Of metagaming and table talk.

[Fisty]

In my experience of gaming, I have run into many problems. However, none are so great as the one that I now face. Most of my gaming life has been spent as a player. I have, however DM/GMed a game or two before, which is what my question concerns. I am going to be starting a full fledged campaign, and wish to deal with the limitless metagaming and table talk of my group. I am open to any suggestions, but changing groups is not an option because of a severe shortage of gamers in my area.
I would like to thank everyone in advance, and hopefully your ideas and suggestions will lead to a more enjoyable time for myself and the players in my iron-fisted rule...er, campaign.

 

[shouit]

There was a rule posted somewhere, I forget, it might have been roleplayinghints.com, good site for help on this subject. Nope, it was 3rdedition.org, anways. I used it, it used randomness to deter table talk. It allowed table talk and at anytime anyone, DM, player, etc, can call you on it. What happens is the player who is called immediately must roll a d6 and on a 5 or 6, whatever they said "out of character" was actually in character. Or a reasonable approximation of it.

Just an idea.

 

[Jeph]

P-Kitty makes payers pay small change into a munchies fund when they make ooc comments, IIRC. I may start using that rule, myself.

 

[jgbrowning]

I say no one can talk during combat. except for their six second free action.

makes 'em really think.

joe b.

 

[haiiro]

The DM in one game that I'm playing in has used this rule for a long time: any time you want to say something OOC, you have to put your hand on top of your head. This makes it clear that what you're saying is OOC, and makes you feel somewhat silly (which reduces the amount of table talk ).

In the end, it comes down to group dynamics. If your group is predisposed to table talk/metagaming, then you'll have to go out of your way to make it clear to them before they sign on for the game that you want this kept to a minimum. If you then also keep the game running at a good pace, DM with intensity, and don't initiate table talk yourself, you should be on the right track.

 

[Fisty]

Thanks

Sorry if it seems that I'm bumping my own thread, but I just wanted to say thanks for the ideas. I'll try and implement them as neccesary. If all else fails, I've always got a baseball bat...

 

[Tom Cashel]

Yeah, now you got the right idea!

1. Tell 'em to stop. Not much explanation needed here.

2. Demand that they stop. More intonation than anything else. A fine art.

3. Argument by semantical gymnastics. "Don't you believe that the game would be better off without metagaming and out-of-character discussion? I sure feel sorry for your characters if you keep metagaming..." [meaningful pause]

4. Throw dice. d20s hurt players like hell if you get 'em right in the eyeball.

5. Random damage. Nothing cuts the chatter like random damage.

6. Call for an initiative roll. The fifth time they end up in a pitched battle with a horde of infernal arachnoid revenant cloud giants, they'll get the idea.

7. Outweird them. Ask suddenly to speak to whoever's in charge. When they look at you strangely, scream that you want to see the giant ant who's in charge...right now!!!

8. Calmly explain that the game would be better, and the mood would be preserved, if they would just refrain from...nah, scratch that. Too predictable.

 

[John Smallberries]

A solution so easy I'm surprised so many people overlook it:

If you are in the minority, conform.

Put another way: if your group enjoys table talk and metagaming...then that's what your group enjoys. Do you really want to hassle everyone else into playing the way you like?

 

[Tom Cashel]

If you're the DM, and putting the most time and effort into the game, and mostlikely hosting it as well?

Yes.

Great avatar and quote, by the way.

"What's that watermelon doing there?"
"I'll tell you later."

 

[Shadow64]

I like the randomness thing with the D6. I may have to try that. I have used the other two. Pay the Pig (as I've heard it called at Gospogs gametable) ussually netted my old group about 6-7 bucks a week, more then enough for the chip n' coke fund for the next week. My current group uses the hand over the head method (or as they call it "the potato") for OOC comments. However this is ussually used as just another tool when the smartass comments start to fly. ie -

Player1: Smartass comment directed at Player2
Player2: (with the Potato over his head) I didn't hear you. (Player2 then puts his hand down before Player1 can respond)
Player1: (now with Potato over his head) I said...
Player2: (with Potato back over his head, although already making the motions to take it off) What? I didn't here you.
Player1: (with the Potato over his head and a Bird in his hand) Didja hear that?

And so forth and so on it goes with Player1 and Player2 quickly putting the Potato on and off their heads and cracking wise until they both forget what they were talking about and get back to the game. Yeah, it's probably disruptive, but it's fun.