D&D 5E How seriously do you take your D&D?

[Mercule]

I try to keep my table from descending into chaos. Because D&D is fun, that means setting boundaries, etc. Which, in turn, means I come off a bit more serious than I really am.

Now, my wife, on the other hand.... I'm pretty sure she'd actually be fine with issuing everyone a shock collar and zapping them whenever the group starts to tangent. Some nights, I'd back her on that.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

There are some things I take very seriously, but at the same time there’s totally a place for laughter and jokes at the table.

I’m very serious about keeping our gaming schedule set in stone. I find not gaming regularly just leads to even more not gaming. I also hate players referring to the NPCs and monsters by joke names; that really gets my goat. Calling that dwarf Beardy McBeardface when I just told you their name shows me that you’re either not paying attention or don’t respect the game I’m trying to run, the world we're building together. If you don’t know the dwarf’s name, just call him “the dwarf.”

On the other hand, jokes and pop-culture references go hand in hand with hanging out with friends. And if the heavily armored paladin aces their stealth check while the rogue rolls a nat 1, yeah, we’re going to be laughing. D&D is filled with improbable probabilities, and unpredictable events that result from them.

 

[Warbringer]

You wanna know how I got these scars? My DM, was a drinker, and a fiend. And one night, he goes off crazier than usual. The party rogue gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me and says, "Why so serious?" Comes at me with the knife. "WHY SO SERIOUS?" He sticks the blade in my mouth... "Let's put a smile on that face." And...
glancing around the table

Why so serious?

 

[MNblockhead]

You call that serious? At my table, the players are forced to roleplay it out when they roll on the random harlots table. We're all overweight middle-aged guys, and the DM delegates the role of the NPC. No fun is involved, I assure you.

For all that is good in this sad little world, SOMEBODY needs to make a sketch on this and put it on You Tube. Are you listening Zombie Orpheus Entertainment?

 

[Ancalagon]

Once I read a 1870s report from the Royal Geographic Society to learn more about how to cross the Himalayas on foot, as part of a campaign I was running. I had figured out the route and everything.

The players decided not to go that way.

 

[Imaculata]

Once I read a 1870s report from the Royal Geographic Society to learn more about how to cross the Himalayas on foot, as part of a campaign I am running. I had figured out the route and everything.

The players decided not to go that way.

I thoroughly researched diving and pressure at high depths. The players were like:

"Wait, so we can't wear our gear in a diving suit? I think we'll stay top side."

 

[schnee]

It's nerd poker with no buy-in and funny voices.

Theater 101, amateur genre fiction, and a table full of snacks.

Our hobby is ridiculous in all the best ways.

 

[Henry]

Good dramas often have an element of comedy in them, and vice versa. We probably lean more towards jokes and meta-humor at our tables, but have been known to have some rather serious and even inspiring speeches and moments as well.

 

[Roadkill101]

Extremely serious. For it being a game. I can play in my head anytime I want to, well maybe not play it per se but definitely think about, and frequently do. I have an active imagination, the game gives me a good way to put that imagination to use.
I like to play and run the game when time and circumstances permit. Yet I don't let the playing part ruin my day if a session goes way south of fun, because hey it's a just a game in the end and therefore nothing to get bent out of shape over.