Quote from: Krimson;1037284I'm fine with them and I would leave any game that bans devices. The last thing I would want is to find out an emergency happened too late because of an elf game.

Does anyone actually do that? The most I've seen is telling people to put their phones on vibrate, and giving them nasty looks if they spend too much time staring at the little screen.

That said, I care, but never bothered with rules. If someone's more interested in their phone than the game, it's just a sign they don't belong.

We have one person with whom this is an issue, and it's a big one. He's definitely got a problem.

Quote from: Pat;1037302Does anyone actually do that? The most I've seen is telling people to put their phones on vibrate, and giving them nasty looks if they spend too much time staring at the little screen.

That said, I care, but never bothered with rules. If someone's more interested in their phone than the game, it's just a sign they don't belong.

As was mentioned earlier, you don't need an electronic device to be distracted. I certainly used to read during those games where you got to roll a dice every half hour before waiting another half hour. I've known groups that demand the phones get turned off, and as someone who found out after the fact that a relative died while someone was trying to call me, no elf game is worth that. However these days, if you have the technology and you aren't using it to enhance the game, you can be losing out. I have one app that syncs character sheets across devices. Another with spell lists. Another with a loot generator, which the DM has often asked me to use. Not to mention Donjon.

I think if you don't want people to be distracted at the table, then the sure way to do it is to run a game that is more interesting than a cellphone. I never have issues when I run a game.

No, it doesn't bother me.  If my game isn't sufficiently engaging to keep their attention, than forcing same won't make it better.  I can't recall the last time someone was tuned out on their phone, but if that happened I would just keep things moving and not backtrack later for that person's convenience.

Most times, the phone being used is momentary and not disruptive.  A quick text, etc.

Quote from: Krimson;1037307As was mentioned earlier, you don't need an electronic device to be distracted. I certainly used to read during those games where you got to roll a dice every half hour before waiting another half hour. I've known groups that demand the phones get turned off, and as someone who found out after the fact that a relative died while someone was trying to call me, no elf game is worth that. However these days, if you have the technology and you aren't using it to enhance the game, you can be losing out. I have one app that syncs character sheets across devices. Another with spell lists. Another with a loot generator, which the DM has often asked me to use. Not to mention Donjon.

I think if you don't want people to be distracted at the table, then the sure way to do it is to run a game that is more interesting than a cellphone. I never have issues when I run a game.

Quote from: EOTB;1037313No, it doesn't bother me.  If my game isn't sufficiently engaging to keep their attention, than forcing same won't make it better.  I can't recall the last time someone was tuned out on their phone, but if that happened I would just keep things moving and not backtrack later for that person's convenience.

Most times, the phone being used is momentary and not disruptive.  A quick text, etc.

Yea, this is the key. Make sure the game is engaging. If someone doesn't seem engaged, and you care about the player, ask what's up. Maybe they've just had a hard day and need a less intense activity. Maybe something has happened in game that has got the player disengaged (like what happened to me in the Classic Traveller game I was playing in, my investment dropped when a third player showed up with a Noble PC and a Yacht and the "mission" I had crafted for myself just got abandoned - I should have done something about it, but the GM could have also checked in with me). In the end, I chose to bail out (at which point the GM offered his observations of my engagement, but honestly, no understanding of why I became disengaged - oh well, better luck next time).

Frank

It's about the behavior and its effects. A phone in a pocket or used very briefly as needed, or away from the table by an inactive player, is ok. But players who are supposed to be playing who are focused on something else and/or distracting other players is no good, whatever the cause. And ya, some people have annoying device habits that would fall in the "no good" category.

I've rarely had someone at the table doing something distracting like going into mobile device limbo, but if/when it does I have them stop or leave the table. (Same if they start to go off-topic or OOC in a problematic way.)

I don't ban devices because everyone pretends they are CEOs / Batman who have imminent life emergencies. So fucking laughable. Somehow we all survived pre-cell phone, but that level of self reliance is a lost art apparently.

However, much like your genitals, keep your phone in your pants when at my game table.

If you want to play with your phone, go do that. We are here to game.

BTW, this again is a problem I see FAR more with RPGers than with minis or boardgame players. In our game design Meetup, we have an utter spaz who has to keep his phone next to him at all times, but even Mr. Spaztastic only glances at texts and fast responds, no surfing, no games, no dicking around.

And I razz him.

Quote from: ffilz;1037318Yea, this is the key. Make sure the game is engaging. If someone doesn't seem engaged, and you care about the player, ask what's up. Maybe they've just had a hard day and need a less intense activity. Maybe something has happened in game that has got the player disengaged (like what happened to me in the Classic Traveller game I was playing in, my investment dropped when a third player showed up with a Noble PC and a Yacht and the "mission" I had crafted for myself just got abandoned - I should have done something about it, but the GM could have also checked in with me). In the end, I chose to bail out (at which point the GM offered his observations of my engagement, but honestly, no understanding of why I became disengaged - oh well, better luck next time).

Frank

And in some cases, maybe the DM is simply running a boring game.

First, answering the phone is OK because it might be an emergency.  Keep it brief.

Playing games, browsing, etc...

It's a team game.  If you're that disconnected from the team, the game is dead.

Only if it causes delay of game.

Facebook will still be there.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1037345First, answering the phone is OK because it might be an emergency.  Keep it brief.

Playing games, browsing, etc...

It's a team game.  If you're that disconnected from the team, the game is dead.

And the question then becomes, is it the players fault they're disconnected or is it that the GM just isn't very good at creating an engaging session?

For example, I would laugh at the GM who was upset their players were more focused on their phones if he was the type to run his players through rail-roads that are fanfic for him DMPC. The GM isn't doing his job and is pissed that no one thinks he's as good a writer as he does and are voting with their phones for anything better to do with their time, but don't want to just get up and leave because telling someone "your game blows" and walking out feels even more rude than just playing on your phone as inconspicuously as possible until they're done.

Alternately, the player might have ADHD (I've had a few who do) and getting them to focus on anything for more than two minutes is nigh on impossible whether they have a phone or not (pre-cell phone era one of my players who would later be diagnosed with it ADHD would literally be swinging from the basement rafters between turns).

Neither of those situations is particularly helped by banning cell phones from the table.

And as I said before, I actually prefer it as a GM in a way... it gives me an easy visual cue that my players are not engaged with the situation and I can take steps to remedy it.

I do this arcane, eldrich thing called "talking to my players."  If they're dicking around with their phones, I stop the game and ask them why.  If they are so disengaged from the game I'm running, then I want to know how to enhance their engagement.  If what they want is drastically different from what I want in a game, then shit, I have plenty of other things to do.  And if I can't engage them, I'm not going to waste their time and mine.

To play with your phone or other device is to tell your GM that you're not interested in the game.  And you know what?  I'm totally cool with it.  Don't bother showing up if my games bore you and everyone will be happy.  Assuming of course, it's just one player.  If several, that's when you discuss it with them.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1037258I used to have an issue with this, where players would be on their phones during the game. But this has sort of passed for me.

Do you care if your players are on their phones during the game, presuming it's in downtime when their PC isn't doing anything?

No phone use. And no down time for players.

Long as players are ready on their turn, don't make me repeat myself and don't allow it to disrupt the game for others (playing Youtube videos, etc), I don't have a problem with them having their cell phones at the table.