Advice needed: should I put my game on hold?

[scourger]

So, here's my dilemma in brief: should I put my 3.5 D&D game (with elements of other games mixed in) so that the ex-soldier can run a 1e game (so the lawyer can play)--when I know that I won't enjoy it as much?

Here's the long version. We're all friends to one degree or another. We all used to play together: me, the university-guy, the out-of town-guy, the road-builder, the lawyer, and the ex-soldier. After a series of trials & tribulations, the ex-soldier quit our group and the lawyer soon also quit. They are fast friends, and I think they just don't play well with others unless it's exactly what they want to play--their brand of D&D (whatever that is). Ironically, ex-soldier quit right after lawyer's D&D game ended because of unhappiness with that game. So much for commitment to the group. So, I offered the aforementioned hybrid 3.5 game to university-guy & road-builder. They accepted. Anyway, shortly thereafter computer-guy returned to the group (and has been there about 50% of the time). We also have out-of-town-guy pretty regularly. It's going great. But now, ex-soldier wants to run a 1e module for a few weeks before he leaves town; and he wants me to put my game on hold so that "everyone" can play. I think everyone would do it except for computer-guy because he's just not interested and has issues with ex-soldier & lawyer. University-guy and road-builder don't want me to take a break. I think out-of-town-guy is pretty ambivalent. The thing that really gets me is the nerve of it all. Here ex-soldier quits us and then wants to come back for his (and lawyer's) benefit and totally on his terms. So, should I put my game on hold or not?

Here's hoping for some good EN World advice!

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

If it's only for a few weeks, why not do both? Alternate games; everyone wins.

It sounds like you will resent it if you stop running your game entirely. So, don't.

 

[Crothian]

ya, intermix the games. That's a good suggestion that should benifit both groups.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

If he's going out of town for a long, long time then I'd let him. Last hurrahs and all that.

Otherwise Barendd Nobeard's idea sounds fine.

 

[DragonLancer]

I'd say no. Ex-soldier doesn't come across as caring about the group or the game, he just wants to run something and wants to use your group to do it. No commitment to your group in the first place.

Let him go find another group.

 

[IronWolf]

If your game is going great and you consider university-guy & road-builder as your core players, then I wouldn't put the game on hold since they have expressed interest in you continuing your current campaign. Ex-soldier and ex-lawyer left the game once from the sounds of it, so as you said, they have shown their level of commitment to the group - not much. If it were me I would take what your core, reliable players think very seriously as they are the ones that will most likely be around for the long term.

 

[pogre]

Is the ex-soldier still a friend? Is it a friendship you value? If yes, then step aside for a few weeks to allow him to run.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Just to toss out something diffrent than Barendd Nobeard, who's idea I really like, here goes:

Let the group vote... Winner takes the prize but you'll get the group back in a few weeks so enjoy.

 

[Breakdaddy]

Personally, I would do it. You might find yourself enjoying the return to 1e a lot more that you think. It's also a nice thing to do for your friends, even if they werent as nice to you when they left your group to strike out on their own.

 

[Darkness]

I think everyone would do it except for computer-guy because he's just not interested and has issues with ex-soldier & lawyer. University-guy and road-builder don't want me to take a break. I think out-of-town-guy is pretty ambivalent.

Three out of four of your current group don't want you to take a break, the fourth doesn't care either way, and you also don't think you'd enjoy it as much? Then don't take a break.