I'm fairly demanding of my players.  I expect a commitment to regular attendance to a game. And yes, basically not being a dick.  

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Quote from: noisms;480933Nothing pisses me off more than somebody sitting at the game table with their mobile on the table right there next to their dice. I can't get into the mindset of the kind of person who would do that. It's rude to the other players, rude to the DM, and totally distracting.

I recently suggested limiting phonecalls and text messages that god knows for what fucking reason apparently are necessary to times when we take a short break from the game. So far it seems to work.
Man, cell phone addiction really annoys me. Same for people who seem unable to do as much as take a shit without notifying their SO as to when, where and even how they are doing it... :rolleyes:

Quote from: HombreLoboDomesticado;481367I recently suggested limiting phonecalls and text messages that god knows for what fucking reason apparently are necessary to times when we take a short break from the game. So far it seems to work.
Man, cell phone addiction really annoys me. Same for people who seem unable to do as much as take a shit without notifying their SO as to when, where and even how they are doing it... :rolleyes:

I haven't implemented a ban, but cell phones are definitely an issue at the gaming table. It is just too tempting to check emails, or reply to texts.

Quote from: Badlands;480991I'm an amateur GM that runs a game down at the FLGS and I have a few rules/ guidlines to keep things going.

1. No electronics at the table
2. Show up regularly
3. Have a problem? Talk to me!
4. Fresh clothes and good hygiene or no game for you today
5. Minimize the non game related chatter
6. I can't try to run the game intoxicated or hungover

Other than that a rough page of notes and maybe a few extras and I am good to go.

No judgment, but we have a 100% laptop/iPad compliance.  The rest I am down with.   But you can't update a spreadsheet, access a wiki, or check for 'notes' without electronics...

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;481375I haven't implemented a ban, but cell phones are definitely an issue at the gaming table. It is just too tempting to check emails, or reply to texts.

I decided on the ban after being amazed by the completely pointless phone conversations taking place sometimes during precious game time. Figured it wouldn't hurt limiting them to breaks. If I manage to live my whole life without a cell phone the players should be able to survive a mere couple of hours without one.

Quote from: Badlands;480991(...)
1. No electronics at the table

If it is available we use one and only one laptop that's connected to internet. I mainly use this to display pictures or sounds relevant to the game or for browsing pdf-files during character creation.

Quote2. Show up regularly

At least let us know when you're not coming.

Quote3. Have a problem? Talk to me!

This hasn't been an issue until now, but if someone has a problem with anything they should indeed just let me know.

Quote4. Fresh clothes and good hygiene or no game for you today

Fortunately not an issue in my group.

Quote6. I can't try to run the game intoxicated or hungover

There's usually pot and alcohol at my game table, in moderate amounts, but if anyone gets disruptive in any way either the game is off or the player leaves.

Most of the time we vote on/plan games as a group, and then someone volunteers to GM, so it's all circumstantial for me, since I usually won't be deciding whether I'm GMing until everything else is nailed down.  Basically I just need to feel comfortable with the people I'm running for, and they have to want to play the game.  That's about it.

The only games I won't run are those that take more than a few hours a week to prep for.  I'm just too busy with work and personal stuff to take on a game that requires tons of planning.  But we're pretty collaborative about things, and I've had players help me prep games in the past, so ultimately it depends whether I have one of those dependable Seconds in my group who's willing to help out if I get bogged down with real-life.

I haven't banned electronics; but nothing bothers me quite so much as having a player, in a scene where his character is actually fucking involved, being distracted from what's going on by his phone or his laptop.

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Quote from: Badlands;4809914. Fresh clothes and good hygiene or no game for you today

I understand why this is a stipulation but isn't it crazy that it has to be? Sometimes I despair about this hobby, I really do.

Quote from: noisms;481585

Quote from: Badlands;4809914. Fresh clothes and good hygiene or no game for you today

I understand why this is a stipulation but isn't it crazy that it has to be? Sometimes I despair about this hobby, I really do.

In my own group I don't have smelly people. I have encountered a co-player at a gaming day once who smelled heavily of sweat. I find it highly impractical that our language/culture lacks proper etiquette to let someone know in a non-offensive way that their smell is offensive.

Quote from: HombreLoboDomesticado;481616In my own group I don't have smelly people. I have encountered a co-player at a gaming day once who smelled heavily of sweat. I find it highly impractical that our language/culture lacks proper etiquette to let someone know in a non-offensive way that their smell is offensive.

I'm not sure any language/culture does.

It's odd, isn't it? If I had a BO problem I'd like to be told so I could do something about it. And yet like everyone I feel incredibly awkward even thinking about telling somebody they smell bad.

No evil characters...
No Rules Lawyers...
No Min/maxers...
No illegal drugs
No technological crap to include cellphones, laptops, kindles...
No alcohol...
No metagamers...
No cheaters...

I despise tardiness to a game.  I despise flakes and unreliable gamers.  I also totally despise gamers who think only one edition of D&D is the only way to play the game....

Minimal requirement for players would be to:

Create PCs according to campaign specifications, or accept a pregen.
Pay attention during the game,
Be reasonably polite/pleasant,
Accept the GM's considered decision or leave (GMs should likewise be reasonably polite/pleasant and be willing to give a brief reason for their decision, even if only 'judgement call'), &  
Must read inter-session emails sent directly to that person.

Highly desirable, in roughly descending order:

Will speak in-character where appropriate.
Will read inter-session posts on bulletin board & game blog.
Will give PC some personality.
Will provide a short PC background on request.
Will give PC some adventuring goals/motivation.
Will play a PC they are capable of portraying - charisma-free players should avoid the dashing swashbuckler archetype.

(GMs should: do sufficient prep to run their game, have adequate rules knowledge, should not railroad, should avoid illusionism, & should have NPCs speak in character where appropriate - eg in a critical negotiation with the Duke, I want to hear what the Duke is saying).

All IMO, YMMV, etc.

Quote from: Benoist;480776Phone if you don't show up. .

Yeah, let me know if you're not coming.  I'd put that at highly desirable for players (I'll run with a reduced group & I try not to rely on any 1 player), vital for GMs.  I'm amazed at the GMs who think it's ok to blow off a game.

Mine all boil down to my not wanting to run games for rude assholes.
Oh, and that I only want to run the games I want to run... if they want something different someone else is gonna have to do it.

Quote from: Imperator;480747Regular attendance (though I'm not too exigent on that, as we play as long as we have 50+% of players), good behavior to everyone and basic politeness, willingness to have fun and be fun. Not much more. i'm not exigent regarding immersion, first person acting or other things. Ah, everyone brings drinks  and snacks because I already do a lot of work and also I host the game at my place.

This, plus:

- a table ideally;

- places to sit around said table (I find that if people sit on sofas and whatnot attention drifts. Others may manage that better. I salute them);

- something to eat;

- decent but not harsh lighting, not being freezing or boiling or anything;

- a bit of enthusiasm. I don't mind if you're not the best player in the world, but work with what you have you know?

Generally though my conditions are mostly about comfort, a decent space to play in and people I can get along with. Stuff about system preferences and so on is all detail. We can work around that if the basics are good.