Like the game, hate the habits

[DDK]

I just woke up after a marathon D&D session that started sometime around 5pm and ended sometime around 5am.

There were ten, count 'em, ten players!

There was a DM as well but he was inconsequential since with ten players, he hardly ever got a word in

Although there are some definite disadvantages with such a large group, and although I had a problem with one of the players in particular who decided it was quite appropriate to tell me to shut-up, something which I gritted my teeth and bore for the sake of the game, ultimately I'd like to go back as, all in all, I enjoyed the session.

However... with the exception of, IIRC, four people including myself, everybody there smoked like the proverbial chimney. The room wasn't large and definitely wasn't well ventilated and when one person lit up, it was like a chain reaction, so there was a constant pall of smoke in the room.

What to do? It's not my house and since the majority of players smoke, it's not like I can tell them to take it outside. If you're a non-smoker then you know just how irritating being in a room full of second-hand smoke can be so you might be able to understand that this is a serious issue for me.

I like the game, but I hate the habits

 

[Cyragnome]

I smoke...we typically play at my house...but we have a firm no smoking rule at the game...it seems only fair, in my opinion. We have 3 out of 6 to 8 players that do smoke and it's just a distraction and, quite honestly, rude to do so with guests (as I see the players, even if it is my house).
We do typically take a break half way through, and those of us who do smoke, take it outside. Some things you can't do a whole lot about (cat allergies for example) but smoking is definately one that can be avoided to make an enjoyable environment for all...

Just my $0.02...

 

[Darkness]

It's not my house and since the majority of players smoke, it's not like I can tell them to take it outside.

Asking still can't hurt, though.
Also, whether or not they are in the majority is beside the point. (Not to mention that it's a very slight majority, especially if the GM doesn't smoke.)

Are these people friends of yours or just people you game with, BTW?

 

[CCamfield]

Talk to whoever's house it was (the DM's?). I would probably walk out of a game like that. Ugh *cough cough cough*

 

[DDK]

Re: Re: Like the game, hate the habits

Are these people friends of yours or just people you game with, BTW?

Well, that's part of the problem, you see, because I'm new to the group and, as I understand it, most of the players have known each other for awhile.

The GM smokes and it's his house we play at, but he's a nice enough guy and, to be honest, he was kinda doing me a favour by letting me come along. It's not like they were wanting for players...

And last night was the first session I went to so I decided not to say anything on the basis that I'd see how the session went before making a decision.

Although I'd like to go again, the major thing holding me back is the smoking issue. I'm going to bring it up with the GM but at the same time, I don't think it's reasonable to demand 7 out of 11 people to go outside to smoke. That said, I also think it's rude and inconsiderate to smoke around non-smokers.

 

[Darkness]

I see...

Hmm... Maybe you could start your own game with only a few of these 10 people (especially the ones that don't smoke)? That would also take care of the size problem that that game has at present... (edit - For the new game, at least; the players in the new game might still play in the huge game as well, of course.)

 

[Paradoxish]

Ah, that does indeed suck. If it were me, I could almost guarantee that I wouldn't be going back to that game. One of my (five) players smokes and I force him to go outside wherever we happen to be, even at his house, if he wants to do it. I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke, so it's kind of an all or none proposition for me; either don't smoke around me or don't game with me.

 

[Henry]

I don't want to politicize the issue, but it is disrespectful to smoke without checking with a host, PERIOD. It could also be considered disrespectful if any of your company gets physically ill with cigarette smoke (as one of our former players was.)

It's not too much to suggest periodic smoke breaks for all concerned, rather than to fill the entire game room with cigarette smoke. You might have more than one of the nonsmokers who feel the same way, and it's not too much to ask someone to exercise such self-control around those who may not be used to it.

However, if the smokers refuse to stop, and if the host sees nothing wrong with it, you have two choices: grin and bear it, or find another environment to play in.

 

[maddman75]

About half our group smokes, including me. We do it one of two ways, depending on where we are playing.

- Smoke breaks. I like these actually. t gives everyone a chance to back off and relax a minute and think about what is going on in the game.

- One at a time. You might be able to get this going on. One person smokes at a time. We just take turns. The downside is taht there will virtually always be someone smoking, but only one .

I know that personally I need some controls, or I'll smoke like a fiend when I'm playing. Especially the more intense and exciting it gets.

 

[jdavis]

We have a majority of smokers in our group and one gamer who is mildly allergic to it, so everybody tries to not smoke around him. A lot of times we take roleplaying sections or long discriptions out on the porch so people can smoke. people who chain smoke probably wouldn't do this, and smokers can get touchy sometimes, if they have been playing this way for years it would be hard to change.