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I have recently come across some posts about metagaming. Definitions vary in some details, but the general idea is that this is when a player uses his/her real knowledge instead of the character’s. In this broad sense, anything the player knows (including mechanics to an extent) could be considered as metagaming. I personally think this is hogwash as my family would say.
If you are a die hard “no metagaming at the table” type of person, I will not be playing with you in any long-term capacity. As a GM, I often give descriptions of people, places, and things with modern day likeness. This allows my players to understand what I am picturing the easiest and keeps from consuming too much time on narrative. However, in that broad definition, I’ve just told my players to metagame. They may change their decisions or actions based on that likeness. I am also okay with cross-table chatter. If someone finds their character alone and is stuck on ideas on how to proceed, I’d rather my other players give them ideas instead of spending the next thirty minutes waiting for them to come up with it on their own. Some would say I should guide them to a decision, but that can be counterproductive and leave the player feeling defeated. However, if it comes from the players it is seen as helping each other and they have now overcome that obstacle together. Some would go so far as to not allow the players to share their actions during battle. This prevents the coordination of an active adventuring party that travels together and most likely knows what each other may be doing. Table chatter on what you plan to do next, or aiding each others’ efforts is the best way to display these tactics. Each time they do this, they learn more about each other, their play styles, and their preferred battle strategies. They will hone in wonderful combinations that make the game truly epic. Now, let’s talk elephants! Player knowledge of monsters the adventuring party encounters is the worst type of metagaming. It can drain the fun so badly that I actually put this type into more of a “cheating” category. If your character has never encountered a siren, and has spent no time on the docks or on a ship, they will not know about their song-like enticement. However, if they encounter a red dragon that emits heat and breathes fire, it is logical that the characters may think it is immune to fire. All of this comes, of course, with a grain of salt. Your players need to give room for each other to have those “private” conversations, take the moment to think through a situation, and share only what they want. The rest of the group need to respect that their party member is keeping something secret from the rest of them with a purpose, and allow it to come to the surface organically. The group should never assume everything is shared all the time (unless stated otherwise), and if anyone is not sure, it’s okay to ask, “Did you share that?”
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We all fall off the horse eventually, it’s what we do after we hit the ground that matters. Struggling to keep up with life, the universe, and everything, I cling to the answer…42, unfortunately that is only half the problem. What’s the question?!
As I realize I was late (again) for posting a GM Corner, I am also dropping the ball on other things as well. I have hyper focused on cleaning the house, and as a result other things slip by me. Before I know it, the new year will have come and gone and I’ll still be sitting at my desk thinking about Christmas gifts. It also shows in my games. I’m less prepared, meaning no maps, easy monsters, very predictable story plots, and late posts. This does not mean it will be less fun, but it will not have the air of excitement that we all love. The “tool box” comes in very handy in these instances. All those plots, NPCs, locations, etc. that the players have skipped over, can now be pulled out with little preparation (since I did it already). If you find yourself on the ground. Whether it be too much going on in your life, or just in your head, remember you are not alone. We have all fallen off at some point or another. Just pick yourself up, dust off, and get back on! Everyone starts somewhere, you are not alone. I know it can feel like a huge task to run your first game, but know that your game table is full of people who will help you. As a GM, it is easy to feel like you need to have all the answers to all the questions that could get asked, but that is an unrealistic expectation. So let me break some of this down for you.
Have you played in the system you are planning to run? If you have, then you will have a general idea of how the game should flow, and some basic rules already. If not, don’t worry, you will figure it out. I would suggest reading about combat and anything about the general concept of the world or genre the system is set in. Have you got a concept or scenario to run? If you already have a general idea of the story to explore, great! Think about the points of interest and how those will work in the system you are running. If not, that is okay too! There are plenty of prewritten scenarios that can be found in the local game store or online, just find one you are interested in. Is someone in your group more familiar with the system? If so, then ask them to help out with rules, and guidance when a situation arises that is not explicitly addressed in those rules. It is okay if none of you are familiar with the system though. You’ll all be learning together, so have patience with one another. I find myself in this situation often. Some systems I am quite familiar with, others not so much. I run them anyway because I have a gaming group that likes a lot of different things (and I want to expand my own knowledge and experience). There are a lot of YouTube videos of tutorials and actual play in a lot of different systems. If you still struggle, or don’t like surfing the web, just ask the local game store. There is a lot more going on at that store than just selling gaming merchandise. Bottom line: don’t give up! You do not have to memorize everything or even read it all before starting your first game. Things that come up during the session that you didn’t understand, you can look up and read about before the next game. Go with what you know and have fun! |
AuthorJodie 
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April 2025
Have a question you would like the GM to give her thoughts on?
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