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How to cut back on distractions? help

My experience with this is a little different than most being mentioned here. There is a player in my group that is constantly reading through the D&D books. At first it seems like a good idea for said player to keep up to date on the rules, but, when I catch them reading, its never anything pertinent to their character, the current encounter, or even the current game.

They will be reading about races that they aren't playing... "Did yo uguys know that the halfling [insert random fact here]"

About useless items to them... "Wonder how my gnome rogue would look in Full-plate armor?"

About other players class or race... "Why doesn't your Goliath do [random Goliath personality trait]... in fact shouldn't you make him more like [random personality trait]?"

We literally had to take the books away until time to level or a question came up.
 

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Distraction can be caused by too many attracitve nuisances nearby such as laptops, TVs, whatever. But they are most often caused by a lack of engagement due to a boring campaign. People get together for entertainment and if the game doesn't provide it, they will provide it on their own by talking about WOW or last night's ballgame or whatever. Even character creation can be juiced up to make it fully engaging and in the process, illuminate the setting or starting story arc or what not.

Our own character creation sessions involve a complicated player draft process that never fails to engage. And usually the first session after that starts the game off in the time honored tradition of "the big bang." Most adventure movies these days start with a bang for a reason: it engages the audience. Some groups may not need this but if your group's attention wanders, seize it! Give them something to focus on.
 
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We have a guy in our gaming group at the moment that last session noticed hardly anything due to his web surfing,I sent him an email saying to make up his mind what he wanted to do,mess around on the computer or play D and D.

Life is to short,give them a warning and if matters don't improve boot 'em out.
 

I agree with the social contract that Orc mentioned. I use them myself for new players.

Other things I do:

1. Don't do character creation during game time. Let the players take care of that themselves. If you're afraid of cheating from random rolls, use the point-buy version of the char gen or if the rpg doesn't have one, create one. That way, everyone is on the same page.

2. Cellphones, laptops, and video games show a complete lack of interest in the game. It's one thing for a player to say, "Hang on guys, the wife just text me." for another of:

"Hey John, it's your turn."
"Hmmm?" (looking at cellphone)
"John, it's your turn!"
"What are we doing?" (looking at cellphone)
"We're fighting orcs! What are you doing?"
"Oh....attack I guess" (rolls dice and then goes back to cellphone)

If players don't want to respect you and give you their attention, then it begs the question, "Why are you playing?"
 

You're talking about a world in which people text message while driving. Apparently, even the credible threat of vehicular manslaughter is not sufficient to keep people off the damned things.

As if proof were needed, had an example of this recently. Student making a stand about his "right" to use a mobile in class. Put himself in the position of being open to getting thrown of a compulsory course (i.e. no degree) because he didn't like my "attitude" to mobile phones.

Fortunately he saw the crazed glint in my eyes and backed down after I suggested I was going to put the damned thing in the kettle and boil it - but it's crazy that the ****ing phone was so important he was prepared to, very obviously, force me into a no-win situation where I'd risk 'losing the dressing room' if I gave ground. He took a hell of a risk, as others would've gone by the book and just ditched him.
 

You know something strange? DMing is very, very similar to teaching so that I've found that similar strategies work when I want the players attention.

If I am saying something important, say the campaign opening or a vital plot point and someone else is talking, I simply stop and look at them and the players actually listening will take my cue and look at them as well.
 

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