So I’m fairly new to dming and my players are new as well. Most of our sessions have these holes where I’ll describe something, look to my players, and NOTHING HAPPENS!! I look at them, then “Ok then...(insert transition here)” do any of y’all have any ideas about getting my players more comfortable with role play?
So I’m fairly new to dming and my players are new as well. Most of our sessions have these holes where I’ll describe something, look to my players, and NOTHING HAPPENS!! I look at them, then “Ok then...(insert transition here)” do any of y’all have any ideas about getting my players more comfortable with role play?
Have you tried explaining the thing and then asking “So what do you do?” or “Do any of you want to do anything?” Often times that’s what their waiting for is a prompt that it’s their turn to make decisions.
Another easy thing is to have some random NPC walk up and in character ask for directions. When the Players all look around at each other and then back to you and say “We don’t know, we’re not from around here.” Have the stranger say “What a coincidence, neither am I....” and then strike up a random conversation with them. Simple things like that can get them used to speaking to NPCs without any pressure which makes it easier later when there’s villainy afoot.
Also, try talking to the players, but ask about the characters. Instead of “Jane, what do you do?” try “Jane, what does Grognak the Mighty do?” That sometimes reminds Jane that she doesn’t have to be Jane here, here she gets to be Grognak the Mighty, slayer of the not-so-mighty!
Another easy thing is to have some random NPC walk up and in character ask for directions. When the Players all look around at each other and then back to you and say “We don’t know, we’re not from around here.” Have the stranger say “What a coincidence, neither am I....” and then strike up a random conversation with them. Simple things like that can get them used to speaking to NPCs without any pressure which makes it easier later when there’s villainy afoot.
I’ve tried most of those things, but one of my characters just kills NPCs that approach
Then have guards nearby to arrest them. That's how people learn that actions like attempted murder have consequences and that your world is a dynamic living place and not a video game.
That will give them the opportunity to RP being arrested and tried for attempted murder. If you want to go a little easier on them you might concoct some evidence mid-trial that exhonorates the PCs like maybe the NPC was a serial killer or spy.
Alternatively, have that NPC be a 10th level character who kicks their butts and then let’s them off with a warning not to be wangrods.
On the lack of speaking op: As a college teacher in one fashion or another (from TA to professor) since 1992, I have found that silence is the best weapon. When I prompt them with something like, "Who can tell me how this fits in with what we learned last week?" and nobody responds, I have learned to wait. Most people can't stand silence. After a few seconds, someone won't be able to stand it any more and will raise a hand or speak up. So my suggestion for the fact that they don't say anything is to ask them "What do you want to do now?" and just wait. If no one says anything right away, continue to wait. Eventually someone will say, "What are we waiting for?" (or something like that) and you can say, "I am waiting for you to tell me what to do." Remind them this is THEIR story, not YOURS.
As for characters killing NPCs that approach. Step 1 is to have an out-of-game conversation with the whole group. You need to decide as a group (and it sounds like you have not), what kind of a campaign do you want? If the players want to be "murder hobos" (google the term if you need explanation) and you are OK with running that type of campaign, then there are tons of modules out there that will do just that. All the old school modules are just a dungeon with a flimsy reason to go in and kill things, and lots of traps and puzzles and things to kill. If that is what your players want and you are happy with it, then do that. You'll have blast, I can tell you from experience -- because this is how I played D&D for the first like 5 years I played it.
On the other hand, you said "one of" the players does this. Are the other players OK with that? Or would they rather talk and RP? The discussion out of game will tell you that. See what the other players want. If all but one want story/RP and one wants to be a murder-hobo, then you will need to come to some sort of agreement (or ask the murder-hobo guy to leave the group). Assuming the players want (as a group) a realistic world full of interesting NPCs and rules that make sense, then you will need to enforce that world's rules and boundaries on them. If they attack NPCs no matter what as soon as they get near, then maybe it is time for a very powerful NPC to approach them and when they start attacking at random, that NPC kicks the party's rear all over the battle map. It will only take one encounter like this to teach them to stop shooting first and asking questions later.
For something like this to work, you'll probably want an NPC who is not liable to kill the party. For example, maybe it's a silver or bronze dragon (with a CR high enough that it can easily wipe the party) who is trying to be friendly and has assumed a human or elven (or similarly positive) form. They just attack it. In vengeance it might KO the party but not kill them. Then when they awaken, and see it in all its glory as a powerful and dangerous dragon, it would ask them why they attacked it when it was just trying to be friendly. Maybe it can tell them that since it spared their lives, they owe it now, and it has a quest for them. This would allow them to learn the lesson of a TPK without actually wiping the party and making them make up new characters.
If they keep it up... next time it's going to be something that's chaotic evil, not a good dragon....
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
On the lack of speaking op: As a college teacher in one fashion or another (from TA to professor) since 1992, I have found that silence is the best weapon. When I prompt them with something like, "Who can tell me how this fits in with what we learned last week?" and nobody responds, I have learned to wait. Most people can't stand silence. After a few seconds, someone won't be able to stand it any more and will raise a hand or speak up. So my suggestion for the fact that they don't say anything is to ask them "What do you want to do now?" and just wait. If no one says anything right away, continue to wait. Eventually someone will say, "What are we waiting for?" (or something like that) and you can say, "I am waiting for you to tell me what to do." Remind them this is THEIR story, not YOURS.
I sold cars for years. This is absolutely true. I have made actual IRL money using this exact technique over and over because it works!!
Of the four players, only 1 was paying attention during the RP portions of the game. The others only "came alive" during the combat encounters. It puzzled and frustrated me because it was the first time in over 20 years I have played with 3 members of the group.
I figured out one of them was looking at the new races I picked up with MOoT during the game. The other was trying to play Warhammer at the same time and failed to multi-task (and I feel it was disrespectful towards my time and efforts). The newest player, my friend's niece, was playing on her Switch, I think.
So, the next day, i told them the game was not fun for me as their GM, they made me feel like I wasted all the prep time I put into my games, and that my enthusiasm for the next game was dampened.
I have not cancelled the next game but I have resolved to end the session if it happens again.
Because, honestly, if they don't care, why should I?
Get a marching order and don’t even pause, just point at the two people who said they were in front, what are you 2 doing? And try to keep the excitement level up.
Yeah multitasking during the play session is disrespectful of everyone else at the table. If you aren't going to give play your full attention, IMO, don't play.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
One apologized directly. Another apologized and praised elements of the bad session. The third has not said anything but I expected as much due to social awkwardness.
Our next session is next week Saturday. We do a session every other week.
Yeah multitasking during the play session is disrespectful of everyone else at the table. If you aren't going to give play your full attention, IMO, don't play.
Eeehhhh.... I started playing in a Sword Coast campaign. The last time I played in the Forgotten Realms was back in AD&D2e. I was mostly okay trying to learn about the FR, the Sword Coast, and Waterdeep in general during the session. It wasn’t until I also started helping a few new players with their character sheets too that it got to be too much. People thought I was not paying attention until I was the only one in the room (including the DM) that accurately remembered a specific thing. Appropriate/relevant multitasking is not disrespectful unless it leads to distraction, or unless you are asked not to do it. But for me, a little something to do frequently helps me focus on the main task. I was one of those kids who doodled during class but still payed attention.
But playing other games during a session is a hard no, even for me.
So I’m fairly new to dming and my players are new as well. Most of our sessions have these holes where I’ll describe something, look to my players, and NOTHING HAPPENS!! I look at them, then “Ok then...(insert transition here)” do any of y’all have any ideas about getting my players more comfortable with role play?
Have you tried explaining the thing and then asking “So what do you do?” or “Do any of you want to do anything?” Often times that’s what their waiting for is a prompt that it’s their turn to make decisions.
Another easy thing is to have some random NPC walk up and in character ask for directions. When the Players all look around at each other and then back to you and say “We don’t know, we’re not from around here.” Have the stranger say “What a coincidence, neither am I....” and then strike up a random conversation with them. Simple things like that can get them used to speaking to NPCs without any pressure which makes it easier later when there’s villainy afoot.
Also, try talking to the players, but ask about the characters. Instead of “Jane, what do you do?” try “Jane, what does Grognak the Mighty do?” That sometimes reminds Jane that she doesn’t have to be Jane here, here she gets to be Grognak the Mighty, slayer of the not-so-mighty!
I hope this was helpful.
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Hahaaa I should do that mine dont do it either
I’ve tried most of those things, but one of my characters just kills NPCs that approach
Then have guards nearby to arrest them. That's how people learn that actions like attempted murder have consequences and that your world is a dynamic living place and not a video game.
That will give them the opportunity to RP being arrested and tried for attempted murder. If you want to go a little easier on them you might concoct some evidence mid-trial that exhonorates the PCs like maybe the NPC was a serial killer or spy.
Alternatively, have that NPC be a 10th level character who kicks their butts and then let’s them off with a warning not to be wangrods.
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Their in the forest. No guards
OK so there are a couple of issues here.
On the lack of speaking op: As a college teacher in one fashion or another (from TA to professor) since 1992, I have found that silence is the best weapon. When I prompt them with something like, "Who can tell me how this fits in with what we learned last week?" and nobody responds, I have learned to wait. Most people can't stand silence. After a few seconds, someone won't be able to stand it any more and will raise a hand or speak up. So my suggestion for the fact that they don't say anything is to ask them "What do you want to do now?" and just wait. If no one says anything right away, continue to wait. Eventually someone will say, "What are we waiting for?" (or something like that) and you can say, "I am waiting for you to tell me what to do." Remind them this is THEIR story, not YOURS.
As for characters killing NPCs that approach. Step 1 is to have an out-of-game conversation with the whole group. You need to decide as a group (and it sounds like you have not), what kind of a campaign do you want? If the players want to be "murder hobos" (google the term if you need explanation) and you are OK with running that type of campaign, then there are tons of modules out there that will do just that. All the old school modules are just a dungeon with a flimsy reason to go in and kill things, and lots of traps and puzzles and things to kill. If that is what your players want and you are happy with it, then do that. You'll have blast, I can tell you from experience -- because this is how I played D&D for the first like 5 years I played it.
On the other hand, you said "one of" the players does this. Are the other players OK with that? Or would they rather talk and RP? The discussion out of game will tell you that. See what the other players want. If all but one want story/RP and one wants to be a murder-hobo, then you will need to come to some sort of agreement (or ask the murder-hobo guy to leave the group). Assuming the players want (as a group) a realistic world full of interesting NPCs and rules that make sense, then you will need to enforce that world's rules and boundaries on them. If they attack NPCs no matter what as soon as they get near, then maybe it is time for a very powerful NPC to approach them and when they start attacking at random, that NPC kicks the party's rear all over the battle map. It will only take one encounter like this to teach them to stop shooting first and asking questions later.
For something like this to work, you'll probably want an NPC who is not liable to kill the party. For example, maybe it's a silver or bronze dragon (with a CR high enough that it can easily wipe the party) who is trying to be friendly and has assumed a human or elven (or similarly positive) form. They just attack it. In vengeance it might KO the party but not kill them. Then when they awaken, and see it in all its glory as a powerful and dangerous dragon, it would ask them why they attacked it when it was just trying to be friendly. Maybe it can tell them that since it spared their lives, they owe it now, and it has a quest for them. This would allow them to learn the lesson of a TPK without actually wiping the party and making them make up new characters.
If they keep it up... next time it's going to be something that's chaotic evil, not a good dragon....
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I sold cars for years. This is absolutely true. I have made actual IRL money using this exact technique over and over because it works!!
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
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I experienced this in the last game I ran.
Of the four players, only 1 was paying attention during the RP portions of the game. The others only "came alive" during the combat encounters. It puzzled and frustrated me because it was the first time in over 20 years I have played with 3 members of the group.
I figured out one of them was looking at the new races I picked up with MOoT during the game. The other was trying to play Warhammer at the same time and failed to multi-task (and I feel it was disrespectful towards my time and efforts). The newest player, my friend's niece, was playing on her Switch, I think.
So, the next day, i told them the game was not fun for me as their GM, they made me feel like I wasted all the prep time I put into my games, and that my enthusiasm for the next game was dampened.
I have not cancelled the next game but I have resolved to end the session if it happens again.
Because, honestly, if they don't care, why should I?
Get a marching order and don’t even pause, just point at the two people who said they were in front, what are you 2 doing? And try to keep the excitement level up.
Yeah multitasking during the play session is disrespectful of everyone else at the table. If you aren't going to give play your full attention, IMO, don't play.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I agree, BioWizard. It was my pain to have 3 out of 4 do it in the same session.
What did they say when you told them it was not fun for you? That you were less enthusiastic as a DM? Did they express any remorse, or blow it off?
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
One apologized directly. Another apologized and praised elements of the bad session. The third has not said anything but I expected as much due to social awkwardness.
Our next session is next week Saturday. We do a session every other week.
Well good luck with it. Hopefully most or all of them will come around.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Eeehhhh.... I started playing in a Sword Coast campaign. The last time I played in the Forgotten Realms was back in AD&D2e. I was mostly okay trying to learn about the FR, the Sword Coast, and Waterdeep in general during the session. It wasn’t until I also started helping a few new players with their character sheets too that it got to be too much. People thought I was not paying attention until I was the only one in the room (including the DM) that accurately remembered a specific thing. Appropriate/relevant multitasking is not disrespectful unless it leads to distraction, or unless you are asked not to do it. But for me, a little something to do frequently helps me focus on the main task. I was one of those kids who doodled during class but still payed attention.
But playing other games during a session is a hard no, even for me.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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Ditto
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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Thanks, BioWizard and IamSposta.