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Marjorie
Underboss
1141 Posts
    
 | | 02/16/2006 9:43 AM |
| Last night, we ran into a common, unfortuante problem in our role-playing session...
The campaign just happened to focus on the skills of one player character, and the rest of us were pretty much left out of the game for the evening. It happens, and I didn't mind it, but I did find myself doing other things while I listened to the DM and our Witch/Druid mutt roleplay.
What do you do when this happens? I sew and knit a lot, so I spent the time designing a new cross-stitch pattern to work on. | |
Champion of the Flumph!!! | |
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reezel
Sergeant
555 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 9:45 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Marjorie
Last night, we ran into a common, unfortuante problem in our role-playing session...
The campaign just happened to focus on the skills of one player character, and the rest of us were pretty much left out of the game for the evening. It happens, and I didn't mind it, but I did find myself doing other things while I listened to the DM and our Witch/Druid mutt roleplay.
What do you do when this happens? I sew and knit a lot, so I spent the time designing a new cross-stitch pattern to work on.
I've been known to find weird and odd ways to arrange the minis sitting on the table. I've gotten them in some pretty bad poses before. | |
Champion of the Beholder and Beholderkin
The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. | |
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Ghendar
Warlord
13069 Posts
Mud Lick, Kentucky
| | 02/16/2006 10:18 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by reezel
I've been known to find weird and odd ways to arrange the minis sitting on the table. I've gotten them in some pretty bad poses before.
geez, tell me about it. I still get shudders about Weber commenting on the shapely buttocks of the Nightwalker. | |
WotC - making me wish more and more every day for a return to the TSR days. :(
I fought the snark and the snark won. I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!
Some of my favorite Maxminis quotes
I actually love to be swallowed. - Posted By gss_000 on 09/04/2007 2:32 PM
Could somebody explain Snatch to me? I understand the basics, but not how to enter/use it. - Posted by orcmonk220
G's the man. - Posted By greyhaze on 11/11/2008 8:58 AM
I dont mind butting heads every once in a while. It makes thing interesting. Thats why I'd be heartbroken if Ghendar ever left - Posted By Count Dooku on 04/03/2006 11:58 AM
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yack
Commander
3320 Posts
Gatineau Canada
| | 02/16/2006 10:19 AM |
| Never happens too me as I'm always in the DM seat. But I try too leave thoses single person situations too a limit. but now that you mention it... it does kind of suck for the other players.
EDIT: I own all the minis no player can touch but their own miniature. [}:)] | |
Champion of the Peryton
Vindicated Champion : Pit Fiend, Devourer
DW: Duergar Priest
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reezel
Sergeant
555 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 10:40 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Ghendar
geez, tell me about it. I still get shudders about Weber commenting on the shapely buttocks of the Nightwalker.
It's also important to note the small air elemental seem to be in the perfect position to deliver the final part of the stone-cold stunner. | |
Champion of the Beholder and Beholderkin
The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. | |
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Marjorie
Underboss
1141 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 11:05 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Ghendar
quote:
Originally posted by reezel
I've been known to find weird and odd ways to arrange the minis sitting on the table. I've gotten them in some pretty bad poses before.
geez, tell me about it. I still get shudders about Weber commenting on the shapely buttocks of the Nightwalker.
Why do you shudder? He has a VERY cute butt. | |
Champion of the Flumph!!! | |
| *censored*
glumag
Warlord
5968 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 11:28 AM |
| perfect time to get food! As a player I always find something to do, if I am stuck somewhere whent here is nothing I could do but watch the other do his job then that's when I go and take a nap [)]
As a DM I have never experienced it nor plan to, you can always find something to do for the other players. | |
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BigBC
Sergeant
620 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 11:56 AM |
| | I have a character with the Vow of Poverty feat and so whenever treasure day comes around, I'm screwed. I usually look like this [|)] while everyone else decides what to do with their loot. At least its something I brought on myself so I can't complain too much. The only other time I'm bored is when our wizard takes time to research spells. | |
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madda
Sergeant
714 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 12:16 PM |
| First, a response for the thread topic.
When you're not playing you can still do beneficial stuff.
You can enhance your background story. Try to work some of the clues the DM gave (and figure out what were the clues). Collaborate with the others that do not communicating with the DM to work better together. (This can even be done in-play, as the characters most definately share ideas over camp-fire to improve team work). Reread the spell list and try to come up with new uses for them. Write poems/stories that reflect character story, successes and failures (especially if you're a bard). Simply think of all the mundane activities your character does and try to role play them or liven them up.
Now, I must comment on this.
quote:
Originally posted by BigBC
I have a character with the Vow of Poverty feat and so whenever treasure day comes around, I'm screwed. I usually look like this [|)] while everyone else decides what to do with their loot. At least its something I brought on myself so I can't complain too much. The only other time I'm bored is when our wizard takes time to research spells.
The fact that you took a Vow of Poverty does not mean you do not take a share of the treasure. You take it and donate it to those who need. You simply do not hoard it. It's better to act this way for both game balance (not giving the others more treasure than they deserve) and for role playing reasons (being generous and good-heart). | |
Champion of Cockatrices.
I wish I never wished a wand of wishing. (Wishful thinking.)
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EldritchSoul
Warrior
324 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 3:52 PM |
| i have a character who bought a bunch of games, and we've been working on in-game ways to play them.
for example: he has a set of jacks. the party rogue and he are oftentimes left out of the main conversations, so we play jacks. dex check over 15 gets you one of the 10 jacks for every point over.
i think for chess, we'll do opposed int checks and the difference will decide which piece was captured each set of turns.
0-3 diff: no pieces taken
4-6: pawn
7-9: knight
10-12: rook/bishop
13-16: queen
17+: game win
once all the pieces from one category are gone from a player's side, the result goes to the next higher category. a crit failure on the check gives a -2 to the next roll, a natural 20 gives +2. a game would take awhile, which is nice for longer stretches of downtime.
you could make it a knowledge (tactics & strategy) check as well. | |
Champion of Dracotaur- Vindicated!
T32 | |
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yack
Commander
3320 Posts
Gatineau Canada
| | 02/16/2006 4:07 PM |
| "First, a response for the thread topic.
When you're not playing you can still do beneficial stuff.
You can enhance your background story. Try to work some of the clues the DM gave (and figure out what were the clues). Collaborate with the others that do not communicating with the DM to work better together. (This can even be done in-play, as the characters most definately share ideas over camp-fire to improve team work). Reread the spell list and try to come up with new uses for them. Write poems/stories that reflect character story, successes and failures (especially if you're a bard). Simply think of all the mundane activities your character does and try to role play them or liven them up."
Great ideas there, will use them for sure and bring them up for my group. thanks madda | |
Champion of the Peryton
Vindicated Champion : Pit Fiend, Devourer
DW: Duergar Priest
RPG Only!!!! The Drumming Drunkn' DM | |
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zenthrus
Warlord
5132 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 02/16/2006 5:01 PM |
| Madda's ideas are great! Fleshing out your character's background or even better-role-playing amongst the party members who aren't currently involved in the focus group are excellent ways to keep yourselves involved while the action stagnates a bit.
If the situation drags on too long, however, our group has started playing 3-dragon ante (surprisingly fun). One of our characters always has a deck in his/her Heward's. If the situation takes longer than that it's time for skirmish and a long talk to the DM (if you need to run a solo campaign, let us know so we don't have to show up).
As a DM I haven't seen situations like this come up because I work very hard to prepare balanced encounters (little bit o' everything for everyone). As a player I see it all the time. The worst is when one or two party members decide to go on "role-playing" shopping trips and get into the exact details of the texture and colors of the silk they want their new noble's outfit made of. [xx(]
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge role-play advocate but DMs need to be careful not to let the absurd/unimportant/trivial get out of hand. | |
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Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
Knight of the Large Dire Chicken
Have/Want List
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dagonet
Sergeant
442 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 5:07 PM |
| Heya Majorie,
For your GM. . . One of the early sections of the DMG II has about a dozen of the most common player archetypes (Power-Gamer, Tactician, Storyteller, etc.), what sorts of in-game events/challenges/rewards make them happiest, and how to build sessions that give everyone a chance to shine.
Alternately, the entire section is basically an expansion of an older booklet called "Robin's Laws of Good Games Mastering" (or somesuch).
Cheers,
Dagonet
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"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
Champion of Kyuss and his Servants of Squishy Doom | |
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Bert the Troll
Commander
3964 Posts
Adelaide
| | 02/16/2006 6:30 PM |
| I encourage players to be adding input or throwing peanuts at the star of the momment.
Drinks/Munchie breaks, loo/smokos and that type of thing. Or quiet activities. But only rarely - almost never would I have only one character be invloved for any length of time.
Each player also tends to have a task/duty for the group, so will sometimes work on that (ie the book keeper makes sure lists are up to date etc).
Sometimes I hand over NPCS or similar to players not involved.
Often they will be talking/playing in character with each other & not need my input.
Fighter types often dual. Mages might 'pipe dream' news spells.
If they are too rowdy or bored,I warn them a character sheet audit is coming. | |
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrer." Bert the Troll - The Hobbit
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Champion of Epic Lolth, Orcus, & Demogorgon and bring us Asmodeus! | |
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wildmage
Sneak
123 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 7:31 PM |
| I'm an advocate of players keeping in mind what their character is most likely to be doing in any given situation, then declaring to the DM what that character does. In other words, players being proactive about their character's actions rather than always reactive to what the DM throws at them. Many good examples are in the above threads- PCs have their own conversations amongst themselves, have (hopefully good-natured, but sometimes not) duels, play games, compose epic ballads, invent spells, etc. The more a player thinks in character, the more their minds will be occupied when not directly interacting with the DM.
This can go to extremes if a player is consistently disruptive or bothersome to the other players, but when in good measure, keeping the players in character and not always waiting for what the DM has to say adds to the fun. | |
Champion of the Bone Naga
(There's just so much roleplaying to be done with a large skeletal snake!) | |
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maijstral
Underboss
2105 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 7:39 PM |
| I usually dig out the latest D&D book I have bought and read it. Sometimes I start planing what my character will be doing after whoevers staring now is finished.
Currently I'm playing an Iron Heros game and I am only passing familar with the rules so whenever anyone is doing something and my character is not involved I read the rules to try and figure out the new ones. | | | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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Can of the Cave Beer
Commander
2838 Posts
| | 02/16/2006 11:38 PM |
| Well, one game I was so fed up I pretended like I was sleeping when the GM finally got around to dealing with another situation. Since my character was obviously not wanted in the situation, it didn't seem fair to divert the game from an aspect that everyone else was clearly enjoying.
Sometimes, I drank too much. No one is meant to consume half (OK, two-thirds) of a 750ml bottle of Rumple Minze on their own. No one.
There were times, though, that I was able to still do things in-game with other players that weren't currently the GM's focus. That's generally what I tried to do--although the Rumple did call several times. | |
Champion of the Werewolf Lord, Knight of Anything Duergar, and Squire of Things Gnollish
List reset with the start of previews for each new set...got Chainmail®? | |
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 02/17/2006 5:26 AM |
| The Dice Game
Take 1 of each die type (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20). Roll all 6 dice. If any of them lands on the maximum value for the die, set it (or them) aside and reroll all dice that are not on the maximum value for the die. When you roll, if no dice come up on the maximum value for the die, reroll all dice (including ones previously set aside). The goal: Get all dice to show the maximum value. This is very addicitive.
Stacking dice
Stack as many dice as you can in a single column. d6s and d8s are worth 2 points, d10s and d12s are worth 3 points, d20s are worth 4 points, and d4s are worth 5 points (the question is: when do you place it ...) This scoring assumes normal sizes and shapes for dice.
Check calculations
In high level games, these are great times to double check your math to make sure you calculated the correct attack bonus and damage for your characters under the effects of multiple spells. Even the best players find that they've forgotten to update some materials every once in a while to accoutn for level increases, etc ...
Read spell descriptions
Few people really know the fine details of all the main PHB and spell compendium spells. Knowing that Haste gives you a bonus on reflex saves or that Knight's Move is a transmutation (teleportation) spell instead of a conjuration (teleportation) spell may someday prove to be the difference between life and death for the entire party.
Play 5 Dragon Ante
I love this game. It is a great way to keep players happy during a necessary solo miniadventure for the rogue during a normal session. | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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Sean-Khan
Commander
2731 Posts
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madda
Sergeant
714 Posts
| | 02/17/2006 7:11 AM |
| | Fellow RPGers, I'm not trying to be harsh, but if in my gaming groups I have to do one-on-one interaction with a player and the other players are playing with the dice or building walls, I'd get annoyed. I know I try real hard to minimize such occurances but it does happen and players should really be into their character and fantasy world and not doing "out of game" type of activities. I agree that grabbing food and replenishing drinks is fine as it is very short, but entertaining yourself like that. Do something better. Think in character. It's the most important thing in RPGs. Try to understand what your charachter does when he's bored. Does he have a nasty habit related to it. Maybe he's playing Yo-Yo. Maybe he oils his armor and weapons. Maybe he's telling other party members about his ancestors. Maybe he recites holy scriptures. Develop the rituals he/she is doing. What exactly does those morning/midday/night prayers include? What's in his gardrobe? Well, you get the idea. | |
Champion of Cockatrices.
I wish I never wished a wand of wishing. (Wishful thinking.)
Join the Eternal Campaign!
Chat about miniatures. | |
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BigBC
Sergeant
620 Posts
| | 02/17/2006 9:14 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by madda
The fact that you took a Vow of Poverty does not mean you do not take a share of the treasure. You take it and donate it to those who need. You simply do not hoard it. It's better to act this way for both game balance (not giving the others more treasure than they deserve) and for role playing reasons (being generous and good-heart).
Don't get me wrong, I DO give my share of the treasure to the poor. You're right, that's the whole idea, but that takes me about six seconds (divide treasure up, give my portion to the poor, done). Meanwhile the wizard needs to find someone of a high enough level to craft this, that, and the other thing and the others are doing the same. So while they take two hours to decide what to buy, I'm off in the corner humming. But like I said, I brought it on myself. I sometimes just play with the minis or flesh out the information we gathered earlier or something. | |
Complete: Ha, De, Ar, GoL, Ab, Dk, Af, Ud, WD, DQ, BW
Favorite Supplier
"Indecision may, or may not be my problem." - Jimmy Buffet
Champion of the Gibberling | |
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madda
Sergeant
714 Posts
| | 02/17/2006 11:34 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by BigBC
Don't get me wrong, I DO give my share of the treasure to the poor. You're right, that's the whole idea, but that takes me about six seconds (divide treasure up, give my portion to the poor, done). Meanwhile the wizard needs to find someone of a high enough level to craft this, that, and the other thing and the others are doing the same. So while they take two hours to decide what to buy, I'm off in the corner humming. But like I said, I brought it on myself. I sometimes just play with the minis or flesh out the information we gathered earlier or something.
Again, I'm not trying to be judgemental, but "giving my portion to the poor" is a very simplistic view of your fantasy world. Since there's always poverty and you never have enough resources to fix all the need in the world you have to make choices. Much like real life. You can donate to a church or directly to the poor. You can build (or finance) a home for orphans or schools. All of these are good actions that support your Vow of Poverty but each takes your character to a different place in the world. It's all about choices. So, when your group wizard is crafting magical items, write up a list of those who are in need in your area. Build support groups for the needy. Decide where to put the money you gained. Go out and actually help them with your own hands to build this shelter house or plow the fields when the others spend their time on improving their own personal wealth. Be creative. | |
Champion of Cockatrices.
I wish I never wished a wand of wishing. (Wishful thinking.)
Join the Eternal Campaign!
Chat about miniatures. | |
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Can of the Cave Beer
Commander
2838 Posts
| | 02/18/2006 12:33 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by madda
Do something better. Think in character. It's the most important thing in RPGs.
I really have to disagree with this. The most important part of being in an RPG is NOT to be in character 95%-100% of the time; the most important part is to have fun and help your friends have fun.
Now, in my case, I'm not talking about spans of a few minutes. That happens and is often necessary. I'm talking about being the cast-off player for HOURS before resorting to amusing myself with whatever means I have at hand (or in glass) or feigning sleep.
As for folks building dice walls or rolling until they acheive certain patterns--*shrug*. The question comes down this: Are they ready to play when it's their turn and are they otherwise interfering? If not, let it go. | |
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| Knight of Argenis
Corim Danex
Warlord
6842 Posts
West Valley City, Utah
| | 02/18/2006 3:19 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by madda
quote:
Originally posted by BigBC
Don't get me wrong, I DO give my share of the treasure to the poor. You're right, that's the whole idea, but that takes me about six seconds (divide treasure up, give my portion to the poor, done). Meanwhile the wizard needs to find someone of a high enough level to craft this, that, and the other thing and the others are doing the same. So while they take two hours to decide what to buy, I'm off in the corner humming. But like I said, I brought it on myself. I sometimes just play with the minis or flesh out the information we gathered earlier or something.
Again, I'm not trying to be judgemental, but "giving my portion to the poor" is a very simplistic view of your fantasy world. Since there's always poverty and you never have enough resources to fix all the need in the world you have to make choices. Much like real life. You can donate to a church or directly to the poor. You can build (or finance) a home for orphans or schools. All of these are good actions that support your Vow of Poverty but each takes your character to a different place in the world. It's all about choices. So, when your group wizard is crafting magical items, write up a list of those who are in need in your area. Build support groups for the needy. Decide where to put the money you gained. Go out and actually help them with your own hands to build this shelter house or plow the fields when the others spend their time on improving their own personal wealth. Be creative.
Sounds boring to me. Makes sense for a monk with vow of poverty. Just sounds boring, though. In real life, if a service opportunity comes up, I don't hesitate to help out. I just wouldn't want to spend chunks of RPG time going to that detail. | |
"Look to God and live." Alma 37:47
Vindicated Champ of Hippogriff (Arcadian Hippogriff) and Uncommon Horse | |
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 02/18/2006 12:18 PM |
| madda: As a word of friendly advice: One of the worst ways to get people to agree with your view is to begin your discussion with the phrase, "I'm not trying to be judgmental, but ..." Most people flip this around in their brain into, "I'm judging you ... and finding you to be unacceptable."
As for the in character arguments:
1.) The #1 most important thing is not being in character. It is having fun. If the players do not enjoy pondering the minutia of a character's life, forcing them to do so is a mistake.
B.) If the PCs have 1 minute to think, but the DM needs to take 20 minutes aside with a player to solo out what occurs in that 1 minute, I'd rather the PCs were not thinking in character during that time. I'd rather they were temporarily distracted from the game.
III.) The dice game is far too addicitive. Even if it was wrong, once you start, you can't stop.
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madda
Sergeant
714 Posts
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Jefftyjeffjeff
Warrior
214 Posts
| | 02/21/2006 12:27 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by jgsugden
The Dice Game
Take 1 of each die type (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20). Roll all 6 dice. If any of them lands on the maximum value for the die, set it (or them) aside and reroll all dice that are not on the maximum value for the die. When you roll, if no dice come up on the maximum value for the die, reroll all dice (including ones previously set aside). The goal: Get all dice to show the maximum value. This is very addicitive.
I do this too! Creepy.
I have a variant that lets me use whatever dice I grab. I give myself as many rolls as I have dice in my hand. So if I just grab a handful of 10 random dice, I have ten rolls to get them all on highest face.
All the failure of solitaire, with none of the strategy!
Another one I play:
8 Crimes
Gather all your 8-siders and divide them into teams by color. Roll them all in a contained area.
Treat the faces of the dice as arrows pointing in the direction that the number is most easily read. Starting with 2s and working your way up, a higher number "kills" the closest lower number it's pointing at, even if they're on the same team. Equal numbers kill each other. Higher numbers are unharmed. Remove killed dice from the area immediately.
Once the killing ends, count up remaining number values. Highest value wins.
It's almost like fun!
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Jeff Quick, Philadelphia
22 Successful Trades: benimoto, bonepinhamer, bradu, Changeling, dnd3eplayer, drowdude, Drift, Gausse, Ghendar, Ihawk, ikill4adollar, Khaibit_ema_Neteru, Lance H, marjorie, MeepoTheMighty, mulkhoran, Puggins, Ryngard, vrecknidj, wuzzard, xbrendanx, Zenako (x2)
Pending Trades: | |
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Malin Lug
Sergeant
742 Posts
| | 02/21/2006 4:55 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by BigBC
I have a character with the Vow of Poverty feat and so whenever treasure day comes around, I'm screwed. I usually look like this [|)] while everyone else decides what to do with their loot. At least its something I brought on myself so I can't complain too much. The only other time I'm bored is when our wizard takes time to research spells.
Wow a GM who actually allowed a Vow of Poverty. I've already talked to my GM about it and he said something about my having a Crack habit. It is just me, but I like the details and the role playing in being very specific about how to give money away. In our current group, I have a tendency to give money away (no vow of poverty either, just a fighter/ranger/tempest) but I am always specific in how I give it away. Helping to rebuild a town after a red dragon attack that we failed to prevent is just one example.
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"Are you not entertained?" 
Champion of the Common Bar Wench
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Malin Lug
Sergeant
742 Posts
| | 02/21/2006 4:57 PM |
| Back to your original question though... My wife will usually sketch something or another and quite often I will be working on my notes for the game. (I have a 120 page font 11 typed journal for one game plus another 30+ pages of notes and NPC's.) Plus I have a couple of games installed on my cell phone.
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"Are you not entertained?"
Champion of the Common Bar Wench
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