Lothar's Lair

There are players of table top games (D&D,GURPS,Role Master…etc) that I’ve tried to play the game with that seem that either they do not get the flow of the game or they take an exceedingly long time to make descisions as to what their characters will do on their current turn. It’s usually not a situation that’s tricky or complicated just a descision of where to move,what to cast,who or what to shoot…etc. The turn sequence is usually the same during the fight and some people cannot seem to grasp the ability to pre-think their next action(s). They will be talking to other players at the table and or skimming through books for “cool” items or class/race combination’s for their next character conception. After the fight or sequence is over and they seem to have been forced to make some type of decision they will complain that “I would have done this or that if I would have had more time to think about whatever” or ” If I’d have known that the spell or item didn’t do this or that I’d have done something else” They take the time to whine about what happened to the player next to them but they could be looking at the next situation or possible situation and scheming to figure out what their PC would/will do if such and such happens. These individuals take other players time and energy discussing how the DM/GM “made” them do something in a hurry and how better it would have been if they’d been allowed more time to resolve a situation in their heads.

Now I’m talking about a players turn taking maybe 5-8 minutes sometimes maybe 10 minutes just thinking of what to do next. I’m not talking about a player looking a spell up or an item’s ability or a rule clarification here. I’m talking about a player that looks blankly at the scenario map and when the DM/GM asks the player to tell him/her what the PC is doing they then start thinking about the situation and rummaging through books and their character sheet to see what they have for the situation and possibly ask questions like”where did the monster move from last”? “What does that monster look like again, I didn’t hear you”?..Where everyone else is perfectly fine with the whens.wherefors,and the tactical situation of the grid mapped placement. This person wants another complete rundown of what just transpired and not during the re-explanation but only after it, will the player start looking at his/her sheet and books to decide what to do.These types of players seem to me that they are a bit infantile when deciding on their PC’s predicament. I found I cannot tolerate the actions of these people during a game nor put up with their lame excuses of why they play the way they do. I believe they are uncaring and really are disinterested, for whatever reasons they are off in their own thoughts of whatever else and are taking the game and the people around them as secondary trivial interferences with their own mental agenda. If they are playing a game with others that have taken time to attend the game to give the game their time and effort then everyone should be respectful or all in attendance whether it be in person around a table, or over an internet web cam, or even a internet based virtual table top utility. If the game is 4 hours,12 hours or however long, the respect of others time,care and interest in the game should be somewhat exhibited to a point of knowing what class/race etc. to role play so that one is confident in their characters so as to facilitate a smooth gaming period for all in attendance. Ask other players after or before the game (not during) on how you can improve your play style and or what to look for so you won’t slow the game down.If you find youself always searching for the right spell or skill/feat on your character sheet, write down spell lists for different occasions if one is a caster type PC. Or skills/feats the PC has for special occasions or even a regular routine of what his/her PC will do is certain situations (before the game or after a game not during). Maybe this will improve ones style of play and allow for good game flow.