Gaming group frustrations (venting)

[Theron]

Sympathies. Our current group gets to meet once a month if nothing goes wrong. Lately, things have been going wrong a lot. We're stuck in the middle of a plotline that would give our most problematic player a way to step out gracefully, and he can't even make the sessions to write his character out of the game. Our GM doesn't want to move forward without him, and at the rate things are progressing, the holidays are going to be upon us before we have a chance to play again.

On the bright side, I know (via the web) quite a few gamers in the Portland/Vancouver area. It might not be too hard to scare up reinforcements.

 

[AeroDm]

If you already play at your house, you could try starting up your own game (with you as the DM) with just the devoted players. Then you could play a non-hack fest campaign which is more conducive to smaller groups. As has already been said, a smaller group leads to a much more intensive RP experience as people are more intimate with the game.

It seemed to me that you implied you'd like more RP (or at least that you didn't like the hack-n-slash adventure) which could make this an excellent solution.

Of course, maybe you'd prefer not to DM at which point you'd have to sell the idea to a different DM.

 

[TracerBullet42]

.....Damn it's hard to find a good D&D group.....

Sorry for being smug...but reading this has just brought a smile to my face, and I am so grateful for the group I'm in. It's great.

 

[Elf Witch]

I feel for you because I am facing something similar with my group. We play on Sundays have been for several years. Last week DM goes out of town with wife who does npt support is gaming habit. We try and reschedule the game for a weekday that does not work out. BY Friday we have heard nothing from the DM so I IM him guess what between work and wife he has not had time to work on the game. Deep breath and I send out an e-mail informing everyone. Another player comes up with the idea that we play Game of Thrones and work on characters from Stargate a game that we are going to alternate with the DNd game with a diifferent DM to take the pressure off our current DM. He ask everyone to comment on avaiabilty. Saturday night comes and not a peep so I get pissy and send out a rather terse e-mail. I am labeled a nag and rude. Never mind all the times I have shown up and half the others haven't. Or turning down invations to do something else and then finding out at 3 in the morning the night before the game we are not playing.

AT this point I am thinking of walking out of the game. I don't know what else to do. I am tired of being told it is just a game and that this is SOP for gaming.

 

[Luddite]

The problem with playing with small (less then 4 players) groups is that most written adventures are geared for the "balanced" party of 4 PCs. Even the CR system makes the assumption of "One Fighter, One Rogue, One Wizard, One Cleric."

So creating a game for only two players and a DM, puts alot more work on the DM to prepare the game. Now, for those DMs that write their own campaigns and adventures, this extra work is negilable. But for those that rely on published materials, this means some noticable amount of work.

Of course with two players, you can have them each play two characters, but then you lose some of that "Player Connection" to the character.

-The Luddite

 

[Mercule]

The problem with playing with small (less then 4 players) groups is that most written adventures are geared for the "balanced" party of 4 PCs. Even the CR system makes the assumption of "One Fighter, One Rogue, One Wizard, One Cleric."

This can be a problem for larger, RP-oriented groups, too. I do not advise trying to go through RtToEE with a group comprised of: 1) a Thief-Acrobat, 2) a Duelist, 3) a Bard, 4) a Monk, 5) a Ranger, and 6) a Barbarian. The last two got swapped out a couple of times as those players lost interest in the game, and the Monk eventually changed to a Cleric, but our grave was already dug by then.

Add some friction in game styles (two players were heavy Gamists, the rest are Dramatists), and some lack of commitment and you wind up with a lot of burnout to spread around. Although we did get to hear the best excuse, ever, to leave a game: He's joining the priesthood and can't spare the time for the weekly game. I can totally respect that, it's just weird to actually hear it.

Anyway, we recently reformed the group by bringing in a couple of significant others. Now we've got three guys and three gals all with a similar commitment and thought process. The last couple of weeks have been good. Weird, but good.

 

[Luddite]

This can be a problem for larger, RP-oriented groups, too. I do not advise trying to go through RtToEE with a group comprised of: 1) a Thief-Acrobat, 2) a Duelist, 3) a Bard, 4) a Monk, 5) a Ranger, and 6) a Barbarian. The last two got swapped out a couple of times as those players lost interest in the game, and the Monk eventually changed to a Cleric, but our grave was already dug by then.

This is good point. So in reality, unless you are using the Iconic Party (Or very close to the Iconic Party) any published adventure is going to need some work. However, a larger group of people is less likely to have holes (like no Arcane Magic user) then smaller groups. Though in the above case everyone wanted to play some type of "rogue."

But then, whos plays with the Iconic Party?

-The Luddite

 

[Savage Wombat]

Player cooperation is so important in these situations. I have a player in my group who can't attend 50-60% of game sessions due to medical problems. But he doesn't want to give up his only regular gaming opportunity.

So his solution was to create a character for my new game that can come and go as the player does, and be easily run (or ignored) by the other PCs if they choose. Saves everyone a lot of grief.

 

[shadow]

Alas! I know the problem all too well! I've been unable to get involved in a good gaming group for a while. Part of the problem is lack of commited players. Let's face it, gaming is kind of a fringe hobby. Most people I know would rather go to the movies, bars, or some house party on the weekends rather than spending time gaming. Another problem is the just plain lack of time. Most gamers that I know are students or have a job and/or family commitments. It's harder to find time to game when you have so many other commitments.
#$@ I'm having a hard time finding a gaming group and live in a college town! (Most college students I know would rather get trashed on the weekends than spending time gaming! So much for the stereotype of the nerdy college gamers!)

 

[Elf Witch]

Alas! I know the problem all too well! I've been unable to get involved in a good gaming group for a while. Part of the problem is lack of commited players. Let's face it, gaming is kind of a fringe hobby. Most people I know would rather go to the movies, bars, or some house party on the weekends rather than spending time gaming. Another problem is the just plain lack of time. Most gamers that I know are students or have a job and/or family commitments. It's harder to find time to game when you have so many other commitments.
#$@ I'm having a hard time finding a gaming group and live in a college town! (Most college students I know would rather get trashed on the weekends than spending time gaming! So much for the stereotype of the nerdy college gamers!)

Commitment is a problem. I don't think it is fair that some people are willing to show up and other are not and if you complain about it you are told relax it is just a game. Yes it is just a game but it is hard to play if you have players that don't show up role playing is not the same as a board game.

It also takes time to DM and I think a wise DM knows how much time he needs to prepare and how good he is at running the game on the fly. And he needs to be honest with his players and himself maybe he can only run twice a month it is crazy then to try and run every week. That is one of the big problems with my DM he is not good at running on the fly and real life interfers with his prep time but he does not open his mouth and say anything.