Gaming group frustrations (venting)

[Emirikol]

Thanks, all, for your advice. I think the problem mentioned about the difficulty of designing adventures for small groups is a factor for why my DM wants a few more people.

Glad to help

One of my playes asked, "Can we get COHORTs?" It's funny, I hadn't thought about that. Now, I think Cohorts are a necessity for any group and the DM should keep the character sheet (in case somebody doesn't show up ) Any night that somebody doesn't show up, we'll rocket in the cohort to make it 6. Forget 'realism' he's going to go for firewood when necessary. That will keep the game alive and the players happy.

If you want to role-play him, fine, otherwise he's a red-shirt. The rule of the 'cohort' is that he must be expendable and instant. If you make him some crucial element to the campaign, you're just asking for trouble.

..
jh

 

[ForceUser]

Now, I think Cohorts are a necessity for any group and the DM should keep the character sheet (in case somebody doesn't show up )

In my experience, once you have six or more PCs in the group, having cohorts around becomes a real drag. The way we play, your character is still around and active even if you're late or can't make it. Generally speaking, as long as I have five or more PCs in my group, I don't allow cohorts or the Leadership feat. But I agree that they're handy when your party is very small.

 

[Emirikol]

In my experience, once you have six or more PCs in the group, having cohorts around becomes a real drag. The way we play, your character is still around and active even if you're late or can't make it. Generally speaking, as long as I have five or more PCs in my group, I don't allow cohorts or the Leadership feat. But I agree that they're handy when your party is very small.

Yea, we ditch the cohorts to a maximum number of characters to equal 6 (or a 7th if all players show up).

How do you guys handle if a player doesn't show up? Do you have an extra character sheet for him?

jh

 

[Sage]

I try to be an accomodating (sp?) DM, but I've booted people for being inconsiderate several times over the years.

No, accommodating is more like an extraordinary ability than a spell-like

Oh, and I share your opinion, but if these guys are your friends, it might be hard just to boot them.

Sage

 

[Emirikol]

Oh, and I share your opinion, but if these guys are your friends, it might be hard just to boot them.
Sage

Yes it was. I fired 2-3 of my 'old' friends because I realized one day that they were no longer the kind of people I wanted to hang out with. ...basically, I got out of the druggy, loser, pseudo-gamer, argumentative-powergamer culture and moved on with my life, while they stayed behind in their cigarette/pot smelling moldy trailerhouses and in-between jobs.

I've never been happier and my games have never been better.

jh


..