Khan!!

Yax posted a great article on D&D Nemeses... those things that detract from enjoyment of the game. Included in Yax's list: his roommate, crits, stress and conflicting schedules. I completely agree with (at least the sentiment) these nemeses, though I do have a slightly different take to add to my list.

The Parents

Instead of the roommate factor, I have the parental factor. My family consistently forgets about D&D night, and even if reminded that afternoon, will call and expect to talk. Now, we don't have a no-phones-at-the-table policy, and as much as I like to ignore the phone, I am always concerned it might actually be something important.

The Oops!

I do truly enjoy the critical hits (what player doesn't?!)... it the critical misses that undermine my game enjoyment. There's really nothing more degrading than hitting yourself in the foot during a very crucial moment of battle. And if it happens multiple times, well, just call me cranky for the rest of the night.

The Calendar

Scheduling conflicts are definitely in my top list of nemeses. A long hiatus can ruin the cliff-hanger moment and create a distance from my character that can be difficult to overcome sometimes. Unfortunately, with the holidays, there's not much we can do about the scheduling except to try our best to find a time that works for everyone. The implementation of a Google calendar has facilitated our scheduling, but there's only so much organization can do in the face of family gatherings.

And The Arch-Nemesis is...

In-game stress can very quickly reduce the level of fun. I have had situations where evil characters have attempted (and succeeded) in killing party members (me). Or recently, the strict laws of a matriarchal society created a lot of tension and arguing among the party. The kind of stress that does not lead to good roleplaying but instead leads to anger is my arch-nemesis (also, Taryn, who stabbed me in the back).