Feedback in TTRPGs: How to Give (and Take) Notes

Giving and receiving feedback in tabletop RPGs doesn’t have to feel like a battlefield. With the right timing, mindset, and tools, it can improve your game, strengthen your group, and make everyone more excited to show up next week.

When I first joined the role-playing world, I assumed my biggest challenge would be mastering the rules. (This is still a work in progress.) But what I didn’t expect was how often feedback, both giving and getting it, would shape the entire game experience.

I’m relatively new to TTRPGs, really only starting during COVID, but I have two master's degrees in Communication. And something became clear pretty quickly: the same principles I recommend in professional settings, timing, tone, specificity, and empathy, are just as important when you’re sitting at a gaming table.

Because in TTRPGs, we’re co-creating a story in real time. And like any collaborative project, misaligned expectations or unspoken frustrations can derail things faster than a natural 1 on a crucial skill check.

Feedback in most workplaces is already an emotional tightrope. But TTRPGs are an even more personal space. Why? Because:

• We’re personally invested. We often pour parts of ourselves into our characters, so criticism of how we play can feel like criticism of us.
• It’s a social contract. Unlike a workplace, no paycheck keeps us at the table. If the atmosphere turns sour, people just stop showing up.
• The stakes are emotional, not transactional. A disappointing combat or a railroaded plot might seem trivial. Still, if it breaks immersion or trust, it can hurt far more than a missed project deadline.

When feedback in tabletop RPGs goes wrong, it can damage the group dynamic that makes the game possible.

And be clear about language, especially when things get dramatic. Early in my role-playing life, my Game Master (who was also, coincidentally, my husband) rolled spectacularly to kill my character. Wide-eyed, I blurted, completely sincerely, “We need to talk about this later,” because I had a ton of questions about making a new character and fitting them into the campaign. The rest of the table immediately stopped breathing, thinking I was threatening to make him sleep on the couch. This was an embarrassing moment for me as a professional communicator. And no one slept on the couch, I promise.

I originally wrote this up for LinkedIn, but the content is as vital at the gaming table as in the office.

Timing is everything: Even if you’ve agreed to a “feedback moment” after each session, check in: “Is now a good time?” Players who just lost a beloved character or had a rough day outside the game might not be in the right headspace to hear constructive criticism.

Assume the best: It’s easy to jump to conclusions: “The Game Master’s ignoring my backstory!” or “That player’s hogging the spotlight on purpose!” But life happens. People miss details, forget rules, or interpret cues differently. Nine times out of ten, it’s not malice, it’s misalignment.

Be specific: Replace “This doesn’t work” with “The pacing dragged during Act 2; maybe we could trim the travel scenes?” Specificity turns frustration into actionable ideas.

Listen with empathy: It’s (probably) not an attack. Most people don’t enjoy delivering criticism (not even us professional editors)! They’re doing it because they want the game to improve.

Take your time: You don’t have to promise changes on the spot. Delayed responses often lead to better outcomes because you’ve had time to remove the emotional charge.

Be honest, not defensive: If context matters, maybe you had a reason for that scene pacing or encounter choice, so share it calmly. And if you’re unsure what the other person means, ask for examples.

Here’s how I’ve seen these rules work at the table:

• GM-to-Player Feedback: A Game Master might feel one player is dominating roleplay scenes. Instead of saying, “Stop talking so much,” they might say, “I’ve noticed some players haven’t had as much time to speak. How can we balance the spotlight?” This shifts the conversation from accusation to collaboration.
• Player-to-GM Feedback: A player frustrated by constant combat could say, “I love the action scenes, but I’d enjoy more chances to interact with NPCs. Could we add more social encounters?” This is far more productive than “It’s just endless fighting.”
• Player-to-Player Feedback: One player might feel uncomfortable with another’s in-character choices. Instead of confronting them mid-session, they could use Quest Portal chat afterward: “Hey, your rogue’s betrayal was dramatic, but I felt blindsided. Next time could you hint at it in character so we can build toward it?”

My academic training taught me that effective feedback requires three things:

1. Clarity of Intent: Know why you’re giving feedback. Are you trying to solve a problem, prevent a misunderstanding, or encourage a behavior?
2. Shared Understanding: Frame feedback in a way that connects to shared goals. In TTRPGs, that’s usually “We want this game to be fun and engaging for everyone.”
3. Emotional Intelligence: Recognize when someone isn’t ready to receive feedback. Timing can be the difference between resolution and resentment.

Applied to TTRPGs, every note should connect back to the game’s core purpose: telling a great story together.

One of the biggest challenges in giving feedback in tabletop RPGs is finding the right space to do it. In-person tables can hash things out over pizza after the session. Online campaigns? Not so much. That’s where Quest Portal’s in-app campaign chat becomes a quiet game-changer.

Here’s how I use it to make feedback smoother:

• Post-Session Notes: Capture thoughts while they’re fresh, but without interrupting live play.
• Threaded Conversations: Keep each feedback topic in its own thread so nothing gets lost in a scrolling chat wall.
• Private Messages: For sensitive topics, message the person directly instead of putting them on the spot in group chat.
• Link to Session Logs: When referencing a moment in play, link to the exact log entry so everyone knows the context.

This creates what I think of as an asynchronous feedback loop. No one has to respond in the heat of the moment, and everyone has the chance to read, reflect, and reply thoughtfully.

The longer I play TTRPGs, the more convinced I am that feedback is the skill that separates long-running, joy-filled campaigns from the ones that quietly fizzle after three months. Groups that can talk openly about what’s working (and what’s not) really thrive. Players feel heard, Game Masters feel supported, and the story becomes something everyone is proud to have helped shape.

And when you get it wrong? You can end up with tension, disengagement, and “scheduling conflicts” that mysteriously make the game impossible to continue.

• Feedback in TTRPGs works best when you time it well, assume good intentions, and stay specific.
• When receiving feedback, listen fully, process before reacting, and be honest without being defensive.
• Quest Portal’s campaign chat gives you a safe, organized, and low-pressure space to have these conversations.

• Sigjn up for a free account and try your next feedback exchange in Quest Portal’s campaign chat to keep it constructive.
• Read our guide on How to Avoid Game Master Burnout for more ways to maintain a healthy table.
• Join our Discord and share your best (or worst) feedback moments