Nothing 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 won't game with shitheads, but I'm pretty relaxed beyond that. I currently game with three different groups, and each one differs drastically in tone and mood around the table.

Quote from: Numa Pompilius;480731I also like to do the occasional email with a question like "So, what do you think you might do for the next session?" or "Hmm, seems we're heading towards a war between factions: is that what's happening?" I actually expect answers to such things.

My quasi-regular group used wikis for this for a many campaigns, but it usually devolved into me and one other dude posting stuff and no one else knowing what the eff we were talking about on game night.

Not everyone gets into "playing the game" outside of game time. It used to make me bummed out, but I embraced the idea that nothing happens except what happens at the table. It saves frustration on the parts of both sets of people.

The big one for me is play to the premise. I do not prep a game to have one player spoil the fun for me and all the other player because one self-centered attention whore intentionally does something to drag the game to a halt. Excuses "I'm just playing my character" notwithstanding.

Quote from: BWA;480958My quasi-regular group used wikis for this for a many campaigns, but it usually devolved into me and one other dude posting stuff and no one else knowing what the eff we were talking about on game night.

Not everyone gets into "playing the game" outside of game time. It used to make me bummed out, but I embraced the idea that nothing happens except what happens at the table. It saves frustration on the parts of both sets of people.

Some of my folk post on the wiki, most do read it.   All of our spells and rulesmare there, bur still, once in a while...

I'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.

Quote from: Silverlion;480920*snip*
4) Give me feedback. I can't run a good game unless I know what direction you want to take it.
.

Nice
Feedback is a vital part of the loop.

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.

Welcome! Great sumation here...regarding #4, how exactly do you implement this at the table?

Quote from: skofflox;481002Welcome! Great sumation here...regarding #4, how exactly do you implement this at the table?

I think the idea to being denied a chance to have fun for being smelly and unkempt is rather embarrassing but thankfully I haven't kicked anybody off the table yet for that rule. Generally I give the player an inconspicuous look over and if I notice a stench, then they would be gone. Of course players can rat eachother out. Anyway we do play in an enviroment were we share space with other people trying to play other games.

Edit: Hello to you to skofflox.

Quote from: Benoist;480776That sounds reasonable to me. What I'd expect of any endeavor, a party, a dinner together, etc I'll expect from the time we spend together playing a role playing game. Phone if you don't show up. Try to follow what's going on. You know, basic respect and politeness stuff.

Yeah. I'm 35, and the youngest of my players is 21. We're all working people, some are going to college and working at the same time, and we're living adult lives. No kids, but that will change soon, I guess. So gaming is a luxury, given how precious free time can get to be. And as a luxury, is there to enjoy it, which only needs basic politeness and respect.

I love feedback from the players, but I don't get too exigent about it. Some people loves to talk about the game and others are happy with just showing up and playing. I'm cool either way. We have set up a blog and a mailing list: in the blog we post APs, and sometimes a player writes a short piece detailing something relevant to his / her PC, but mostly it's me, as I use the blog as a mean to keep a record visible to everyone of what happens, to introduce some bit of the setting and all that. Some players write frequently, others never do it.

In the RQ 3 GM screen there was a fantastic booklet (The Rune Lord is its title), that has some of the best GMing advice I've seen. One of the things that stuck with me was : "Gaming should be a pleasant routine, and not a burdensome obligation", or something like that. I took that advice to heart: so, I only request from you the very basics on attendance, respect to your colleagues at the table, and general politeness.

It helps that I only game with friends, and if we're not friends, we'll end up being friends

Quote from: BWA;480958Not everyone gets into "playing the game" outside of game time. It used to make me bummed out, but I embraced the idea that nothing happens except what happens at the table. It saves frustration on the parts of both sets of people.

Oh, I know; nothing "happens" for the game except what happens when we're at the table. However, every now and then, I DO want to know what ideas people have, just so I can prepare a little. I enjoy doing that and like to be able to do so.

But I DO expect answers, even in the "No idea, haven't thought about it" category. That's useful to know too, after all.

I'm a pretty simple guy. As long as a player is enthusiastic about the game, plays well with others, I'm good to go.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: skofflox;481001Nice
Feedback is a vital part of the loop.

good lord, yes.

If there are players who are people I like, I'll run a game.

Okay my sort of requirements or preferences/questions:

 Does the room or game's play space have a roof?

Is there a medium to good sized table & chairs for the group? (That means at least 5 chairs - 1 GM & 4 players, room on table for characters sheets, beverage for each player, map in middle of table, dice-rolling space, and of course room for the GM screen & GM's notes)

Does Everybody is friendly or good-0natured and has a sense of humor? (Gotta have a sense of humor)

Are there snacks nearby or food possible within reasonable walking distance of the game space?

Beyond that - I like most of my players to at least be mentally 18 years in maturity or older - and I'm the judge of that one. (or my most trusted player is the judge of that - and she's pretty damn good at estimating character and personality)

Oh Yeah - and we're likely to play either GURPS or SAVAGE WORLDS.

- Ed C.