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Help, My players don’t know how to play.
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7525031" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>I've observed a similar "hunt the character sheet" phenomenon. My take may be a bit different, but I feel there are two main culprits: </p><p></p><p>First, character sheets could really use a clearer, less cluttered, more graphically-friendly format – when I made 3rd-level pregens for a game where I taught my old D&D buddy how to play 5th edition & taught his girlfriend (totally new to tabletop), I found the sheets I made really streamlined the learning curve & sped up the game. I've attached an example.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>What if she bought, was given, or traded a different color die for each polyhedral die type? Red d4's, Orange d6's, green d8's, black d10's, pink d20's, etc?</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>OK, if they also struggle with identifying polyhedral dice and navigating the character sheet, then really double down on my above suggestions!</p><p></p><p>Players don't need to read the rules. When I started playing AD&D 1e, there was absolutely no expectation that us kids would read the rules, not even after several years of gaming. And if they haven't read the rules after several years, maybe they never will.</p><p></p><p></p><p>What specifically do you mean? For instance, if the wizard player forgets how to calculate Spell Save DC and Spell Attack & routinely can't find that info on the sheet...well that sounds like another argument for changing the layout of his spell sheet... Notice what I did with the sample sheet for Zarese; I listed the spell save DC each and every time a spell calls for the saving throw, right there in the spell description. Now, it'll take more space for 10th-level PCs, but it is doable. </p><p></p><p>I've also seen the forgetting Spell Save DC and Spell Attack happen when a player uses spell cards from GaleForce Nine, since those obviously don't list your individual info on them.</p><p></p><p>But if you mean something else, you should get specific about it.</p><p></p><p>A common rule I see players forget is the rule about multiple spells: You can cast a spell as a bonus action and a spell as an action in the same turn, but one of them must be a cantrip. I've had to reiterate that a couple times to my own players, but it's sinking in.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>You've described an "Instigator" type of player. They can be a godsend for keeping the game moving when it slows down too much, but can also get out of hand. Read the section in the DMG about Instigator players. I have one of these players, and I make sure to include a "tempting treasure/trick/lever/interesting thingie, with a risk or threat attached to it" in most sessions – I've noticed this lets him channel is inner maniac and lets him be more or less civilized the rest of the game.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 7525031, member: 20323"] I've observed a similar "hunt the character sheet" phenomenon. My take may be a bit different, but I feel there are two main culprits: First, character sheets could really use a clearer, less cluttered, more graphically-friendly format – when I made 3rd-level pregens for a game where I taught my old D&D buddy how to play 5th edition & taught his girlfriend (totally new to tabletop), I found the sheets I made really streamlined the learning curve & sped up the game. I've attached an example. What if she bought, was given, or traded a different color die for each polyhedral die type? Red d4's, Orange d6's, green d8's, black d10's, pink d20's, etc? OK, if they also struggle with identifying polyhedral dice and navigating the character sheet, then really double down on my above suggestions! Players don't need to read the rules. When I started playing AD&D 1e, there was absolutely no expectation that us kids would read the rules, not even after several years of gaming. And if they haven't read the rules after several years, maybe they never will. What specifically do you mean? For instance, if the wizard player forgets how to calculate Spell Save DC and Spell Attack & routinely can't find that info on the sheet...well that sounds like another argument for changing the layout of his spell sheet... Notice what I did with the sample sheet for Zarese; I listed the spell save DC each and every time a spell calls for the saving throw, right there in the spell description. Now, it'll take more space for 10th-level PCs, but it is doable. I've also seen the forgetting Spell Save DC and Spell Attack happen when a player uses spell cards from GaleForce Nine, since those obviously don't list your individual info on them. But if you mean something else, you should get specific about it. A common rule I see players forget is the rule about multiple spells: You can cast a spell as a bonus action and a spell as an action in the same turn, but one of them must be a cantrip. I've had to reiterate that a couple times to my own players, but it's sinking in. You've described an "Instigator" type of player. They can be a godsend for keeping the game moving when it slows down too much, but can also get out of hand. Read the section in the DMG about Instigator players. I have one of these players, and I make sure to include a "tempting treasure/trick/lever/interesting thingie, with a risk or threat attached to it" in most sessions – I've noticed this lets him channel is inner maniac and lets him be more or less civilized the rest of the game. [/QUOTE]
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