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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5450922" data-attributes="member: 92511">To answer your initial question: "How much players be expected to bring to the table?"The short answer? Preferably/Ideally? LOTS! The slightly longer answer? If they are not bringing anything to the table then why are they playing? Or put another way, the game can only ever be as good as those playing (and that includes the DM) make it. That is the nature of the RPG-You're playing to have fun. Everyone has a responsibility to the others at the table to contribute to that fun.In the case of your wife, I understand (and have gamed with plenty of people where this is the case) the social element. She's there to join in an activity/interest with you/together...If that's all she needs to get something out of the game, then that's all she can be expected to bring. Because that's all she needs to be having a good time there.As to the other player who 'isn't getting anything out of the game anymore', then what is it he would LIKE to get out of the game? And how can you, as the DM, provide that? And his fellow players as well!This is a group activity. Working things out between DM and single player in a scenario like this, really isn't the way to go, IMHO. The player needs to discuss things with his fellow players, as well as you...especially if his reasonfor his current opinion is the other players not pulling their RPing weight.And if you, as the DM, are not getting much out of the game at the moment, then I'll echo the recommendation to talk to your players about it.The REAL question is not how much can the players be expected to bring, but how much is EVERYONE (including the DM) expected to bring to the table? Everyone at the table has a role and responsibility to make the gaming experience as a whole as enjoyable as possible for all involved.I am...distracted by curiosity as to what happened in your game at the beginning of Dec? How did the last session these MIA players were in end? Why/how did these two other players just disappear?If you can get an answer to that (and again, an open dialogue of expectation for the game) maybe they will come back...your friend won't feel like he's pulling "the dead weight", he'll be happy...and perhaps, the less active gamers at the table will "Step up" their game.Bottom line though, a point blank discussion, Note:"discussion" not "argument" or accusations or rude or anything. Just open, honest discussion with everyone at the table about what they  (and YOU) WANT out of the game and what, perhaps mistakenly, each person is expecting out of the others (including the DM).If passively rolling dice is enough for some players who are just there for the social time, coupla beers and laughs, to have a good time...well...then there's little you can do except voice your expectations for engaged players.</blockquote>

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