Advice for keeping a pathfinder campaign exciting and the players interested

[Linkman81]

I've only been playing for 2-3 months, and am having a blast. I'm currently involved in two different campaigns, one of which seems to be starting to wind down a bit (and the other just started). We are about 3 months (weekly sessions) into the campaign and we are all lvl5 and lvl6 characters at this point.

Although I'm still a noob when it comes to pathfinder, I'm finding that there does seem to be a bit of a recipe or method for keeping games exciting and the players engaged. I'm a big PC gamer, so I have noticed what keeps me engaged in those over the years as well. I wanted to ask the forum for ideas so that we can keep things moving along and don't lose players.

Specifically, we've started to have a problem with players constantly being on their phone or bringing a laptop to surf or play games while playing pathfinder. Now, I know what you're thinking... the GM should just not allow that... and you're right, but we'd rather fix the cause, not the symptom. They're searching for entertainment because they're not getting it in the campaign it seems. So anyway... here are my ideas, and I wanted to get some other ideas from the community as well.

1. Keep the story-line moving, force the players to stay involved by keeping the story moving, with or without them.

2. Award experience often, and keep the players leveling. New abilities are fun. If the game is getting stale, that's one way to gain more interest.

3. More combat

4. Make the players feel powerful, without breaking the game and making it too easy.

5. More surprises and turns in the story / combat.

6. Utilize a more elaborate combat map - a larger combat grid that involves structures and cover with enemies in different regions of the combat area of about 100'x 100'. Not just single room or hallway combat all the time.

7. Reward players somehow (xp or loot) for excellent roleplay and a minimum of metagaming.

8. more espionage and theft. Granted that your alignment allows it, the feeling that you're getting away with something or have pulled off something incredible without a scratch while danger lurks around every corner is incredibly satisfying to me. I think people would like that.

9. Throw in an easy combat now and then to make the people feel strong and badass. It's not realistic that the party would always find combat situations that are equally matched to their current skill at every encounter. Give me a dozen goblins to mow down every now and then... and describe to me the heads flying as I swing. That'd make me smile and I'd be retelling the story for a week after the battle.

10. "Eye's on the prize" Give the party members something to work for. Let them know what they are working for... such as everyone getting rings of regeneration that were a set lost in a ancient temple... or a vast treasure. Knowing what you're trying to find gives you a sense of determination and excitement in finding it... because when you get it... them my character is going to be UNSTOPPABLE! That sort of thing.

Anyway, you guys get the idea. If you agree or disagree with any of these let me know. I'm just trying to gather some good ideas for my GM so that we can keep this game going as long as possible.

[silverhair2008]

If inattention is a serious problem here is one suggestion. Get an egg timer one that looks like a small hour glass or an electronic stopwatch. You should be able to find one in varying times. Use a 1 minute time, when a players turn comes up start the timer. If the time runs out before they take their turn move to the next in order. Do this a few times and it should help stop the inattention.

[Jaunt]

It's really so player dependent that I can't tell you what it is, and if I were you, I'd ask the players themselves. If players are being distracted by their devices, there are a few possibilities. They could just have no attention span. The game might be moving too slowly. The game might be minimizing their input out of combat.

A lot of your ideas might increase or decrease player enjoyment of the game, but if people are constantly on their phones, you can't fix it with incremental fun tweaks. Find out why those people are so distracted, and ask them how you can fix it.

tldr: talk to the players.

[tonyz]

Ask the players. Talk with them.

Not just about the surfing issue. Ask them what they want out of the game. Before the campaign starts, ak them what sort of campaign they want. After the game, ask them for feedback -- what they liked, what they hated, what they want more/less of. A d after the camping, ask them for their best memories of it.

[The Dragon]

As someone who just played two sessions back to back yesterday, it's amazing how much more attention people will pay to a funny gm.

I don't know if you're funny. But consistently being able to make people laugh when you want to is a very effective way to keep people interested, as far as I can tell.