Pressure!

sieg · Post by **sieg** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:30 am

Does anyone have a problem with your players and pressure during a game? That is, you put them in a critical situation and require them to make snap decisions and they freeze up and/or get mad because you're "rushing" them? Of course they say that "real time" isn't "game time" but IMO its not always reasonable for the PCs to have ample time to debate over options and to review things slowly....while their characters are in a situation where literally seconds count! Doing that loses some of the edge and excitement of the game (IMO)!

Anyone else had this problem?

Mike
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:40 am

Yes.

I quit putting them under pressure, since it ruins their fun. Plus it has a lot to do with their mood, because sometimes they react really well to the pressure, but most times they don't like to do it by a "stop watch".

So I introduce it as a "under pressure" scenario, but if they respond by "taking their time" I just go with it. Just like I do when they respond quickly.
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Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:07 am

I generally don't pressure my group, but on the other hand I don't let them stand around forever at a dungeon intersection babbling away about which way to go.

If I think they have begun to take too much time, I'll roll a die behind the screen just for a prompt. Usually that gets 'em moving. Sometimes the die roll is real and an encounter will happen, so they mostly know not to dawdle too much.

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slimykuotoan · Post by **slimykuotoan** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:12 am

I always pressure my groups to add realism.

So in situations where they have seconds to make a decision, I usually describe the situation, ask for understanding, then give a 5...4...3..., etc countdown.

It wouldn't be reasonable for players to chat endlessly over whether their characters should move after hearing a 'click' whilst walking down a hallway, etc.

I'd say pressure -when applied correctly- is an effective CK tool for increasing drama and intensity of mood during campaigns.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:22 am

No. If they cannot come up with a solution, they have none, and suffer for it, appropriately. But, I make it fun to lose.

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:33 am

I put pressure on my group fairly regularly. They don't have a problem with it, but that's mainly because if they start taking too long Steve will grab the nearest sharp pointy object and begin stabbing the closest non party member in order to quickly resolve the issue.

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:51 pm

I just start rolling dice and grin (without saying why). That speeds them right up.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:36 pm

CharlieRock wrote:
I just start rolling dice and grin (without saying why). That speeds them right up.

I just 'randomly roll' to see if I'm making checks to mess with them -- even if things are moving along nicely and quickly!
There have been a couple of times where I did the classic: 'You need to decide now!' and count down from 5

M
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Stuie · Post by **Stuie** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:12 pm

I use the dice-roll method as well. My one son started yelling "Now see what you did!!" at the other the first time I tried this on them. Didn't even know why I was rolling but assumed it wasn't good. Pretty funny.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:43 pm

I also tend NOT to pressure players into making quick decisions as it sometimes limits the fun. However, when a player just takes too damn long, I'll always call for a decision to be made.

-O
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CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:19 pm

Stuie wrote:
I use the dice-roll method as well. My one son started yelling "Now see what you did!!" at the other the first time I tried this on them. Didn't even know why I was rolling but assumed it wasn't good. Pretty funny.

LoL. I also sometimes do moriarity777's trick there; rolling checks for no real reason. Good chatter stopper , too. Hey, they get to kill all my characters , I should get to mess with their heads while they do it.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:21 pm

I actually have fake dice for that. They are different colors, but have no numbers on them. Come in a variety of polyhedrons, too, so you can roll a proxy die twenty just because... for those people who "can hear the way the die rolls."

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:43 pm

serleran wrote:
I actually have fake dice for that. They are different colors, but have no numbers on them. Come in a variety of polyhedrons, too, so you can roll a proxy die twenty just because... for those people who "can hear the way the die rolls."

You know, I've seen those and always wondered what they were for. For some reason I am still wondering. But if I see a set and get asked this is what I'm going to tell them.
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Post by **Breakdaddy** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:52 pm

serleran wrote:
I actually have fake dice for that. They are different colors, but have no numbers on them. Come in a variety of polyhedrons, too, so you can roll a proxy die twenty just because... for those people who "can hear the way the die rolls."

But if you are rolling behind the screen, doesn't it not matter that they do not have numbers on them? Or are you trying to fool yourself into thinking youre rolling for something too?

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:27 pm

You roll behind the screen so people think its important... doesn't matter what you roll, per se, but I like to roll the appropriate BS die, like a d6 for random encounter, or d10 for initiative, because my players can, about 90% guess what die is being rolled, and it scares them when they think "oh crap, that's d20s..."

But, I don't roll behind a screen, anyway. So, its a moot point. I just like to do things that are weird.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:58 am

serleran wrote:
I just like to do things that are weird.

I don't think we could have ever guessed that. Weirdo.

-O
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:32 am

I am hurt, truly. It is immeasurable. Mean Omote. Hehe.

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:29 am

serleran wrote:
You roll behind the screen so people think its important... doesn't matter what you roll, per se, but I like to roll the appropriate BS die, like a d6 for random encounter, or d10 for initiative, because my players can, about 90% guess what die is being rolled, and it scares them when they think "oh crap, that's d20s..."

But, I don't roll behind a screen, anyway. So, its a moot point. I just like to do things that are weird.

Um, don't they notice that those dice got no numbers? d8s and d10s sound the most the same, btw
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The Rock says ...

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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:29 pm

No, they don't notice it, because I don't roll right in front of them, either. One doesn't need a screen to remain secretive, nor does one have to put everything in the open to be revealing.

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:55 pm

serleran wrote:
No, they don't notice it, because I don't roll right in front of them, either. One doesn't need a screen to remain secretive, nor does one have to put everything in the open to be revealing.

Hey, I got a semi-silly question; do you guys play that you take the roll where it stops or reroll on the 'official spot'?

We play it has to be on the table and off the map to count.
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The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:02 pm

What map? What "official spot?" So, I guess... umm, no, we don't play with that.

Hell, we've allowed rolls that landed in the garbage, literally.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:23 pm

When it's my game, the die roll has to land on the table to count. None of this crap where the dice falls of the table on the rug and the player claims that he hit. ON THE TABLE!

Then again, there is one player in our group who has such a wicked backspin on his dice-rolling technique that the dice fly off the table about 50% of the time. Takes him forever to roll. I'm TALK TO YOU SME!

-O
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CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:28 pm

I have one of those metal d20s. I love the way it sounds hitting the table. Can be nervewracking.

One day I was tossing from palm to palm waiting for a player to make up his mind about where he was going to move on the map. It bounced out of my hand the wrong way, shattered the pretzel bowl and whizzed by about 5" from MrsCharlie's nose.

I'm only allowed to touch it when I'm going to roll now.
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The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:34 pm

Oh yeah, I have some of those too. Never use them, because the table we play on is not mine and I don't want to dent it with the way I roll, which has often been described as a sort of spinning drop (some people say I cheat because of it, but that's just because they're jealous - in fact, I've been rolling rather crappy lately, with the average around 8... not good, but since I'm playing a wizard, I tend to use spells anyway and most those don't require a roll, yay!)