What are your player behavior rules in F2F games?

[Jd Smith1]

And that's a kind of behavior the FLGS I usually run at lists as unacceptable.
You have a very odd group.

Not really. Every group I've run since '79 has had similar habits. But a key difference from your experience is that I never game in public.

I expect if we ever did, player behavior would be completely different. But I can't see any reason why we ever would.

 

[Jd Smith1]

In this case I kinda have to defend @Jd Smith1 here, as if the players can't give each other a good-natured bad time about the ricidulous things their characters get up to then what's the point?

Once it gets past good-natured, however, shut it down.

Exactly. My current group has been together for years, and in several cases were friends before they joined the group.

 

[MNblockhead]

Eighteen years ago, when that rule was passed (by the host of the game) smoking indoors was still fairly common. All of my gamers are old enough to recall the days when every table in restaurants had ashtrays.

The times have changed so much...anyone remember the foil disposable ashtrays McDs used to use?

Yep. Also remember smoking in the student lounge at college. That'd result in a security escort out of the building now.

 

[MNblockhead]

And that's a kind of behavior the FLGS I usually run at lists as unacceptable.
You have a very odd group.

Seems par for the course when you get a group of guys together. Not everyone, but certainly common. With a group of friends, its just ribbing and good natured. Obviously, you'd curtail that behavior in a public game with a group of strangers.

 

[TheSword]

In this case I kinda have to defend @Jd Smith1 here, as if the players can't give each other a good-natured bad time about the ricidulous things their characters get up to then what's the point?

Once it gets past good-natured, however, shut it down.

I think the issue is glorying in it, as if to say “hey, we’re so manly, we only pretend to be men. And as long as wounds don’t need stitches it’s fair play.”

I mean I haven’t heard the word ‘horseplay’ since I was 10.

I don’t think there are many posters here that don’t look at these restrictions and the justifications behind them without rolling their eyes.

 

[TheSword]

You've clearly not run games in public spaces.

I've had to point out what isn't acceptable more to adults than to teens at my tables. The store had to post rules on behavior... including, "Flush the toilet after use" and "Used paper towels go in the trash."

My own table rules are based upon years of both public and private, and are mostly about interpersonal at play issues, but when running a game in public, I still have to reiterate the "Wait your turn" and "Let them decide" aspects. And sometimes, "Please go wash your hands before we start." (Auto mechanic.)

When you make the expectations clear, people generally rise to them. A lot of times, gamers are poorly socialized. Not as strongly correlated as in the 80's, but still... making the list and letting people know ahead of time prevents a lot of stress later.

The problem is that, the kind of people that don’t flush toilets are also the kind of people that don’t read signs.

Etiquette is a funny thing, best enforced by overwhelming peer pressure.

 

[Umbran]

I don’t think there are many posters here that don’t look at these restrictions and the justifications behind them without rolling their eyes.

Mod Note:
So, we have a discussion about how insulting folks at the table may not be okay, especially in public, and then... someone snarkily insults others, in public. I hope everyone can see the issue with that.

How about everyone walk back the disdain for others about 7 steps, please and thanks.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Seems par for the course when you get a group of guys together. Not everyone, but certainly common. With a group of friends, its just ribbing and good natured. Obviously, you'd curtail that behavior in a public game with a group of strangers.

Very true.

When the same group meets for coffee at a restaurant, there's no horseplay and the talk is kept clean and of table-only volume.

 

[TheSword]

Sorry!!!

 

[R_J_K75]

The times have changed so much...anyone remember the foil disposable ashtrays McDs used to use?

Yep. There is a truck stop not too far from my house that still has a smoking section, although its closed off from the rest of the restaurant. I was there not long ago and it felt so odd being able to smoke there, think I had about 3 cigarettes while eating breakfast just because I could.

Another question, who remembers McDonalds old coffee stirrers?