How Do You Curb Table Talk?

[Aluvial]

Man, I just don't understand people who don't mind game night being a chit-chat night. Then again, I usually don't like to sit around and chat at any time. I need to be _doing_ something. Playing cards is my "neutral" or chat mode.

That said, what the current DM has done, and what I'll likely continue when we rotate, is to hand out 5 glass beads to each player at the begining of each session. If you tangent, it's no big deal, but you chuck a bead into the bin. Game play stops dead and the tangent is resolved. At the end of the session, each bead you have left in your hand is worth 10 XP/character level.

Even though the XP from the beads is "bonus" it is still very tangible and people don't want to lose it. With only one transition session, we went from barely able to make it down a passageway to being almost pure game-on almost immediately.

Thanks for all of the help so far!

I think most of you are right but I like this system the best. I suppose rewarding the players for NOT talking is a little weird, but reverse psychology may work!

I chit-chat just as much as the next player, but I'm the DM, and there are players in my group who are there just to play and have fun playing, not have fun socializing. Basically, out of the eight of them, you could fill the spectrum... from talking only to playing only.

I've thought about splitting the two groups between the talking/playing axis, but I feel that some of the guys in the middle (and I would be about two steps from pure gaming only myself) would get placed in the wrong group.

Hard to say. The benefits of having a large group are that you can play, regardless if someone decides to miss, but believe me, my guys hardly ever skip. There has been a few instances of work related misses, but that is the exception to the rule. It seems unlikely that I could split the group up, I'm able to handle the large group in play, just not during the frequent interruptions to the game.

My group is like another mentioned above: late 30's to early 40's. Most of these guys have played D&D since they invented it. We have been good freinds freinds for years, moved in as roomates with each other, been in each other's weddings, it's hard to see me splitting them up or kicking someone out.

The money in the poke sounds interesting.... I'm not sure if I can get them to bite for it though, they can barely cough up for the beer and chips each week.

Aluvial

 

[Arnwyn]

Great advice from a lot of people, above. However, I think that you are, to use a crass term, "screwed".

IMO, your biggest problem is the 8 players. As you yourself admit, it really is too much. With that many players (who, as you noted, don't see each other much outside of gaming), I can guarantee that there is going to be *tons* of table talk. Further, as another poster noted, if you are the only one that this annoys, then you're in trouble.

In any case, I've discovered that (again, as another poster suggested) rolling dice moves things along nicely. This has, for more than 10 years, *always* caught the players attention, without fail. Very creepy, actually.

However, it's my opinion that this is a social game, and not only do we have no problem with table talk, we embrace it. But that's just us. We also play for a rather long time (about 4:00 pm to 1:00 am; ie. 9 hours) so we have lots of time to do both. Guess we're lucky.

 

[Umbran]

You've got 8 players and you're game is the only time during the week that they can get together?

Well, to be friends, you have to socialize. If this is the only time this group of people get together, then that talk is important, perhaps more important than the actual game. If you want to cut down on the table talk, increase the amount of dedicated socializing time at the gathering. Either have them come earlier to get it out of the way, or start your game later.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

Well if you are the only one upset by it and your players are happy with the table talk, then perhaps you or them might want to find a different group, as you seem at odds. In our group we happen to love to chat a bit at the table and before and after the game, , when the moment is serious we call it quits , but while the Gm is dealing with one of the other players, of if it is a simple encounter, sure a bit of table talk might go on. Each group and or person has their own style, if you really feel at odds with it, then you might need to look at recruiting, a new group if the old group doesn't mind table talk, or if it is only a few and several other feel liek you do then reduce your size to only those that want to play like you do.
Ken
For me D&D is a social game where I can have fun with my friends, there are serious moment and humours moments.

 

[Aluvial]

Well if you are the only one upset by it and your players are happy with the table talk, then perhaps you or them might want to find a different group, as you seem at odds. ...

...For me D&D is a social game where I can have fun with my friends, there are serious moment and humours moments.

No, I've seen alot of this particular answer, and that isn't it. Fact is that since there are eight of us, we all fall victim to talking about the last week's events. It's just that the game isn't taking precedent and their are a few rotten apples that bring down the bunch. I can't seem to isolate the individual, because everyone has gotten in the habit.

Someone mentioned that it might be other issues that are causing the burnout, but this is the main one. Yes, I've been the DM a LONG time. But I wouldn't have it any other way.... and right there might be the solution. I could have each of the players take a two week spin at being the DM OR just the players who are quilty of talking and distruption the most frequently. This way, they would likely get a taste of their own medicine.

Anyhow, its a rough prospect. Yes we are here to have fun, first and foremost, and that comes with banter about off-game subjects. But, this problem is over and beyond that and yes, it is a fuzzy line at best between socializing and disruption.... I think my guys are finding the wrong side of that very grey line too often.

Aluvial

 

[Zogg]

There are basically two camps: those that are there to focus and play (which you fall into, as do I) and those that are there to dick around. Figure out who falls into your camp and keep them. Lose everyone else.

 

[Sialia]

I definitely vote for the glass bead pig.

It's perfect.

 

[DiFier]

I am in a small group but we almost always have dinner before we game. I stop at my house after work, grab my books and notes and stuff and rush out to play. During diner we talk about what ever. we do have some table talk, (usually initated by me I think) but it doesn't get out of hand or last long. occasionally we don't play. like last week we got icecream and then went to the gaming store and I bought the 3.5 books. we spent some time converting charachters that are currentlly on hiatus. Our weekly session usually ends with about 1/2 hour of b.s.ing.

 

[Faraer]

Mixing RPGing and not RPGing doesn't work for me: I want to be totally immersed or not at all. I've learned the necessity of ensuring non-gaming time, but I've occasionally (either as a player or DM) been frustrated by chat: it's simple courtesy, even if you have some urge to gossip, to respect the DM and his or her work.

 

[Silver Moon]

My group is like another mentioned above: late 30's to early 40's. Most of these guys have played D&D since they invented it. We have been good freinds freinds for years, moved in as roomates with each other, been in each other's weddings...

Well that pretty much describes the make up of my gaming group. Are you sure you're not one of my players?