That's quite true. I don't have a lot of experience with the sort of games that would invite a more liberal, party like atmosphere but it makes for a different environment certainly.

My most regular current group is an 8.

I would prefer a 3-6 range.

I have played games that were 0-1, absolute immersion, no OOC conversation, full theatrical lights and sounds. Call of Cthulhu absolutely amazing.

I don't even know how to assess this. Occasionally my players get distracted or sleeping. That annoys me a little. On the other hand, occasionally I get distracted or overly focused on finding the setting detail I invented a year ago, but kind of forgot now. So I try to keep things in perspective. I like people to focus on the game 90% of the time. I'd like my players to be more assertive. Sometimes they are all so busy trying not to step on someone else's potential idea that nobody suggests anything for what seems to me (but probably isn't really) a long time.

I've been thinking today of trying to incentivize faster decision making mechanically. Since Honor+Intrigue has a Fortune Point (benny) currency I've been considering switching the villains from fixed Fortune Points to a Fortune Point pool that gets generated by the clock. So every 30 minutes the villain Fortune Point pool gets another Fortune Point. The longer the players spend waiting for someone else to suggest a course of action, the more FPs the baddies have to oppose them. Totally unsimulationist. Totally gamist. But I'm still thinking of doing it.

But whatever a 0-2 rating is, that is probably too quiet and serious for me to maintain for 4 hours straight.

An 8, though it's not really juvenile. We don't take things too seriously, is all.

Anywhere from 1 to 10, depending on what's going on in the "real" world at the time. Seeing as how we play only monthly the potential for distraction can be quite high, although I think we typically tend to sit at a 5-6.

Shemek

Quote from: Shemek hiTankolel;913888Anywhere from 1 to 10, depending on what's going on in the "real" world at the time. Seeing as how we play only monthly the potential for distraction can be quite high, although I think we typically tend to sit at a 5-6.

Shemek

This reminds me of another factor, at least in my experience. It seems the more often our group games, the less distracted we are during a given session. I believe it's a direct result of the need to socialize and catch up being reduced when you see one another weekly vs. say, monthly.

Quote from: Harlock;913898This reminds me of another factor, at least in my experience. It seems the more often our group games, the less distracted we are during a given session. I believe it's a direct result of the need to socialize and catch up being reduced when you see one another weekly vs. say, monthly.

I've found the same thing in my experience, but unfortunately monthly is the best we can do for now. I'm thinking of bringing in two more players which will bring the group up to five players. Hopefully, this will allow for an increased frequency in play...

Shemek

Depends entirely on which group I am with and which game is being played. I have a one-on-one "group" that rarely goes above a 3, it is more like an extended chess match using a tabletop RPG. My Traveller or Star Wars group averages about 6-8, we don't mind being boisterous because we are having fun and drinking in a nerd bar. I've been at convention games that went right off the top of the scale, but were fun for all involved.

It's usually about a 9 and I wish it were 2 or 3.

7-9 depending on the session.  My players are not as bad as actual 13 year olds... mostly.

I'd probably say it varies from one campaign to another.  Most are a 6 or so, with occasional bursts of 8.  My DCC campaign is a steady 8.

The values given in this thread tend to affirm my points in the other thread "Grim Dark Hilarity". Most groups prefer a lighter more comedic experience - dark and brooding games are a rare fit.

Our group recently switched from Pathfinder to Traveller (2e Mongoose) and I've noticed a big change in the how we are playing. On the OP's scale it has gone from a 7 or 8 down to a 3 or 4. That might change but for the moment everyone is being much more 'serious' and there's less chatter and joking around.

8

Funny how being rowdy is associated in this thread with being juvenile. Middle-aged adults like to cut loose now and then. At the least the ones I hang out with do.

Quote from: Haffrung;9155308

Funny how being rowdy is associated in this thread with being juvenile. Middle-aged adults like to cut loose now and then. At the least the ones I hang out with do.

There's nothing wrong with that in my eyes. Nor is it juvenile or looked down upon by me.