What basic skills should every Dungeons and Dragons player "no"?

[Thunderfoot]

Patience!!!!
Basic Math.
Good verbal and comprehension skills in whatever language they may be utilizing for their game.
Patience!!!!
Descent problem solving abilites.
Good listening skills.
Patience!!!
The ability to take and follow direction from others.
The ability to lead in the absence of another who can.
Did I forget to mention PATIENCE!!??

 

[Nifft]

But I'd say a much-overlooked necessity in gaming is the ability to be cooperative and considerate of others. It makes it a lot more fun to be at the gaming table with someone if they aren't always trying to go against the rest of the group and are able to think of someone other than themselves.

QFMFT!!!!

This is the most important. It's the "real Rule Zero", IMHO.

And I'd never thought about it until now.

Thanks, -- N

 

[el-remmen]

#5: Must be able to make decisions in a timely manner

That excludes my entire group. . . :\

 

[MerricB]

That excludes my entire group. . . :\

Yeah. It's one reason combats for my group go so quickly. (Another is that if my players don't act in a timely manner, I act for them. Well, I don't act. They just stand there considering what to do while I move onto the next player).

Now, making a plan on how to infiltrate the enemy stronghold: that, they find hard. And they may take 2 hours planning it, but it'll still be shot to hell within 5 minutes of them starting.

Cheers!

 

[Oryan77]

Player's should know what brand of beer/liquor/wine to bring for the DM at the next session.

 

[kenobi65]

Hell yes. Preach it, brother.

Well, "sister", actually...but, I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[kenobi65]

Now, making a plan on how to infiltrate the enemy stronghold: that, they find hard. And they may take 2 hours planning it, but it'll still be shot to hell within 5 minutes of them starting.

Ah, so your group is as skilled as mine at overplanning?

 

[MerricB]

Ah, so your group is as skilled as mine at overplanning?

Indeed. In fact, I've occasionally seen them say to each other, "Why are we doing this? It's not going to work. Let's just kick in the door and go get 'em!"...

...and then continue planning for another hour. Then they go in, the plan blows up, and it's back to "kick in the door."

Cheers!

 

[billd91]

I've had a half dozen players over the years whom just couldn't add 2 digit numbers. On several occasions players have brought calculators. This frustrated other players and I've had to ask these players to leave.

Best DM I every played with had a learning disability with mathematics. Used a calculator. I'd never boot someone because they needed a calculator to add some stuff up. I'd be more inclined to expect that the other players brought the skill of patience or learned it real fast.

 

[-SIN-]

ANYONE who is interested will be accepted into my games. I as a person have no patience when it comes to 'idiocy'. I would expect an 18 year old to be able to add / subtract with relative ease, and have a good grasp of the english language - but these are not a necessity.

Two guy whom I game with have lame mathamatic skills. All I do is try to show them the quickest way of adding his rolls etc... (for example - on a 3d6 roll, try to, when possible to get a round number, like 10, then add the remaining). Just hints & tips on how to speed up his counting, and during games it is almost guarenteed that they'll pick up new words to add to their vocab...

My biggest gripe is with handwriting. My handwriting is neat, tidy and all in block capitals. I take my time. WHY CAN'T EVERYONE ELSE!!??

The same two guys I mention above are both left handed, and although one is quite the artist, they both have prehistoric looking handwriting that is guarenteed to puzzle the worlds best specialists and cryptographers!!