How do you end a game session?

[farscapesg1]

This was mentioned in the "punishing players" thread and I thought I would start another thread about it.

When the time comes that you have to call then end of the gaming session, how do you usually wrap things up?

For example, in our group when 6 o'clock comes the game comes to an end (give or take a few minutes). If we are in the middle of a dungeon then that is where we start the next session. Even if we are in the middle of a combat, if we know it is going to take another hour then we either leave the miniatures and stuff on the battlemat, or write notes so we can replace them at the next session. If possible, we will try to cut the session short by a few minutes to avoid ending it in the middle of a battle, but that isn't always an option.

I have played with a few groups that insist on continuing on until the combat ends or we get to a good stopping point. Unfortunately, that doesn't work when the wife is calling every 10 minutes to see when I am leaving and why it is taking so long So, now I try to avoid those groups.

What are other board member's opinions on the issue? Do you drop the session at the specified time? Do you keep playing until you have a good ending point, no matter how much longer it takes?

 

[Crothian]

we cut off around 10:30 or so. I watch the clock to make sure we don't enter a combat that will go long. And then I wither bring things to a conclusion or cliff hanger.

 

[DM_Jeff]

End Game

We end things at 10pm. Occassionally I'm off by a minute or two. We'll end anywhere except combat. No matter what is happening I always make sure to build some sort of suspense, and then click the icon for the "Dr. Who" theme on the old laptop to end out the session.

Post game discussion then ensues while I collect feedback and dole out XP's.

Admittedly, once or twice a year we'll get in over our heads with a nasty combat with no quick resoloution come stop time. Then one of my players, Cheryl, and I each whip out the digital camera and take a few different angle stills of the battlemat & miniatures to set up next time.

-DM Jeff

 

[Oryan77]

I can DM for days straight, so I just tell my players to let me know when anyone is ready to call it a night or else I just keep going. So we end when someone says, "Guys, it's late, do you think we can call it a night soon?"

The only time I ever suggest we call it a night is when:

1. I realize it's late and I'd like to stop at a certain point because I'd like to better prepare myself for the scenario for the next game.

2. I have gotten really annoyed by someone rules lawyering & arguing with me and I need to chill out.

3. A player is getting too drunk & is doing stupid things with his/her PC that they might regret when they're sober.

 

[DonTadow]

This was mentioned in the "punishing players" thread and I thought I would start another thread about it.

When the time comes that you have to call then end of the gaming session, how do you usually wrap things up?

For example, in our group when 6 o'clock comes the game comes to an end (give or take a few minutes). If we are in the middle of a dungeon then that is where we start the next session. Even if we are in the middle of a combat, if we know it is going to take another hour then we either leave the miniatures and stuff on the battlemat, or write notes so we can replace them at the next session. If possible, we will try to cut the session short by a few minutes to avoid ending it in the middle of a battle, but that isn't always an option.

I have played with a few groups that insist on continuing on until the combat ends or we get to a good stopping point. Unfortunately, that doesn't work when the wife is calling every 10 minutes to see when I am leaving and why it is taking so long So, now I try to avoid those groups.

What are other board member's opinions on the issue? Do you drop the session at the specified time? Do you keep playing until you have a good ending point, no matter how much longer it takes?

Our game has to end at 7 p.m. because two of our players babysitters are only played until then. I don't start wrapping up at 7 p.m., that would be crazy. I try to start wrapping up at about 6:30. If they are in combat, i take a hard look at the remaining hp and how the battle is going. If it's going to go long, I try to figure out a good breaking point for the combat, the introduction of a new villian, some envinromental action happening, a player getting a suddent message ect. If the combat looks one sided I"ll wrap it up and have the pcs start whaling away. I never want to end just after combat. I like to end after the combat room is searched and the revelation of something strange.

 

[Storm Raven]

I have played with a few groups that insist on continuing on until the combat ends or we get to a good stopping point. Unfortunately, that doesn't work when the wife is calling every 10 minutes to see when I am leaving and why it is taking so long

Your wife will start calling you every ten minutes to see if you have left yet? That sounds, well, unhealthy.

In any event, to get back on topic, we usually go until near 11:00, and find a good stopping point give or take a bit.

 

[farscapesg1]

3. A player is getting too drunk & is doing stupid things with his/her PC that they might regret when they're sober.

Hmm, I've never really thought about mixing DND with alcohol :\

Our group does enough stupid stuff without alcohol involved, it would be like throwing gasoline on a fire

 

[WayneLigon]

We normally stop around 11:30. If we're in the middle of a combat, we normally go on until it's done; nobody has people waiting up for them and even if they were, they'd know we occassionally run late. Usually we try to pace things so that doesn't happen; if it's 11:20 and a random encounter pops up at the last minute, I normally just ignore it or save it for later.

 

[farscapesg1]

Your wife will start calling you every ten minutes to see if you have left yet? That sounds, well, unhealthy.

In any event, to get back on topic, we usually go until near 11:00, and find a good stopping point give or take a bit.

Well, our game sessions run from 11 to 6, plus an hour driving each way, means that at best I've spent 9 hours of the weekend away. Since we both work (who doesn't in today's society), that means the weekends are the only time we really get to spend together. Figure in 8 hours sleep out of the day (it is probably more like 10 hours each day on the weekend), and that leaves what, 5-7 hours left in the day to spend with her. Also, if I am running really late, that means we can't catch the 7:30 movie or anything.

Of course, I could be exaggerating the "every 10 minutes" a little She has been known to call me twice in a 30 minute timespan, so I guess that averages 15.

 

[diaglo]

every session ends with the TPK.

you can read about it in the story hour in my sig.