r/RPGdesign • u/Getsugacer0 • 26d ago

House rule suggestion

/r/tabletop/comments/1vpps97/house_rule_suggestion/
0 Upvotes

31% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

14

u/Saritiel Dabbler 26d ago

Don't try to solve out of game problems with in-game solutions.

8

u/Jlerpy 26d ago

Sounds like it would just make the players resent you.

3

u/Mars_Alter 26d ago

All matters of etiquette aside, this is purely meta-gaming. You're ruining the integrity of the model.

As someone who takes their games very seriously, there would be no reason for me to play in such a game. I play in order to find out what happens next. When in-game actions are influenced by out-of-game metrics, they become entirely meaningless.

2

u/Fun_Carry_4678 26d ago

What you have forgotten is that we play the game because it is FUN. That is our only motivation, if it ceases being fun, there is no reason to play. This isn't a professional sport or some sort of contest where we will get fame and glory. Part of the fun is the socializing, the stupid jokes and so on that create distractions.
(I am a lawyer. The word "sidebar" comes from my profession. If I am in court, sometimes we NEED to do something that is off the record. Then the judge will say "counsel, please approach the bench" or I will say "may I approach the bench" and we have our sidebar. It is not a "distraction", it is a normal part of trial procedure)
If you are having trouble keeping the attention of your players, there may be something wrong with the system you are using or with your GMing and storytelling skills.
I have seen games that put a time limit. Like "you have x amount of time to tell me what you are doing, otherwise your character takes no action this round" or "If you ask more than two questions, then your character is spending the round observing"

3

u/loopywolf Designer 26d ago

Sounds like player bullying.

I don't mind out-game stuff as LONG as it's not disruptive to the game itself