[Problem] How to handle eager players' different actions?

[Decamber]

Hello!

We've got a problem in our group, which I was thinking of asking for help to solve from you experienced gurus out there. I'd guess it's a rather common problem - well, here goes...

In situations where all the characters are involved all at the same time, in the same degree, such as in combat or while having important discussions with important NPCs, it usually result in having at least one player doing nothing as the other's talking on top of each other. It's always the same people who's talking and the same who's sitting quite too, since it's the one who scream loudest who may speak.

Well anyway, this problem mostly applies to conversations with NPCs, since all the PCs tend to lie at the leadership part, more or less. We've tried different methods of for instance having the DM to "pick" the speaker, and then change as is he think it suits. But that isn't a good way to do it, since most of the time there's something, probably important thing, that you can't say because it'll get irrelevant as the next speaker changes the subject.

Do you have any good solution for this?

(I hope you get what I mean; My head doesn't work too well with my fingers since it hasn't got that much sleep, but hopefully... )

Thank you!

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

If I understand right the solution is for the DM NOT to act till all players have said their piece. Roleplay it like it is the pc's are yelling and screaming to out do each other and the NPC sits backs and smiles(Do this even with a more subdue group and watch the paranoia start to rise ) In combat its the same way go from left to right and then right to left even if the initiative is wonky that way. After all this isn't an auction bidding process its a game that needs to have some controls else no one can have fun. BTW the quiet ones need to be given the opportunity to shine IF THEY WANT TOO. Else as I said use some Robert's rules of order in your group.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

If I understand right the solution is for the DM NOT to act till all players have said their piece. Roleplay it like it is the pc's are yelling and screaming to out do each other and the NPC sits backs and smiles(Do this even with a more subdue group and watch the paranoia start to rise )

Salutations,

I think this is on track for the best advice- have the npc's react. Will a king want to be surrounded by such behavior? Probably not- he might order them away a week.. to give them time to figure out how not to waste his time.

In combat- each person only has six seconds, don't let them describe actions or conversations beyond that duration.

If they keep having conversations, then apply a circumstance penalty to their attacks/ac. (though, let them know you are doing this before hand)

Or..

before the next session tell them that communication is becoming a problem. Suggest that if their characters are going to meet with NPC's, that their characters take in-character time before hand to get their story straight.

And ask their suggestions

Respectfully submitted
FD