While I have been guilty of this (running the game and a PC), usually something non-specialized (like a Thief in a fantasy game, setting the traps and finding them is not helping anyone) I strayed away and decided not to anymore. Then last session of my OSE game two players showed up stoned on mushroom gummies and while infuriating, it also ruined the game for everyone else. These guys I have had in the group for years and it was a surprise, they have smoked pot here and there, which doesn't totally wreck them, but they were like dribbling idiots and made me wish I had inserted a character to help out the others, and probably could have, yet I felt this needed to be addressed afterwards. I believe that this has been handled, or I get two new players, I have a seemingly endless stream of them, these guys are young and I am giving them one, as in ONE more chance. Anyone else gone through this? What are your opinions on it? I don't mind what people do in their spare time, and these are legal mushrooms, yet it seems disrespectful to everyone else at the table to be too stoned to think, we are all adults and all have lives and obligations and this is our time to relax.

Players showing up too drunk to be of any use is something I've dealt with often enough. I suspect I'm not the only Vampire LARP storyteller that has had a player arrive vibrating on acid in an attempt to play an authentic Malkavian. Some of groups of my youth were cannabis dens with dice. As a player I have succumbed to being way too high and losing grip on reality, thinking the Cyberpunk game we were playing was allegorical and we were in actual danger from a situation in another player's real life.

It's just crass to show up to any social event impaired. And I mean impaired not a little high or after a couple drinks. Gaming has its own social contract and in large part having your focus on the game is central to the agreement. Giving your players a pass one time is fine as long as they got a mature talking-to about it. Boundaries, respect, all that business.

I do not have a problem with a tipple or puff at the table as long as everyone is on board. That goes both ways though. If a person is going to clutch their pearls over a six pack or a joint they are probably not a good fit either.

As far as banning people that arrive pie-eyed after being warned is concerned, just do it. Whatever reason a person has for continuing their bad behaviour doesn't make you their guidance counselor. If your bond of friendship with this person is strong enough that you're compelled to have a deeper conversation with them then there is a better time to do it than at the gaming table.

You get the behavior you allow. Chuck 'em and get new players. It will be for the best in the long run.

My guess is that they had not tried these before and misjudged the dosage.  Edibles can be tricky.  It's easy to eat too many especially for something that takes a while to kick in.  By the time you realize that you have over-indulged, it's too late to do anything but ride it out.  I would make it clear that this is unacceptable and boot them if it happened again.   

Quote from: yosemitemike on January 25, 2025, 06:35:03 AMMy guess is that they had not tried these before and misjudged the dosage.  Edibles can be tricky.  It's easy to eat too many especially for something that takes a while to kick in.  By the time you realize that you have over-indulged, it's too late to do anything but ride it out.  I would make it clear that this is unacceptable and boot them if it happened again.   

Yeah, this.

Aside, I used to play with a guy who'd get so drunk he'd just sort of sway, bleary-eyed in his chair until his turn came up, at which point he'd immediately blurt out "I mass charm half the orcs into believing the other half are their most dire enemy" (or some other awesome move), roll a 19, and then go back to swaying.

Dude was a serious drinker -- but a more serious gamer.

"I am banging my head against a brick wall, and this hurts. What should I do?"

Quote from: Kyle Aaron on January 25, 2025, 07:33:50 AM"I am banging my head against a brick wall, and this hurts. What should I do?"

Heh heh.

Thank you for the replies. Part of the reason why I quit working as a paid DM/referee was because of drunks. Everyone at the table is fine with drug use and has taken something or other, shrooms are my favorite, yet not while gaming. And as far as the gummy mushrooms; I don't know, they are very tame in comparison and are not even the same type, being Amanita Muscaria. They have ONE chance to sort themselves out because I don't allow this at the table and they should know by now and were apologizing all over for it. At this point in time, some of the players are older and time is precious to us and, while I cannot be a hypocrite about the drug itself, there is a time and place. And really, if you are going to screw up my game, SHARE.

Quote from: Kyle Aaron on January 25, 2025, 07:33:50 AM"I am banging my head against a brick wall, and this hurts. What should I do?"

Get softer walls.  :-)

While table zombies have been rare for me, my solution has been to turn them into involuntary NPCs that 'accidentally' trigger social encounters, stumble into traps, and sometimes get light bulb moments and do the lore drop the party needs.

It's been (fortunately) rare, but have had to cancel a session because the participants weren't in a proper gaming state of mind. While it wasn't drug-related, it may as well have been. For me it was - "Hey guys, looks like we're having an off night. Let's pick up next session." Then, just check in with the "culprits" - "hey man, what happened last night? This isn't going to be a regular thing, is it?"

I usually add in the "we're all busy adults, so when we make time for this hobby, we need everyone to treat it as a special time."

Worst gaming experience I had was going along with a "buddy," to play a game of Rifts with some folks he knew. Once there, he and a few other of the gaming group went off to partake in something and came back lit.  It then became some sort of free-flow nonsense where they spent more time talking/describing about their characters and the like with zero movement of the game forward - and they were fine with that, seemingly.  Was there way too long just thumbing through Rifts books while stoned people talked stupid shit.  Later, figured the "buddy," needed me for a ride to score and he knew I'd jump at any sort of game and had a vehicle, so...

*sigh* The children need to be taught.


There are rules to these things, and they apply generally to life:

• Match the energy to the expectations of the venue. Different substances bring different vibes, and like paints, they don't always mix well together (they typically become muddy, sad, and angry).
• Consent, consent, consent! Never spike someone unawares. Never surprise your host with an unexpected liability. Don't be afraid to ask; no risky, no frisky.
• Play with unknowns 1st Time in a better controlled environment, lab-like if necessary. Testing for safety is sensible. If you don't know how you are on XYZ, find a safe crew to figure it out in a less variable locale, with easier access to help if things go bad.
• Don't be "That Asshole". This one is a 'you know it when you see it'. And if you really have to ask around for permission to your questionable behavior... you're probably riding that boundary line like "that asshole".

There. Go forth children, be fruitful, and multiply.

Thank you again for the replies, I appreciate it. I am going to print out this conversation and drop it off a few days before the next game with the chief miscreant. And if it happens again the game will suddenly be Rifts as they wake up from a comfortable dream pod into a 'Coalition Squad, run motherf*ckers!' scenario and find themselves looking for another group. These two are young, yet that is no excuse to ruin it for everyone else. (I will be snipping this particular post so as not to ruin a potential surprise).