"I Quit" Public Play - Am I just an impatient jerk? (LONG)

[jasper]

Some of the following is typical in my xp. Below is my only xp with 4e.
Some old college buddys decided to return to our college on Saturday for lunch and to update each other on what is happening etc. That came off with out much of hassle.
Then Bill one of my long time players before life drew us apart invites me to 4e game at the local gaming store. No problem get the time, take the wife home. Go to store.

Bill is there and none of others gamers are there. Now I arrived about 5 minutes before game time and Bill had went straight from the lunch to the store. Over the course of 45 minutes the rest of group arrives. Much discussion on who is going to dm, what game system, and what module, etc. And other normal discussion on game systems what people are planing to do with their campaigns etc; these conversations were the most enjoyable of the day. I still wait.
1 hour and 8 minutes after game time I look at my watch. I announce that I going to the bathroom and in 5 minutes I walking out the door. I don't care what system I play. I don't care who dms. Just handle me a fighter type class and dice and I just wing it.
By the time I got out the bathroom, they had decided on the dm and system. 4E over Pathfinder. And still took over 20 minutes to decide on the published module and people to pull out pcs of the correct level.
I never did get an answer why if pc had played thru this module they could play thru again.
A little after 6 pm, I very bored and fed up. And to top this lack of time sense group, the dm states," come back on Friday at 7 and Sunday at 1. We generally start on time."
I fled the store. Now 4e maybe a great system. in fact this board has made sound better than what all the gamers at local game store make sound.
But I will not play with a group that disrescpects me and my game time. I have a job, wife, and other stuff to do. If your group can even park your rear in the chairs with a reasonable time. I don't want to play with you. I can go home and chase the wife around the house with the ice cream scooper.

 

[kitsune9]

DocSer,

All of these situations were quite unacceptable to some disagree. The only thing that I could say would be to recommend yourself to become a DM for a game session so that you can control the behavior by laying out the ground rules. Usually, if you go over a few basics with people (no cellphones, don't try to derail the adventure, play heroically, etc.), people get it and will try to play; otherwise for those who disagree can leave the table.

 

[Millerhero]

I stopped playing in Pathfinder Society for very similar reasons.

Dykstrav, please check your yahoo mail for my response to your post.

 

[nedjer]

A significant proportion of these problems are easily solved. Wait until the offending dude goes to the bathroom. Go in just after, give the guy a hearty slap on the back when he's at the urinal and say Mate! roundly. His head will spin to you, then - well - it's a good idea to take a step back just in case

 

[Kerranin]

Even if it is free, you still have a responsibility to the other people at the table, it is just common courtesy to inform the others at the table if you can't make it or will be running late. (unfortunately it is becoming less and less common)

If I arrived late, or without necessary materials, I would feel guilty and apologize to the others around the table.

 

[pauljathome]

I've recently started Pathfinder Society play here in Toronto and encountered almost none of these issues.

The games have sometimes been a little late in starting but they ARE scheduled for 6pm and traffic can often be bad and hard to predict. But other than that they've been well run decent modules with reasonable gamers (some newbies, some more experienced).

 

[IronWolf]

I think public play quality of games can vary greatly - as shown in this very thread. I haven't played in a game store since college. I just don't like it - plus these days the closest game store is much too far of a drive. Many of the stores seem crowded, the mix of people wide ranging - it just doesn't seem a fun atmosphere to me.

I do game at cons and I have a good time with that. I seem to have had the good fortune of getting good tables at cons. Sure there is the occasional person that I wouldn't go out of my way to game with, but they aren't annoying enough to me to ruin the experience.

I've done some Pathfinder Society Online VTT groups here and there and those have typically been quite fun. Each table I have played with that has been pretty successful.

The bulk of my gaming of course is with people I call friends. It just cuts down on the anxiety of playing the luck of the draw with regular public gaming.

 

[S'mon]

Even if it is free, you still have a responsibility to the other people at the table, it is just common courtesy to inform the others at the table if you can't make it or will be running late. (unfortunately it is becoming less and less common)

If I arrived late, or without necessary materials, I would feel guilty and apologize to the others around the table.

I can testify that to my recollection, in my years of gaming with him Kerranin has never once been late. Wish I could say the same about myself.

 

[occam]

Wow, I'm really taken aback at the awful experiences reported by the OP and others in this thread. I've had some of my own (some stores do seem to attract the kind of folks that would otherwise be confined to basements), but I've had very positive experiences otherwise. In the Seattle area, I've played in several D&D Game Days at one store (Gary's Games), played and then organized D&D Encounters for over a year at another (Uncle's Games in Bellevue), and a few weeks ago started playing D&D Encounters at a new store (Card Kingdom in Ballard). I've met a lot of great players, friendly and mature and considerate, and been encouraged by the influx of lots of kids excited to play D&D. Scheduling can be an issue (a perennial issue of mine at Uncle's, due to conflicting events and late-arriving players), but the games at Card Kingdom have been starting on time, and overall my experience has been fun, with very, very few bad eggs (and not really that bad even then). It's unfortunate that not everyone has the same opportunities to find a rewarding casual public gaming experience.

 

[Dedekind]

I always thought it would be nice to have a Code of Conduct for these sessions. It seems in the FLGS's best interest to post one, even if they can't really enforce it.

Player etiquette is really easy:
1) Show up on time.
2) Leave your phone in your pocket.
3) Be nice to everybody.
4) Help the new people.

DM etiquette includes all the above and:
5) Know the rules.
6) Apply the rules fairly.
7) Be prepared.
8) Make it fun for everybody.