12 thoughts on “We have just released Episode 6 of the podcast.”

  5. I’d like to comment on the discussion about having “crafters” at the table.  I think there needs to be a happy medium.  

    I certainly have experienced many, many (too many) cases with poor players surfing on their iPad and disrupting others during games, and I agree on this point.

    I also had a couple of players take me aside, and thank me for allowing some players to “doodle” (including colored pencils/markers and over-sized paper).  

    These players explained that they have severe ADD, and that drawing helped them to maintain their focus.  I looked into it, and it appears that some research says this is legit.

    For the events I organize, I try to ask for feedback, discuss it with the players in question (first warning), and without a good reason, ask them not to attend again if the behavior repeats.

  6. I’d like to comment on the discussion about having “crafters” at the table.  I think there needs to be a happy medium.  

    I certainly have experienced many, many (too many) cases with poor players surfing on their iPad and disrupting others during games, and I agree on this point.

    I also had a couple of players take me aside, and thank me for allowing some players to “doodle” (including colored pencils/markers and over-sized paper).  

    These players explained that they have severe ADD, and that drawing helped them to maintain their focus.  I looked into it, and it appears that some research says this is legit.

    For the events I organize, I try to ask for feedback, discuss it with the players in question (first warning), and without a good reason, ask them not to attend again if the behavior repeats.

  7. steven watkins That’s an interesting point, and I think we’re essentially in agreement. I have never had anyone bring up the ADD issue specifically, but I can see how that could be the case. Even in a classroom setting, research suggests that surfing the internet actually satisfies the restless part of the brain that we all possess, and allows the other half of the brain to pay attention better. 

    I think the player we’re talking about is the one who is clearly not paying attention, as evidenced by the fact that when the turn gets to them, we have to spend several minutes explaining what has been happening in the story. 

    And I have found that crafters in particular are guilty of this. Often, the crafters aren’t really there to play the game. They are there to craft and socialize with other nerds. And I don’t have much patience for it. Maybe in a trad game that is ok, since you’re likely to be spending half the time just sitting there while the GM adjudicates something, but in the games we play, everyone is always involved and there is a lot going on in the story.

    Btw, we used some of your comments in our Listener  Feedback section of Episode 7 (about DW XP). Be sure to listen for it!

  8. steven watkins That’s an interesting point, and I think we’re essentially in agreement. I have never had anyone bring up the ADD issue specifically, but I can see how that could be the case. Even in a classroom setting, research suggests that surfing the internet actually satisfies the restless part of the brain that we all possess, and allows the other half of the brain to pay attention better. 

    I think the player we’re talking about is the one who is clearly not paying attention, as evidenced by the fact that when the turn gets to them, we have to spend several minutes explaining what has been happening in the story. 

    And I have found that crafters in particular are guilty of this. Often, the crafters aren’t really there to play the game. They are there to craft and socialize with other nerds. And I don’t have much patience for it. Maybe in a trad game that is ok, since you’re likely to be spending half the time just sitting there while the GM adjudicates something, but in the games we play, everyone is always involved and there is a lot going on in the story.

    Btw, we used some of your comments in our Listener  Feedback section of Episode 7 (about DW XP). Be sure to listen for it!

  9. Thanks!  Jason Cordova 

    And, yes, we are essentially saying the same thing, “Notice issues, talk to players, take the best action for the group.”  🙂

    I haven’t had the pleasure of “crafters,” but I’ve had many surfers, game players, etc.

    Could the draw of “crafters” or others that are there for socialization be a product of being a Meetup group?  People expect more of a social media aspect than respect for the game?

  10. Thanks!  Jason Cordova 

    And, yes, we are essentially saying the same thing, “Notice issues, talk to players, take the best action for the group.”  🙂

    I haven’t had the pleasure of “crafters,” but I’ve had many surfers, game players, etc.

    Could the draw of “crafters” or others that are there for socialization be a product of being a Meetup group?  People expect more of a social media aspect than respect for the game?

  11. steven watkins Yeah, maybe. But, honestly, I think a lot of it goes back to Geek Social Fallacy. The crafters haven’t learned how to be polite because no one has ever brought it to their attention. The tendency in geek circles is to avoid conflict and to not want to be ‘the bad guy.’ 

  12. steven watkins Yeah, maybe. But, honestly, I think a lot of it goes back to Geek Social Fallacy. The crafters haven’t learned how to be polite because no one has ever brought it to their attention. The tendency in geek circles is to avoid conflict and to not want to be ‘the bad guy.’ 

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