[Mortanius]

So here's my problem...I'm DMing a rather large group right now, which is fine in and of itself...but no matter how hard I try, I can't get my players to break out of metagame thinking. I've tried gamespeak, I've tried to create vivid and realistic characters and settings, I've tried mood music, even illustrations, but all to no avail. My players look at their chars as little more than stat blocks. It's not that they're unimaginitive. I think it's that they're nervous about letting that imagination show. Has anyone got a solution for me, here?

Oh, as a sidenote...if anyone knows where I can get a hold of a sewer dungeon map, drop me a line. It's for the City of Greyhawk.

[Overlord]

Could you tell us roughly the age group of the players, and how long they have known each other (roughly) It may help.

[Mortanius]

Well, I'm running a fairly large party. 8 players, all around ages 19-20. We've all known each other for a very long time. Since elementary school. We spend more time on each other's couches than we do with our own families.

[Rintaran]

Do the PCs have a character history of their own? Sometimes this can make the difference in how someone attempts to role (or roll) play their character. One thing that I tried once, which it worked out well, was take the character sheets away from the players and have them play a session without them. Coincidentally it was all role-play and no fighting... atleast not with weapons.

Another thing which you might want to do is split your gaming buds into two smaller groups. I've found that with smaller groups they get into character much faster, and are easier to manage.

I hope that helps. Now, how about clicking here and helping me win a game. http://www.outwar.co...ge.php?x=861707

[Overlord]

Quote

One thing that I tried once, which it worked out well, was take the character sheets away from the players and have them play a session without them.

Rintaran, I wish I could do that! My players get into meta game thinking far too frequently (in fact, after 2 years of trying to get the group out of hacking and slashing their way through things, no matter how good the story is or what I give them to interact with, they just seem to ht it - I have given up) However, they have all practically memorised their stats.

I agree with Rintaran. Two small groups are far easier to manage than one big one, and as they are less likely to easilly overcome an opponant in small groups, it is less likely to degenerate into hack and slash.

However, if you are a very tight-knit bunch, which you seem to be, then I would say that perhaps new beginnings are in order? Perhaps a good solution would be for the players to choose their basic details (name, race, class, build and appearance) and then make their character histories BEFORE they do their stats. This might make their characters a little more real to them.

Anyway, thats what I came up with.

Good luck.

[zero]

Overlord has somthing there alright....
I have had a group going for about the same amount of time and when they are not quoting Monty Python or having one guy verbaly abuse the NPC's and then toataly getting mad at the DM for there hostile reactions towards him "What did I do wrong?" they are meta thinkers.

Having the Idea of comming up with a back story befor rolling the numbers is a great Idea but you have to look at this though.... Who starts it first and then who keeps it going and ask foor there help on getting things going... also maybe even trying this: When they start going away from the session, pause it and when he or she goes for "air" ie shuts up long enough for a breath.. ask them if they are done or shall the game be paused untill the "player" decides... it is tuff to get things rolling sometimes but if they are trully friends worth having they would understand what you are trying to do.

Zero-