Passing notes at the table

[Desdichado]

Are you kidding? I encourage it! But really; there's not many reasons for players to pass notes to each other unless they're plotting against each other.

Come to think of it, I encourage that too!

 

[Crothian]

Ya, it's great when they plot against each other The last time I had note passing in my games was Gen Con for Paranoia. And I'm pretty certain that's the next time I'll see note passing as well.

 

[Umbran]

Yes, I allow it. Usually, it happens early on in a campaign, when the characters don't know each other well yet, so that they still have some secrets. And most of the notes are then between players and DM, not between players.

 

[carborundum]

If the party are all together it's fun to roll spot/ listen checks in secret and pass notes to players. For an ambush I'll have a few notes ready for those who spot something (sunlight flashes off metal in the bushes) and more with red herrings in it (there's a pair of badgers watching from the undergrowth).

Then, when one guy shouts "AMBUSH!" most of the players start asking questions about badgers and rare birds while the alert one is screaming at them to get off their horses.

It's also handy when role-playing conversations and dishing out sense motive info. (He's lying through his teeth/ he seems more interested in the barmaid)

 

[GlassJaw]

I really wanted to vote for "yes, but you'd better have a damn good reason and if it's not, I'm going to tell everyone what you wrote and publicly riducule you because it's a lame thing to do".

Since that choice wasn't available, I voted "yes".

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Not between players, but the the DM...yes.

 

[Shadeydm]

For the record in all my years of playing I have never seen note passing from player to player. (80% of the note passing was from DM to player and the rest was player to DM.) I would be quite surprised to see player to player note passing, it sure would pique my curiosity lol.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

If I catch two players passing notes to each other, I confiscate them, read them to the entire group and then make the players stay after and wipe down the battlemat.

I don't allow gum chewing either.


OK, in reality, I don't care at all about note passing as long as it doesn't get so distracting that it is messing up other people's fun.

 

[Raven Crowking]

If I catch two players passing notes to each other, I confiscate them, read them to the entire group and then make the players stay after and wipe down the battlemat.

That's how we found out that Sally and Ricky weren't really "comparing notes" that one time......

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

Yes. I've seen the good and bad of notes, but overall they have their place. I have no problem with them at all...unless I can't read them...then I get all paranoid...why are you writing about me? :|