Has anyone tried having the table be silent when a Silence spell is cast? How did the players take it? I'm considering doing this so that it introduces a new element of play in the game.
Tying in various effects to the players as opposed to only their characters is fun but it rests on how far the players want to get into the RP.
I can think of three players I have, one in my Randor Campaign game and two in my Adventures of Loromir game, who would scoff at the idea. For two of them, their method of fun is all about tactics and numbers. The last one plays just to hang out, they don't get into character, and struggle with some of the game's mechanics. Getting them to play along with this type of idea would be challenging.
Two of my Randor Campaign players, and all of my Sand & Magic players, would have a blast with this idea. They are all theatrical, get into character, and just love to have fun. Even though one of the players is rolling dice for the first time ever this weekend, he dropped into the "what does my character see/do/think" mind frame when we were teaching him the basics of the game.
There's various ways people play the game, give your idea a shot, see how the players respond, and tailor those types of things to your group. It's all about fun, and little things like that can bring out some really interesting role play.
I think its a fun idea with respect to party members talking to each other, but if this spell is cast in the middle of combat it may make it difficult for the players to dictate to you, the DM, what they want to do.
And if you make the exception of "You can speak when you are telling me what your character is going to do" then I feel like it would ruin the effect as a whole. I think if you were going to commit to this idea, it would have to be all or nothing, in which case combat time may be extended as for the duration of the spell tabletop communication becomes a game of charades.
If that seems like something your players enjoy, I could see that being fun, but it could also come off as an annoyance.
I'd say give it a try, and see what your players think about it afterword.
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If you want to say that the characters in the silence spell can't discuss what is going on with the other players then that would make sense. Imposing silence on the table far less reasonable.
1) The players need to tell the DM what their characters are doing. They can't do this if you make them remain silent.
2) Not all of the characters may be in the silence, they move in and out and silence may even have been cast only on some or all of the opponents. Making the table be silent doesn't make any sense in that context and making only the players whose characters happen to be in the silence remain silent, causes the same communications issues.
Overall, it is one of those ideas which sounds much cooler than it would be in practice.
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Has anyone tried having the table be silent when a Silence spell is cast? How did the players take it? I'm considering doing this so that it introduces a new element of play in the game.
Tying in various effects to the players as opposed to only their characters is fun but it rests on how far the players want to get into the RP.
I can think of three players I have, one in my Randor Campaign game and two in my Adventures of Loromir game, who would scoff at the idea. For two of them, their method of fun is all about tactics and numbers. The last one plays just to hang out, they don't get into character, and struggle with some of the game's mechanics. Getting them to play along with this type of idea would be challenging.
Two of my Randor Campaign players, and all of my Sand & Magic players, would have a blast with this idea. They are all theatrical, get into character, and just love to have fun. Even though one of the players is rolling dice for the first time ever this weekend, he dropped into the "what does my character see/do/think" mind frame when we were teaching him the basics of the game.
There's various ways people play the game, give your idea a shot, see how the players respond, and tailor those types of things to your group. It's all about fun, and little things like that can bring out some really interesting role play.
I think its a fun idea with respect to party members talking to each other, but if this spell is cast in the middle of combat it may make it difficult for the players to dictate to you, the DM, what they want to do.
And if you make the exception of "You can speak when you are telling me what your character is going to do" then I feel like it would ruin the effect as a whole. I think if you were going to commit to this idea, it would have to be all or nothing, in which case combat time may be extended as for the duration of the spell tabletop communication becomes a game of charades.
If that seems like something your players enjoy, I could see that being fun, but it could also come off as an annoyance.
I'd say give it a try, and see what your players think about it afterword.
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
If you want to say that the characters in the silence spell can't discuss what is going on with the other players then that would make sense. Imposing silence on the table far less reasonable.
1) The players need to tell the DM what their characters are doing. They can't do this if you make them remain silent.
2) Not all of the characters may be in the silence, they move in and out and silence may even have been cast only on some or all of the opponents. Making the table be silent doesn't make any sense in that context and making only the players whose characters happen to be in the silence remain silent, causes the same communications issues.
Overall, it is one of those ideas which sounds much cooler than it would be in practice.