Predict this encounter

[Quasqueton]

Although your group may have been RPing like idiots tactically, their RP-fu is strong, so you do have at least something for which to be thankful

My group does tend to stay/talk in character well. Not 100%, (not even 90%), but really well considering what I’ve seen with other groups.

Quasqueton

 

[shilsen]

This is interesting. My group doesn't typically look up rules while making plans (where to go next, what tactics to use, etc). Well sometimes they look through books while talking, but they don't look them up to help with the discussion at hand. Perhaps we're less micro-managing than most. If we think using web would be a good idea, we'll discuss it, but we won't look up the area, duration, or how much fire damage you take inside a lit one. We'll just say to make sure to prepare it so we can use it.

Do others micro-manage like this?

Sometimes. I'm fine with that, since the PCs are aware of those details and are taking them into account while planning, whereas the players may not have them at their fingertips. Often we save time with players asking me "How long does an X last?" or "What's the range on a Y?"

 

[Quasqueton]

This is interesting. My group doesn't typically look up rules while making plans (where to go next, what tactics to use, etc). Well sometimes they look through books while talking, but they don't look them up to help with the discussion at hand. Perhaps we're less micro-managing than most. If we think using web would be a good idea, we'll discuss it, but we won't look up the area, duration, or how much fire damage you take inside a lit one. We'll just say to make sure to prepare it so we can use it.

This is similar to my current group. If some plan really depends on knowing a detail like that (somethign that at least one character should logically know -- like the wizard knowing his web spell), it'll get looked up (or someone who knows off hand will tell it). But generally, most plans don't rely on detailed/precise application of such rules.

Though I have been in groups where such micro-managing is the norm.

Quasqueton

 

[Infiniti2000]

Plans? What's a plan?

We're supposed to plan things?

Great, now you tell me!

 

[Rystil Arden]

My group does tend to stay/talk in character well. Not 100%, (not even 90%), but really well considering what I’ve seen with other groups.

Quasqueton

Yeah, it does seem that way. That's part of what had originally convinced me you had been stopwatching, actually. My group has a lot of great qualities, but strong character immersion is not one of them. They will stay in character when interacting directly with an NPC and will generally do a good job when they do, but for anything else, I'm lucky to get 25% in character I guess we should all be thankful for our group's good qualities--my group on the other hand would have brutally slaughtered those giants, probably without losing a single hit point. It's not that they're powergamers, but more that giants are a sort of monster with all their eggs in one basket, and my players know that, so they would have exploited the giants' weakness in that regard.

 

[shilsen]

Plans? What's a plan?

We're supposed to plan things?

Great, now you tell me!

Of course we're supposed to plan things. In minute detail, covering every possible contingency.

Barring the specific one that comes up in play, causing the plan to be discarded 1.347 rds into execution.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Sometimes. I'm fine with that, since the PCs are aware of those details and are taking them into account while planning, whereas the players may not have them at their fingertips. Often we save time with players asking me "How long does an X last?" or "What's the range on a Y?"

I'd be fine with it, too. We just don't really seem to care. Now, I fully admit that plans have been messed up by the deatails. A few times its come up later "Oh, that spell only works on one person! Oops, I thought it was 1/level!" It's just not an issue enough for us to look it up. I guess we're lazy. (Okay, I know we're lazy!)

Sometimes I do wish we were a bit more... thoughtful... in our approaches, but being cavalier is also just a lot of fun.

Plans? What's a plan?

We're supposed to plan things?

Great, now you tell me!

My Players have almost stopped making plans because they're plans are so bad. Almost.

I think a key moment in this decision was when a simple dispel magic ruined a plan that they had taken over an hour to ready. Loss of fly does that, though.

 

[moritheil]

Holy crap. I would have killed them out of spite.

FORTY MINUTES to talk about...what, exactly?

I am RBDM, and would have pulverized them with the giants, used all AoO and full attacks.

When the TPK happened, I would say "see this is what your indecision got you." And then, depending on who bought the beer and pizza, I may have allowed them to have teleported away unscathed. Or made them roll up new chars. Your post makes me grumpy.

Best answer!

I don't equate RL time to game time, but I wouldn't have waited 40 minutes before announcing that time was running out (and if they didn't get the hint, telling everyone that the structure was starting to fade, and that they should roll initiatives.) My mind reels when trying to figure out what could be discussed for 40 minutes in that situation.