Bring it
This advice is more specific to Machinations of the Space Princess than some games but, you need to ‘bring it’ when you come to the table. Try things, do things, forget your character sheet until it comes to the moment to make a dice roll. Put yourself in the position of your character and try to do big, bold, outrageous things. The worst that can happen is that your character dies and then everyone gets a cool story and you get to create a new character benefiting from what you’ve learned.
Be Mindful of the Group
A game is a group enterprise. Even if you’re the only player you still need a Games Master to accommodate your desire to take to adventure in the stars. This means you need to compromise on things for the better entertainment and enjoyment of everyone. The game is not all about YOU and bogarting the spotlight and riding roughshod over all the other players (and the Games Master) is a dick move. Don’t do it.
Make a character that fits the group. If the game is aiming for a type of mood (or the other players are) don’t rock up with something that goes against that.
Hand off to the other players. Bow to the expertise of the other characters and prompt the quiet player to offer their two cents. If you’re not feeling it or your mood doesn’t match the game let other people take the lead. You can always pick up next session. Respect my Authority
A successful game needs the Games Master to retain some authority. They have to be the one making the rulings and telling the players what happens and what is or isn’t so. Don’t argue the toss every time they tell you something or make a ruling, even if you don’t agree with it; reserve speaking up for when the Games Master might - genuinely - overlook something. If you have problems bring them up after the game when they’re not going to disrupt things or cause a problem. Also, give the Games Master the latitude that they need to ignore rules for the sake of the story and don’t ruin it.
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Give the Games Master Feedback & Hooks
If there’s cool stuff that happens in the games that you want to see more of it’s much better to let the Games Master know that it was cool and you want more stuff like that than it is to whinge and moan about the bits you hate. Getting a game ready takes a lot of time and effort and negative words and observations have a lot more impact than positive ones. In short, it’s a lot easier to put someone off and steal their thunder than it is to encourage them. Do the latter and its better for everyone.
When you come up with your character - and as you go along - throw ideas and bits of your character background and ideas at the Games Master. Give them ways to fuck with you or hook you and your background into the setting and the adventures. If you’re a criminal maybe you’ve run into this cartel in the past? If you fought in the wars maybe you have some war stories or are more likely to give money to a homeless veteran. Phrase it as a question and it seems less like you’re trying to get free stuff. EG:
“My character used to run security for a slaver outfit. Have I heard of these guys before?”
“My race has a reputation for being good mercenaries. Are there any of my people amongst this mob?”
“In my background I wrote that my parents were asteroid miners if you want to use that, ever.”
It’s ‘Just’ a Game
Its good to care about the game and to get involved but you do need to remember that it is ‘just’ a game. I hate that phrase myself, which is why I used the scare quotes. Games can be very important to people, especially once you’ve sunk hours and hours into them and a lot of creative energy. Games can be art, the stories can be meaningful and you can grow as attached to your characters as any author may grow attached to their creations. Still, it’s a game, not just a story and without risk - and failure - there’s no reward and no meaning to success. Concentrate on having fun, remember that you’re playing to have fun - even if you lose - and the game will be better for everyone.
Get Invested
Seemingly contrary to the advice immediately preceding this bit is the advice to get invested in the game and the characters. You need to care about what happens for the obstacles and challenges that you face to have real meaning and tension. You need to build up the details about your species, your world and your background because the Games Master doesn’t have a huge amount of time for that. They can build off your work - as can the other players - and everyone has a better time as a whole because of it. You do need to give a damn and that just makes it all the more horrible/delicious when something bad happens to a character. If you care, the revenge will be even more sweet.