We’re going to cover some of the common roleplaying mistakes that players make. This is not intended to be an all encompassing list. The goal is to make you aware of some of the universal mistakes that we all make when roleplaying. Sometimes just being aware of what mistakes there are too be made can help you avoid them.

The first part is the relationship between the game master and players. Remember that the game master is just another person in your roleplaying game. Although his part in the game is different than everyone else’s, he is there to have fun just like you are. Here is a list of mistakes that can be made between the player and game master.

- Having a game master versus player mentality. Everyone at the table is telling a story together. Try to stay away from the attitude that you, as the player, are trying to defeat the game master. The game master is not your enemy (his little minions are!).

- Not giving the game master the benefit of the doubt. The game master is trying to tell a story. Trust that the game master will not abuse their power and they are trying to make the game good for everyone.

- Not allowing the game master a little leeway. The game master is responsible for every non-player character, their actions and reactions to players, and the overall story line. You are responsible for one character. If the game master makes a mistake, such as forgetting a rule, not remembering one particular detail about the adventure, or any other error in the game, give them a break. They have a lot going on!

The second topic of common mistakes that roleplayers make discusses player versus player issues. Roleplaying games often work best when players are working together to achieve a common goal. When players start playing against each other, this can be counterproductive within the game. Please note, however, there are some roleplaying games that are specifically designed to cause conflict between characters. These roleplaying games may be excluded from some of these next points. Here is a list of mistakes that are sometimes made by one player against other players.

- Stopping the game session from being entertaining for everyone. Don’t let what you want to do kill everyone else’s fun. It’s not all about you… seriously.

- Putting a character quirk over the fun of the group. The phrase, “I am just playing my character,” has often been used to justify actions of a player that just damaged the fun for someone else.

- Not respecting other players’ time and the game master’s time.

- Creating a character this is opposed to a major aspect of another player or the entire group. This in itself is not a bad thing and can become a great source for roleplaying. But absolutely do not be surprised when this causes conflict between you and other players.

In Common Roleplaying Mistakes That Players Make – Part 2 of 2, we’ll talk about metagaming and other mistakes that roleplayers make. Remember to keep an open mind when you game, always try to learn and improve your skills, and most of all have fun!

What other mistakes do you see players make that are player versus player, or player versus game master?

Read Common Mistakes That Players Make - Part 2 of 2.