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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 5336215" data-attributes="member: 66434">There seems to be a connection drawn between " sense of wonder" and "serious play" that I just don't get. To me, a sense of wonder doesn't mean that players never crack a joke or remain deeply immersed in the game the entire time.  I sometimes wonder if the whole "sensawunda" thing is blown out of proportion by unrealistic expectations.  Experienced players generally will not be mezmorized by standard game elements like wide-eyed children. Keeping them engaged with the campaign and the setting is enough for me. The occasional joke or aptly timed one-liner is merely an indication that players are enjoying themselves. OTOH nothing but a stream of off topic jokes and side talk means the players are not at all engaged with what is happening in the game and it would probably be a good idea to do something else until the reason for such a lack of involvement is determined and dealt with.  Dressing up stock game elements with flowery descriptions doesn't generally work IME. I have found that genuine curiosity and interest are best drawn out with genuinely new elements. Creation of things that do not come from rule books is part of maintaining that interest as a DM.  All that is required is that whatever IT is that is meant to generate interest and stimulate player curiosity must be unknown to the players.  Back when I was running a 3.0 Scarred Lands campaign, I was the only one in the group(at first) to have a copy of the Relics & Rituals book. When the players discovered new spells and magic items from that book in the game that old sensawunda kicked in. Once that book became common around the table anything from it was suddenly treated just like a spell from the PHB or an item from the DMG. That fact that the items had never before been encountered in the game world didn't matter. Excitement and the thrill of discovery are meaningless to a character, even if roleplayed well, if those feelings are not genuine in the player.</blockquote>

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