Everyone wants to have fun at the table! As players, our actions have as much of an effect on the game as the Dungeon Master’s. A little goes a long way, so I’ve put together a few things I try to keep in mind during the game.

Avoid the “helpful” dogpile

The scenario: a player has a question about one of their character’s abilities. As soon as they ask their question, everyone else pitches in with their own answer to that question. Everyone’s talking at the same time, and the game is derailed for a while before the chaos settles back down. People might have different opinions on the correct answer for the situation, so the DM has to address each one with their ruling.

Answering player questions is the domain of the Dungeon Master. So, it’s best to let the DM handle that on their own. I tend to want to help out as a player, especially if I’ve used that spell or played that class before, but it’s easier to hear one answer than two answers given at the same time (even if the answer is the same).

There are two exceptions to this. One exception is if the DM has asked you to look up the answer in their stead. The other exception is if the DM or player is trying to find the relevant section in, for example, the Player’s Handbook, and you have the right information in your hands. If you are literally holding the PHB open to the correct section, then you can help by giving the page reference or reading the section aloud. Otherwise, you can keep things simple by letting the DM handle the question!

Be ready on your turn

Combat gets complicated, especially as your character gets more and more powerful. You can keep the momentum going by having the abilities you want to use at the ready.

Ideally, you know exactly what you want to do by the time your turn rolls around. If not, you can get a few ideas ready, and be prepared to ask the DM for what you need to know to decide. Sometimes those questions get answered along the way—someone else might ask “so how far is the monster from us?” or “how injured does the monster look?” before it’s your turn.

Active listening is your friend here, especially if you’re not looking at miniatures on a grid. Do your best to stay attentive! Ultimately, the better you know your abilities and the situation, the more easily you can take your turn in combat, and thus keep the game moving smoothly!

Share the spotlight and avoid talking over others

Technically two in one here, but the idea is the same. I’m particularly guilty of getting excited about something and interrupting someone mid-sentence. To avoid that, I’m working on listening more than speaking. If everyone has their turn to talk, events can proceed without risk of missing what someone else (especially the DM) has said.

When a challenge is totally in your wheelhouse, don’t be afraid to step forward and shine! And when it’s something more suited to your other party members, share the spotlight!

Everyone in the party has different abilities. The group is stronger together because you have, for example, a character who can heal and turn undead, a character who can track and navigate the wilderness, and a character who can make several attacks in one round of combat.

It feels nice to be recognized, especially for something you put time and effort into—like making your D&D character. Once you’ve been playing with a group for some time, you can probably start to recognize when it’s your fellow player’s time to shine. A word of encouragement or even the Help action (if applicable) can make those moments super effective!

Help out the DM

It’s the little things—being on time to the sessions, volunteering to bring snacks for everyone (if you meet in person), recapping what happened last session, stuff like that. Those things can help make the DM’s life easier.

If you’re able, you could also ask the DM if there’s anything else you can do to help them out. Maybe you have a meticulously tabbed and organized Player’s Handbook, so you volunteer to find the right page reference for rules questions at the table. Or maybe the DM notices you taking notes and asks if they can see them. Even if they can’t think of anything at the moment, they’ll appreciate you asking!

These tips have helped me, so I hope they’re helpful to you! Thanks for reading, everyone.