Let's talk Meta-Gaming

So, how many people have told you that they don't like "meta-gaming" either, but meta-game anyway? For me, almost everyone I've ever sat across the table from and almost everyone whose joined my RPoL game.

In my current game, the players – all 2^nd level – have come across the image of a Beholder. Some of them "think" it's a Beholder and some of them "think" this eye can do that, while this other eye does this, etc.

None of my players have given a character background that includes formal training; in other words, none of them have graduated from a "University" or an "Academy" of this, that or the other thing.

One player is certain that he would know what it is because he's a dwarf; actually, a dwarven barbarian raised by a clan of human barbarians after he had been orphaned. So, given that he would only have been taken in by this human tribe if he had been very young – since humans regard 30 year olds as adults, regardless of what dwarves think – upon what is he relying? Perhaps some racial memory? Not in my game.

Next thing I know he'll be an "expert" on mining, or engineering . . . because he's a "dwarf." Sorry, being a dwarf is – in his case – nothing more than an "accident of birth." He was raised by human barbarians who are – according to the Rules you all like so much – illiterate. Yep, people who can't even read or write taught him all about mining and engineering. Oh, wait a minute, I'm forgetting the "racial memory" thing.

More to the point, I don't hold with the assumption that dwarves automatically know anything about aberrations. Beholders may be found in the occasional dungeon, but it doesn't mean that they live there, or are a part of the everyday world.

Another character is an Elf Archivist – Heroes of Horror, chapter 5 – except that he wields arcane magic rather than divine. He was trained by a mentor, rather than at a magical school. He knows what Beholders are because his mentor taught him everything and his mentor knew everything. Obviously his mentor is far greater than Mordenkanien or Rary.

Incidentally, all of this knowledge flowing from my players comes without any Knowledge check rolls. Nope, no succeeding or failing rolls, they just know these things. Apparently Skill Points are absolutely unnecessary for RPoL games, even if you do need these "things" in an actual table top game.

I have come to the realization that having experienced Gamers play "new" characters is a complete and utter waste of time. They just can't do it. They simply cannot leave their "real world" knowledge of the game out of their game play. I shudder to think what kind of game I would have if I were using a module that they had already played before. As it is, a couple of them have confessed to me that they took the time to go over the module in order to "prepare" themselves for it.

No, playing in a game without meta-gaming is completely beyond their abilities. They just can't do it. It's causing me to rapidly lose interest in my own game. Like many, they pay "lip service" to the "rule" that its' the DM's game, but that's it, just lip service. They will debate every point.

I had advertised the game stating: "No meta-gamers need apply." I even explained what meta-gaming is. Yet, here they are. I said: "The DM is always right." Yet, here we are. Perhaps I should have written all of that in . . . Arabic?

It would be nice to find a group – somewhere – that could separate themselves from their real world knowledge of the game and begin fresh. But, I suppose that's just a dream. The thing that really gets me is that the guys and gals in Hollywood do it all the time, in every movie they make. This gets me because I've met a great many Gamers that say they could be actors, if given the chance.

No they can't. They can't even "act" in a table top game, why are they so foolish as to think they can do it in Hollywood? Do they really think they're going to be able to argue any point with the Hollywood DM, err, I mean the Director? Oh, wait a minute, a Hollywood Director and a DM are one and the same things, aren't they? Yes . . . they are.

No dear Gamers, I am afraid that you are delusional . . . you could never be a Hollywood actor or actress. You can't even do it at the Gaming Table, even if that "table" is on RPoL.