Cellphones and Dragons

Not like this. 

 “Make a perception check.”

You look at your phone and your referee just sent you this text. 

“Wut”

“Have your man make a perception check.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“We’re headed out to the dungeon and I want to know if you see something.”

“What? Now?”

“Just do it.”

“I thought we weren’t playing until Thursday? We were going to go to the dungeon.”

“Yeah. No. This is better. When we get together on Thursday you will already be at the dungeon. If you live through this.”

“Live through what?”

“Just make a perception check.”

Overland travel might actually be better handled away from the table. Might. Might not. But there are times when you do want to handle yourself away from the table. Downtime and travel are important to the game but tedious time sinks when you’re playing. 

This technique could also inject interest and drama. Why am I rolling perception? Is there a set piece developing? The anticipation is it’s own reward. 

Using the cellphone at the table:

Obviously don’t be doing Draft Kings or Tinder. But use it for game stuff. This is good. This works. 

Maybe you’re speaking in a language only one other PC knows. This happened to me when my son and I happened to be playing dwarfs a few years back. We would tell jokes to each other and laugh and the other players were out of the loop. Granted this can get old if you’re doing it all the time and for no good reason, but a little here and there can add to the experience. 

This can also substitute for the Ref passing you a note for your man or God forbid pulling you away from the table for a minute while the other players sit and make dice towers. 

A third reason to use your phone is to grab hints from online. What’s the terminal speed of a falling elf? What should I name this sword (name generators are a great tool)? 

I’m sure there are other reasons too. But the key is to use the tools you have to advance the game experience.