D&D 5E What are YOU working on?

[Shiroiken]

In general, I feel I'm a really good player. One can always improve, however.

My biggest flaw, which I need to work on, is staying in character. I'm notorious for making a wise ass comment from a player's perspective, and sometimes it breaks the momentum. To be fair, my group is all bad at this, but I can only control myself

Something that I'm not bad at, but always try to work on is my Realmslore. My DM runs the Forgotten Realms and has a wide knowledge of the setting. One of the other players is from the DM's earliest games, so he has almost as much knowledge. I started reading the novels, and even at a book a week, it's been a long, long journey

 

[psimon85]

Hey Guys/Gals,

New member here and I have to say, I am absolutely loving the community so far. Truly.

Moving on to the topic at hand. I know a lot of GMs/DMs constantly work on their craft. Heck I think it's probably safe to say the majority of members here are DMs, though I admit this is just a guess. I am currently in a group that is rotating games between myself and a second GM 2 weeks/2 weeks and knowing both sides of the screen has really made me self aware of how I am doing as a player. Am I a good player? Am I a poor player? Am I a problem player? etc...

What I would like to ask is what are YOU working on to be a better PLAYER?

There have been a ton of articles on how to deal with bad players, what makes a bad player, how to make better characters and what to do to be a better player. I am not really looking for a list of things people do that makes them a problem for the GM; I am interested in seeing what people think are their own weaknesses that they are trying to improve on.

To start this 'AA' of sorts I guess I should be honest myself.

I am a bit of an egotist personally and as such I fear I dominate RP moments and typically try and bulldog the group into doing whatever I/my character thinks is the best strategy. I am working on this. I am almost forcing myself not to talk all the time even if the group gets to a RP moment and no one else is going for it. It makes me uncomfortable with the awkwardness of the silence, but as I am working on sharing spotlight time I wait it out. Honestly, even knowing this I still can't 'turn it off' and I still think I get the lion's share, and afterwards I worry that I am not making the game fun for everyone. But at the end of the day, I am working on it.

So who else? Doesn't have to be a horrible sin. Just anything YOU are personally working on to be a better player. Maybe it's a cool voice, or understanding underwater combat, or learning your setting better as some examples. I think hearing what everyone thinks they could do better is very interesting.

I think I tend to have a similar issue to you. I don't mind taking the spotlight and pushing things forward in the slightest. I generally play with the same group of people we have an in going themed campaign where the world and people in it progress with each new iteration. Though of course our new characters are in the dark to some of the details of past events.

My old character was notorious for being aloof, loud and doing what he thought was right, if the group stood around debating for too long my character would inevitably head off and make a start, forcing the group to follow my lead...I mean possessing a terrasque seemed like a good idea at the time.

So in this new campaign (8 sessions in) I decided to play a young and inexperienced character that is basically a protector and soldier type that prefers to take orders rather than make decisions. As I really enjoy the roleplay aspect, this conscious choice of character is kind of forcing me to take a back seat and let the other players work and lead.

 

[Cody C. Lewis]

In general, I feel I'm a really good player. One can always improve, however.

My biggest flaw, which I need to work on, is staying in character. I'm notorious for making a wise ass comment from a player's perspective, and sometimes it breaks the momentum. To be fair, my group is all bad at this, but I can only control myself

Something that I'm not bad at, but always try to work on is my Realmslore. My DM runs the Forgotten Realms and has a wide knowledge of the setting. One of the other players is from the DM's earliest games, so he has almost as much knowledge. I started reading the novels, and even at a book a week, it's been a long, long journey

Ok, I'm going to say this too. I admittedly think there is never a time in a game where I couldn't fit a joke in. Like your group, my gang of friends all do it too, but man do I need to work on this.

 

[Pjack]

Look for ways to support the other players.

Become fans of their characters, and get invested in their backstories and motivations. Let your character play off them in fun and interesting ways. When a situation comes up that highlights their character's abilities, help move the spotlight onto them. Don't try to steer their choices with endless "helpful" suggestions. Step aside, let them play, and back them up.