Table rules and conventions

[sniffles]

We don't have anything so formal and I don't want to play with a group that needs these type of rules spelled out. We are adults, we know what is expected.

That speaks for us, too. My fellow players/GMs are my friends. We don't need something written down to tell us how to treat each other. We don't even write down our house rules.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

That speaks for us, too. My fellow players/GMs are my friends. We don't need something written down to tell us how to treat each other. We don't even write down our house rules.

While I would like to think that all of us are adults, there are always some people that don't seem to pick up on social cues and conventions very well. (This phenomenon is not just limited to roleplaying though.) By clearly spelling things out up front I think that you can aviod some issues coming up in the first place rather than them becoming a big deal later on down the track.

That's kind of what I hope to achieve by doing this anyway. In practice it may come across as a little too formal and work/school like for an activity where the number one rule should just simply be "Make sure that everyone has fun".

I shall find out one way or the other I guess.

Olaf the Stout.

 

[The_Universe]

I have an extensive list in PDF form, prompted by some shabby player behavior. While I'd infinitely prefer not to have to have any formal rules, experience has taught me that I do.

Here's mine: http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2220794&postcount=1

 

[The_Universe]

We don't have anything so formal and I don't want to play with a group that needs these type of rules spelled out. We are adults, we know what is expected.

There was a time I believed this, too. I was proven horribly, horribly wrong. Eeeugh!

 

[Kahuna Burger]

We don't have anything so formal and I don't want to play with a group that needs these type of rules spelled out. We are adults, we know what is expected.

Being adult doesn't mean assuming everyone automaticly follows the same social/game table conventions as you. Depending on how they were raised, who they used to game with and what they're favorite color is, I find that its very rare that everyone coming together to play in a new group has the same expectations, much less knows what they are for everyone else. :\

For instance, some gamers expect that you will talk to the other players only in character while others find that obsessive and lengthy in character discussion ranges from pretentious to time wasting to annoying. I don't know whats expected of me in that area because I lack psychic powers.

Even things that you might think of as simple social graces are subjective according to the house that you are in. Do you presoak dishes or put them right in the dishwasher? Or hand wash them right away? Disposal, trash or compost bin? Split the takeout bill even or line item? Answer the phone because you are closest or never answer the phone in another person's house? Ask who's calling before giving the phone to someone else or thats rude? Excuse yourself from the table to use the bathroom or leave without comment? Seat up, seat down or lid down because the cats drink the tidy-bowl otherwise? If everyone doesn't agree on those, what is the harm of spelling out table rules on how much notice you want before a D&D game night?

Adult /= psychic! I sometimes think more blameless friction is caused by unspoken understandings than anything else.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Being adult doesn't mean assuming everyone automaticly follows the same social/game table conventions as you. Depending on how they were raised, who they used to game with and what they're favorite color is, I find that its very rare that everyone coming together to play in a new group has the same expectations, much less knows what they are for everyone else. :\

For instance, some gamers expect that you will talk to the other players only in character while others find that obsessive and lengthy in character discussion ranges from pretentious to time wasting to annoying. I don't know whats expected of me in that area because I lack psychic powers.

Even things that you might think of as simple social graces are subjective according to the house that you are in. Do you presoak dishes or put them right in the dishwasher? Or hand wash them right away? Disposal, trash or compost bin? Split the takeout bill even or line item? Answer the phone because you are closest or never answer the phone in another person's house? Ask who's calling before giving the phone to someone else or thats rude? Excuse yourself from the table to use the bathroom or leave without comment? Seat up, seat down or lid down because the cats drink the tidy-bowl otherwise? If everyone doesn't agree on those, what is the harm of spelling out table rules on how much notice you want before a D&D game night?

Adult /= psychic! I sometimes think more blameless friction is caused by unspoken understandings than anything else.

What Kahuna Burger said! This pretty much sums up why I wanted to get this sort of thing sorted out up front. Not everyone has the same opinion things and this way I can get everyone on the same page (or at least let them know what page I'm on). There may be players that disagree with some or even all of my table rules and conventions but at least they will know up front about it and can decide if they still want to play in the game or not.

The main reason I think that this will be useful for my group in particular is because I am starting a new campaign with essentially a new group. I have only played with 2 of the players before and have met another player once. The rest of the group are friends of one of the players that I have played with before. This means that I am going in a little blind and I think that a list of table rules and conventions will be useful. If you have played with/known all of your group for a long time then you may find that setting out your table rules and conventions is not as useful (or even useful at all).

Olaf the Stout

 

[Crothian]

There was a time I believed this, too. I was proven horribly, horribly wrong. Eeeugh!

Those people get dismissed

 

[The_Universe]

Those people get dismissed

Interestingly enough, that was the end result of my problem, as well. Nonetheless, I would have preferred to have dealt with the problems before they blossomed into something calling for dismissal. I prefer a less formal environment, but the sad fact is that I can't always game with the guys and gals I went to high school/college with.

 

[Crothian]

Interestingly enough, that was the end result of my problem, as well. Nonetheless, I would have preferred to have dealt with the problems before they blossomed into something calling for dismissal. I prefer a less formal environment, but the sad fact is that I can't always game with the guys and gals I went to high school/college with.

Well then maybe its been agood decade of gaming becasue I just haven't had those problems. I think that propblem players are going to be problem players no matter what rules one wants to write down.

 

[IronWolf]

Well, I'm in Crothian's group - so nothing formal for us.... Though I think we have an unwritten rule that Frater is not allowed to wear his dwarf costume to gaming sessions...