"Before you join this game, there's one thing you need to know."

Tommy Brownell · January 21, 2011, 01:18:07 PM

"We're gonna play [This Game]. If you don't want to play [This Game], don't passively aggressively wreck the game and ruin the fun for everyone else. We'll call you when we play [Another Game]."

Or, well, I guess I could say:

"Don't be a dick."

But that first scenario has specifically happened, a couple of times, so I specifically said it the last time we started a regular group.

jeff37923 · January 21, 2011, 01:30:32 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;434115For your group, what would that "one thing" be? What would be the cardinal rule or condition or aspect of the gaming group that any new player would have to be acquiescent to in order to fit?

RPGPundit

Stupidity kills.

Simlasa · January 21, 2011, 03:58:23 PM

I think 'Don't be a dick' covers it for just about every group.
For our group specifically I'd say, "Watch 'The Princess Bride' about a dozen times and read a bunch of Terry Pratchett."
Unfortunately I've done neither...

jgants · January 21, 2011, 04:18:58 PM

I'm forced to use several disclaimers in my current campaign:
* No party in-fighting is allowed. Don't even lie to other PCs.
* You have to like and trust the other PCs and want to stick around them.
* You have to be at least mostly good.

The first rule is because a couple of the core players are big whiners about in-fighting and I don't want the one guy to throw a tantrum again.

The second rule is because some people kept coming up with "paranoid loner" as a personality and it would prevent the group from getting anything done.

The last one is because several players can't tell the difference between an anti-hero and a complete psychopath (which upsets the first rule people).

RPGPundit · January 22, 2011, 01:27:25 AM

Curiously, for me, probably the one thing I'd be telling people (and have) is that regular consistent attendance is the most important thing. If they're dicks, they're not going to get into the group anyways. If they're novice or sub-par gamers, they'll quickly get up to speed.

But the one thing that I think needs to be very clear with anyone who joins one of my groups is that we take commitment to regular attendance very seriously; as playing a session or two and then dropping off the face of the earth, or never being able to be relied upon to show up, will in both cases seriously harm the game.

RPGPundit

Spike · January 22, 2011, 01:34:17 AM

Sadly Tetsubo stole my thunder, both with not being the one to NOT say 'don't be a dick'... pretty much all my players are dicks in one way or another... the scum of the earth, what have you.

And also with the specific thing I'd tell them, if it ever really occured to me to sum up my gaming philosophy as a GM.

Actions have Consequences... and Power has Price.

Which is why I can scatter nearly world breaking artifacts everywhere I go, and sure; The players will collect them... but damn are they scared to use 'em!

Which makes all the more amusing when I hand out something relatively benign and/or innocuous.

skofflox · January 22, 2011, 03:59:31 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;434336Curiously, for me, probably the one thing I'd be telling people (and have) is that regular consistent attendance is the most important thing. If they're dicks, they're not going to get into the group anyways. If they're novice or sub-par gamers, they'll quickly get up to speed.

But the one thing that I think needs to be very clear with anyone who joins one of my groups is that we take commitment to regular attendance very seriously; as playing a session or two and then dropping off the face of the earth, or never being able to be relied upon to show up, will in both cases seriously harm the game.

RPGPundit

this...and to communicate ASAP if one can't make a session or needs to bow out.

3rik · January 22, 2011, 09:30:54 AM

No fucking text messaging or phone calls: cell phones OFF except during the breaks! :rolleyes: (Unless of course there's a legitimate reason for someone to have his cell phone on.)