I am making official my "Table Rules" and wanted to get some feedback here in the forums to see what everyone thinks.
Here is a paste of a document I found on the internet several years past and made changes.
Respect:
Respect is really what this document revolves around, so please be sure to respect the ST, your fellow players and the environment you’re playing in. As ST, I appreciate it when you show me respect by keeping your focus on the game. Your fellow players appreciate it when you show them respect by giving them the spotlight when appropriate and helping them out in general. The host appreciates it when you respect his shop/home and property.
Attendance and Late Arrivals:
Please ensure you’re arriving on time, and feel free to show up a bit early. If you’re going to be late, please call ahead and let us know ahead of time. When you do show up, realize your character might not be in the “scene” the other PCs are in, so please don’t make a big fuss about your entrance.
Absences:
If something comes up and you must miss a given session, please give me as much notice as possible. One or even two days ahead would be great and you may do so by calling or emailing me. if you don’t come, your character may or may not be used in the game (as appropriate) and, if used, they’ll be facing all of the dangers of the game without the insight and guidance of the player who knows how to play that PC the best – you.
If you are chronically missing games, you are considered to have voluntarily resigned their spot at the table, and offers to play are extended to other gamers who may be wanting to get in our game. This automatic resignation can be overridden by majority approval of the current group.
New Players:
As a ST, I never have more than 7 players at a time, so potential players will have to wait for a spot to open up. If any spots do open up, new members will be invited to play for a session and will be evaluated on how well they fit in, roleplay, etc. With majority approval, they will be welcomed to the table as a new addition to the group.
Roleplaying (“RPing”)
Out of Character (“OoC”) Chat
and Other Character Considerations
Please keep any OoC chat to a reasonable minimum. Anyone at the table can call “enough!” on OoC chatter, which means cutting it out for a while and focusing your energies on the game itself. Be especially mindful of your OoC chatter when others are trying to roleplay – even when you’re not involved in a particular instance of roleplay, be respectful and do not distract from it.
As above, when people are RPing please be respectful and also try to be in-character yourself! Make sure you are focused on the game, as it will only enrich your experience. Make sure you are contributing to the game, as there are no wrong ways of playing. Have characters that aren’t evil or annoying, but are well-rounded and have something in common with the other PCs! And finally, if there is ever a time when we have a very disruptive player (or even if you feel I'm being a jerk), please don't be afraid of voicing your opinions to me out of game – I'm here to ensure you're having fun! If it comes down to it, a majority vote can remove problem players.
Rules Knowledge:
Do your best to know the rules, and we’ll help those with a less-than-perfect grasp of them. If your character requires special rules, you need to know them off-hand. In-game, if you can’t find a rule within a short bit, the ST is free to make a ruling on it and move on.
Cheating:
Cheating is not encouraged, and if you do, I’ll feed you to some really nasty goblins or something. But really, the best thing you can do is not cheat, know the rules as best you can and keep your character sheet in good order, because multiple fudge-ups might seem like cheating – even if it’s simply messy bookkeeping.
Dice Rolls:
All dice must be light colored with dark numbers. All dice are rolled in the “dice pits” where at least one other player must see your roll. There will be no “floor dice” or “cocked dice”.
Notebooks & Laptops:
No note books or laptops will be allowed at the table during game!
Special Table Rules
The Rule of the Egoist: Be a mature person and don’t be an ass. You'd be amazed how much that actually covers.
The Rule of Books No.1: You may be using my books. We’re likely eating greasy food. Books do not generally get along with grease. Save a book. Wash your hands.
The Rule of Books No.2: Please don’t use my book as a surface to write on as you scar the books that way. Well within your budget, a clipboard is a buck at the dollar store.
Here is a paste of a document I found on the internet several years past and made changes.
Respect:
Respect is really what this document revolves around, so please be sure to respect the ST, your fellow players and the environment you’re playing in. As ST, I appreciate it when you show me respect by keeping your focus on the game. Your fellow players appreciate it when you show them respect by giving them the spotlight when appropriate and helping them out in general. The host appreciates it when you respect his shop/home and property.
Attendance and Late Arrivals:
Please ensure you’re arriving on time, and feel free to show up a bit early. If you’re going to be late, please call ahead and let us know ahead of time. When you do show up, realize your character might not be in the “scene” the other PCs are in, so please don’t make a big fuss about your entrance.
Absences:
If something comes up and you must miss a given session, please give me as much notice as possible. One or even two days ahead would be great and you may do so by calling or emailing me. if you don’t come, your character may or may not be used in the game (as appropriate) and, if used, they’ll be facing all of the dangers of the game without the insight and guidance of the player who knows how to play that PC the best – you.
If you are chronically missing games, you are considered to have voluntarily resigned their spot at the table, and offers to play are extended to other gamers who may be wanting to get in our game. This automatic resignation can be overridden by majority approval of the current group.
New Players:
As a ST, I never have more than 7 players at a time, so potential players will have to wait for a spot to open up. If any spots do open up, new members will be invited to play for a session and will be evaluated on how well they fit in, roleplay, etc. With majority approval, they will be welcomed to the table as a new addition to the group.
Roleplaying (“RPing”)
Out of Character (“OoC”) Chat
and Other Character Considerations
Please keep any OoC chat to a reasonable minimum. Anyone at the table can call “enough!” on OoC chatter, which means cutting it out for a while and focusing your energies on the game itself. Be especially mindful of your OoC chatter when others are trying to roleplay – even when you’re not involved in a particular instance of roleplay, be respectful and do not distract from it.
As above, when people are RPing please be respectful and also try to be in-character yourself! Make sure you are focused on the game, as it will only enrich your experience. Make sure you are contributing to the game, as there are no wrong ways of playing. Have characters that aren’t evil or annoying, but are well-rounded and have something in common with the other PCs! And finally, if there is ever a time when we have a very disruptive player (or even if you feel I'm being a jerk), please don't be afraid of voicing your opinions to me out of game – I'm here to ensure you're having fun! If it comes down to it, a majority vote can remove problem players.
Rules Knowledge:
Do your best to know the rules, and we’ll help those with a less-than-perfect grasp of them. If your character requires special rules, you need to know them off-hand. In-game, if you can’t find a rule within a short bit, the ST is free to make a ruling on it and move on.
Cheating:
Cheating is not encouraged, and if you do, I’ll feed you to some really nasty goblins or something. But really, the best thing you can do is not cheat, know the rules as best you can and keep your character sheet in good order, because multiple fudge-ups might seem like cheating – even if it’s simply messy bookkeeping.
Dice Rolls:
All dice must be light colored with dark numbers. All dice are rolled in the “dice pits” where at least one other player must see your roll. There will be no “floor dice” or “cocked dice”.
Notebooks & Laptops:
No note books or laptops will be allowed at the table during game!
Special Table Rules
The Rule of the Egoist: Be a mature person and don’t be an ass. You'd be amazed how much that actually covers.
The Rule of Books No.1: You may be using my books. We’re likely eating greasy food. Books do not generally get along with grease. Save a book. Wash your hands.
The Rule of Books No.2: Please don’t use my book as a surface to write on as you scar the books that way. Well within your budget, a clipboard is a buck at the dollar store.
