sockjack
Apprentice Douchebag
Another Successful Oneshot!
Posts: 56
Preferred Game Systems: DRYH, Fate, Mazerats, PbTa
Currently Running: SI'Sah Stories (The Sprawl Campaign), & Random Oneshots
Favorite Species of Monkey: Bad Monkeys
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Post by sockjack on Feb 6, 2017 9:07:23 GMT -8
Hello, weird question for y'all.
Long story short I have trouble conversing right now for more than ten minutes or so without resting my jaw. This makes normal gming in my online roll20 group kinda difficult, since they trend toward the standard ask, answer approach to tasks.
Any ideas on how I can keep the game moving without talking so much?
Thanks for any advice!
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Post by uncommonman on Feb 6, 2017 10:34:00 GMT -8
Make a locked room mystery but with focus on the players talking with each other.
Give out some text handout but refuse tobsay more than room descriptions etc.
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temmogen
Initiate Douchebag
I am the thread killer
Posts: 40
Preferred Game Systems: 1st Ed. AD&D; Pathfinder; Mongoose Traveller; Call of Cuthulhu
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Post by temmogen on Feb 6, 2017 18:49:20 GMT -8
Tell you players what's going on, and solicit suggestions from them. maybe use more pictures to show the players, of incorporate more written clues, things you can type. Not sure if roll20 has an option to play sounds and music, but you could use sound effects. I have an app on my phone called "High Fantasy soundboard" that might help.
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maxinstuff
Supporter
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Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
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Post by maxinstuff on Feb 7, 2017 16:38:24 GMT -8
Try to set up scenes that are more conducive to in-character discussion with EACH OTHER. If they are asking YOU what to do it might be a sign that the scene is not pointed enough - as in, they don't have enough of a stake in the outcome. The players should have enough idea of what their goals are so that they can just discuss how to proceed between themselves, if they have to ask you, it's a sign that you are sufferring from information assymmetry - they might need to be hit with the old clue-by-four. There should be conflict, direct or indirect, between what the PC's want and what your antagonists want. If there's just a "something" happening and they don't realise or know why they should care, remind them. Even better if you can set up situations where the PC's aren't only at odds with the antagonists, but also with each other. That will usually buy you a good 15 or 20 minutes as they argue it out I don't usually like throwing aphorisms out there, but I do think the 80/20 rule is a good guide. If you can be only talking 20% of the time with them doing the rest then you'll probably be ok.
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Post by ayslyn on Feb 7, 2017 21:09:49 GMT -8
Let them know, and if your keyboarding skills are up there, then type everything.
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sockjack
Apprentice Douchebag
Another Successful Oneshot!
Posts: 56
Preferred Game Systems: DRYH, Fate, Mazerats, PbTa
Currently Running: SI'Sah Stories (The Sprawl Campaign), & Random Oneshots
Favorite Species of Monkey: Bad Monkeys
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Post by sockjack on Feb 8, 2017 10:16:57 GMT -8
Thank you all for the responses!
Yeah, I informed them after it became a problem, and I think I will try to reduce/eliminate my talking and just type. I solicited my players, so hopefully they may be able to assist also!
Unfortunately, the 20:80 was my initial goal. but that was too much talking for me... And while they have plenty of potential party conflict, but since its all friends, they tend to meta around a lot of it. Or it gets pushed out of game annoyingly enough.
Hopefully this makes them more inclined to work together though!
Thanks again for the advice!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2017 0:51:55 GMT -8
Thank you all for the responses! Yeah, I informed them after it became a problem, and I think I will try to reduce/eliminate my talking and just type. I solicited my players, so hopefully they may be able to assist also! Unfortunately, the 20:80 was my initial goal. but that was too much talking for me... And while they have plenty of potential party conflict, but since its all friends, they tend to meta around a lot of it. Or it gets pushed out of game annoyingly enough. Hopefully this makes them more inclined to work together though! Thanks again for the advice! You could try a game where there is a "mini game" section that they don't need you for. A great example would be a mechwarrior game. Grab megamek & MekHQ and have them duke it out in battletech to determine what's going on in another front or region while you rest up. That might be a cool way to run if you want the rpg to be about the command staff and/or politics. The reason this might work is that megamek has all the rules built in. You don't need to talk to the other side for them to know what is going on. Meanwhile your players can be roleplaying as the pilots and strategizing. If you are interested in getting something like this off the ground (not sure how long term your talking issue is), let me know. I found some really cool videos on using MekHQ to run a campaign that would be really helpful to you.
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Post by chronovore on Apr 17, 2017 22:21:51 GMT -8
Let them know, and if your keyboarding skills are up there, then type everything. Yeah, I'm a second vote for the typing option if you are not a hunt-and-pecker (teehee). Back in high school, my favorite games were Infocom games like Zork and Spellbringer, so I took a typing course so I could play them better. There are several online typing classes which are free. At a glance, I liked Typing.com's basic test structure, though I am not sure how it compares to other sites for newcomers. Another option is to introduce more improvisation into your game, particularly if you are running a sandbox game where they also know the world. Let THEM take on the responsibility for describing the world or people: Player 1: I want a shop where I can sell this loot. GM: Roll a d20 for that; 16 or higher, you get exactly what you want. Player rolls, gets a 14Player1: Rats. GM to Player 2: What's that look like? What kind of not-quite-perfect shop does she find? Player 2: The shop owner doesn't like him; the prices are too high. GM: FANTASTIC! Act that out with her.
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Post by ayslyn on Apr 18, 2017 2:17:17 GMT -8
"It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."
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Post by jonas on Apr 18, 2017 4:33:58 GMT -8
Have you thought about taking a break as gm and try to be a player instead? You could then chose a non-verbal character, like a gorilla with laser beams! *pew pew*
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bachman
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 1
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Post by bachman on Aug 29, 2017 19:44:34 GMT -8
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