With the COVID-19 impact on everyone's life things can get pretty crazy. I was hoping the community could share some basic guidelines, pillars, values... or suggestions that can help groups center on being good to each other.
I have noticed, in my group, that we have found ways to connect and play online. In large part, thanks to DnDBeyond because it makes the rules easy to find, creating characters are super easy and things can be imported to the major online playing platforms. Technically, we are in a fantastic place to play online while being quarantined from the outside world. However, how do we, as a community of players and DMs, stay centered and positive so that each session we are lifting each other up?
Why do I think this is important? I think this community is in a special segment that has an incredible opportunity to increase the mental health of millions of people. If we could find ways to focus on the "treat people awesome" factor it would help, not just the players and DMs, but also the family and friends we are on lock down with everyday.
Some examples I am thinking of...
For DMs: Love the adventure
For Players: Find a ways to help a player that is struggling
I would be happy to consolidate as people provide suggestions. Or maybe something like this is already done?
My old group came back together online a couple years ago thanks to online platforms and we've loved it. In the last few years there has also been a resurgence of RPG's, which has been great to see. I'm a former game store owner, life long player and DM, and have watched the evolution of the games and styles over the last 4+ decades.
The evolution of the virtual platforms has reconnected older players, and made rpg's more a accessible to younger ones. The industry has embraced the evolution as well. That said, there are some things that I believe are universal, and things I've always tried to include in my games once I discovered them.
DMs: Make the characters the main focus of the story. It's good to have a world, and story that the players live in, but they are most engaged when they are the focus of the narrative. It doesn't mean the "world" revolves them, just the focus of the story.
Players: Your character is your vehicle. Many players approach the game as a team, coaching, planning, prodding other players. It's important to work together, but in game. When you let other players make their character's decisions you have more to react to. You react to the world, and the actions of the other players. Find your group synergies in character, and in play, not in metagaming and planning.
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Everyone is the main character of their story
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Howdy!
With the COVID-19 impact on everyone's life things can get pretty crazy. I was hoping the community could share some basic guidelines, pillars, values... or suggestions that can help groups center on being good to each other.
I have noticed, in my group, that we have found ways to connect and play online. In large part, thanks to DnDBeyond because it makes the rules easy to find, creating characters are super easy and things can be imported to the major online playing platforms. Technically, we are in a fantastic place to play online while being quarantined from the outside world. However, how do we, as a community of players and DMs, stay centered and positive so that each session we are lifting each other up?
Why do I think this is important? I think this community is in a special segment that has an incredible opportunity to increase the mental health of millions of people. If we could find ways to focus on the "treat people awesome" factor it would help, not just the players and DMs, but also the family and friends we are on lock down with everyday.
Some examples I am thinking of...
For DMs: Love the adventure
For Players: Find a ways to help a player that is struggling
I would be happy to consolidate as people provide suggestions. Or maybe something like this is already done?
My old group came back together online a couple years ago thanks to online platforms and we've loved it. In the last few years there has also been a resurgence of RPG's, which has been great to see. I'm a former game store owner, life long player and DM, and have watched the evolution of the games and styles over the last 4+ decades.
The evolution of the virtual platforms has reconnected older players, and made rpg's more a accessible to younger ones. The industry has embraced the evolution as well. That said, there are some things that I believe are universal, and things I've always tried to include in my games once I discovered them.
DMs: Make the characters the main focus of the story. It's good to have a world, and story that the players live in, but they are most engaged when they are the focus of the narrative. It doesn't mean the "world" revolves them, just the focus of the story.
Players: Your character is your vehicle. Many players approach the game as a team, coaching, planning, prodding other players. It's important to work together, but in game. When you let other players make their character's decisions you have more to react to. You react to the world, and the actions of the other players. Find your group synergies in character, and in play, not in metagaming and planning.
Everyone is the main character of their story