number of good two-player parties one can put together and have a great time. It sounds like your DM is as frustrated as you are and might well be game for such an idea.

The problem you are confronting is essentially social. There is no special D&D fix for people not participating. This is no different than going to a regular weekly dinner party and have four of the people refuse to speak.