I'd like to tell my players to put away their books and computers for a couple sessions and see if that helps the game to move faster and hopefully be more fun.

Would that be rude to ask of my players?

No.

What is rude is actually playing the game and becoming distracted by other thing that are not important.

So to answer your question: 2P51 said it very well.

Before I moved to online games, I ran a few sessions at my brothers house. I had one player that had his character sheet on his computer, and wanted to keep his laptop out. I thought, ok, he's a friend and all...

As soon as I tell him ok he's pulling out his gigantic 17" laptop, his even bigger cooling stand/harness/pad/thing, and navigating the cords to an outlet. Now I've basically got two GM screens because this thing blocks a quarter of the table, it's also somewhat loud. As you might imagine from a giant pad with a bunch of fans designed to keep the computer cool and nothing else.

But ok, ok, I can work around this.

So we go, we're gaming, and I notice he's doing a lot more on the laptop than he's doing in the game. I'm in the zone though, I don't want to bring it up.

After the game, my brother tells me that player spent almost the entire game surfing e-Bay and buying books for another RPG game system. Well, at least he was half on topic, right?

The campaign died out quickly after that. So my vote is - get rid of all the distractions! Even if it was rude to ask this of them, it's rude of them to have them out in the first place.

I have one player who routinely taps away at a tower defense game on his iPad during sessions. He's also my assistant GM and one of the strongest roleplayers at the table. While I found it distracting and vaguely offensive at first, I quickly came to realize that he's a.) one of those personality types that needs to have something to do at all times, and b.) he's paying attention to everything at the same time.

That said, for my table, he's the exception and not the rule. I'm okay with people checking their e-mail and stuff on their phones when they aren't in the spotlight, but I expect everyone to respect their fellow players and the game by giving me their attention during the session.

It's not an absolute because as I introduce things, or hand them resources and what not, I'll have players tapping away on tablets and ask, "does it look like this?" or "can we get one of these when they pay us?" etc. I'll also ask sometimes for someone to look something up for me while I'm talking to show everyone that I haven't planned ahead for. So it's not etched in stone when it comes to tech at my table, but I wouldn't want someone playing angry birds. Then again instead of getting frustrated I also try to step up the level of group involvement. If they're engaged as much as possible they'll be less likely to turn to the tech.

No, in fact I was hoping we could do that

I prefer to play without the books even on the table. If we can't remember a rule, just make a ruling and go with it. Look it up later.

No, in fact I was hoping we could do that

I prefer to play without the books even on the table. If we can't remember a rule, just make a ruling and go with it. Look it up later.

I don't mind looking up rules here and there, but it does bother me when I look around and everyone is reading while I'm relating the story. Plus this next session is going to get crazy and I'm almost positive it will have a time limit. In other words, you guys got till 10:30 to make these objectives or everything gets bad, people die, Empire wins. For this session at least, we need to keep things moving.

Definitely, I think it's much better that way. I try to have all the stats for stuff in the game I GM prepared so we don't even need the books nearby.

I've never noticed the books to be a problem, but electronic distractions are the one thing I'm terribly strict about at my table. I've played in too many games where the players lose all focus and immersion, missing even the most basic of plot developments, and having to be reminded of every little thing.

In sum, don't feel bad about outlawing distractions. Odds are most of your players agree with you.

Just make a blanket statement at the end of a game session: "hey guys, just so you know, next time we get together I wanna try playing with no electronics at the table. Some guys online told me they did this and it worked great for their game, so I'd like to try it too." That way 1) it's not a surprise and 2) you're not singling anyone out. It's just some advance warning. Not at all rude.

My players are to the point now that, if someone gets out their phone and starts texting, the rest of the table gives that player a bad time for disengaging

It's a little work to try and develop that culture in your play group, but IMO it's well worth the effort.

I don't mind looking up rules here and there, but it does bother me when I look around and everyone is reading while I'm relating the story. Plus this next session is going to get crazy and I'm almost positive it will have a time limit. In other words, you guys got till 10:30 to make these objectives or everything gets bad, people die, Empire wins. For this session at least, we need to keep things moving.

It's ultimately the GM's duty to keep the events moving and the energy flowing. It's exhausting work. I mean, sometimes you do get that group that turns everything into a bachelorette party, but those are even more exhausting...

It's ultimately the GM's duty to keep the events moving and the energy flowing. It's exhausting work. I mean, sometimes you do get that group that turns everything into a bachelorette party, but those are even more exhausting...

Man, I'm not sure I could stand having my game turn into a drunken paintball match. Nor could my living room.

But I agree that the GM needs to keep the story moving. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was cut off some inspired in-character banter bordering on roleplaying because the exchange was starting to get bogged down. I also confess to resorting to the "and then ninjas attack" method of spicing up a boring session.

Letting a moment of quiet pass and then saying, calmly, "Roll initiative" does wonders to get people off their phones.

I generally disallow electronics at my tables when i run because you never know A) if the player is actually paying attention, or b) if the player is cheating. so we still use paper and pencil and for the most part roll everything in the open of our games. so in answer to your question i would say no feel free to ask him to not use it

I generally disallow electronics at my tables when i run because you never know A) if the player is actually paying attention, or b) if the player is cheating.

I generally disallow electronics at my tables when i run because you never know A) if the player is actually paying attention, or b) if the player is cheating.

Color my naive maybe... but how would they be "cheating"?

Having a PDF of whatever adventure you're running would certainly qualify.

Having a PDF of whatever adventure you're running would certainly qualify.

Also, do people really run "straight from the book"? I mean, our GM did for the first mission only (Beginner Game)... but after that things became heavily modified.

Personally I haven't run straight from the module in 30 years... ****, now I feel old.

My attitude - you're either in the game and playing, or you leave. Players that annoy me don't get invited back.

in the game or not.

Really bad when the GM is playing games on his laptop behind the GM screen.

Most players should be engaged enough that they dont bother with devices. Of course my players are mature enough that it isn't an issue.

I generally disallow electronics at my tables when i run because you never know A) if the player is actually paying attention, or b) if the player is cheating. so we still use paper and pencil and for the most part roll everything in the open of our games. so in answer to your question i would say no feel free to ask him to not use it

Yeah, it’s hard to look over the shoulder of someone who is looking at their character sheet on their phone, and confirm whether or not they really do have that skill. Or confirm that they are properly tracking their WT. Or confirm what the dice results are that they claim.

I mean, they can opt to hand you the phone to show you, but just having that piece of paper in front of you and noticing whether or not you’re making any marks on the paper as you get wounded, that kind of goes a ways to helping keep the honest players … honest.

I mean, they can opt to hand you the phone to show you, but just having that piece of paper in front of you and noticing whether or not you’re making any marks on the paper as you get wounded, that kind of goes a ways to helping keep the honest players … honest.

I must be odd. I keep track of the PC's wounds and such as well. Not to keep them honest but so I can know what to throw at whom, when, what they look like, etc. So I don;t have to ask the players and can spring stuff on them with telegraphing stuff in any way.

I guess I'm old school. I don't like having all that at the table. A phone with the dice app, ok. A tablet, maybe. A laptop, at the the table. No way. I require paper copies of the characters at the table. I will print them out on my printer with my paper and ink for those that don't want to or can't print them out. If we are all going to have these computers in front us, then why even get together to play this game in the first place? Don't get me wrong, I love the tech. I use my iPad, and my computer when I run, but I use it as an aid, not as something else to do when I am not involved.

It is your table, your rules. I don't think it is rude to ask people to keep the books/computers/tech out of it. It is rude that they are doing it.

For me it is not about the "cheating". If a player wants to cheat, they will, and if I catch them, they are asked/told to leave, and they are not invited back. As the GM, I do not like to cheat, but I do reserve the right to "push the boundaries of the 'space-time-continuum'" for the good of my story.

For me, getting together to play these games is about the human interaction. Not about looking at a computer and playing a game. (I do not mean to offend anyone that plays over the internet/Skype/hangouts, that is entirely different thing). I mean to be there in person, only looking at your computer!? Anyways I digress. I will leave you with a few pictures of my gaming setup. (We just got everything in from Germany, I am still not done setting everything up yet)

I will leave you with a few pictures of my gaming setup. (We just got everything in from Germany, I am still not done setting everything up yet)

I approve. Having some memorabilia around always helps with the atmosphere.

For the most part, I don't even like to use my computer when I'm running game. I prefer to have everything printed and take notes by hand. Maybe it's just me being old-fashioned, but that's always what these games were about for me. Tactile contact might not be the highest priority at my table, but it's still important.

Um, yeah, I have a just "little" memoribellia laying around...sheepish grin.

Except you drink Pepsi... can't stand Pepsi.