D&D General The Great Railroad Thread

[pemerton]

The idea that a table needs to be "controlled", or that players need to be "kept in line", is bizarre to me. Do people have this same problem when they sit down to eat a meal together?

I play RPGs with people who want to play RPGs together. The GM role, which I frequently occupy, brings with it certain responsibilities within the structure of the game (generally pertaining to framing and resolution). But it's not about being a parent of undisciplined children!

 

[soviet]

So much of these kinds of threads is really about who you play with and whether they are engaged with the game.

 

[pemerton]

So much of these kinds of threads is really about who you play with and whether they are engaged with the game.

Yeah, I get that impression.

Another impression that I get is that there's a reasonable chunk of players who mostly want to play a wargame/skirmish game, and the fiction beyond that is largely set dressing - so they want the GM to provide that, to create continuity and a link between the fights. But they're not really interested in shaping it.

 

[soviet]

Most players I meet for the first time have some sort of bad behavior. And often something they will say they have been doing for years and something no DM has said anything to them about. The list is huge like: not having an inside voice, hitting on other players, being on their phone, not taking a shower, no hygiene, and hostile 'real world' views.

I find many don't even know the rules, as they come from Buddy DM games where the DM just tells them all the rules all the time.

I remember some time ago you also said that players had threatened you with violence on I think more than one occasion.

It does make me wonder where you are finding these players, and who they are. Are they schoolchildren?

 

[kermit4karate]

The idea that a table needs to be "controlled", or that players need to be "kept in line", is bizarre to me. Do people have this same problem when they sit down to eat a meal together?

I play RPGs with people who want to play RPGs together. The GM role, which I frequently occupy, brings with it certain responsibilities within the structure of the game (generally pertaining to framing and resolution). But it's not about being a parent of undisciplined children!

Sorry for interrupting here since you were probably sarcastically referring to a different frog who also must have mentioned DMs maintaining control of their table and compared table discipline to parenting bad children. If I read that wrong, my apologies.

But yeah, control only has to be exercised when it's necessary to maintain everyone's good time. That was the impetus for that diversion -- that some players go on RP expeditions where they do nonsense (the example given was going "shopping" in game for hours). It was described as a problem for the DM and the table.

So if there's a problem at the table, then fix it. Put on your big girl/boy pants and get control of the table. Or don't, and let the ill-behaved players who are acting like children (in this example) continue to ruin your fun.

 

[bloodtide]

The idea that a table needs to be "controlled", or that players need to be "kept in line", is bizarre to me. Do people have this same problem when they sit down to eat a meal together?

I play RPGs with people who want to play RPGs together. The GM role, which I frequently occupy, brings with it certain responsibilities within the structure of the game (generally pertaining to framing and resolution). But it's not about being a parent of undisciplined children!

This is sadly true of nearly any social activity. Someone, often the host, has to be the adult.

I remember some time ago you also said that players had threatened you with violence on I think more than one occasion.

It does make me wonder where you are finding these players, and who they are. Are they schoolchildren?

A lot of people are hostile, or worse. It is just how people are in social situations.

I find players in all the ways: pen a paper posts on peg boards, online posts and the ever popular someone knows someone.