I've written a one page patch for the new D&D Players Manual where I solve the problem of people's campaigns grinding to a halt because they can't schedule a game.
PDF is the link. Print it out. Stick it in your manuals. May work for other games too. #ttrpg #dnd
https://oldmenrunningtheworld.com/?p=304
PDF is the link. Print it out. Stick it in your manuals. May work for other games too. #ttrpg #dnd
https://oldmenrunningtheworld.com/?p=304
Comments
Its definitely a difficult balancing act. We've all had campaigns where 1 player always seems to have something come up, and the other 3-4 never then get to play. Perhaps 2 missing in a 5 player group is a cutoff?
if DM or 3+ Players couldn't show up, we'd do something else (play a oneshot, or a Jackbox game)
Not a clumsy cliffhanger.
BUT in the hidden compartment a hint of BIGGER TREASURE!
Then there is always the: "collect all the bits of an Artifact."
But in these sophisticated days you couldn't get away with that sort of corny plot.
MCU!
2. What’s worked well for us is having a backup casual game. We’re playing online, so if multiple people can’t make it we spend a few hours playing Rifftrax or similar. It’s been very helpful.
"Wait... Are we going to have to carry him this entire session?!"
[DM cackles, maniacally]
If someone can’t show up and whoever is DMing has enough advanced notice, they might prep a one-shot. But again, extra cognitive load.
I'm running a game for middle aged dads. We meet once a month. If you can't make it, your character goes into a little pocket dimension and will come back whenever you do. If everyone leveled up, so do you. Congrats, you're part of the team.
Nowadays I just want to play with my friends. If they can’t make it, I’ll do something else.
DM : “Bodhri? Nah, he fell off a roof”
Me :
Also saves on pointless backstories.
That said, I do totally understand that high jeopardy low level games are not for everyone.
There is however a Mûmakil in the room. Worse than people not being able to make sessions, is players flaking out on sessions at the last minute. It’s a sad slide in general etiquette that’s happened over time that seems to be correlated with the appearance of the mobile phone.
Back then, if a player missed a session they got no XP, choice of loot, or gold.
Once I had an encounter planned that slowly ballooned as more people said they were coming that night. It grew from “a hobgoblin patrol” to “… with ogres” to “… and a chimera” and it finally approached “…and Tiamat makes a cameo to reinforce her faithful”
granted, AL has some additional rule adaptations but I’m not sure how necessary those are to this working
- GM runs missing players characters as NPCs
- two cancelled sessions in a row prompts a discussion of the schedule