Last night's game turned out ... different. After a late start, the party got off track - a lot. So did the DM. And that is part of the problem with social gaming. Its ... social. And we gamers like to talk.
I am trying to reign in my tendencies to go off track. But that does not always help. And even when I stay the course, there is always one player who does not. What to do.
So I throw it out to the winds of cyberspace. How do you keep your players on track? And the game gaming? If anyone has any ideas, let me know.
As a GM I have encountered this problem many times and there will always be those moments were it is best to just kick back chat away.
ReplyDeleteFor those times that it is not I have enforced to house rule that can be a little invasive and that is simply this; any thing you say at the table your character says and/or does.
This creates accountability for all comments/distractions at the table. If the comments do not fit the setting then the character is babbling and may be subject to madness.
Seems harsh but there is a pay off... this sharpens the role-play and clears the air of unwanted distractions. If your going to create a story, Create; if you want to gossip or complain about your botched roll then request a 15m break for all.
Keep in mind that this is for story based RPG sessions and not Beer/Gaming sessions of silliness and trash talk.
Another note is that this works only with small playing groups. If you have to sit quietly for a rotation through 5 other players you can lose the interest of the players.
Both have there style and place at the Table.