arbados
Underboss
1446 Posts
    
New York, USA
 | | 01/30/2006 11:22 PM |
| As a DM for many, many years I every once in a while write up some multiple choice questions for my players to answer. I do this for the main purpose of getting an idea of what they like, what they dislike and how they feel the game can improve. I just developed a new one and have about 10 questions on it.
I was curious if any of you have ever done something like this and if you were to do this what type of questions would you ask your players to get the most use for you as DM out of of the questionnaire.
I make it multiple choice because I have learned that the less work they have to do the better it is. I don't want them writing an essay, however, I do give them a comments section. | |
Give me more MIND FLAYERS! | |
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Prince o the Raven Banner
Sergeant
606 Posts
| | 01/31/2006 5:19 AM |
| | I might try this since I'm playing with alot of new people. Would you be willing to let us peak at yours. I've got 3 kids on board now and multiple choice would be the only way to avoid "Awww...Homework". | |
Two trades completed!! (Krush,Hides From Hurricanes)
Champion of the Aaracokra
Herald Of Snig Goblin King | |
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orcdoubleax
Sergeant
694 Posts
| | 01/31/2006 6:52 AM |
| I have never, but it is a good idea.
I will likly try this after my current campaign is over. | |
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The Great
Choco Monster
Ghendar
Warlord
12441 Posts
The G Spot
| | 01/31/2006 7:01 AM |
| | I've actually thought about doing this, but seeing as how I won't be DM'ing for the foreseeable future, not gonna happen. | |
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Count Dooku
Commander
4637 Posts
New York
| | 01/31/2006 8:03 AM |
| Every time we play I do.
An old DM of mine gave out questionnaires after every session saying our input makes a better game.
Now that Im DM and hes a player he requested I try the same thing. All my players love it. Ive asked if its lame and they say no its not. As a matter of fact I get "Where my e-mail questionnaire?" e-mails if I dont send it out within 2 hours of them goin home.
By the way...Heres the same one I use after every session:
1) Rate today's session from 1 to 5 (5 is best)
2) Who was the best player of the day? Why?
3) What was your most favorite part of the day's session?
4) What was your least favorite part?
5) Please give additional comments or suggestions. | |
Champion of the Skulk
Vindicated Champion of the Twig Blight | |
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jacksonm
Warlord
5560 Posts
River City
| | 01/31/2006 8:09 AM |
| | I've done it from time to time. Positive feedback in any form is always good. Questionaires are probably best with newer groups, currently I've been playing with the same players for years now so everyone's tendancies and likes are fairly well known. | | | |
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nyjastul69
Commander
2712 Posts
Rhode Island
| | 01/31/2006 8:15 AM |
| I don't give out quesionnaires, but I poll my players individually once every five weeks or so. I think most of my players would be apathetic about filling it out every week. Our game also has a flow such that each individual week isn't really a good indicator of campaign flow. Giving out a questionnaire is a good idea though, depending on the group.
Edit: jacksonm reminds me that my statements are out of context. The group I'm playing with has been together as gamers for more than 10 years, and we've all been friends for the last 20 years or so. | |
In the constellation of
Cygnus, there lurks a
mysterious, invisible
force:
Rush | |
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griffrat
Commander
3506 Posts
| | 01/31/2006 8:20 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Count Dooku
Every time we play I do.
An old DM of mine gave out questionnaires after every session saying our input makes a better game.
Now that Im DM and hes a player he requested I try the same thing. All my players love it. Ive asked if its lame and they say no its not. As a matter of fact I get "Where my e-mail questionnaire?" e-mails if I dont send it out within 2 hours of them goin home.
By the way...Heres the same one I use after every session:
1) Rate today's session from 1 to 5 (5 is best)
2) Who was the best player of the day? Why?
3) What was your most favorite part of the day's session?
4) What was your least favorite part?
5) Please give additional comments or suggestions.
I have thought about this from time to time. Count, I am going to steal this one and send it our to the group.....nice short and to the point.... | |
Ambassador of FUN!!! | |
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Sir Bozak The Damned
Commander
2854 Posts
Québec
| | 01/31/2006 11:37 AM |
| Yes, me too Count. Once my last player gets a PC, I will do this to know if I am on the right track, although they usually love the sessions and it is now THE thing to do on saturday nights :)
Nice list Count, by the way. | |
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119 completed trades so far...NB called shot: Medusa | |
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mordantos
Underboss
1210 Posts
| | 01/31/2006 4:50 PM |
| | While I haven't done any questionaires about game play (as my players will let me know if they are unhappy), I do one about their characters, both fluff wise and mechanic wise- where they see them going from here, what they would change about their character, what magical items they would like to find etc. | | | |
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ilarue
Underboss
1259 Posts
| | 02/01/2006 11:22 PM |
| | When I first started my current campaign (a couple of months ago) I did a couple of polls just to get a sense of what my players liked and disliked most. I used a scale like 1) way too much, 2) a little too much, 3) just right, 4) not enough, 5) way not enough. And then asked questions like the amount of combat, the amount of time for your character to do what they wanted, the development of NPC, background information on the world, etc. Haven't done it in a while now though. | |
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Champion of the Commoner Mob Leader | |
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Prince o the Raven Banner
Sergeant
606 Posts
| | 02/02/2006 5:54 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Count Dooku
Every time we play I do.
An old DM of mine gave out questionnaires after every session saying our input makes a better game.
Now that Im DM and hes a player he requested I try the same thing. All my players love it. Ive asked if its lame and they say no its not. As a matter of fact I get "Where my e-mail questionnaire?" e-mails if I dont send it out within 2 hours of them goin home.
By the way...Heres the same one I use after every session:
1) Rate today's session from 1 to 5 (5 is best)
2) Who was the best player of the day? Why?
3) What was your most favorite part of the day's session?
4) What was your least favorite part?
5) Please give additional comments or suggestions.
Count, I'm gonna swipe this and maybe modify it with a little MC feature for the kiddies copies. Thanx. | |
Two trades completed!! (Krush,Hides From Hurricanes)
Champion of the Aaracokra
Herald Of Snig Goblin King | |
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arbados
Underboss
1446 Posts
New York, USA
| | 02/02/2006 10:37 PM |
| I have been playing with my group for a very long time and although I think I know their tendencies things sometimes change. This questionnaire that I am going to throw out at them is based a lot on my game and the things that I am curious about. Below I listed the questions. I ask the players to circle their most favorable choice. Take a look and I will give comments and reasons as to why I asked each of them. There is a section for comments as well. Here they are:
1. What level character do you enjoy playing the most?
· 1-5
· 6-10
· 11-15
· 16-20
· 21+
*Currently my group is about an average of about 9th level. I ask this to get an idea if I should try to pull this campaign out long term if they are excited about epic levels, or if I should try to slow down the pace of level advancement if they like the current level we are playing at. If they choose a lower level than we are currently playing then it gives me less worry if there should be a TPK![/i]
2. Which of these 2 battle types interests you more?
· Facing overwhelming numbers of lower level creatures/humanoids
· Facing 1 highly powered leader type (creature or humanoid)
*With the addition of miniatures I have been throwing out many low level creatures, but in mass at my group. I am curious to know if my group enjoys this or finds it cumbersome. I used to do a lot more of fewer creatures which were highly powerful. This is to give me an idea of what type of battles they enjoy more.[/i]
3. Generally speaking what scares you more in battle?
· Spellcasters (arcane, divine, psionic)
· Melee enemies who dish out heavy damage
· Ranged attackers who are at a good distance away (arrows,
boulders)
*This question is asked to just get a general feel of what instills fear into my players. It will help me develop who the next major enemy group will compriise of. If they choose spellcasters I might make the next long term enemy a cleric cult, or wizard guild. If they choose melee enemies then it may be a group of Hextor Fighters of Barbarians with great axes. Fianlly if it is ranged attacks I would throw in maybe some giants (which of course has flavor of #2 as well), or a group of converted elves who follow lolth.
4. What type of battle interests you more?
· Familiar type enemies/creatures (orcs, goblins, drow) with
minimal special abilities and attacks, but in a different
sort of terrain or environment (bridge over lava, a small
ship in the ocean, etc)
· Familiar type of environment (forest, plains, caverns)
against a creature/enemy with strange and unique type
abilities (Ragewind).
*Once again this question helps me to develop more interesting battles for the future in my game. I have my own preference, but sometimes I am not sure what each of the players find more interesting. Does the terrain make the battle more interesting for my players or is it the enemy themselves?
5. What do you think we (DM and players) should use more in the
game?
· The varying battle techniques (bull rush, disarm, sunder,
trip)
· Using the skills in more ways than just the basics that are
also outlined in the players handbook (Concentration Check
for environment such as rain and wind, Heal Check to treat
poison and disease, etc.)
*As a group plays together for a long time you seem to use the same things over and over and very often leave out some of the other very interesting things in the game. I find that my group, although using these things sparigly, could probably do better in trying these other areas of battle more often. Putting in everything all at once can be difficult to do. Slowly trying to bring in what the players would find interesting allows me to start using it more frequently and as the players see the DM using it the players usually follow suite. I want to see which one to try first.
6. If you had to choose 1 of the 2 below what % of an adventure
should consist of roleplaying (with roleplaying consisting of
traps, riddles, secrets, npc dialogue) vs. battle?
· 30% Battle/70% Roleplaying
· 70% Battle/30% Roleplaying
*This question is rigged. Of course everyone if given the choice would try to answer 50%/50%, so I didn't give that answer. By weighing the answers in this manner I will hopefully get an honest opinion of whether my players enjoy the role playing or the battles more. It is funny because you see more experienced players always say that they love role playing more than battle because it seems like the more skillful and intellectual thing to do. However, in truth I wonder if these same players really enjoy the battles more than they are willing to admit. With this question I hope to get a true response, without them knowing it.
7. In the game that we play what do you find most enjoyable
about it?
· The history of our world and the storyline that continues to
unfold.
· Your actions as an adventuring group that trigger
future situations developed by me the DM down the line in the
game.
· Developing a strong tie to your characters history.
· Unexpected surprises such as allies turning enemy, enemies
turning ally, well known cities being destroyed, well known
npc’s being killed.
*[i]This really boils down to my game. I put a lot of time and attention to all these areas and just want to get an idea to what my players feel most interests them so I can put a little extra time into developing that area.
8. Death is inevitable. In a fair and enjoyable game for you,
on average how often should a character be killed in relation
to games that are played.
· 1 character dies every 2 games (1/2 month)
· 1 character dies every 4 games (1 month)
· 1 character dies every 6 games (1 ½ months)
· 1 character dies every 8 games (2 months)
· 1 character dies every 10 games (2 ½ months)
· 1 character dies every 12 games (3 months)
· 1 character dies every 14 games (3 ½ months)
· 1 character dies every 16 games (4 months)
*[i]OK, this question may seem odd, but I have realized that some players think it is fine for characters to die every other game or so while others feel slighted if their characters should ever die. I have some who claim death makes the game more real and I as DM should never fudge the rolls in their favor. However, I truly wonder if they just say this or truly mean this. I don't know if I am too soft or too hard on my group as a DM and this will give me an idea of where to try and stand when it comes down to fudging a few dice rolls to keep my players happy, but not to often to make them feel that I am allowing them to live. I am probably most interested in this questions as I feel this can really make or break a players happiness in a game. We play 4 times a week, thus the real time noted next to the deaths.
So there are the ones I have come up with. I have many more from previous questionnaires, but these are the ones that I am most curious in right now in my game. I was wondering after you have read this and have an idea of what I am looking for if you have any others?
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Give me more MIND FLAYERS! | |
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Omand
Commander
3120 Posts
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | 02/03/2006 12:20 AM |
| Hello,
I don't have copies anymore, but with my last regular group I sent out a couple of questionnaires.
It was helpful in several points to keep the campaign on track.
Cheers [:)] | |
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wildmage
Sneak
123 Posts
| | 02/04/2006 7:21 PM |
| Great idea. I like the simplicity and elegance of Count Dooku's questions. I think sometimes the most important thing is to just get the dialogue started, then keep the lines of communication open. Seems like it will help nip problems in the bud before they get started and will help everyone involved have more fun.
Thanks! | |
Champion of the Bone Naga
(There's just so much roleplaying to be done with a large skeletal snake!) | |
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