Starting to get the image in my head of the "worst gamer ever" that hits all these bad points. *shudder*
He was called The King of All Disruptive Players, and except for the stinky, non-showered part, he was guilty of all these things at some point, and many more.
Time was, the "host" of any gathering was considered responsible for the feeding of guests, because otherwise they would get hungry and leave.
That's not the rule anymore. I presume it is because pizza can be delivered.
However, it is interesting to note how what is considered "rude" vis a vis hosting and food can differ by region and time and culture. And we are on the internet.
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I, for instance, am the very picture of patience and tolerance. Nobody ever irritates me, in the slightest... Wait, who's that laughing? Dammit, Jess stop it! :-pI would like to add that you should bring up to the player as soon as possible that the behavior is annoying and unacceptable. I myself and others in some groups I have been in have been annoyed by a behavior, but haven't really said anything, either through an attempt to be tolerant or even a lack of understanding that we're getting annoyed - until the problem becomes so big that someone loses it over the unacceptable behavior.
By and large, in my experience, the perpetrator has been either unaware of the annoyance they are causing, or passive agressive about it. Usually there is an instant defensive response - this is natural, and really shoudln't be a second strike against the player if the defensiveness doesn't get out of hand.
Everyone has their own threshold of how many strikes they will allow an offender, but bringing the problem up early seems to have the best results for general tranquility in the group - even if everyone can't get along and someone ends up leaving, in general the group can feel that a good faith effort was made and the general peace is kept.
Ha ha!
Nah, when something irritates you, it's generally known. Clears the air quickly! :D And as you know, I've never been irritated or lost my temper at a game.
And yeah, silverhair, you bring books and supplies, help with the game a lot. No worries there. :)
Silver, Jess & Crash I wanted to tell you guys I appreciate the level of personal validation you are sharing. Its not been the best day and seeing folks act like we want people to act is helping make it better.
Time was, the "host" of any gathering was considered responsible for the feeding of guests, because otherwise they would get hungry and leave.
That's not the rule anymore. I presume it is because pizza can be delivered.
However, it is interesting to note how what is considered "rude" vis a vis hosting and food can differ by region and time and culture. And we are on the internet.
I'd swear that I recall a TSR publication where it outright states that it's a duty of the players to bring and pay for the food, in compensation of the DM's efforts.
This is another one of those reasons why I like playing in an actual city. Pick a restaurant, walk a block, pick up food; everyone pays for his own and gets exactly what he wants. You don't really even have to stop the game.
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This is another one of those reasons why I like playing in an actual city. Pick a restaurant, walk a block, pick up food; everyone pays for his own and gets exactly what he wants. You don't really even have to stop the game.
Our game sessions tend to go longer now than they used to (about 7-8 hours, instead of 4-5), so we take a break for food in the middle. Generally everyone piles into the vehicles and we take off for a restaraunt. It gives us time to chat and talk about stuff outside the game, which I think lets people concentrate on the game more once we are back into it.
I suppose if I really think about what I was trying to say it would be that everyone can contribute to the group's enjoyment of the game whether it be by supplying snacks, pizza, maps, battlemats, minis, etc. Just try to contribute something besides just sitting there and taking up space.
Just my 2 cp.
Time was, the "host" of any gathering was considered responsible for the feeding of guests, because otherwise they would get hungry and leave.
That's not the rule anymore. I presume it is because pizza can be delivered.
However, it is interesting to note how what is considered "rude" vis a vis hosting and food can differ by region and time and culture. And we are on the internet.
I live by this rule. We game primarily at my house and I consider it very rude to not feed my guests. It was the way I was raised. I always have snacks and drinks available for my guests. They are free to bring additional snacks and most do, but I will not invite people into my home and not provide for them. If we game at another friend's house, it is the expectation that the host will provide a basic food service (one player's wife is an amazing cook and I always look forward to gaming at their place when we can, although it isn't very often). Overall, we're all working professionals so it's not a big deal and if we as a group decide to order pizza, we all chip in, but I'll always still have snacks and drinks available.
In my group, if you're going to be late, you just send your character ahead of time and we start without you. Most of the time lateness is a result of work and I'd be upset with the person if they chose to game over their work responsibilities.
Most of the phone calls that are received at the gaming table are from work or family so it hasn't really been an issue. We just leave the table and take the call. If your turn comes up when you're on the phone, we just do something generic with your character. Keeps the game moving along and no one minds.
Smelly people are the worst, but I haven't gamed with one in a long time, thank god.
We all have laptops and some of use them at the table and others don't. It hasn't been an issue.
I don't think there's a universal etiquette that can be applied to any group. The group as a whole needs to establish its norms and what it considers rude or not. With the exception of smelly people. They're banned no matter what :)
Yep. My point was: conventions differ on the food issue, so the only real mistake you can make is to presume.
When I was playing in a live Kingmaker group last summer, I definitely ate my fair share of pizza paid for by other players. But I was an unpaid intern at the time, and I always asked and offered thanks.
I think presuming free food just because you lack means is... not very classy.
For my group we consider showing up at the hosts house empty handed rude. So we basically have the opposite rule: the host is providing a comfortable, convenient location free of distraction for 6 or 8 hours so the least the guests can do is bring the food. The host certainly can eat for free in our games (although he chooses not to).
When my group first started I provided snacks and drinks for my group but it simply became too expensive. I was also the DM and the owner of all the books. Least to say in college this was very expensive to keep up. In the end my group just has a simple policy: we start at 5:30, eat before you come, if you want snacks bring your own.
Occasionally I'll have some snacks or something to share with the group but it's no longer an expectation. Now that my group is starting to get into professional careers I hope to start doing a group dinner at some point as some people get hungry by the time we finish the game.
I think presuming free food just because you lack means is... not very classy.
+1
Currently I'm unemployed and forced to live with my parents, but I'd never expect people to pay for my food. Honestly I hate people buying food for me and hate it when I'm pretty much forced to accept it.
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The one thing that I always do should help here.
When a group starts up, establish some ground rules first and stick with them.
If a group is getting together for a serious game, and everyone agrees they want to focus on playing, then everyone should respect that agreement.
If a group establishes that everyone is going to rotate food and snack duties then everyone should do their best with that.
If it is expected that people are to bring $5 every week for pizza, then everyone should do that.
Each group's agreements are going to be different.
I have been in a group where people were expected to bring their own food and not mooch off of others. My current group though, people bring what they can when they can and share with everyone. My wife, when she plays, always makes a meal for the group and never asks for anything in return.
My current group is also really, really serious about gaming and we stay on track really well. Another group I have been in, we were just there to hang out and goofed off all the time.
The point: Establish the rules and expectations early and respect them.
Currently I'm unemployed and forced to live with my parents, but I'd never expect people to pay for my food. Honestly I hate people buying food for me and hate it when I'm pretty much forced to accept it.
We game at my house and my fellow gamers have been kind enough to help with providing food when they come over -- generally we take turns cooking so even those that can't help provide something can contribute labor in making the food (or washing the dishes). Not everyone participates in this -- but those that don't generally aren't eating or providing either way so that's just as good (not that we would mind I think).
At the end of the day it's all about the group making it work for themselves in whatever fashion that comes out too.
Smell. God I hate smelly people. Its why I avoid Magic the Gathering tournaments now. Take a bath god!
Hm, one wonders if this an American problem. I haven't had issues with smelly gamers in years here in Germany. Although I've basically been playing with the same ten people for the last five years, so that of course may explain it. :p
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Do not talk over the GM. This is my #1 pet peeve. If I am reading box text, or roleplaying an NPC, and you are talking over me or not paying attention, you lose all right to ask me any questions about it. Seriously, when this happens, I see red. It makes me want to pack up all my stuff and quit the game.
Pay attention, even when it's not your turn. If your turn rolls around and someone has to explain to you what's going on, where you are, what the bad guys are doing, etc., you are wrong. Pay attention. Do not fart around on FB or, heaven forbid, play WoW at my table.
Do not F up the mood. It's super hard to build mood and easy to ruin it. If I'm running a horror adventure, and you start in with the Monty Python quotes, we might as well end the session, because it's over.
Do not break the game. If I'm running published material, do not decide you are going to do something radically different, under the guise of "not being railroaded." The adventure is obvious. It's over there. Go do it, because if you really want to do something else, it's your turn to GM.
Do not tell other players what to do. Let them play their own characters. You can holler tactics at them in-character, if you like, but a player's turn is his or her own, nobody else's.
Really, everything else just comes down to basic courtesy... things like not cropdusting, not breastfeeding at the table without a blanket, not being sloppy drunk at the table, staying awake, etc.
Wow, Charlie, all of your points make me think we have played with a lot of the same people.
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Also, it is considered especially polite to bring your GM offerings of Swedish Fish. Your offering pleases me.
+1If I'm gaming with a group that all makes 100k a year, whereas I make say 10k, I don't think it's out of this world to expect a couple of slices of pizza thrown my way.Yeah, that actually is a problem. It is not your fellow gamers responsibility to feed you. Pack a sandwich, accept a gift if offered, but don't dare come to my table and feel you deserve to eat on my dime.
Highly conditional. I've certainly been the poor guy at a table of fantastically wealthy folks before, and I've also been the only guy with a job at a table before. It depends on how well you know the people as well as the situation.
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... things like not cropdusting, not breastfeeding at the table without a blanket,...Im wondering about the inclusion of those on your list. Have either of those rules been broken at your table at some point in the past.
If so, Im somewhat astounded, cause thats just weird.
Everything I mentioned has happened at a table I've been at, not necessarily mine. The breastfeeding one was particularly bad. I understand you gotta feed your kid, no problem there, but please put a blanket on. Whipping out your boob at a table full of guys, mostly single guys, really makes it hard for the GM to keep everybody's attention. I'm all for making female players comfortable at the table, but that sword cuts both ways. Although when a player "casts stinking cloud" it can be just as bad.
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Setting the rules beforehand is a solid move. I dont expect you, CalebTGordan) to have an reponse to my next question, but Im using your statement below as the example.
The rest of you who are ok with your friends/tablemates 'expecting' to be given food instead of contributing in some way themselves for whatever various reasons; I wonder how you would handle:
My wife, when she plays, always makes a meal for the group and never asks for anything in return.
If this was your norm, but your wife decided one night to not fix dinner for everyone for no reason other than she didnt want to, and someone seemed offended or hurt or heaven forbid even comment or criticize the lack of food being provided, would you not be annoyed with them 'expecting' to have food provided for them?
Setting the rules beforehand is a solid move. I dont expect you, CalebTGordan) to have an reponse to my next question, but Im using your statement below as the example.
The rest of you who are ok with your friends/tablemates 'expecting' to be given food instead of contributing in some way themselves for whatever various reasons; I wonder how you would handle:
My wife, when she plays, always makes a meal for the group and never asks for anything in return.
If this was your norm, but your wife decided one night to not fix dinner for everyone for no reason other than she didnt want to, and someone seemed offended or hurt or heaven forbid even comment or criticize the lack of food being provided, would you not be annoyed with them 'expecting' to have food provided for them?
I don't game with jerks . . . there's isn't an expectation of food, there's an expectation of hospitality. If I'm not prepared to feed and entertain my guests, I don't invite them over to game, or watch football, or a movie, or anything else.
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I should change my statement slightly to say that my wife doesn't always cook, but about 75% of the games has a meal made by her. The first few games with the group she is playing with started late because people were taking their time going to fast food places before they showed up. My wife wanted more play time so she started to cook for everyone. There has been a week or two where she couldn't cook and so I just called everyone ahead of time and told them not to expect food.
To answer your question more directly, if I had called them well ahead of time to let them know there wasn't food, and they complained about the lack of food while at the game, then yes I would be annoyed. They were warned and should known they needed to provide for themselves.
Being the GM and the husband to the professional chef, I feel it is my obligation to let the players know ahead of time if there is going to be a change in the time, location, and food.
If someone else in the group was consistently bringing whole meals to the games and decided not to one night, I would be annoyed if they didn't call me ahead of time to let me know. If they were just bringing snacks each week, or they were inconsistent enough that it wasn't an expected thing, then I wouldn't be annoyed.
If I had forgotten to let people know about no food, then I would be embarrassed if they showed up expecting food. Not calling them ahead of time to let them know to fend for themselves would be slightly rude.
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I don't game with jerks . . . there's isn't an expectation of food, there's an expectation of hospitality. If I'm not prepared to feed and entertain my guests, I don't invite them over to game, or watch football, or a movie, or anything else.
I come from the old school of Southern hospitality. But if you consistently game weekly at the same person's house, the financial requirement of providing dinner for everyone can be onerous, especially if you have a large group (8 people). Also especially if the host is also the GM, and is therefore already financially committed to buying materials for the game. Books, maps, and miniatures are not inexpensive.
Fortunately, all my players understand that when I'm inviting them over to game, I'm not also inviting them to dinner. It's BYOC--Bring Your Own Chow.
This somewhat reiterates something said upthread, but... some very bad past experiences leads me to asserting this before starting any game:
Seriously assess your ability to commit to an ongoing campaign before joining it. Do not join a group when you are realistically too busy to show up on a regular basis.
-- Do not say you can show up to a session and then don't show. And "I forgot" is a shoddy excuse in a day and age when we can keep calendars on cell phones and the like.
-- If something does come up, have the basic human decency to call or email beforehand and let the GM know. Yes, very unusual circumstances can sometimes prevent this (car accident, for example, which of course is both understandable and forgiveable) but more often than not, there is no reason advance notice cannot be provided.
I am very lucky that my current group has managed to make every single session, cancelling only for truly understandable circumstances (illness, family emergency). Despite all of us being extremely busy. However, I have had some really, really unhappy past situations where I would get a group of people together for a game, bust my ass preparing the campaign... and then have half the players show up with no notice where the others have gone. I understand stuff happens and people can't show--that's not the issue. Courteous people will bow out if they get too busy and always tell the GM when something's up that they can't show--no problem. The issue is communication and being considerate of other people's time.
In fact the bigger issue here is twofold:
1. GMs take a lot of time to prep. It may be "just a game" but good GMs put several hours if not days of their free time toward game prep. Not affording them certain basic courtesies because you can't be arsed is very disrespectful of the valuable time the GM has taken to come up with a campaign whose entire purpose is to entertain the players.
2. The corollary of course is that players also have lives and are taking time out of those lives to participate in the GM's adventure. While the GM's time and effort should be respected, it doesn't give them the right to walk all over the players. And likewise, a delinquent or disruptive player is infringing on their fellow players' time and enjoyment as well.
I don't game with jerks . . . there's isn't an expectation of food, there's an expectation of hospitality. If I'm not prepared to feed and entertain my guests, I don't invite them over to game, or watch football, or a movie, or anything else.I come from the old school of Southern hospitality. But if you consistently game weekly at the same person's house, the financial requirement of providing dinner for everyone can be onerous, especially if you have a large group (8 people). Also especially if the host is also the GM, and is therefore already financially committed to buying materials for the game. Books, maps, and miniatures are not inexpensive.
Fortunately, all my players understand that when I'm inviting them over to game, I'm not also inviting them to dinner. It's BYOC--Bring Your Own Chow.
We game after dinner so there is no expectation for dinner, however we have played all day games where I do provide a lunch/dinner (like cooking up several corned beefs, cabbage and potatoes during our St. Patty's day game, under $20). I usually provide basic snack stuff, nothing extravagant. Basically enough food for everyone to snack on under the cost of $10. A couple of bags of chips, a few bottles of soda, several sliced up cucumbers with ranch dressing, etc. Others bring additional items, but if they don't, they know that there is something there for them to snack on while we game. The price of gas has risen over the last several years and asking my friends to drive to my house, often costs them more than any snacks I purchase for them, and certainly less than it would cost me to drive to someone else's house to game.
Oh, and anyone who doesn't buy every piece of gaming material they can get their hands on, whether or not they GM, is just crazy is my book! ;)
I disagree. Its nice when people share what they have with those less fortunate, but it is not required. When people that are less fortunate expect it that's just being an ass.Highly conditional. I've certainly been the poor guy at a table of fantastically wealthy folks before, and I've also been the only guy with a job at a table before. It depends on how well you know the people as well as the situation.+1If I'm gaming with a group that all makes 100k a year, whereas I make say 10k, I don't think it's out of this world to expect a couple of slices of pizza thrown my way.Yeah, that actually is a problem. It is not your fellow gamers responsibility to feed you. Pack a sandwich, accept a gift if offered, but don't dare come to my table and feel you deserve to eat on my dime.
I fear we're going to have to disagree on this one.
MtG players have glandular problems because of a virus attached to the cards. After all, if someone playing MtG gets all stinky and fat and glandular, he's not going to find anything much else to do than play with his colleagues, is he now? I.e. he's going to keep playing...
Come to play the game, don’t use your labtop to play video games or take naps, in between your turns in combat.
I resemble that remark...
I agree with everyone who says good etiquette is not gamer-specific. Tabletop gaming is social interaction, be mindful that everything you do and say effects other people.
Special note about food; Don't be a jerk, bring something, anything (soda, beer, chips, yard'o'beef, etc.) Show the other guys that you're not a complete mooch. We all have times when money it tight, so when it's not you should be generous.
MtG players have glandular problems because of a virus attached to the cards. After all, if someone playing MtG gets all stinky and fat and glandular, he's not going to find anything much else to do than play with his colleagues, is he now? I.e. he's going to keep playing...
I'm fairly convinced that there is a drug applied to magic cards that is probably highly addictive. Those cards have a very distinct smell and people always seem to want new cards right when that smell starts to fade.
However not everyone that picks up and plays MtG is overweight, stinky and rude -- at 170 lbs and 5'10" able to do vertical push ups or high body/low body push ups with an extra 50 lbs I'm pretty sure that the mold breaks with me.
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MtG players have glandular problems because of a virus attached to the cards. After all, if someone playing MtG gets all stinky and fat and glandular, he's not going to find anything much else to do than play with his colleagues, is he now? I.e. he's going to keep playing...I'm fairly convinced that there is a drug applied to magic cards that is probably highly addictive. Those cards have a very distinct smell and people always seem to want new cards right when that smell starts to fade.
Evidently the folks at Pinnacle agree with you:
Ages ago, there was some kind of big game company in downtown Seattle. They produced this crazy card game and even triggered something of a craze before federal officials found out the trading cards were laced with an addictive mind-control drug.
Evidently the folks at Pinnacle agree with you:
Ages ago, there was some kind of big game company in downtown Seattle. They produced this crazy card game and even triggered something of a craze before federal officials found out the trading cards were laced with an addictive mind-control drug.
Yeah there is a reason I'll only get old cards if any. Nothing new -- I like a clean and clear mind as much as is possible.
I have to add to this "respect the minis" don't grab all of them in one hand like playing some bizarre game of jacks. Some of us take a lot of time painting them and many of us custom paint them for the other players.
don't throw books on them or play fight with them this bugs me to no end.
I have to add to this "respect the minis" don't grab all of them in one hand like playing some bizarre game of jacks. Some of us take a lot of time painting them and many of us custom paint them for the other players.
This! DEAR GOD, THIS! I make most of the miniatures our group uses, modifying Warhammer Minis to look closer to our 'ideals' and painting them by g$&%~&n hand, and nothing is more irritating that making each model unique, and then having days of work ruined by some ham-fisted idjit who can't understand they are fragile, gorram it!
I have to add to this "respect the minis" don't grab all of them in one hand like playing some bizarre game of jacks. Some of us take a lot of time painting them and many of us custom paint them for the other players.
don't throw books on them or play fight with them this bugs me to no end.
+1
I've docked many an xp for not respecting the minis.
Wow man, internet nerds unite against rudeness! You guys are hilarious, and not in a good way. I would note, that my expectation to be given a couple slices of pizza is attached to the idea that the group is ordering pizza, not that I just show up and expect food. Seriously though, hilarious.
Wow man, internet nerds unite against rudeness! You guys are hilarious, and not in a good way. I would note, that my expectation to be given a couple slices of pizza is attached to the idea that the group is ordering pizza, not that I just show up and expect food. Seriously though, hilarious.
See, again, it's the whole "expectation" thing. The GROUP is ordering pizza. Are YOU contributing to the purchase, or are you just expecting the group to provide it since they decided to get jobs that could afford them the ability and finances to order pizza, and you didn't?
I don't believe that the majority of the people who have an issue with your expectation actually have an issue kicking down some pizza to a fellow gamer and friend. I certainly don't.
I've had members of my game group who haven't been able to contribute to food, and my group has never had a problem pushing a plate their way when we bought group food.
Of course, our gamers and friends would never dare get self-righteous about the situation and expect that others were to provide for them. They keep their high horses in the stables at home, and don't bring them along for game night.
Ultimately, your attitude isn't hilarious. It's heinously boorish.
I didn't get a chance to mention it earlier, but when it comes to food, culture plays an overweening and often overlooked role. I think this is what's getting our collective undies in a bunch over it, myself included.
I didn't get a chance to mention it earlier, but when it comes to food, culture plays an overweening and often overlooked role. I think this is what's getting our collective undies in a bunch over it, myself included.
Yeah, for me, when I have people over for any reason, I make sure to have snacks, food, beer, or whatever is appropriate for the occasion. I was brought up that guests are to be provided food and drink, served first, and otherwise treated as guests. At the same time, when a guest in someone's home I was taught to treat it with even more respect than my own, be polite and grateful that they are allowing me to be there, and make things as easy on them as possible so I can see both sides of the discussion.
Still, when with friends if someone is short on food or beer money that day we aren't going to order food and drinks and not share it with them. Friends looks out for each other and know that if you're covering for someone else this time at some point in the past or future they covered for you and everything evens out closely enough. Now if someone forgets money every single time we do something and never contributes other things like transportation, that's different, but if its just an occasional lack of funds then in my view covering for someone is just something you do for friends.
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I didn't get a chance to mention it earlier, but when it comes to food, culture plays an overweening and often overlooked role. I think this is what's getting our collective undies in a bunch over it, myself included.Yeah, for me, when I have people over for any reason, I make sure to have snacks, food, beer, or whatever is appropriate for the occasion. I was brought up that guests are to be provided food and drink, served first, and otherwise treated as guests. At the same time, when a guest in someone's home I was taught to treat it with even more respect than my own, be polite and grateful that they are allowing me to be there, and make things as easy on them as possible so I can see both sides of the discussion.
I generally agree, but that can become difficult, if regular groups have to play at more or less the same place, be it because it is the easiest one to reach for every player (if players live a good way apart).
For example: A player who plays in two weekly groups has two little kids. The first year after each birth we played exclusively at her house, so she could feed her baby and take best care of him/her. Later, we moved our group to her sisters house across the street (she is a player, too), because gaming there meant less distraction for us (and we didn't need to take care not to be too loud) and an easier time for her husband who didn't play in these two groups and can now read/watch tv/ invite a friend without distracting us but allowed the mother to be closer to her kids should something happen (gods forbid) that her husband could or would rather not handle alone (the nearest other player lives about 25miles from her house).
In this situation, being a dutyful host would become stressing (for her and later for her sister) and I would rather have her looking forward to the game then minding about how to provide for all of the players. Regular gaming is a bit different from inviting someone over as a guest, especially if there is no way to rotate the duties of the host.
Actually I meant culture on an ethnic level, but whatever. I just remembered a run in I had many years ago when just getting into D&D when someone's asian grandmother found out I brought food over and was incensed. I think our backgrounds influence us more than we think.
Actually I meant culture on an ethnic level, but whatever. I just remembered a run in I had many years ago when just getting into D&D when someone's asian grandmother found out I brought food over and was incensed. I think our backgrounds influence us more than we think.
Tried to broach this upthread.
In some places, the lack of a sense of entitlement from a guest is actually an insult.
Humans are a weird and inconsistent species.
If I had less fortunate friends over I would be insulted if they didnt expect me to provide food for them. Also, what they are contributing to me; someone to game with, is worth rewarding. I would also like to note that expectations of mine involving food do not extend to outwardly expressing said expectation to the group, i would never presume to act in a such a way towards friends, but i can think it. Oh, and is it possible to be heinously boorish? I would think that heinous is too strong of an adjective to not override being boorish, just thinking out loud here. I mean if it is possible im sure i could accomplish it.
Actually I meant culture on an ethnic level, but whatever. I just remembered a run in I had many years ago when just getting into D&D when someone's asian grandmother found out I brought food over and was incensed. I think our backgrounds influence us more than we think.
The problem was that he couched the matter in strictly economic terms.
I agree with some of this, and disagree with some of it, honestly.
I agree with the stinky and the mooching - I get some McDonalds within walking distance before we start. As one of the few full-time workers in the group, I try not to.
However, I get calls from my g/f and she also texts me occasionally while we play, and it doesn't really disturb the group. I put my phone on silent when we start, and so I notice it but most others don't. I don't put the game on hold while I talk - I walk off into another room and let everyone continue. If it's combat, I pay enough attention so that when my turn comes I can swoop in and do my turn double-quick.
GMs can lie about dice rolls. Honestly, I fudge when I DM from time to time, both to make things interesting (if I'm rolling horribly for a fight I expected to be difficult, for example), and when a player would die when he really shouldn't (did everything right, and I just happen to roll a critical with that Scythe that was EXACTLY his HP - nah, just down to -7). I roll behind a screen for this very purpose.
Players should never lie about die rolls, though.
Honestly, yeah, if everybody is reasonable (sometimes that's a lot to ask of people), there should be no problem.
My tabletop group was RUINED by a player who received texts from his wife every 10 minutes or so. Then the Einstein had to share the jokes that she was sending him with the rest of the group. I tried to give him not so subtle hints that he was distracting the group, but he refused to take the hint. Finally, I told him that I would have to have him ask his wife to stop texting him unless it was an emergency.
He stopped answering my group emails or responding to calls when I would call him. He had also had a real problem with attendance (he only made about 30% of the games and when he was there, the phone was constantly ringing). Finally, I sent him an email a couple of months later that I was booting him from the group and he responded with a sarcastic email...
We had a similar experience a few years ago. A good friend's (actually a fraternity brother)wife decided that gaming was "stupid" and had decided to make it a point to interrupt our game by calling him at least 2-3 times each time we played- no, he wouldn't do anything about it. The group had been together for 10 years at this point, but she decide she didn't want him playing anymore. She apparently said this in front of my wife (who didn't play) and my other buddy's wife (who did.)Finally, it was my wife and my other buddy's wife that said something to her. My friend still "had" to drop out but it wasn't for a few months, and she was curiously quiet for that time...
Hm, one wonders if this an American problem. I haven't had issues with smelly gamers in years here in Germany. Although I've basically been playing with the same ten people for the last five years, so that of course may explain it. :p
I'm getting a serious chuckle out of this one. 20 years ago, a lot of American students used to complain about smelly European (particularly German) students coming to the states. Has deodorant use increased that much in Germany?