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Message: <blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 831184" data-attributes="member: 812">Maybe there's something wrong with your descriptions. Maybe (forgive me for being completely blunt but I just want to help) your descriptions are terrible. I don't know since of course I've never read one, but let's consider the possibility, okay? Maybe you're a terrible writer.Maybe you're a great writer but a terrible speaker and whenever you start talking your players can't take the sound of your voice.I'm just saying there's an unlimited number of possible problems here. The good news is that there's an equally unlimited number of possible solutions.Write shorter descriptions. One sentence. Four words. Use sign language. Write up handouts and give them to your players. Use a whiteboard. There's all sorts of possibilities.But, really, here's the big one:Instead of reading out descriptions, simply ACT as the character. Speak in their voice, perform their actions. If I were to give you one piece of advice it would be this one. PLAY the character.Your players will respond. They won't have any choice. You may feel awfully uncomfortable the first time you do this. Your players may look a little weirdly at you. But if they're worth anything, they'll respond. You have my personal guarantee on that.Which is worth absolutely nothing, of course, but it was nice of me to offer.Think of it this way -- whenever the DM describes something to the players, the players have to spend a moment's effort to translate what they hear into a reaction on the part of their character. When the DM actually acts out something, or says something as an NPC, the players don't have to perform that translation -- they can just react. The barriers to belief drop sharply.Well, you've basically got four options.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Carry on the way things are. Resign yourself to frustration.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Dump these bozos and find some new players who appreciate all your hard work (just kidding on the bozos bit).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Explain to your players how you want to run your games. Ask them to give a little. To trust you and play YOUR game at least half-way.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Change your style of DMing to play THEIR game at least half-way. [/list=1] What I suspect you'll find is that a combination of 3 and 4 will take place, and everyone in your group will have to decide if they're enjoying the game. There'll be some adjustment. But I recommend against 1 (an unhappy DM is never a great DM) and you may not be able to execute 2 if your player selection is limited or if the "bozos" in question are friends or whatever. Yeah, maybe. But at least you're trying to be better. Keep trying. Keep asking questions here -- there's lots of smart, patient types who are more than willing to help out a DM in trouble. I know cause they've helped me.</li> </ol></blockquote>

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