Asking the Right Questions

When you are a player at the game table, it is important to engage with your DM. Clear and open communication within a gaming group is one of the best qualities it can have. And there are certain kinds of questions that will serve to enhance your campaign when asked, just as there are certain unproductive questions that might slow things down.

The kind of questions that game master wants to hear are those that engage with the setting and help to define the details of the game. If the player is asking questions to clarify certain aspects of the game, that's great! What does the door in front of us look like? Can you remind me what the squire's name is? Sometimes the DM might even have failed to communicate an important detail, and it might be brought out because the players asked the right question. If there is a give and take between players and the person behind the screen, the game will run much smoother as a result.

At the same time, you will want to avoid questions that the DM is obliged to not answer. The DM's job is not making decisions for you, or providing obvious hints to guide your actions.

The DM is not supposed to answer questions like "Is this a good idea?" or "Can we win this fight?" Instead, ask contextual questions that will give you the means to make the decision yourself. So instead of asking "Can I roll to climb this cliff face?" you want to ask "Are there handholds in the rocks?" Instead of "Can we win?" ask "What are the bad guys armed with?" Try to draw out details about the game world. Make sure you know what the facts are so you can act upon them. Then declare the action once you are prepared to undertake it: "I begin to climb the cliff." If the DM decides you can't do something for some reason, they will let you know. As a game-runner, let me say that I prefer when players proactively attempt something than when they wait and play "Simon says" to get my permission. (If it is a particularly misinformed decision, the DM may provide a brief warning just to be fair.)

You also want to avoid too many tangents and divergences. Your teammates won't be thrilled if you spend a half hour asking about the menu at the local tavern, or gathering details on the whereabouts of your favorite NPC for no reason.

A good game runner will welcome questions that suggest immersion in the game. They will welcome the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with the player and extend their creativity. So remember to ask questions about the game without prying the game master for meta-knowledge or suggestions for what to do next. Turn your game into a creatively fueled conversation and enjoy the benefits of the cooperative environment.

Happy ventures!