Café de Nuit

Since I started running my campaign, I have had a "no cell phones" rule. If you have them along, turn them off. I put this rule into effect because in my last campaign, I had problems with people messing with their phones during downtime, while their character was offscreen, so to speak. Certain people would goof around with their ringtones, or whatever new options they had in their phone at the time.

However, over time I relaxed the rule a bit. One of my players asked if he could keep his phone on vibrate because his mom likes to call him all the time and apparently worries if he doesn't pick up. So I relented and let him do it. But now it's becoming a problem, thanks to text messaging, calls not just from his mother but other people, and most of all, the fact that he can now put mp3's on his phone. So I told him I was going to have to enforce the rule, the one to which I had all my players agree before the campaign started. He refused, and so I told him if he wouldn't turn his phone off he'd have to leave the game. He chose to leave.

Now, am I being unreasonable in asking that my players stop fiddling with their phones and turn them off during the game? Am I the only one that feels something is wrong when a cell phone takes precedence over the campaign?

JinnTolser wrote:Am I the only one that feels something is wrong when a cell phone takes precedence over the campaign?

Sheeez, your players must be crazy when they enter Sharper Image

If it disturbes the game, then I would do the sams thing. If a player is in love with his cell phone, to heck with him. Why not propose a 10 minutes break every two hours, so they can call whoever called them?

Joël

If the cell phone is disruptive then let the player go. The other players may even be happy to have the distraction gone.

I was in a campaign once where one of the players would take calls from his girlfriend. He was once out of the room for three hours. After a half an hour we started running a side quest because none of the other characters knew what was going on. We all died because he was also the healer of the party. That was irritating!

Guys... I respectfully disagree. People play to relax. Yes, mp3 or ringtones should be out of the question, but picking up the phone should not. For years we pick up phones when they ring and never I have thought to prohibit someone from answering, let alone show him the door for it.

And to reverse your question Jinn:

Am I the only one that feels that something is wrong when a campaign takes precendence over a friend?

The campaign doesn't take precedence over the friend. The friend however should be respectful of the others. When the group can only manage to get together once a week, or once every other week, and then only for a few hours, then taking excessive amounts of time away from them is rude. Everyone takes time from their busy lives to show up and a DM puts a lot of time and effort into planning. Someone wasting that much time shows a lack of appreciation.

The game is for enjoyment, but if this became enough of a problem that Jinn felt the need to address it, then imagine how it was effecting his enjoyment. At least he talked with the person before just decapitating his character.

You did the right thing, Jinn. You'd given this player some leeway, and relaxed the rule for the sake of his mother. He abused your generousity. It's rude not only as a player, but as a guest to your home.

Well... not my home. My home's not spacious enough to sit a full group around a table, so we use one of my other friends' house. But your point is well taken.

And to answer alhoon's point: if it was just a call once in awhile that came through, and the players all said "Hey I'm busy right now, could I call you back later?" unless it was something important, then I never would have felt the need to implement such a rule. It's precisely because I couldn't rely on them to do this that I felt it necessary. He was playing songs with his phone, and when I'd ask him to stop he usually would (though not always). But then he would do it again next time. What it came down to was this: as long as his phone was on, this player could not be trusted to leave it alone. And that's why I had to force the ultimatum.

alhoon wrote:Am I the only one that feels that something is wrong when a campaign takes precendence over a friend?

Sorry alhoon, but they can still be friends out of game time, unless the guy is an idiot (which I suspect from his rude behavior).

As a DM, putting hours of prep in a game, I'd like my efforts to make a good game. As Jinn and others responded, this player is there only to cause trouble and doesn't appreciate the game.

But forget what the DM is feeling: Much worse, his rude attitude ruins it for the other players too.

As I said, to heck with this guy at the gaming table. If I had a player doing this, I'd do the same. And if this friend can't understand it, it's his problem.

Joël

We play in my basement. It is real nice because there is poor cell service down there. No incoming phone calls or text messages.

I do notice one of my players starting to play with his phone a bit during down time too. He did make me laugh though because he played the mortal combat theme when we went into a battle once.

But I guess if it became a distraction I'd put an end to it and probably not invite that player again.

I’d put it in the same category as turning off your phone when you go to the cinema to watch a film. It’s not really fair for people to disturb the mood and flow of the game for everyone, just because they can’t be parted from their phone for a few hours.

Fine if they are going to keep the phone on vibrate and make calls during break periods, but not when a game is in full flow.

There have only been a few times I've picked up my cell phone during a game:
- Waiting for an offer while selling my house
- Girlfriend was pregnant

So, Jinn, my opinion is ''unless you're waiting for a heart transplant'' I really don't want to hear cell phones ringing...

And IF you really need to pick up every five minutes because ''this can't wait, sorry guys'', then you shouldn't have come to the game that day, you had more important things to do.

Patrick

Fortunately I've been able to come to a tentative compromise with my player. He says he'll keep the phone on vibrate and leave it on the other side of the room so he's not tempted to fiddle with it. Also he's supposed to be spreading the word to people not to call him during that period unless it's very important.

Unfortunately we've not gamed yet since then, because one thing after another has come up, so I don't know how well this is going to work yet.