Li Shenron
Legend
Considering the age category we're slowly getting into, I wonder if toilet breaks will soon become a concern...What do you see happen at your D&D/RPG table that wastes time and slows down the game?
Considering the age category we're slowly getting into, I wonder if toilet breaks will soon become a concern...What do you see happen at your D&D/RPG table that wastes time and slows down the game?
I don't know if it really "wastes" time - but about every other session there is a point where some rule comes up we have not dealt with yet or often but that seems like it might - so I insist on looking it up - but the 5E PHB index is SO FRIGGIN' TERRIBLE I struggle to find it. Seriously, I get mad whenever I look at that index.
Other than that, sometimes when we first get started we run a little slow because folks are having a smoke outside or my wife (who does not play) is catching up with one of her best friends (who does) or folks have to seek out where the pets are hanging out in the house to give them pets and scritches.
However, overall? This is the most focused group I have ever had the pleasure to run for.
What do you see happen at your D&D/RPG table that wastes time and slows down the game?
Messin' With Your Players, DOOR Edition:
Ordinary DM: the door is locked, Dexterity DC 20 to pick the lock.
Cruel DM: ...and the door is barred from the other side (still needs Strength DC 20 to bash).
Ruthless DM: ...and the handle is coated in contact poison (Constitution DC 15), and the door has been scribed with a glyph of warding.
Evil DM: ...and the rug in front of the door is a mimic.
Rat Bastard DM: ...and the door leads to an empty closet.
That doesn't waste time - it's efficient. The dungeon crawl is over in record time.You forgot one
Gygaxian DM: the door leads to the plane of oblivion, your PCs are all sucked into the void and die instantly.
P.S. I think I would have hated Gygax as a DM, even back in ye olden days.
This is a problem at ordering counters as well. Why is it that everyone who's been standing in line for ten minutes ahead of you doesn't give a moment's thought to their order until they're standing right in front of the cashier?"Its my turn? Oh, let me take a look at the map because I totally did not think about what I would do next while everyone else was taking their turns. Lets seeeeeeeee.........."
Every group needs one of those players who gets bored easily and says 'Screw it, I bash down the door' as soon as the conversation drags on too long.
Speaking of wasting time at doors and whatnot ... if PCs are taking too long checking out things like doors, it's the DM's fault IMHO. If you're using "contact poison" that somehow penetrates any glove while simultaneously never drying out or leaving any trace that no one has ever used the doorknob then you shouldn't be surprised if players waste time asking 20 questions about every door.
I may have to steal that at some point. Ancient temples with functioning traps (sorry Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, etc.) have always struck me as a bit silly.Once, when my players were exploring an ancient temple, they triggered a fiendish blade trap....which immediately collapsed harmlessly into flakes of rust and rotten wood, because nobody had maintained it for centuries.![]()
A wise adventuring party will always ask around town to see if they can figure out if the bbeg shelled out the extra gp for extended warranties on their traps.I may have to steal that at some point. Ancient temples with functioning traps (sorry Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, etc.) have always struck me as a bit silly.![]()
Yeah, those lifetime warranties sound good, but that fine print will get you every time. Darn clauses on everything! Not responsible for damage caused by adventurers is the worst!A wise adventuring party will always ask around town to see if they can figure out if the bbeg shelled out the extra gp for extended warranties on their traps.