Ok, I have been having trouble keeping the party focused, this has happened twice in my adventures. I tried every thing, from trying to calm them down to setting a timer for how long they talked and adding a monster to an encounter for every minute that passes by. It is mostly two people who start off the whole conversation. I really need help with this and this is my best option I hope...
I think we need more info. Is this an issue of getting off topic? Like you're playing D&D and then two people start talking about - I don't know - if Jurassic Park had been in the Star Trek universe?
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Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
To me it sounds that your group is people who like to hang out with friends and talk off-topic while playing. My own group likes to talk off-topic and throw some dice while fighting with monsters. Some GMs may call this "casual" playing. As long as people are having fun you are doing great.
Well Matt Mercer once gave a tip. If you're PC's are say on the phone, have the highest passive perception PC notice the shadows sneaking up on the idle PC. You could say to the group that when you say a specific line then it's D&D. Or perhaps try to have a drink with them before the game. Like 30 minutes to an hour if it's possible.
How long is there between sessions for you? Because if it's like 3-5 months they might wanna catch up. I have had the same problem and sorry to say man that group didn't last. That doesn't mean yours aren't going to last either, hell I didn't ask help on here like you so you have a much higher chance of keeping them going. But as a DM you have the right to remind players that they're in a game. If they do it in a city, perhaps act like they are speaking in character. So the townsfolk her a group of adventures speaking of monsters in the stars. Perhaps a curious sage wants to speak with them about monsters that live in the stars?
Your best bet is to either force them into the game or tell them that you're playing D&D and catching up can be done after (or before the game). ^^
How long is there between sessions for you? Because if it's like 3-5 months they might wanna catch up.
We have a 6-hour session, from 4:00 p.m-10:00 p.m. with dinner around 6:00. I host it every Friday, with some exceptions. The last time we met, I had to skip encounters to reach the end of the adventure, which only one PC was able to reach and the others talking about their memories. I was just thinking about if they are just talking the whole adventure, then I will have to cancel the group. It roughly takes about maybe 5 hours to a day to make my homebrew adventures.
I think we need more info. Is this an issue of getting off topic? Like you're playing D&D and then two people start talking about - I don't know - if Jurassic Park had been in the Star Trek universe?
It's mostly getting off topic. I would begin describing the surroundings, then I would hear them talking about things their friends did, and etc. I am planning to host an adventure soon, and I am not sure if I should continue wasting my time making these homebrew campaigns...
It sounds like you are frustrated and not having much fun. Are you feeling like they don't appreciate the work you put in or respect your time? I can tell you that off-topic conversations are not uncommon in most groups I've been in. Many times it is caused by people just wanting to be social with friends. A few times, the people starting it have been nervous for one reason or another and the type to chatter when nervous. One or twice, it's been a sign of boredom or not being engaged in the story.
My point is, it's most often not an issue you can control or should seek to control. In the cases where it is boredom or a lack of interest, you need to find out about it. Start by looking for a pattern for when the interruptions happen. Sometimes that can be enough. For instance, if it only happens when you are describing the setting, then maybe your descriptions are too long. If you see a pattern or don't, the next step is to talk to them. Ask them if there is a problem. If you think you see a pattern ask about that. Avoid being adversarial when you do talk to them. Your goal here is addressing issues, not making more so keep the tone easy-going.
Another point is that the chatter may not make things enjoyable for you but is it also affecting any of the players that way? If it's more than just you having a problem with it then the case for everyone to actively curtail their own off-topic chatter is stronger. The whole point to playing any RPG is having fun with friends. Sometimes that means a bit of compromise. Ideally, not a lot.
As has already been suggested, it may help to at a bit of "non-game social time" to the evening.
My point is, it's most often not an issue you can control or should seek to control. In the cases where it is boredom or a lack of interest, you need to find out about it. Start by looking for a pattern for when the interruptions happen. Sometimes that can be enough. For instance, if it only happens when you are describing the setting, then maybe your descriptions are too long. If you see a pattern or don't, the next step is to talk to them. Ask them if there is a problem. If you think you see a pattern ask about that. Avoid being adversarial when you do talk to them. Your goal here is addressing issues, not making more so keep the tone easy-going.
So when the recent campaign was over. About a day later I did a pole, either
A. The adventures would have lore and interacting with NPC's.
or
B. Just fighting there way through a dungeon and obtaining rewards while there might be funny moments of what they do in battle.
You are really helping me, I don't want my party to dislike me, and never play again.
Yes, a poll is a good tool. My personal preference is more for a discussion but a poll has the advantage of being more focused. May I suggest you gear it as a rating rather than a couple of choices? Here is a sample of what I mean.
The number of interesting NPCs was:
Just right
Too few
Too many
The amount of engaging lore was:
Just right
Too little
Too much
The number of challenging battles was:
Just right
Too few
Too many
Comment on what you would like to see more or less of.
Keep it short and try not to make leading questions. Let them know this the tool you use to improve your skill and get a feel for their expectations.
Expectations are really important. If someone's expectations for the game don't match what is happening then that person would be a bit disappointed. For example, if you want and expect the movie to be a Western and it's a Romantic Comedy then you wouldn't be happy unless you also like RCs and even then you're not as happy as you could be. There are different types of D&D games too. If they want High Fantasy but get Gritty Realism, someone will not be happy. Find out what they expect out of the game. Then you can see how compatible it is with your expectations as a DM. It's not about them liking you so much as the type of game offered. Even if they don't like that type of game, it's not personal so much as a point of opinion. So don't think of it as "disliking" you, so long as you don't kick their puppy you should be ok there. :)
My gaming group, we are friends in real life. We do not have regular access to each other during the week. We generally straggle in and catch up as it goes. We start arriving around 2 and everyone is generally in by shortly after 3. We then sit down and get the game ready, talking and chatting as we prepare. Once everything is ready, we will step away from the table for another ten minutes or so. We then come back and sit down ready to go.
One thing you might do is, well, tell the players how you feel. Not that you think they are taking the game for granted or that you think they could make better use of the time, all true. But let them know that a lot of work goes into getting the session ready and it seems as though the train just comes off the rails a little too easily. Let them know that it is OK if conversation wanders at times, but let them know that at some point you are going to point out that you need to get back to game and have them understand and agree to do so and concentrate more on the matter at hand.
Be open. Let them know your frustrations. Let them know what you expect. See if they want more time away from table to catch up. Tell them that when at the table, the game is, more or less, on. I think that if you have a good group of players that once it is all out on the table things will go a little more smoothly. Just set some boundaries and allow some to be set by them as well. Talk it out. MAKE it fun. Sounds like you have a good group. And they commit to six+ hours at a time to sit and game.
Question, does the off topic conversation come beginning, middle or end session? Beginning, they need a little more catch up time? End, sessions are too long? Middle, you need to really twist the narrative all up in a huge knot to keep them going? Just braining here.
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Thank you. ChrisW
Ones are righteous. And one day, we just might believe it.
Question, does the off topic conversation come beginning, middle or end session? Beginning, they need a little more catch up time? End, sessions are too long? Middle, you need to really twist the narrative all up in a huge knot to keep them going? Just braining here.
It comes off at random like I would be describing a tavern for say, and one of the characters does an action, and it reminds another player of something their friend did that was funny and then it explodes into a table conversation. However I would say that it mostly comes off topic at the end, I even tell them when they are talking that the longer they talk, the more time they are going to be doing this and not having any time to talk during the end of the session.
The last time we met, I had to skip encounters to reach the end of the adventure, which only one PC was able to reach and the others talking about their memories.
This made me wonder, why skip encounters to get to a certain plot point in a given session?
I may be off base, but I wonder if your frustration is party coming from having too much of a plan for how much should happen in a given gaming session.
Rather than discarding things you took real life time to plan, to get to the end of the adventure at the end of the session, ( which then means another 5 hours of planning for you), why not let the adventure span 2 sessions if it going long. You won't waste as much material, and you can defer your next planing session and not waste your own time.
Now, that said, when off topic conversation starts to derail the game play, just be direct, and firm, without aggression. "Hey, all, I know that's fun but I need eyes and ears this way right now, ok? Ok! Now then the wet dungeon walls..."
If doing that repeatedly over a couple sessions doesn't change the dynamic you should also take an honest look at your DM style vs. the players style and make sure you don't have any adjustments to make on your end in order to maintain player engadgement. Are you talking too much, too little, is every character getting a regular spot light? Is the balance of combat, social, and exploration a good match for the player's interests?
The last time we met, I had to skip encounters to reach the end of the adventure, which only one PC was able to reach and the others talking about their memories.
This made me wonder, why skip encounters to get to a certain plot point in a given session?
That's my question too. If any content is left over from what you thought they'd do, just roll it over to the next session. It's like a non-problem and honestly makes the DM's job easier (although I get so excited about seeing them do the next thing the anticipation kills me).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
The last time we met, I had to skip encounters to reach the end of the adventure, which only one PC was able to reach and the others talking about their memories.
This made me wonder, why skip encounters to get to a certain plot point in a given session?
That's my question too. If any content is left over from what you thought they'd do, just roll it over to the next session. It's like a non-problem and honestly makes the DM's job easier (although I get so excited about seeing them do the next thing the anticipation kills me).
Ok, this will answer your question, the encounters are important to the story, of how everything will act towards the players. I had to give the end result to the players to save up time for the ending. I couldn't really split up the campaign into 2 parts because it was going to be a long time since we meet again.
Don't make DnD a chore for your players, or even threaten to. It's been said before but i'm reiterating, neither you nor your players are playing wrong. You just seem to have a different expectation than them - "casual" versus "hardcore"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
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Ok, I have been having trouble keeping the party focused, this has happened twice in my adventures. I tried every thing, from trying to calm them down to setting a timer for how long they talked and adding a monster to an encounter for every minute that passes by. It is mostly two people who start off the whole conversation. I really need help with this and this is my best option I hope...
I think we need more info. Is this an issue of getting off topic? Like you're playing D&D and then two people start talking about - I don't know - if Jurassic Park had been in the Star Trek universe?
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
To me it sounds that your group is people who like to hang out with friends and talk off-topic while playing. My own group likes to talk off-topic and throw some dice while fighting with monsters. Some GMs may call this "casual" playing. As long as people are having fun you are doing great.
Well Matt Mercer once gave a tip. If you're PC's are say on the phone, have the highest passive perception PC notice the shadows sneaking up on the idle PC.
You could say to the group that when you say a specific line then it's D&D. Or perhaps try to have a drink with them before the game. Like 30 minutes to an hour if it's possible.
How long is there between sessions for you? Because if it's like 3-5 months they might wanna catch up.
I have had the same problem and sorry to say man that group didn't last. That doesn't mean yours aren't going to last either, hell I didn't ask help on here like you so you have a much higher chance of keeping them going. But as a DM you have the right to remind players that they're in a game. If they do it in a city, perhaps act like they are speaking in character.
So the townsfolk her a group of adventures speaking of monsters in the stars. Perhaps a curious sage wants to speak with them about monsters that live in the stars?
Your best bet is to either force them into the game or tell them that you're playing D&D and catching up can be done after (or before the game). ^^
Hope it helps! And good luck! ^^
-Daergiel
We have a 6-hour session, from 4:00 p.m-10:00 p.m. with dinner around 6:00. I host it every Friday, with some exceptions. The last time we met, I had to skip encounters to reach the end of the adventure, which only one PC was able to reach and the others talking about their memories. I was just thinking about if they are just talking the whole adventure, then I will have to cancel the group. It roughly takes about maybe 5 hours to a day to make my homebrew adventures.
Your advice helped a lot, thanks!
It's mostly getting off topic. I would begin describing the surroundings, then I would hear them talking about things their friends did, and etc. I am planning to host an adventure soon, and I am not sure if I should continue wasting my time making these homebrew campaigns...
It sounds like you are frustrated and not having much fun. Are you feeling like they don't appreciate the work you put in or respect your time? I can tell you that off-topic conversations are not uncommon in most groups I've been in. Many times it is caused by people just wanting to be social with friends. A few times, the people starting it have been nervous for one reason or another and the type to chatter when nervous. One or twice, it's been a sign of boredom or not being engaged in the story.
My point is, it's most often not an issue you can control or should seek to control. In the cases where it is boredom or a lack of interest, you need to find out about it. Start by looking for a pattern for when the interruptions happen. Sometimes that can be enough. For instance, if it only happens when you are describing the setting, then maybe your descriptions are too long. If you see a pattern or don't, the next step is to talk to them. Ask them if there is a problem. If you think you see a pattern ask about that. Avoid being adversarial when you do talk to them. Your goal here is addressing issues, not making more so keep the tone easy-going.
Another point is that the chatter may not make things enjoyable for you but is it also affecting any of the players that way? If it's more than just you having a problem with it then the case for everyone to actively curtail their own off-topic chatter is stronger. The whole point to playing any RPG is having fun with friends. Sometimes that means a bit of compromise. Ideally, not a lot.
As has already been suggested, it may help to at a bit of "non-game social time" to the evening.
Keep us updated and good luck.
DM Tip #42: If they split up, giggle insanely!!
Past and Current Homebrew RPG Projects
So when the recent campaign was over. About a day later I did a pole, either
A. The adventures would have lore and interacting with NPC's.
or
B. Just fighting there way through a dungeon and obtaining rewards while there might be funny moments of what they do in battle.
You are really helping me, I don't want my party to dislike me, and never play again.
-Endcore
Yes, a poll is a good tool. My personal preference is more for a discussion but a poll has the advantage of being more focused. May I suggest you gear it as a rating rather than a couple of choices? Here is a sample of what I mean.
The number of interesting NPCs was:
The amount of engaging lore was:
The number of challenging battles was:
Comment on what you would like to see more or less of.
Keep it short and try not to make leading questions. Let them know this the tool you use to improve your skill and get a feel for their expectations.
Expectations are really important. If someone's expectations for the game don't match what is happening then that person would be a bit disappointed. For example, if you want and expect the movie to be a Western and it's a Romantic Comedy then you wouldn't be happy unless you also like RCs and even then you're not as happy as you could be. There are different types of D&D games too. If they want High Fantasy but get Gritty Realism, someone will not be happy. Find out what they expect out of the game. Then you can see how compatible it is with your expectations as a DM. It's not about them liking you so much as the type of game offered. Even if they don't like that type of game, it's not personal so much as a point of opinion. So don't think of it as "disliking" you, so long as you don't kick their puppy you should be ok there. :)
DM Tip #42: If they split up, giggle insanely!!
Past and Current Homebrew RPG Projects
My gaming group, we are friends in real life. We do not have regular access to each other during the week. We generally straggle in and catch up as it goes. We start arriving around 2 and everyone is generally in by shortly after 3. We then sit down and get the game ready, talking and chatting as we prepare. Once everything is ready, we will step away from the table for another ten minutes or so. We then come back and sit down ready to go.
One thing you might do is, well, tell the players how you feel. Not that you think they are taking the game for granted or that you think they could make better use of the time, all true. But let them know that a lot of work goes into getting the session ready and it seems as though the train just comes off the rails a little too easily. Let them know that it is OK if conversation wanders at times, but let them know that at some point you are going to point out that you need to get back to game and have them understand and agree to do so and concentrate more on the matter at hand.
Be open. Let them know your frustrations. Let them know what you expect. See if they want more time away from table to catch up. Tell them that when at the table, the game is, more or less, on. I think that if you have a good group of players that once it is all out on the table things will go a little more smoothly. Just set some boundaries and allow some to be set by them as well. Talk it out. MAKE it fun. Sounds like you have a good group. And they commit to six+ hours at a time to sit and game.
Question, does the off topic conversation come beginning, middle or end session? Beginning, they need a little more catch up time? End, sessions are too long? Middle, you need to really twist the narrative all up in a huge knot to keep them going? Just braining here.
Thank you.
ChrisW
Ones are righteous. And one day, we just might believe it.
It comes off at random like I would be describing a tavern for say, and one of the characters does an action, and it reminds another player of something their friend did that was funny and then it explodes into a table conversation. However I would say that it mostly comes off topic at the end, I even tell them when they are talking that the longer they talk, the more time they are going to be doing this and not having any time to talk during the end of the session.
This made me wonder, why skip encounters to get to a certain plot point in a given session?
I may be off base, but I wonder if your frustration is party coming from having too much of a plan for how much should happen in a given gaming session.
Rather than discarding things you took real life time to plan, to get to the end of the adventure at the end of the session, ( which then means another 5 hours of planning for you), why not let the adventure span 2 sessions if it going long. You won't waste as much material, and you can defer your next planing session and not waste your own time.
Now, that said, when off topic conversation starts to derail the game play, just be direct, and firm, without aggression. "Hey, all, I know that's fun but I need eyes and ears this way right now, ok? Ok! Now then the wet dungeon walls..."
If doing that repeatedly over a couple sessions doesn't change the dynamic you should also take an honest look at your DM style vs. the players style and make sure you don't have any adjustments to make on your end in order to maintain player engadgement. Are you talking too much, too little, is every character getting a regular spot light? Is the balance of combat, social, and exploration a good match for the player's interests?
That's my question too. If any content is left over from what you thought they'd do, just roll it over to the next session. It's like a non-problem and honestly makes the DM's job easier (although I get so excited about seeing them do the next thing the anticipation kills me).
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
Ok, this will answer your question, the encounters are important to the story, of how everything will act towards the players. I had to give the end result to the players to save up time for the ending. I couldn't really split up the campaign into 2 parts because it was going to be a long time since we meet again.
Glad I could be of service sir! Best the loot and luck to you my friend! I'm sure Tymora favors you! ^^
Save travels!
Thanks, you too!
Don't make DnD a chore for your players, or even threaten to. It's been said before but i'm reiterating, neither you nor your players are playing wrong. You just seem to have a different expectation than them - "casual" versus "hardcore"
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?