5 Unique Tips for Getting and Keeping Your Players' Attention

[@tassaron]

I love the idea to start sessions by asking their characters a question from a table... definitely going to use that technique when I'm back in the GM seat 😁

[@AstralMarmot]

I added a link to the description with the list that I use if you'd like to steal it!

[@altromonte15]

Just thought about it, one way to engage players could be using class-specific senses: a druid enters the villain lair and feels that even molds and fungi are afraid of growing there. A wizards sees the flow of mana stagnate and rot, a paladin hears a faint, dissonant choir echoing across the halls It makes the world feels more magical and engages players on a personal level, only their character is able to feel it

[@danrlady]

love this idea! definitely will be using when i'm in the gm seat

[@AstralMarmot]

This idea kicks serious butt. Love the bit about fungi fearing to grow in the lair - that's incredible detail work. I'm going to adopt this - thank you so much!

[@tonyt-21]

This is a great idea. Thank you

[@ZeKiwiOfTheNorth]

Super helpful and succinct video. I especially appreciated the idea to break up descriptions, directing them at multiple individuals instead of the collective.

[@tonyt-21]

Yea, that stood out to me as well.

[@bsparky01]

Recently found your channel and have been loving it! I just want to thank you for pointing out things I hadn't even thought about as a neurodivergent GM with neurodivergent players. It's making me stop and actually reflect on past sessions and plan better for future ones! So keep up the great work! And I had to laugh, watched your video right after a long stressful day at work and was clenching my jaw until your end bit! 🤣

[@Micsma]

Short, sweet, to the point! Astral Marmot is giving Matt Colville vibes tbh

[@oldgrognardsays]

Yay new Astral Marmot video. I like the thing about ritual to let folks know that they have entered the game space, and when they have left. Glad to see you are getting a lot more subscribers.

[@JustinPEstrada]

Super practical! I love the idea of splitting senses! Now I wanna make a roll table of all the unique senses that get engaged.

[@azuthyra5590]

Great video and excellent points. I really enjoy your delivery and look forward to every new video you release!

[@joyless9559]

I felt like I was hitting a wall on how to improve the game experience for my group until I stumbled onto the channel. I'm definitely excited to start implementing your advice for rituals and props. Thank you for all the work you do. Keep up the great content. - a fellow ADHD GM

[@13Kira13]

I know I'm going to come back to this video a ton. I'm gonna incorporate this in my next games.

[@danrlady]

Great video and great advices as well. Definitely will be using some of them in the near future.

[@DeviousHearts-nn3jd]

Another awesome video! Thank you! :)

[@lollypopunk95]

Incredible video as always, love your pacing and style!

[@AstralMarmot]

Thanks a ton! I'm so glad it speaks to you.

[@JUIIICED.]

Splitting senses is a wonderfully simple tip!

[@caseyhoulihan4564]

Great work! Keep it up!

[@jr3887]

Regarding the final point, I've found (as a player) that having something to nibble on actually focuses my attention a lot better than a fidget toy or trying to dedicate specific attention. A bowl of lightly seasoned popcorn that I can eat a kernel at a time turns out to be just the perfect amount of sensory info to draw otherwise disruptive processing power to something that isn't nearly as disruptive to my attention. I bet many people have that "one thing" that redirects attention that would otherwise be directed away from the game into something much less interruptive to both the player and to the game.

[@AstralMarmot]

Honestly, this helps me as a GM too. Kettle corn is my favorite snack during games. My campaign is very roleplay heavy and there are long stretches where it's just the PCs talking to each other. Popcorn helps me keep my attention on what they're talking about while I'm otherwise doing nothing - which is a problem for GMs too!

[@rossgearllach2909]

As someone who engages with the world mostly through smell and touch, I love the tip about using all the senses. Just telling me what I see doesn't grab me.

[@Pyrobug0]

I've been really enjoying these videos. They're very thoughtful, but also very succinct.

[@AstralMarmot]

Thank you! I'm glad you find them helpful.

[@CaseyWilkesmusic]

“Last time, with the Executors…” is how I start this campaign’s sessions. It gets a recap going and is a clear delineation.

[@cjweigel2096]

Stellar tips, thank you! My tip, especially for ADHD heavy tables: provide fidget toys! Prioritize toys that don't make a lot of noise or have distracting visual effects. If you know your player's cues, this may help you pick out non -verbal signs of engagement, or lack thereof. Just remember that some people fidget more when they're excited, some when they're bored, and some (like myself) are fairly unpredictable 😅

[@sballbrau]

Another spectacular video!

[@AstralMarmot]

Thank you so much for watching it!

[@tonyt-21]

Another awesome video. Thank you

[@AstralMarmot]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@totallynotsmokeythebear7017]

"and unclench your jaw" lol I feel targeted. Great video. It's very easy to follow. There are a lot of advice videos out there but my mind normally slides off of them like water off a ducks back. I don't really know why but this one wasn't slippery at all .

[@aubreygustafson6048]

Damn you really got me there at the end! hahaha

[@Tr1g73ch]

So happy to have found your channel. I'm going to try out some of your advice in my main game. And that "and unclench your jaw" always catches me right when I'm grinding my teeth. 😂

[@SheppyHand]

I'm stealing your closing ritual.

[@Turglayfopa]

That with google forms looks like something I could use. It's hard for me to gather people because I'm aware of my limitations so I become so careful that I don't even reach out. But if I write out questions where people can click answers then I can get information without getting too drained before the actual session.

[@vaspeter2600]

Of course you don't need to drink mead from a goat's skull. You'll be drinking fermented mare's milk mixed with your blood and you'll vow to conquer Europe together. These are all great tips, mind you, but I feel that assigning sensations to different players is especially brilliant because it helps with your narration as well as their engagement. Just one sentence each for three senses, and you'll have a description that is evocative without being too flowery. It should (will) really help me, too, I think. 😅

[@joeg451]

I would love it if you could share that d100 table of questions you ask at the start of the session

[@AstralMarmot]

I just added it to the description! I found the table online ages ago and I wish I remembered who I got it from. But hopefully it'll serve you well in your game!

[@kadmii]

do you make a custom d100 table for asking characters questions or did you source one from somewhere to start yours?

[@AstralMarmot]

I sourced it from somewhere online years ago and I wish I could tell you where. I added a link in the description to a spreadsheet with all the questions in it. I hope it serves your game!

[@vincentmiller9555]

I love the idea of d100 character questions, did you make it yourself or find a pre-made resource?

[@AstralMarmot]

Crap, I meant to include a link to my table in the description! But honestly I just found it by googling and then went through it to make sure the questions were A: good and B: directed at the character rather than the player. I track their answers in a spreadsheet so I can remember who's answered what. I've been doing this for years and it's such an effective tool. I hope you give it a try!

[@altejoh]

So, what if my players won't even engage enough to open the survey? X'D I love these suggestions, hope to try implementing them for myself as a player if nothing else ^.^

[@smokeybracelet462]

could you recommend videos about divvying up time between your players?

[@AstralMarmot]

Not off the top of my head I'm afraid. But I'll definitely keep an eye out and report back!

[@ElektronikArzt]

I like forms too. Too bad my player won't fill them.