"Backup" Plans when DMs Flake

Michael Silverbane · Mar 1, 2007

My group has several games running concurrently, with different DMs. We switch games based on who is present, ready, and willing to run.

Later
silver

scourger · Mar 2, 2007

I tried to have back-up games. They usually ended badly. So now we most often just don't get together if the DM cancels. Our group is smaller now, too, which makes outright cancellation more likely. I hope your back-up game fares better. It sounds like fun.

sakkara · Mar 2, 2007

If the DM is gone, we cancel gaming.

If the host is gone, we cancel gaming.

If 2 or more players (we have 5) miss, we cancel gaming.

If 1 player misses, we continue, and he is an NPC under the control of another player they designate. The entire group chimes about the manner in which the PC is RP'd.

I am the current DM, and we've only cancelled 5 times since the campaign started in July, and this week was our 30th session!

Sakkara

Mark CMG · Mar 2, 2007

We will cancel sometimes but a couple of the guys are also boardgamers/wargamers, so we have some options along those lines that we sometimes pursue.

Graybeard · Mar 2, 2007

Our group has two backup campaigns/games. One guy runs a backup Savage Tide game and I have a backup campaign that I will run. We usually switch off on campaigns every few months anyway. That way no one gets stuck DMing all the time.

was · Mar 2, 2007

In our old group, we had a back-up campaign. In the new group, we just call it off. It's annoying.

Night Watchman · Mar 2, 2007

Usually, we just don't get together. But recently the other's have started up a Mutants and Masterminds game as an alternative. I don't play in that because I can't stand superhero games. So I guess that would mean that I don't get together with the rest of the group when our normal DM cancels.

Dragonbait · Mar 2, 2007

Depends on the group, and who is there. For some previously groups, we'd not get together. For my current group, we typically get together and play something else, hang out, or meet on WoW to play. There is always one person, though, that finds something else to do while everyone else is hanging out.