[RPG] How to make the extroverted brother understand that we want to roleplay in private

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I have had a few occasions in my life where particular people (who have no RPG experience nor intention to play) were offended at the fact that several people in our roleplaying group would be uncomfortable with an audience during their games.

In particular the one that I worry about the most is a brother, who, after me asking if he had any problems with my group playing in the livingroom a saturday night (walking through and all would be fine, just not taking a seat there, or starting to play the guitar, etc.), he got quite upset because we were "grown up" and we shouldn't really feel self-conscious, to which I answered that we have several introverts who just couldn't help it and have their immersion ruined. I have also tried telling him that it's a very private hobby where you act out a character and it tends to get very personal (we do like our roleplaying), where people tend to prefer to stay with people they trust.

For information, I am 26 years old and my brother is 29. He's an extremely extroverted person.

So, having the context laid out, how do I convince my brother that we're not just being jerks, that roleplaying isn't like any other hobby and that there's a reason we try to avoid an audience?

Best Answer

I don't believe this is an introvert/extrovert thing. You are not all alone, you are in fact a group, he's the one that's solo. Just because you're an extrovert doesn't mean you don't get that sometimes groups need to focus on something and not have distractions. Does he show up to all your dates too? Not unless he has personality disorders and not just simple extroversion.

I would come at it more from that perspective. "Hey, when we are gaming we really have to focus to both beat our opponents and concentrate on staying in character. So we prefer not to have an audience, TV or music going, or other distractions when we're doing it. Thanks." You can use whatever analogy might be effective for him - sports practice, a band practicing, etc. might be fine with hangers-on if it's "casual" but not if it's "serious." If he persists, say "Well, I guess we'll have to find somewhere else to game then if that's not OK."

I've had times where someone wanted a GF or whatnot to come "watch the game". At best it is a mild distraction, depending on how much they feel the need to interject themselves, verbally or not, into the situation. People certainly feel more restrained about acting in character, out of concern their horrible monstrous in-character plan may be misunderstood by passersby, for example. Your group prefers to have a serious game and has to focus on it, and if he can't respect that then he's not respecting you, you tell him you're disappointed and will have to find another solution. Further discussion/arguing about it will serve no good purpose.