Hussar
Legend
The fundamental point remains the same, the DM has spent his money on a game that he and the other players want to play... your argument is that they shouldn't get to play what they want because one player (as opposed to the majority of the group) should be catered to when it comes to their specific preferences. Honestly even as a player vs. DM I wouldn't be cool with this.
Ahh, the old guild trip chestnut. I spent the money, I did the work, so you have to do what I want to do. It's my ball, so I get to make the rules? Yeah, no thanks.
Hey if the DM has the time and availability no one is suggesting this isn't a viable solution. That said many DM's don't have the time to participate and prep for multiple campaigns. And I'm sorry but if he doesn't why shouldn't he get to play the game he's really jonesing for... especially if everyone in the group except one player is also jonesing to play this specific game?
Because it's an incredibly douchey thing to do to eject a perfectly good player just because you want to run something? It's not like you HAVE to run this specific game.
Leisure time is limited and in this instance for some reason you seem to be asserting that the dissenting player's leisure time is somehow more valuable or more important than the DM's (and arguably the rest of the groups). Nope not buying it. You're claiming the DM doesn't have to run something he doesn't like but the truth is he doesn't get what he does like either and running a game that you are lukewarm about is in no way comparable to running something you are really excited and invested in.
Again, we're back to DM's who are apparently one trick ponies who can only run one game or one campaign and have no other ideas that they might like. I've never seen a DM worth his or her salt who didn't have three or four campaigns percolating in the back of their minds even when they're in the middle of a campaign, never minding at the beginning of a new one.
So if you never run anything except what caters to each of your players specific preferences... when does their adaptability or open mindedness come into play?
There's a difference between catering to specific preferences and not playing something you know someone HATES. Maybe it's because I don't, and never have, played with people who only have one taste and never deviate from that one thing. I couldn't imagine playing with someone like that.
Also to answer your question... yes. Two recent instances...
1. I have done an adult only game when I've wanted to run a game with more mature themes or subject matter that may not be appropriate for the younger members of our group (Most recently Unknown Armies). Do I do it often? Nope, have I done it before yep and I'm glad I did as it gave the adult members in the group a play experience that we wouldn't have been able to have if we felt obligated to only run games appropriate for the younger members in our group.
So, did you eject the younger members of the group from your regular game time or did you find a new time and continue to run for the larger group?
2. I have a single player who really doesn't like Shadow of the Demon Lord. He can't vocalize what it is he doesn't like about the game but he refuses to play it and I'm ok with that... that said I have invested in the game because I like it and enjoy running it and most of the others in our group have a ball when playing it... Am I a bad DM because every so often we do a SotDL campaign and the player who doesn't like it sits out? I don't think so and neither do my players or the one who sits it out. IMO he;s being mature and not setting his personal preferences above the groups fun.
You say, "every so often", so, I presume this isn't a regular thing? You haven't ejected the player from regular play? Or, did you tell this player, "Nope, sorry, for the next several months, you don't get to play with us".
There are degrees here.
I don't think it objectively makes you a good or bad DM... you're the one making this a black an white thing when IMO it's very much a gray area.
Whereas, I do. The group is more important to me than any given campaign. I value spending time with my friends more than being able to run some game that I like that I know Dave doesn't. It's all about priorities. My priority is always the group. For others, apparently, the priority is running a game and the group is secondary. I don't roll that way.