[Player Advice] How to keep the group focussed?

[blargney the second]

eris404: I've known them for four and a half years, but for about two of those, I only saw them rarely. I am still the new guy because they've known each other for about 10 years now, hence the jokes to which I'm not privvy and the common acquiantances that I don't know.

One of the other players was my roommate for two years, and I get along very well with him. I think I will find out if he's interested in helping me prod people back on track, as the DM is one of the worst de-railers. I'm currently the only one who does any prompting to get back to the game. (And it's lonely on top! )

I have started hanging out with the DM outside of game nights, and hopefully I'll be able to hash something out with him.

Thanks for the good advice!
-blarg

 

[blargney the second]

Ferrix: I'll definitely have to remember to do a player survey before I start DMing my new campaign. The guys in my group have never done that before, and I often get the feeling that the players don't feel like their own needs are being addressed by whoever's DMing at any given point. I'll suggest it to the current DM if it seems like he's open to the idea.

I think I'll also ask them how to guide them back to the game in French without sounding like I'm nagging. Subtle things like that are still a bit tricky for me.

It could be fun to set up a group with you! When will you be back in Montreal?
-blarg

 

[Ferrix]

I think I'll also ask them how to guide them back to the game in French without sounding like I'm nagging. Subtle things like that are still a bit tricky for me.

It could be fun to set up a group with you! When will you be back in Montreal?

And you think your french is lacking... hehe, glad my friends who I play with back home are all pure-bred anglophones ;-)

I'll be back in August sometime and throughout the school year and what not. We'll set something up, and you ever want help with stuff for a game, just drop me an e-mail or poke me at a dance.

 

[Dire Wolf]

It is a tough situation to be in when the DM is one of the main problems. I was going to suggest making sure there is enough time away from the gaming table to hang out and discuss the latest non-game interests, but that has already been said.
I agree that it sounds like a long time habit, and one that may be very hard to break if it can be broken at all. They may not want to break it either.
My gaming group has it's bad nights. I DM and I try my best to keep the game on track, although some nights it is a losing battle and I just give in and realize that there won't be much progress. Other nights we do so well that I end up winging it for half the night because the party plowed through my prepared material.
The best thing to do, like many have suggested is to talk with the DM. Tell him what you are looking for. Maybe you should take a turn at DMing and see if you can keep the game more focused. Also, maybe try taking breaks more frequently. I know it sounds like you lose time that way, but believe me, a half-hour of focused gaming is better than an hour of unfocused.
Hope some of this helps.

 

[Shallown]

I think talking about it and giving examples is important. Sometimes people don't realize how much time they are wasting. Even waiting a session or two and gathering Data might help. Now this isn't finger pointing or laying blame but simple saying "hey everyone we took an hour... yeah an hour from 643 to 740 to discuss/plan something that should have taken 10 minutes max." Don't blame one or two people for that just point out it happened. Include yourself among the guilty even if your the least guilty. It makes things smoother in the sense that if you are a part of the problem then the group can work together to solve it and not feel your telling them what to do. And in some small way you are guilty becuase you haven't spoken up before. I know it may be a bitter pill to swallow but sometimes the mob mentality can be useful to redirect the group.

Later

 

[The_Gneech]

The phrase "I'm sorry, but I'm just not having fun" might get some notice...

-The Gneech

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I (the DM) encourage "staying in the game" by awarding extra XP to a player if they make the effort to stay on track. Ask your DM to do the same. After a few sessions of you getting an extra 100+ XP for "staying on track" the other players may take notice and follow suit.

 

[blargney the second]

Ferrix: Yup, I was forced to realize that my French is still sub-par when I realized that there are whole emotional and cultural nuances that I can't get across the way I can in English. At least I'm aware of the deficiency now!

rjmc64: I'm planning an upcoming campaign for just that reason. ;> However, I'm thinking of running it for another group altogether at this point.

Shallown: Did the data-gathering last game, great suggestion!

Gneech: *nod*

Calico_Jack73: I like it!


Thank you all very much for your advice! I will talk to the guys this week, and I'll let you know how it goes in here.

-blarg

 

[eris404]

I have started hanging out with the DM outside of game nights, and hopefully I'll be able to hash something out with him.

I hope it works out for you - finding a new group is no picnic. Let us know how it goes!

 

[adwyn]

our group often has this problem, and I as the DM am a big part. I found two things helped - 1) Be prepared. Much of the drifting occured when we were looking something up or I the DM was distracted doing a few minutes of bookkeeping. The side conversations always seemed to expand to fifteen or twenty minutes.

2) I also instituted a system whereby the first person to verbally "tag" someone who had gone off topic took 25xp/level from the victim. This let the players police themselves (and me) and kept things flowing.