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<blockquote data-quote="BlackMoria" data-source="post: 794509" data-attributes="member: 424">I had a group like this once.&nbsp; I found the following measures worked to keep them focused.&nbsp;I informed the group that I am not fond of repeating myself, particularly if the group is chatting about matters not specific to the in-game situation in hand.&nbsp;&nbsp; So, if the group, due to table talk misses what I am saying, I tell them 'you snooze, you lose' and don't repeat it.&nbsp; This makes it so that when I am speaking, everyone else shuts up.&nbsp; In the beginning, the group missed so much and now they have learned that when I start speaking and imparting information, they had better listen.If a player engages in idle table talk with others when I ask him what his action is - I rap on the table 5 times in one second intervals.&nbsp; If in that time, the player has not addressed me directly with what his character is doing, I tell him his character does nothing for that round due to indecision.Joking with about what their character says or does is a real problem with this group.&nbsp; Case in point - upon meeting with the local baron, one of the players as a joke to get the others to laugh states &quot;I punch the baron in the face&quot;.&nbsp; This usually get the group laughing and starting with the jokes and talking.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have a rule that when in an encounter or discourse with NPCs, if you don't place your index finger touching the bottom of your chin when speaking or stating the action, the character undertakes that action.&nbsp; In this case, the player didn't have his index finger to his chin.&nbsp; I told him to make his attack roll.&nbsp;&nbsp; The look around the table was priceless as the other players realized that ramifications.&nbsp;&nbsp; As a result, there is far less statements of stupid intent as it is very easy to forget to use the 'index finger to chin' and the players have paid for it.This method worked for me but may not be everyone's cup of tea - I have a good relationship with my players so the success of the above methods depends on the DM - player relationship.But it certainly kept that group focused and it took only a few rule breaches and the resultant penalties to cut the 'out of game' table talk back to an acceptable level</blockquote>

[QUOTE="BlackMoria, post: 794509, member: 424"] I had a group like this once. I found the following measures worked to keep them focused. I informed the group that I am not fond of repeating myself, particularly if the group is chatting about matters not specific to the in-game situation in hand. So, if the group, due to table talk misses what I am saying, I tell them 'you snooze, you lose' and don't repeat it. This makes it so that when I am speaking, everyone else shuts up. In the beginning, the group missed so much and now they have learned that when I start speaking and imparting information, they had better listen. If a player engages in idle table talk with others when I ask him what his action is - I rap on the table 5 times in one second intervals. If in that time, the player has not addressed me directly with what his character is doing, I tell him his character does nothing for that round due to indecision. Joking with about what their character says or does is a real problem with this group. Case in point - upon meeting with the local baron, one of the players as a joke to get the others to laugh states "I punch the baron in the face". This usually get the group laughing and starting with the jokes and talking. I have a rule that when in an encounter or discourse with NPCs, if you don't place your index finger touching the bottom of your chin when speaking or stating the action, the character undertakes that action. In this case, the player didn't have his index finger to his chin. I told him to make his attack roll. The look around the table was priceless as the other players realized that ramifications. As a result, there is far less statements of stupid intent as it is very easy to forget to use the 'index finger to chin' and the players have paid for it. This method worked for me but may not be everyone's cup of tea - I have a good relationship with my players so the success of the above methods depends on the DM - player relationship. But it certainly kept that group focused and it took only a few rule breaches and the resultant penalties to cut the 'out of game' table talk back to an acceptable level [/QUOTE]

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