Spectators in your game

So out of curiosity how do people feel about letting people in a game who aren't actually going to be players, for the purpose of being spectators?  I kind of like the idea, especially if it's someone who is new to something in the game - either roll20 itself, so they can see what the awesome is all about, or the system, or just new to rpg's in general.  Having done most of my DMing in game stores, I'm used to being on public display, but I was curious to hear what others thought about it.

Sure! We very commonly have a few spectators observing our games. I'm sure to ask for feedback about what they saw. It's valuable input.

I'm okay with it. I personally learn better by watching, and can't fault someone for wanting to learn how to play a game instead of combing through hundreds of pages of rulebooks that don't make sense if you don't understand the context.

I would rather they just make a character and jump in rather than sit awkwardly in the corner.  As long as they have put in at least some effort to learn what role-play is (not a hard concept) and flipped through the rulebook to learn the basics. 

I sometimes find it useful to purely spectate when you're *not* trying to learn the game but just curious about how another group does it. Putting yourself in the group and interacting with them is going to change how they act. Even if people *know* they're being watched, they'll change their behavior. I actually kind of wish there was a "hidden spectator" option or a binary tag for the game itself (set by the GM) that to allowed anyone that felt like it to watch the game without having to be invited. If you want to get more than 1-2 people spectating, it just becomes a hassle. If someone were trying to learn how to play rather than trying to learn *how my group plays*, I would rather they joined in rather than sitting out and watching. You can learn by watching *and* by doing when you're actually in the game, especially since the other players are there to provide you with direct interaction and answering questions rather than having you relegated to the audience.

Kitru said: I actually kind of wish there was a "hidden spectator" option or a binary tag for the game itself (set by the GM) that to allowed anyone that felt like it to watch the game without having to be invited. If you want to get more than 1-2 people spectating, it just becomes a hassle. I was thinking about this the other day, it would be kind of neat if you could set an option for your game that lists it as a game anyone could just log in and view.  The GM could have a counter "X" number of people are watching your game.

That would be a nice option, Bart.  I know I would love to be able to just shadow a couple of different games for relatively short amounts of time just to get to know roll20 (have not been in or run a campaign yet) and see how different groups use it. 

My schedule doesn't allow me to commit to games on weekdays (because I work alternatively days and nights), but if I could slip in and spectate when I have a chance, that would be nice.

I don't have a problem with spectators. Take notes and hold questions until there's a break in the action or after the game. There's no better way to learn the game than playing. Create a character and jump in.

You can be a hidden spectator. You would have to get permission from the DM to join the game in the first place so he would know, but you just tell him not to say anything and the other players will have no idea if you get there early enough. But you just click the back button then the forward button and people wont see your icon there. 

Eric R. said: But you just click the back button then the forward button and people wont see your icon there.  If it is repeatable then that explains why some of my players disappear at times and have to leave the game board and return by clicking on the enter/join button. Have you reported it as a bug?

Terratani said: My schedule doesn't allow me to commit to games on weekdays (because I work alternatively days and nights), but if I could slip in and spectate when I have a chance, that would be nice. That is one of the reasons that I started a play by post game here. My schedule and my player's schedule is so conflicting and busy that this is the only way we can game. I got spectator in my pbp game also because he is a gm and wanted to see how pbp games were played.

I dont mind spectators if the are there to learn and are not a distraction