Comments on: 10 Reminders for All D&D Players

By: 6 D&D Convention Tips for Players — Dungeon's Master

6 D&D Convention Tips for Players — Dungeon's Master — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:20:34 +0000

[...] 10 Reminders for All D&D Players [...]

By: Updates (12/4) « Beyond Infinity

Updates (12/4) « Beyond Infinity — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:30:09 +0000

[...] I found this webpage: 10 Reminders for All D&D Players. Some good stuff there. Fun [...]

By: Ameron

Ameron — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:24:10 +0000

@Swordgleam
I agree that the two are definitely related, and perhaps that’s why I didn’t think to list them as two separate points. Either way they’re both good reminders.

@Buccaneers Guild
I was like you for a long time, never using my daily powers. And then I actually started using them more often and earlier in the fight and I realized just how powerful my PC actually was. Now I usually use my daily in the first few rounds of the first fight. I rarely regret it.

@knowman
The “have fun” reminder is a tricky one. I agree that the role-playing should be an important part of the game and usually I’m the biggest and most vocal advocate of that side of D&D. But during a recent game we realized that there will be occasions (like the death of a PC) when you have to consider the reaction of the player. In my specific example, role-playing the PCs “correctly” meant continuing with our mission and getting the dead PC raised from the dead later. In real life that meant the poor player was done for the night. We opted to put fun first in this case and did what was best for the players, not the characters.

I think your examples of how people generally play certain types of PCs is valid and I agree that they indulge in these aspects that make their character fun to play, even if it means the occasional disagreement at the table.

By: knowman

knowman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:03:02 +0000

In #9 – about “having fun”, I’m disappointed to see you advocate watering down the role-playing part of an RPG. It is still an RPG, isn’t it? If there are diametrically opposed PCs that are constantly going to be at each other’s throats, perhaps the long-term outlook for the party isn’t so good. But asking a paladin to compromise, or a thief to not help themselves to extra loot because OOC the other players won’t like it, then what’s the point of role-playing. Our DM does an excellent job of presenting a variety of challenges for our characters – ethical dilemmas as well as strategic and tactical obstacles to overcome. It makes for a much richer game when characters are flushed out rather than amorphous stat blocks.

Granted, in the example you gave, I could see why that was an issue, especially when you’re playing with strangers or on a one-shot. But I fault the DM for that situation. One-off games should focus more on the fun than the campaign continuity (because there isn’t any), and he should have been more flexible.

By: Buccaneers Guild

Buccaneers Guild — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:22:59 +0000

Great points, I’m particularly guilty of not using my daily powers enough. Admittedly I’m a newbie 4e player, only DMed it so far.

Now as DM I’d never forget to use a monsters kickass power. Perhaps I should treat each fight my character gets into as her last. Sames as I do for monsters when DMing.
Buccaneers Guild´s last blog ..We Build Worlds

By: Swordgleam

Swordgleam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:10:37 +0000

I think “don’t be that guy” covers “think ahead.” If you think ahead, you don’t have to add up bonuses and fumble around for rules each time because you already know what you’ve planned and you’ve looked up all the relevant numbers.

By: Ameron

Ameron — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:16:13 +0000

@skallawag
Familiarity with you character (gained over many levels of play) would reduce the need for a cheat sheet, but for the one-off delves a cheat sheet is a great idea.

@Anarkeith
If you keep missing those +1s every turn they will certainly come back to bite you. But if you miss one every once and a while then it shouldn’t make a huge difference. I agree that those who really want to excel will pay attention.

@mthomas768
Excellent addition. In some cases my group will actually pre-roll their attack and damage so that when their turn comes around they just explain what happens. It’s not for everyone, but it works for our group and things move along just fine.

@Tyson J. Hayes
Thanks for the comment. I checked out your article. Good work.

@Rook
Perhaps “Think ahead” is more appropriately #1 on a new list rather than #11 on this one. Either way it’s a great reminder.

By: Rook

Rook — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:32:53 +0000

I second mthomas768’s comment! “Think Ahead” should definitely be #11 on that list. Of course, as quickly as things tend to change on the battlefield, planning ahead goes hand-in-hand with #10.
Rook´s last blog ..A Creature Featured: The Talyn Hunter

By: Tyson J. Hayes

Tyson J. Hayes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:53:09 +0000

Number 6 reminds me of an article we just wrote today (see comluv) in which Jeff confesses that he can be one of those guys. Good reminders, and thanks for the list.
Tyson J. Hayes´s last blog ..Confessions of a Rules Lawyer

By: mthomas768

mthomas768 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:48:51 +0000

I’d add: Think ahead! Too many players sit in a fugue state while everyone else takes their action, then stutter and fumble about when it’s their turn. Be planning your next action while others are taking their turn to keep things moving!