tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post3839661512227378551..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Goooood RoleplayingAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-26503579166630625862011-01-15T16:27:06.474-07:002011-01-15T16:27:06.474-07:00Dan, my experience has been that it either happens...Dan, my experience has been that it either happens pretty early on or not at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-70245457604714632482011-01-14T19:23:00.881-07:002011-01-14T19:23:00.881-07:00That's a good criteria. Does anyone actually s...That's a good criteria. Does anyone actually start off that way though? What is it that makes folks become that kind of player? How long should we give them?Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011974487836242987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-58845391995902952572011-01-13T22:57:26.830-07:002011-01-13T22:57:26.830-07:00Most anyone can become enthralled in a pen and pap...Most anyone can become enthralled in a pen and paper role playing game if they have any interest in such a game at a basic level. <br /><br />Just like anyone can become enthralled in a movie as long as they don't hate movies for the fact they are movies.<br /><br />You just need them to feel invested, to feel involved and feel like they have something to lose. Some story or interaction they really want to see, but if it all ends here it will never happen.<br /><br />It might require that you pull some less used strings for some players, and maybe be more creative, but when the players want to see what happens next, when their life is hanging on a slim chance that that ranger is going to come out of his stupor. That their words weaken the courtier's lips about their assassin lover's location before it's too late. That the story of the ranger or king do not end so that they can see the next part of the story. They can emerge triumphant against the ooze to find rare tomes on ancient architecture to take home for their kingdom. They can receive the reward from the king, but more, they also learn his word on the rebel sentiment in the north, have their opportunity to influence his actions.<br /><br />When they have an investment, an opportunity to lose and their actions matter, they can become enthralled. In a movie this can be broken when you realize if everyone dies the movie would never be made, but in a DnD game, it can all end with pissing off the courtier, falling back dazed into your corner and watching your companion bleed to death and otherwise failing.<br /><br />There's a reason this blog has less about players and more about DMing. Everything in it is some feature to get the DM and the players more invested.<br /><br />I've seen the scribbler put down their pen, the researcher set aside their book, the joker draw silent and the inattentive focus as the plot drew close and everything came together with everything on the line.Oddbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12091924105175846386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-33017301888332493252011-01-13T12:01:08.888-07:002011-01-13T12:01:08.888-07:00I agree on many parts... that is the... optimal pl...I agree on many parts... that is the... optimal player.<br /><br />Any GM would want that... hell, I would kill for...1 of those that is in that complete a package with no impurities what so ever.<br /><br />Unfortunately... such a person... in such a refined state... doesn't exit. It is like the mythical engineering material 'Unobtanium'... it has all the traits we desire and none of the faults. Its too good to exist.<br /><br />The reality of it comes down to... we won't ever find THAT man or woman. No one that refined.<br /><br />Now, I am not saying that we won't have people who ARE immersed in the game, who will pay attention, who will act in character... in fact, a good group will be able to be MOSTLY our unobtanium player type...<br /><br />You are right, I don't want those player types that you listed but I have encountered and run for all of them to some degree or another. They are a component to almost any gaming group I currently or into the past have been with for at least a decade and a half.<br /><br />Even the best roleplayers who take on their character whole cloth will have their impurities... they might like to nibble on snacks, get distracted during a point where they are not in the scene, have an add moment, think of a joke, mishear a detail, or scribble. There is always the researcher looking towards his next character due to the inevitable death his luck will bring.<br /><br />The advent of the lap top and data slate/iPad has brought real time media into the mess. Now I have to deal with the various wanna be DJs (some who actually are locally) or the constant searches through electronic books for the passage they need. At least they can't hide their dice rolls from be behind an iPad.<br /><br />I have booted out plenty of people who were too high a concentration impurity and too low grade a player... but those are rare.<br /><br />I guess... what it comes down to is... that GMing is like prospecting in this regard. Trying to find the highest grade raw material and work with it. Some places, you can't have high grade... you have to settle with mid level types. You can always work with them and refine them into something better.<br /><br />But it doesn't stop us from establishing a bench mark. Just don't set the entry point too high as to limit the pool of potential people too much.<br /><br />Or maybe this is just years of gaming both out of my home on invite only and up at the local store/club where they have open games...<br /><br />Home, higher grade...<br /><br />Public/Club, mid grade with potential.<br /><br />But it was a wonderful piece none the less. Thank you for it.Blaine H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02634178976628664808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-16113906561385961612011-01-13T11:01:54.832-07:002011-01-13T11:01:54.832-07:00Well said indeed.Well said indeed.Pandredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03917809464727878157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-26685334895420349672011-01-13T09:16:31.450-07:002011-01-13T09:16:31.450-07:00this might be the best post you've written. th...this might be the best post you've written. that I've read anyways. right on.Nopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02743719179352388875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-46170234932476992142011-01-13T05:10:40.558-07:002011-01-13T05:10:40.558-07:00Beautiful.Beautiful.Bardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020447449864895480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-57059456430939712412011-01-13T02:53:08.257-07:002011-01-13T02:53:08.257-07:00so basically what you're saying is you don'...so basically what you're saying is you don't want any normal people at your table? (like yourself "pre-epiphany" <i>people for whom everything is a pissing contest</i>)<br /><br />where do you find those rpg-übermenschen?<br /><br />or do you mean to say that if people are able and willing to immerse themselves in your world then you take the bad with the good and their flaws are forgivable?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-45635298229923824642011-01-12T21:13:13.507-07:002011-01-12T21:13:13.507-07:00Bravo.Bravo.Barad the Gnomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09511410827757898750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-17344710252548698882011-01-12T21:05:55.152-07:002011-01-12T21:05:55.152-07:00fair enoughfair enoughZak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-29517100237760399122011-01-12T20:49:30.221-07:002011-01-12T20:49:30.221-07:00That's the first post on this blog that I uneq...That's the first post on this blog that I unequivocably, whole heartedly support.tedankhamenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07294993277612044793noreply@blogger.com