How Do You Curb Table Talk?

[Wombat]

First up, we have our Three Word Chant:

FOcus, FOcus, FOcus.

This usually does the trick.

Then again, we are also a group of older games (30s & 40s) and we game half to relax at the end of the week and socialize and half to gain XP, etc.

Sometimes it gets pretty off-topic.

Other times it stays tight on the game.

As the GM, I just try to stay flexible.

I mean, it's only a game, right?

 

[JoeGKushner]

First thing is tell them up front that you feel it's a problem.

Second thing, when they start doing it, ask what they're character is doing. Roll some dice. You don't have to do anything at the time but once they know that they're character is in potential danger, they might light up.

Part of the actual problem is that your group is too large. Cut it down to two groups of four that meet every other week.

If they see movies and don't get to see each other outside of gaming, hit them with the 'Duh' hammer and tell them to see the movies together as this can be a pretty fun group activity.

Gaming isn't a sacred art or anything but in essence, everyone has agreed to meet and respect each other's time and the game. Outside converstaions are a natural but then you need to remind everyone that they're here to game.

If it bothers you to the point where its interferring with the game, you've got some difficult choices to make but the important thing to remember is that it is indeed just a game.

 

[DerianCypher]

I bring a baseball bat that has "+5 Club of Smiting" branded on it. Whoever speaks outside the deemed time gets smitten...


...okay... not really.. but it's a good idea!!!



DC

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

We tend to say "moving right along" as needed.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

All of my players get to see each other a fair amount, so "catching up" usually isn't a problem. What I think I'm going to start doing is just giving people three seconds to say something when it's their turn to go--if they haven't thought of what they're doing during the round, then they're screwed....

edit, to finish what i was thinking...

Really, table talk doesn't bother me TOO much... but it really does slow down combats--which is what i'm talkin about in my first paragraph. It's a game, so I don't care too terribly much...

 

[Breakdaddy]

This actually happened to me a few years back in our 2nd edition AD&D game. We had a group of 5 including the DM (me) and the guys were all old pals. For the first year of the campaign it was really great with an acceptable level of socializing and table talk intermingled with "serious" gaming. After about the year mark everyone started socializing a lot more and lost focus on the game. My solution? One saturday night the guys all came over and I didnt break out the D&D books. We just sat there and chatted for 3 hours about whatever came to mind. That seemed to get most of the socializing out of the way and everyone was reenvigorated for future games. Maybe you would have success with the same technique.

 

[DaveMage]

*shrug* I don't care. For us, gaming is a social activity, an excuse to order food, drink beer, and enjoy each other's company at the end of the week. If no-one actually feels like gaming that night, so what? We're having fun, and that's what matters.

Same here. However, we only have the DM + 4 players, so generally when we get together we socialize for about 20-30 minutes first, then start getting into the game. We usually play from 1:00 - 6:00 on Saturdays.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Are you the only one it bothers? If so then you are out of luck.

You could wait till everyone gets there one day and then just ask if everyone likes the pace of the campaign. Maybe everyone kind of on their own hates how little gets done but hasnt said anything.

You may though have to accept that most people look at it as more of a get together and the game itself is just an excuse.

 

[Bagpuss]

ball-gag

 

[Silver Moon]

I have to agree with Tetsujin28 and DaveMage, I think it has a place at the game. I have one player who really overdoes the table talk, but generally it is at a good mix where both gaming and talk can be accomplished. There are also times when the players need the social outlet more than the gaming. Last Winter the father of one of our players died, and when he came to the next game it was obvious that he needed to talk, so that is what we did instead.