Hey Loves!
Question: What makes you feel validated at the game table? What makes you feel invalidated at the game table?
Hey Loves!
Hey Loves!
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Hey Loves!
Hey Loves!
Question: What makes you feel validated at the game table? What makes you feel invalidated at the game table?
Comments are closed.
As a GM, I feel invalidated at the game table mostly by power gamers. Players who claw for every last scrap of possible advantage in the rules invariably misinterpret the rules in ways that favor them, forcing me to step in and correct them. The experience feels contentious. Saying, “No” isn’t enough. They force you to either break out the rules and cite chapter and verse to disprove their powergamey contentions or else concede to keep the game moving. As a GM, that is definitely invalidating. Fortunately, I haven’t had to deal with that sort of behavior much as a GM. Nothing makes me feel more validated than players who actively participate in the game, contribute to the narrative in constructive ways, and trust/respect me enough as a GM to simply accept my rulings and move on.
As a GM, I feel invalidated at the game table mostly by power gamers. Players who claw for every last scrap of possible advantage in the rules invariably misinterpret the rules in ways that favor them, forcing me to step in and correct them. The experience feels contentious. Saying, “No” isn’t enough. They force you to either break out the rules and cite chapter and verse to disprove their powergamey contentions or else concede to keep the game moving. As a GM, that is definitely invalidating. Fortunately, I haven’t had to deal with that sort of behavior much as a GM. Nothing makes me feel more validated than players who actively participate in the game, contribute to the narrative in constructive ways, and trust/respect me enough as a GM to simply accept my rulings and move on.
I feel validated by having my contribution accepted by the table; I feel invalidated by being told that the outcome of my character’s actions is “Nothing happens,” or something stupid happens that my character would have been aware of but because I personally never said anything about it, the GM feels justified in not telling me that my character would know they were doing something stupid.
I feel validated by having my contribution accepted by the table; I feel invalidated by being told that the outcome of my character’s actions is “Nothing happens,” or something stupid happens that my character would have been aware of but because I personally never said anything about it, the GM feels justified in not telling me that my character would know they were doing something stupid.
Second Derek Jones
As a player, i feel validated when other players and the GM start playing off my input. Sounds like a simple “well of course” kind of validation, but too often are my moves and input left to go nowhere and dismissed. And that ties into what invalidates me, dismissal.
In Dungeon World, and other computer RPG games, i tend to play support characters. Usually playing off others moves
Second Derek Jones
As a player, i feel validated when other players and the GM start playing off my input. Sounds like a simple “well of course” kind of validation, but too often are my moves and input left to go nowhere and dismissed. And that ties into what invalidates me, dismissal.
In Dungeon World, and other computer RPG games, i tend to play support characters. Usually playing off others moves
Good question.
Rpg is a group experience. I feel validated as a player when my character gets to play on is qualities and flaws because of another characters or the gm/mc’s interaction with him. This goes both ways. It’s also very gratifying for me to support my fellow gamers in bringing the best and worst in their own characters by pushing the right buttons at the right time.
I feal invalidated when someone at the table is not engaging in the group effort to create a common story that is enjoyable for all but plays instead in a self-centered manner.
Good question.
Rpg is a group experience. I feel validated as a player when my character gets to play on is qualities and flaws because of another characters or the gm/mc’s interaction with him. This goes both ways. It’s also very gratifying for me to support my fellow gamers in bringing the best and worst in their own characters by pushing the right buttons at the right time.
I feal invalidated when someone at the table is not engaging in the group effort to create a common story that is enjoyable for all but plays instead in a self-centered manner.
I like when people throw in player reactions. Someone saying “oh shit” or “damn, that’s harsh” or similar after a specific narration is the best validation
I like when people throw in player reactions. Someone saying “oh shit” or “damn, that’s harsh” or similar after a specific narration is the best validation
I feel validated when there are plenty of questions and “yes, and” collaboration.
I feel invalidated when my attempts to get off the railroad are inconsequential and going outside of the box with characters is discouraged.
I feel validated when there are plenty of questions and “yes, and” collaboration.
I feel invalidated when my attempts to get off the railroad are inconsequential and going outside of the box with characters is discouraged.
I feel validated when my players tell me “good sesh” after a game. It’s their way of letting me know I did well and they enjoyed themselves. I feel invalidated if someone tells me my reasoning for the choice I give them is wrong and then doesn’t have a better idea or any sort of rebuttal other than “I don’t like it”. I would at least like some feedback so I know how to make it more fun for them.
I feel validated when my players tell me “good sesh” after a game. It’s their way of letting me know I did well and they enjoyed themselves. I feel invalidated if someone tells me my reasoning for the choice I give them is wrong and then doesn’t have a better idea or any sort of rebuttal other than “I don’t like it”. I would at least like some feedback so I know how to make it more fun for them.
As a GM I play validated when my players are ready and eager to hear my hard move. I feel invalidated when I hand them an item that I cant wait to tell them all about and they throw it away (not a flaming sword? why does this GM keep giving us junk?)
As a player I feel validated when the GM lets me add some detail or stretch the bounds of the fiction, “I jump up and swing from the chandelier!”. I feel invalidated when they tell me “You cant do that” because its not the literal text of the move or some trivial detail like “that chandelier is over there out of reach”
As a GM I play validated when my players are ready and eager to hear my hard move. I feel invalidated when I hand them an item that I cant wait to tell them all about and they throw it away (not a flaming sword? why does this GM keep giving us junk?)
As a player I feel validated when the GM lets me add some detail or stretch the bounds of the fiction, “I jump up and swing from the chandelier!”. I feel invalidated when they tell me “You cant do that” because its not the literal text of the move or some trivial detail like “that chandelier is over there out of reach”
As a GM I feel really validated when people are clearly having fun. When the socially awkward guy can’t stop smiling and giggling, when the laid back restrained guy says your off the cuff setting was “pretty okay”. Mostly when everyone has a good time. Specifically when one of my players said I was his favorite GM of ever.
I feel pretty invalidated when people get up and go check something else out when you’re doing a scene with someone else. Mostly that makes me feel like I didn’t do a good enough job inciting everyone, or writing an engaging enough story that they would watch it unfold even if they weren’t a part of it.
As a GM I feel really validated when people are clearly having fun. When the socially awkward guy can’t stop smiling and giggling, when the laid back restrained guy says your off the cuff setting was “pretty okay”. Mostly when everyone has a good time. Specifically when one of my players said I was his favorite GM of ever.
I feel pretty invalidated when people get up and go check something else out when you’re doing a scene with someone else. Mostly that makes me feel like I didn’t do a good enough job inciting everyone, or writing an engaging enough story that they would watch it unfold even if they weren’t a part of it.
As a player, my take lines up pretty well with James Mullen. In particular, I often feel GMs should be applying the DW move “Tell them the consequences and ask” more often in cases where the result is likely to be Nothing Happens, rather than just letting the player waste their “turn”/screen time.
As a GM, it’s a little more complex – I’m often introducing surplus ideas or hooks to see which ones the players engage with, so it’s not uncommon to see some of my contributions get ignored. I think the most validating moments are when a player gets excited about and builds on a hard move I’ve made. It’s invalidating when a player insists on going entirely off the rails – it feels like none of my plot hooks were “good enough” for them. Engaging with a piece of the setting in an unexpected way is great; just wandering off and doing your own thing makes it feel like I’m not even here at the table.
As a player, my take lines up pretty well with James Mullen. In particular, I often feel GMs should be applying the DW move “Tell them the consequences and ask” more often in cases where the result is likely to be Nothing Happens, rather than just letting the player waste their “turn”/screen time.
As a GM, it’s a little more complex – I’m often introducing surplus ideas or hooks to see which ones the players engage with, so it’s not uncommon to see some of my contributions get ignored. I think the most validating moments are when a player gets excited about and builds on a hard move I’ve made. It’s invalidating when a player insists on going entirely off the rails – it feels like none of my plot hooks were “good enough” for them. Engaging with a piece of the setting in an unexpected way is great; just wandering off and doing your own thing makes it feel like I’m not even here at the table.
That’s a good point Aniket Schneider and I’d go further: I think that can make the whole table of other players feel invalidated. If you have 3 players weaving together a nuanced, political drama involving subtle negotiation between factions vying for power, but the 4th player just ignores all that in pursuit of their own head-canon agenda, it can feel like they are trying to ‘win’ the game by not engaging with anything other than their own plan.
That’s a good point Aniket Schneider and I’d go further: I think that can make the whole table of other players feel invalidated. If you have 3 players weaving together a nuanced, political drama involving subtle negotiation between factions vying for power, but the 4th player just ignores all that in pursuit of their own head-canon agenda, it can feel like they are trying to ‘win’ the game by not engaging with anything other than their own plan.
For me as a Game Master, I don’t find myself player side of the screen much, I feel validated most when people are wanting to return for the next session to see what happens next. It lets me know I’m an engaging GM and telling a good story. You know exactly what a GM needs to do.
For me as a Game Master, I don’t find myself player side of the screen much, I feel validated most when people are wanting to return for the next session to see what happens next. It lets me know I’m an engaging GM and telling a good story. You know exactly what a GM needs to do.