I have a Player who loves puns. Bad puns. Dad Joke strength puns. Granddad Joke strength puns.
That's OK, I guess - everyone has their own sense of humor, and humor is part of the game.
What I'm finding problematic is their comedic timing. There's ( at least ) two ways to deliver a pun:
The deadpan zinger, tossed into the conversation without warning. People may falter conversationally when they get it, wince, make a quick comment, and them move on.
The build up: Pause the conversation, lay down the build up - which often really doesn't have much to do with the story's current flow ( "you know what we could say if this guy had 3 chickens with him?" ) - the pause beat, the bomb, wait for extended reactions.
This player uses pattern #2 - which is insanely disruptive ( in my opinion, and that may the problem here ) to the narrative flow and the dramatic tone.
So - the questions/requested opinions here are: what would you do in this situation? Is this even a table problem - or is this just a personal problem in that I don't enjoy their sense of humor and I'm just being cranky, so let the Player have their fun? Is this even something I should bring up at the table, or with the Player, or just accept that this is an aspect of playing with this particular Player?
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Do the other players find it disruptive and breaking their experience? if it is do something about it since it is a table problem. If it is just you that has an issue with it. You can still ask that player to tone it down a little since you start to find it annoying and want to deal with it before everyone else starts to find an issue.
Not sure if you've watched my stream yet Vedexent but, my table is horrible at disrupting the game. They break out in song, bad puns, off-topic comments, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes I'm the one instigating it, I try not to, but there are shots that I just can't not take. However this is a home game, with friends, on the weekend, we're all looking for a way to forget reality, and adulting, for the 4 hours that we play. When I ran games for my local shop, there was a significant difference in the amount of goofing off. We only had 2 hours per session, and we were in a location where we had to respect the MTG players and customers who were there.
For the most part, I pull a Frozen and just let it go. I'll sit there quietly, let it run it's course, and then pick up where I left off. It's generally not extremely disruptive and it's just the table's way of having fun. Mind you, I also stop talking, that is a small trick that I've learned that tends to help with the next piece of this. When, not if, it does get to the point where the game has ground to a halt, or they get loud, I'll finally speak up. I'll say something along the lines of "Let's bring it back" or I'll just call a person's name and pick up the story where I left off. In one of my videos I sprayed a squirt bottle at my wife because she was on a roll...I don't suggest that as a go to response. (especially if you don't realize there's actually vinegar in the bottle not water)
We all want to have our players fully engaged in the story and focused on that, but it never happens, our players have time out of the spotlight and that's when things get goofy and distractions are found/made. If I were to venture any guesses I'd shoot toward bad timing and a need to make a general comment to the guy to tone it down. I've had the discussion with my table a few times, I've also talked to individuals and just let them know that they're getting rowdy and we need to bring it back to the game. The only time it becomes a table problem is when the table has a problem, for now consider it your issue. There's nothing wrong with having fun at the table, but if it's too much and too distracting, then you simply address it and ask them to dial it back.
I have a Player who loves puns. Bad puns. Dad Joke strength puns. Granddad Joke strength puns.
That's OK, I guess - everyone has their own sense of humor, and humor is part of the game.
What I'm finding problematic is their comedic timing. There's ( at least ) two ways to deliver a pun:
This player uses pattern #2 - which is insanely disruptive ( in my opinion, and that may the problem here ) to the narrative flow and the dramatic tone.
So - the questions/requested opinions here are: what would you do in this situation? Is this even a table problem - or is this just a personal problem in that I don't enjoy their sense of humor and I'm just being cranky, so let the Player have their fun? Is this even something I should bring up at the table, or with the Player, or just accept that this is an aspect of playing with this particular Player?
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Do the other players find it disruptive and breaking their experience? if it is do something about it since it is a table problem.
If it is just you that has an issue with it. You can still ask that player to tone it down a little since you start to find it annoying and want to deal with it before everyone else starts to find an issue.
Not sure if you've watched my stream yet Vedexent but, my table is horrible at disrupting the game. They break out in song, bad puns, off-topic comments, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes I'm the one instigating it, I try not to, but there are shots that I just can't not take. However this is a home game, with friends, on the weekend, we're all looking for a way to forget reality, and adulting, for the 4 hours that we play. When I ran games for my local shop, there was a significant difference in the amount of goofing off. We only had 2 hours per session, and we were in a location where we had to respect the MTG players and customers who were there.
For the most part, I pull a Frozen and just let it go. I'll sit there quietly, let it run it's course, and then pick up where I left off. It's generally not extremely disruptive and it's just the table's way of having fun. Mind you, I also stop talking, that is a small trick that I've learned that tends to help with the next piece of this. When, not if, it does get to the point where the game has ground to a halt, or they get loud, I'll finally speak up. I'll say something along the lines of "Let's bring it back" or I'll just call a person's name and pick up the story where I left off. In one of my videos I sprayed a squirt bottle at my wife because she was on a roll...I don't suggest that as a go to response. (especially if you don't realize there's actually vinegar in the bottle not water)
We all want to have our players fully engaged in the story and focused on that, but it never happens, our players have time out of the spotlight and that's when things get goofy and distractions are found/made. If I were to venture any guesses I'd shoot toward bad timing and a need to make a general comment to the guy to tone it down. I've had the discussion with my table a few times, I've also talked to individuals and just let them know that they're getting rowdy and we need to bring it back to the game. The only time it becomes a table problem is when the table has a problem, for now consider it your issue. There's nothing wrong with having fun at the table, but if it's too much and too distracting, then you simply address it and ask them to dial it back.