D&D 5E Requiring players to know their character

[Maestrino]

Playing D&D should be fun. I highly suspect that a player made to feel like they're ruining everyone else's fun because they didn't study their character hard enough is probably a player that's not having fun.

Character sheet apps are a mixed bag. It's great because they automatically calculate proficiencies, saves, skill check bonuses, attack bonuses, etc. for you. They also (particularly D&D Beyond) are flipping BRILLIANT at spell management, special ability management, and wildshape management IF you have access on DDB to all the sourcebooks you need.

They can be a challenge - especially on the phone - because of limited screen size. If you go that route, encourage a tablet or laptop because it's easier to navigate. Otherwise, encourage pen and paper (or better - paper sheet inside a plastic sheet protector with a dry-erase marker) and go over it with them to make sure it's calculated correctly. Then for spells and such, make them a list or cards. For special conditions like hunter's mark, hex, etc., make cards they can turn over when those things are in play that show the bonus they need to add. (Also yes, help them do this stuff. Don't do it all FOR them, but at least show them what you mean and get them started.)

 

[shadowoflameth]

I get a lot of variance at my table. When people start playing, they get the idea from me and the more experienced players pretty quickly that they are expected to a). pay attention, b). have some idea what they want to do and c). know basic info like their own to hit bonus or AC without looking. It's harder for more complex characters which is why it's good to start at 1st which we do every time and advnce quickly at first. After about 5th it's usually every two sessions worth they get enough XP. to level up. When a new player is 1st, he might have two spells so maybe tell a newbie in character creation Your AC IS 14, You have 12 Hit points, your bonus is +5 with your spell attacks and your Save DC is 13. Those things will come up almost every turn so it helps to know them.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I think the key might be to have that combat index card sort of thing, where it has their combat specific stuff, without any math!

Exclusively the final modifier numbers that add to a die roll or are a target number for an enemy, and that’s it.

I run a monthly game for kids at the library, and one of the things that slows us down is if I ask for a check, they go to the base number and try to do the math from scratch. And I have to remind them that their skill, attack, or spellcasting mod has a space that has the final number they add to the die roll, already calculated.

I genuinely might start doing the index card thing for them.

 

[R_J_K75]

I have the same problem but dont have the wherewithal to care enough to fix it. I dont know the 5E rules as well as I probably should, but then again we dont play enough that they stick in my head like they used to. Nowadays I have a tendency to ask what the player wants to do on their turn and if they know what to do mechanically to get it done great, if not I'll help them out a bit before I just adjudicate a solution to help them resolve their turn. In very rare cases if they take too long I skip their turn. At our table as long as what I decide is fair, somewhat logical and keeps the game moving everyones OK with that.

 

[jsaving]

A fair number of groups exist mainly for the social interaction and even groups that exist mainly for the comedy that sometimes ensues. In those settings, where players don't necessarily care very much about plot advancement, it isn't a big deal if one or two players consistently slow everyone else down.

However other groups exist mainly for the story-telling/plot-advancement element and become frustrated with players who can't or won't do the prep work that is necessary to keep the game moving forward.

The question in my mind is, which kind of game are you running and how much of the group has a problem with what your slow players are doing? If everyone is having a great time but you find yourself wishing your plotline would advance more quickly, then you might consider taking it upon yourself to create "cheat sheets" for your slower players that clearly show the die roll needed to succeed at their most common tasks. On the other hand if most of your players are frustrated and increasingly find themselves wishing your slower players would find a different campaign, then you might consider helping them do just that, as your repeated admonitions to "improve" haven't had the desired effect. Or if no one is actually bothered at all by your slower players and you just find their behavior odd, then you could instead embrace the oddity and just let things ride.

However it would be a big mistake in my view to publicly "shame" those players through slower level advancement. You simply need to decide whether or not those players are welcome around your gaming table and then proceed accordingly, treating everyone with respect all the while.

 

[Nebulous]

We had a player recently, the girlfriend of another new player. They were both brand new to the game, but the first girl in question, was, without a doubt, the worst roleplayer I've ever seen. Not only could she not grasp simple 1st level math, she didn't understand the very nature of a roleplaying game. Three sessions in and she backed out, thank goodness, as I was contemplating a way to remove her, and that was going to be problematic. She was obviously not having fun and that was taking away from MY fun.

 

[Charlaquin]

Not to bury the lede: Is it okay as DM to put pressure on some players to know their character enough not to slow the game unnecessarily by delaying super-rapid advancement from the party.

Depending on what you mean by “pressure,” I would say yes, absolutely. I think it is perfectly reasonable for the DM to set the expectation for the players to understand their own characters and abilities well enough to run them without slowing down play. After all, the expectation is on the DM to know literally everything else about the game world and rules well enough to run the game at a reasonable pace, so I’d say it’s a relatively small ask. Obviously some affordance should be made for new players who are still learning the rules, but if you’ve been playing with these people for over a year? I think you are fully justified in expecting them to know what they’re doing by now.

I wouldn’t “apply pressure” to them in terms of in-game punishment though. Holding back their level until they know their characters well enough seems like asking for drama to me. Instead, I would recommend talking to these players, expressing that their lack of familiarity with their characters is harming the experience for the group. Set the expectation that they learn their characters well enough to run them quickly, and offer to help them. Ask them what they’re finding difficult and what kind of aid might be able to compensate. Maybe the character sheet layout is hard for them to navigate, maybe cheat sheets with only the most pertinent info about their spells and abilities might be useful, maybe they need someone to walk them through the character building process without the digital tools, maybe they need some extra practice outside the usual sessions. See what’s slowing them down and what you can do to help, and then hold them to the same standard you expect of your other players.

 

[Shiroiken]

Personally, I find players that don't take the time to learn how to run their characters drive me bat-crap crazy. I understand and try to be patient with newer players, but I've played with veterans that just don't bother, which I feel is disrespectful to me and the rest of the players who do put the time into the game.

For some of my players I write and print up a "combat sheet" that basically takes the weapon / attack / damage section of the character sheet and blows it up to large font and all the weapons they may use, plus listing their "bonuses" they can add from various features / spells and such.

That's a pretty good idea. Another sheet for common non-combat spells would be useful too.

I have a similar problem with a ranger who adds up her to hit bonus, saves or skill checks seemingly every bloody time (you can even see her lips move as she adds up).

I knew a player who HAD to recalculate everything, every time because of his OCD. It was actually worse when he was a DM, because if he read boxed text, he'd have to restart if he made a mistake (I once kept count, and his worse incedecent was 83 times). You try to understand and be patient, but it can be super-frustrating..

 

[billd91]

I’m quite familiar with players that don’t seem to learn how to play very well and don’t know much about what their characters can do. In my experience, you can’t easily change them and trying might damage your relationship.
If your game isn’t being absolutely broken by them, my suggestion is to learn to accept it and be patient.

 

[Ancalagon]

Don't play 5e.

Seriously. While it's far simpler than 3.x or pathfinder (and 4e I think?), it's still a medium crunch game.

Look into Troika! instead. Or if you must stick to the D&d roots, maybe the GLOG.