This month, February 2016, the RPG Blog Carnival rolls into its home base at Roleplaying Tips. The topic for the month is ����Inspiring Your Players.���� As someone who primarily is a player and not a gamemaster, I want to put a twist on the topic though and turn it back around to the players.
How can players inspire their gamemasters and other players at the roleplaying table?
I think there is a huge focus in the roleplaying sphere on making gamemasters better. The majority of blog articles, roleplaying books and other resources focus on making the gamemaster as good as he or she can be. I think that does make sense in a way since for many gaming groups the gamemaster does much of the heavy lifting.
However, if you really look at the composition of a gaming group, the majority of the people at the table are players! Where are the resources and suggestions for being a better player?
If you are someone who primarily spends his time as a player, there are definitely things that you can do to inspire your gamemaster. The best way to start is by respecting your gamemaster and the time they put into the game. Show up on time for games and come ready to play. Bring a positive attitude to the table and work with what the gamemaster gives you. It is the simple ����Golden Rule���� approach of treating others like you����d want to be treated.
If you have the type of relationship where you are able to talk with your gamemaster outside of your normal gaming days, talk with them about the game! Tell them what you liked about the last gaming session. Brainstorm some ideas with them about your character and what you����d like to see the next time you play. I guarantee this will get your gamemaster excited for the next adventure they run for you.
Also, be the type of player that inspires other players. Applaud them for cool actions or ideas at the gaming table. Be positive, happy, funny and creative. Be the type of player that other players want to play with. Again, it����s the Golden Rule approach to life applied to gaming.
One of my favorite ways to really inspire another player is to give them a nudge in-game to pursue their character goals. If their character has a goal to find a really powerful magical weapon, then tell them to do it and say you����ll go with them! Help make part of the adventure about them and apply that attitude to every other player at the table. Everyone needs their own time in the spotlight at some point during the game.
I would argue that the hallmark of a good roleplayer is someone that inspires their gamemaster and the other players at the table. Don����t sit down at the table with the idea of, ����I hope the gamemaster planned something good for this week.���� Help them make it good by being an enthusiastic player that comes to game. Bring a great attitude, leave the drama at home, and come to game.
Hi Samuel,
I really enjoyed your article. I think your question regarding why there isn’t more advice out there for players is a good one. Could it be that the average player is not expected to be as dedicated to spending time studying gaming outside of the game?
In my opinion (being both a player and GM), I think the best players are those that are more motivated by the narrative of the game (like offering to pitch in with another player’s quest). That being said, I find that players who are focused on the mechanics of the game (in an evil, munchkinesqe way) and care little for the story to be the most challenging and uninspiring. After all, if all we cared about was stats and simulations we could just play a computer game, right?
@ Oliver – I agree on pretty much all of your points.
The gaming groups I’ve had the most success with long-term are the ones willing to immerse themselves into the story. The groups I’ve had that were shorter lived were often focused on mechanics. There could be many reasons for that, perhaps I just gravitate towards the storytellers more than the number crunchers. But I don’t think that is the case.
Tabletop roleplaying is free-flowing and you can tell a story in a way a video game can’t. I think that and the interaction between players that it provides an experience that can’t be beat!
Samuel Van Der Wall recently posted…Running the Con Game
Awesome article Sam!
As a guy that GM’s 99.9% of the time I really appreciate an article like this. Excited, motivated players are the reason I run games. When they show up to the table ready to play and are looking to be inspirational the entire game goes better and makes GMing feel less like a job.
John Lewis recently posted…Running the Con Game
@ John – I think there really should be more source info for players. Sometimes I wonder though if the “average” player is interested in becoming a better one, or if they’re just there to get some game time in. I’m sure it depends on the person. Thankfully, I game with GMs and players all trying to push themselves to be better…
Samuel Van Der Wall recently posted…Running the Con Game
Hi Samuel,
Great contribution to the February Carnival, and a much needed article about how Player can support each other. I really want my Players to act as you describe.
All the best
Phil
@ Phil – Thanks. I definitely think there is an expectation of the GM to be at the top of their game, but often players can just limp into the game unprepared, with a poor attitude, and half-drunk (okay maybe not the last one).
In reality, better people seem to make better players. I can often guess pretty quickly what type of player someone will be just by how their attitude is and how they carry themself when they sit down at the table.
Samuel Van Der Wall recently posted…Running the Con Game