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

[Fishbone]

I don't mind the calculators so much. The fact that the people with calculators usually don't even care enough to be aware of the most basic and constant of modifiers like attack and save modifiers and STILL bog down combat, now that I mind.

 

[Jhaelen]

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!

Sounds suspiciously like my group

As has been pointed out several times in this thread:
The most important thing is the ability to cooperate; someone who's trying to 'win the game' will ruin it for everyone involved.
The second most important thing is the ability to think and speak in-character. Someone who's memorized all the game's rulebooks but is unable to roleplay is better off playing ordinary board games.
Third comes a general understanding of the setting. I've seen players that didn't seem to get or understand what it means to live in a medieval or magical environment.

Understanding the rules is entirely optional, imho. I'm more than willing to help out each and every time, if the player is good at all of the above 'skills'.

 

[Henry]

What they NEED: The ability to play a game of supposition.

What would be NICE to HAVE: The ability to read and write, basic math knowledge (of the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division kind) and a modicum of interpersonal relationship skills.

 

[Kralin Thornberry]

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!!

Now as a gamer, I can understand all of this, but in my RL job as a special education teacher, I would have to disagree. Just because you are able to add/subtract/multiply/divide quickly, does not mean everyone else can. And neat handwriting is subjective. If they have access to a computer and printer, does it matter what their handwriting looks like? And if it is bothersome to you, have someone else take group notes, or just ask them what it says.

 

[el-remmen]

Yeah. It's one reason combats for my group go so quickly.

Oh!

During combat they make their choices rather quickly and decisively. I meant all other decisions, particularly those between adventures when deciding what to follow up on.

 

[Morrus]

On several occasions players have brought calculators. This frustrated other players and I've had to ask these players to leave.

You asked players to leave because they brought a calculator? Are these people your friends? If they were, are they still your friends?

 

[diaglo]

What they NEED: The ability to play a game of supposition.

What would be NICE to HAVE: The ability to read and write, basic math knowledge (of the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division kind) and a modicum of interpersonal relationship skills.

only thing i required to sit at the table was the willingness to play a game.

it is a group activity. the referee is not the only one in the group. all parties contribute. some more than others. but still as long as the game is worth playing it goes on.

some things are nice. but not requirements. math and reading. fast thinking too.

i've gamed with MDs, JDs, and PhDs. i've also gamed with construction workers, day laborers, homeless, mentally challenged, physically challenged, etc...

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

Patience!!!!
Patience!!!!
Patience!!!
Did I forget to mention PATIENCE!!??

That's it, I charge.

I agree. I have one player who I constantly have to ask to calm down. I give him some credit for his enthusiasm, but sometimes he gets all cranky when I'm not moving things along fast enough for him. His true problem is his lack of patience for storyline development. When he doesn't know what's going on behind the scenes he is at his worst. It's only due to a long friendship that I tolerate him, I would boot a new member for his behavior. But then again I can openly tell him he's annoying me and he calms down for a while.

 

[RFisher]

(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).

That strikes me as incredibly rude.

Maybe that's just because my mental processes seem to operate at about half the speed of most people. I generally avoid games that require quick thinking.

I agree with the following:

• Patience
• Cooperative
• Considerate
• Compromise

Pretty much I think it just comes down to being someone who is pleasant to spend time with & collaborate with. If we have that, then we can figure out how to apply each player's unique skills & talents to the game.

 

[Jedi_Solo]

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!!??

My handwriting is horrible. I write with my right hand but I hold the pen/pencil/bloody finger like a left handed person (my hand is at the 90 degree angle I tend to see with left handers). I've heard the term Hen Scratching applied to this but I don't know if there is a real "term" to how I write.

Even if I take my time I sometimes can't read my own writing (I ususally can, and usually others can - but there have been times...)

If I'm writing something that I will be "turning it" (backstory, jounal entry, etc) I type it on the computer.

Which I guess brings me to what I want to see in a player. That they care enough to try.
Can't do math? Use a calculator (thier own or one that is available).
Don't know the rules? Read the rules. We have a couple of players that won't even bother to read the PHB. THAT gets to me (and they own thier own copy too).
Problem reading? Pay attention and try to learn the rules as you go along.
Poor handwriting? Type it up.

Everybody forgets rules. Not everyone knows all of the rules. Heck; sometimes I need a rule bashed into my skull with a 2x4 a few times before I remember it. If I see the player is trying then I have no problems cutting them slack if they need it. But at least try.