If you don't really see the members of your gaming group at any time other than when you get together for gaming, then it's astonishingly easy to lose track of what's happening in their personal lives. So before getting stuck into the game, you could spend a few rounds going around the table and telling people about all the cool things you've done since last time.

Best practice: Make sure everyone gets a turn, be wary for surprise situations, and don't forget to search for secret doors and treasure afterwards.

Transcript

C-3PO: Hey everyone! Great news! It worked! It worked!
C-3PO: Thanks for your help, Pete!
Luke: The monkeys? Where are they going?
C-3PO: They're looking for suitable zoos now, and will decide within a month.
GM: Wow, congratulations, Sally. That's an impressive outcome.
C-3PO: It'll be in the news tomorrow. Your blog might get a bunch of hits, Annie.
Leia: It already did. I was just telling the others, I got a job offer!
C-3PO: Whoa!
Leia: Doing video production for a start-up studio.
C-3PO: And Ben's got some good news as well!
Leia: Oh, wow! What?
Chewbacca: I, um... got a cactus.