I'm afraid I'm going to have to have The Talk with my group this weekend. Last Saturday when we were mid game (with me running the show), I would glance over and 3 out of the four players were on their phones. Not just once, but at least a couple of times. And I cant help feeling extremely annoyed at finding out whatever I've spent my week putting together isn't nearly as interesting as getting gold in Flappy Penguins.

Was it a lack of emotional involvement? It was a big climax trying to get invaders off their world, the end game of three weeks coming together. Everyone had a horse in that race (Or at least I thought they did).

Was it a matter of one player dominating the spotlight - yes, the climax was a 1-on-1 fight, but being distracted was happening well before the end boss. I don't think I had been highlighting one character to the detriment of the others. And when they split up the party, I jumped back and forth between the two at a fairly rapid pace.

And I wasn't in exposition mode, there was no info dump going on. My style is not so much "Here's this awesome story I wrote that I am now going to read to you" and more just describing the world and letting them live it.

So I guess my question is how often do other GM's run into the problem that if a PC isn't doing something at that exact moment, the player feels the need to do something else until they're doing something again. And how do you deal with it?

Three words: electromagnetic pulse bomb.

How many total players do you have?

Edit: Sry just saw, four.

In any case let them know it's kinda rude and see what happens. If they say they are feeling disengaged from the story then you should adjust your style to help fix that. If it continues start adding Setbacks when those players act as a "Humorous Reminder". If that doesn't stop it try the talk again. Third time find new players.

Three words: electromagnetic pulse bomb.

Okay, how do you deal with it OTHER than playing inside a Faraday cage.

How many total players do you have?

For the longest time we had 3 and the GM. We just added a 4th, so grand total of five.

My solution was to remove laptops and cellphones from the equation. If you're at my table, you have your dice, your character sheet and your drink... we game... I, as the GM, get to have my laptop up, but that's because I've got the stats and adventure modules on it. If you want to be surfing the net or talking with other friends, then go somewhere else. I did this because at one point it got so bad that I'd see more than half the group on their phones or laptops and so when it came their turn, they were completely unprepared for how things at the table had changed (combat turns were on and enemies and allies were moving around). It dragged on combat. I got so fed up with it that I forced everyone to pile their phones at the center of the table and the first to pick up their phone before game was called had to buy everyone dinner that night. This worked great because most of them couldn't afford to feed 6 people, even at McDonald's/Chik-fil-a/Taco Bell prices.

Yeah, that was the first thing I thought of was the "Pile of Phones at Dinner" game.

As for outright banning all electronics - that will suck for me. See, all I ever do off my laptop is have my character spreadsheet open, my word document for making game notes for the after action log, and my the word document with my game, if I'm the GM that week. That's it - no video games or surfing ever.

Forcing a ban means I have to stop going paperless. Mind if, if that's what it takes, I'll do it. It'll be annoying, but I will.

There is no magic to it, just politely ask everyone to put their phones away as you find it insulting and disrespectful to the time and effort you invested in preparing.

We're those players in the scene when you saw them on their phones? IE weRe you doing a scene with one player and the others were waiting?

We're they unaware of what was going on at the point the action returned to them?

There is no magic to it, just politely ask everyone to put their phones away as you find it insulting and disrespectful to the time and effort you invested in preparing.

Yeah, it's just a matter of how to broach the subject. We're all long term super good friends that have been playing together for decades, so ultimately when we're 70, this will be just a long forgotten incident - but the short term for the weekend? It's going to suck to bring it up. I hate confrontations.

We're those players in the scene when you saw them on their phones? IE weRe you doing a scene with one player and the others were waiting?

We're they unaware of what was going on at the point the action returned to them?

There is no magic to it, just politely ask everyone to put their phones away as you find it insulting and disrespectful to the time and effort you invested in preparing.

Yeah, it's just a matter of how to broach the subject. We're all long term super good friends that have been playing together for decades, so ultimately when we're 70, this will be just a long forgotten incident - but the short term for the weekend? It's going to suck to bring it up. I hate confrontations.

So be more subtle, just stop talking when people are on their phones. When they look up at you, apologize for interrupting them...

One method is that you can have everyone put their phone on a nearby table that is out of reach. If they need to check something, they can stand up and do so elsewhere. They are still near enough that you can be reached in an emergency.

Making it just that little bit more inconvenient can do wonders.

So be more subtle, just stop talking when people are on their phones. When they look up at you, apologize for interrupting them...

A little too passive aggressive for my tastes. No, the appropriate way to deal with this is head on, before the game. Being the responsible GM and talking to the players openly and frankly.

Heh - funny, in all the threads around here, people coming in with problems at their tables, my first go-to piece of advice to them is "just talk to the player/players about it" - but when it comes time to FOLLOW that advice, it's much harder.

(sub-note - I'm hoping that my Co-GM swings by the forums today and spots the thread. But at the very least I'm going to talk to him before I talk to the others.)

Well if they are good old friends I doubt you're going to cause any waves if you just say ' hey, not trying to be a ****, but...'

I realise saying this this may be akin to pissing in the wind, but I let them. I don't GM as a duty, I do it because I enjoy it, and I don't force my players to join in, I invite people who are interested and keen to play.

Some of my players don't enjoy turn based combat very much so tend to entertain themselves by reading their various devices during other player's turns. I don't love it, and when I get to their turn if they don't have any idea what's going on because they weren't paying attention I don't cut them any slack, but mostly they're well behaved and concious not to let it impact the overall game. They don't do it during roleplay or exposition, just during "downtime" in combat. I also know that for some of them if they didn't do that and were "banned" from entertaining themselves they'd get bored and sullen and that would ruin the fun for everyone. Personally I don't understand it, I am always engaged in a game no matter who's turn it is, and I follow every move and every throw of the dice with a keen interest, but not everyone can be such an awesome gamer as me. Ultimately these players are my friends and they are here in their own free time to have fun, as am I, they don't owe me anything and I have no right to tell them what to do. As long as they're not spoiling other people's fun they can do what they want, I'm not a teacher controlling and unruly class. So, yeah, I don't get it and I don't like it myself but as long as they're happy and not spoiling the game it's not my place to complain.

Personal taste though, I'm not saying anyone should follow my example as every group and situation is different, I'm just sharing another perspective.

You could just kind of.. stop. Cease talking dead in your tracks and look at them. It's like a teacher suddenly quieting down while looking at a person. The rest of the players will take notice. At that point the person looking at the phone will not only be an inconvenience to you, but also to other players. I'm not saying make them the bad guy, don't punish everyone for a single individual's bad behavior. But make it very clear that they are hindering the experience. Most will stop without you having to say anything really. If they are ALL mashing their phones you have to be more strict. I'm not a fan of banning electronics outright because as a player I would feel somewhat patronized and some might actually have a reason for looking at their gadgets, but I also wouldn't reject the GM being the only one who uses electronics. It is a special guiding position after all and electronic supply might be needed.

Then again, you said that you guys are friends. It should not be too hard to make them understand that this can't go on this way because it's ruining your experience and by extension theirs as well.

I personally enjoy everyone paying attention, even as a PC. I'd be annoyed by another player not caring and playing, texting, surfing on their phone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei8qkaeclIo

Well I know electronic distraction is the disease of the century but if they prefered to play a video game instead of listening to you, they were probably finding your game boring. You should investigate the reasons why they pick their phone during your sessions instead of immediately asking them to burn their cell phone before sitting at your table.

Forcing a ban means I have to stop going paperless. Mind if, if that's what it takes, I'll do it. It'll be annoying, but I will.

There's no reason you can't use your device, it's for GMing. Just don't jump into social media on it while simultaneously trying to describe a tense scene...

The problem we oldsters have to deal with is not so much social media as just "socializing" in the middle of a scene. If players go too long without feeling involved, they'll just do that. It's not really about electronic devices at all, it's about attention span, and that hasn't changed much.

Compared to previous games I find this game much easier for everyone to be involved, because everyone can benefit from the outcomes of others...passing boost dice and upgrades, using Improved Inspiring Rhetoric, etc. Maybe to that end, share the burden: everybody has to note their own upgrades/boosts, etc. how long it lasts and the source. If they don't note it down because they were distracted, they don't get to have it. Then if they fail, the other players can go "man, I gave you a boost die and you wasted it, pay attention", and the pressure is off you.

Of course, it's also important to make sure everyone has something to do, which can sometimes be really hard to pull off. If you feel a scene might devolved down to a 1:1 duel, try to make sure there is some other element that needs attention: power failure, engine overload, a wave of reinforcements, a split-party chase, somebody who needs medical attention, etc. If the scene is complex enough when created, then you can include whatever elements you need without it feeling artificial, and hand-wave away whatever isn't necessary to keep the party busy. But that's all theoretical, hard to put into practice every time.

So be more subtle, just stop talking when people are on their phones. When they look up at you, apologize for interrupting them...

Where I come from we call this approach passive aggressive. Not to say it's never appropriate but it actually makes the person doing it rather than the targets look like the a$$.

It's an RPG, be a little assertive and use your words.

@Desslok.

How rude. I mean, so what, I'm on the phone a little bit, or the internet a little bit, big deal, get over it man. What, you think you are so important and that I can't mutli-task, of course I can! I do multiple things at one time! Big deal if you spent all this time on this stuff, how can you expect anyone to just sit there and be entertained by you! I mean, I have important Facebook things going on, I have to "Like" that new post from my other friend to let him know he is important, and I can't let my virtual crops wither man! Geesh, it's not like you spend a lot of time on this stuff, and besides, it's just a game dude! Really, need to chill here. I'm mean, yeah, we can spend some time with you, but come on dude, I have so many other things going on that I need to keep connected with everyone all the time! My GF from another state really needs to talk to me allthetime, what you expect me to ignore her!? So big deal if you feel a little hurt by us doing this, but did you ever stop and think that you may be hurting our feelings if you tell us to stop? Of course you didn't, that is all you can think about is you! E chuta!

-Yes, Sarcasm Font-

For real now. I do ask everyone to keep electronic device use to a minimum. It has worked out so far. I do have one player that uses his Windows tablet, and he also uses OggDudes char gen, so he can view it right there on the tablet. But I never get the impression he is ever really surfing the net or anything on it. I have had a few people who have the dice app on a phone, but since I keep my 4 sets of dice in the middle of the table, there is no real need to use the app. So I am pretty lucky that i don't really have this problem. If people get a phone call, they get up and take it in another room. Sometimes I even get important phone calls I have to answer during the game, I apologize to the group, then go to another room and use the phone quickly. The same problem can be had without the devices, people can keep talking when I'm trying to read something important, or explaining something important. I just ask them point blank if I am interrupting them or bugging them during their conversation, and that stops it. It just really boils down to what the GM lays out at the beginning of the game. I have no problem laying out my expectations for people and acceptable/unacceptable behavior at the table at the start of a new campaign or game.

Whafrog hit the nail on the head. If people aren't engaged they're going to do something else. I never pulled out my smart phone but I doodled, sketched or stacked my dice if it was a long interlude between someone else's turn and mine.

Avoid spotlighting individual players for too long and try to encourage group tests whenever you can. Give them a mystery to mull over as a group. Or at the very least, be entertaining so that the players can't help but look at you. I pantomime, use stupid voices, wave props around, flail my arms like Kermit the Frog, speak quietly and SHOUT... whatever amateur theater BS I can use to hold attention, I do. That's the stuff that people remember about your games, not so much the plot.

Whafrog hit the nail on the head. If people aren't engaged they're going to do something else. I never pulled out my smart phone but I doodled, sketched or stacked my dice if it was a long interlude between someone else's turn and mine.

Well, you are right of course. Yet I do not think this relaxes the issue. One can not realistically be interesting to everyone all of the time. While this should not be too much of an issue, it seems to be here. I don't think most people are objecting to let them look at their phones once in a while, but if it becomes a distraction... No, there has to be a clear cut. I personally think it is somewhat disrespectful to the person that has put in the considerable effort to create said scenario, as well as to others that really care. It is a general disruption to gamefeel. Of course this is largely the GM's job as he is supposed to create interest and atmosphere. But a general disinterest is hard to discourage, so measures seem to be in order.

One should try to make them care for others so they do not go to other media if they're not directly adressed. While this is difficult at first, maybe try having them interact more? A bar setting in which the characters have to talk "in-character" did wonders in my experience.

Avoid spotlighting individual players for too long and try to encourage group tests whenever you can. Give them a mystery to mull over as a group. Or at the very least, be entertaining so that the players can't help but look at you. I pantomime, use stupid voices, wave props around, flail my arms like Kermit the Frog, speak quietly and SHOUT... whatever amateur theater BS I can use to hold attention, I do. That's the stuff that people remember about your games, not so much the plot.

Building on that, you should have players that are able to care about your story without waving your arms like yo are entertaining a five year old. Not to say that in extreme moments this is not a valid method, just be aware that this is weirdly patronizing over a certain period of time. I still encourage voices in general for example because I believe they add to atmosphere.

They will drift away in sessions that last numerous hours, just make sure they don't stray to far from the game. Give them enough to do and encourgae them to not need you. If they are talking in character while you are doing other stuff? Great! They are the actors, you set the scene.. If you don't need to throw stuff at them to interact with, all the better,

It can be problematic.

But the Key for me is How the player themselves are handling it.

If I have to Describer what is going on to the player who is "distracted" by a device... Then I will often give a penalty. Your action is now delayed until X. or they have Penalty X added to the action.

and when they ask Why, I tell them that since they were distracted by their device when I first described the situation, then their character was distracted by a squirrel or what ever.

The reason I don't put a Total ban on them?

Because I can understand that sometimes some players actions take longer than others.

And because some people Do listen to the descriptions and actions while they play or browse casually.

In my 2 Face to face games, we also have children being taken care of and watched by some of the players... So sometimes, they have the Device out to help distract a little one and they are helping.

You mean... nobody else sets up their game at the local Aperture Science facility? We always have a superconductor and some kind of blinking, buzzing device flashing lasers at us periodically.

I always believe a nice, friendly, open discussion is a good way to get to the source of the problem. I can't say much more than that, as I don't have actual first hand experience with your group (my Penguin is rusty), but I would maybe find a time alone with each of the players and ask 'em one by one. Maybe the reasons were completely unrelated to each other.

"So, I noticed last game you guys were using your phones a few times. Is the game not interesting anymore?" And go from there. Be honest about your concerns.

Sheesh. I feel like I'm offering self-help advice. Bottom line: be super, super nice and don't make any accusations, just inquiries.