My Kid's Group called me out for being a bad DM

[JeffB]

We have been playing for 2 years, and in that time, I have tried several variations of the D&D rules, and variants. We started with the old black dragon 3.5, and quickly moved onto PFBB. After sveral months and nearing max levels, I ran a OD&D game in the OGB FR that was a huge hit, and that has been our go to game mostly since that time. But I have run several sessions of 4e (modded heavily by me to get rid of the grid) and 3.x, a couple C&C sessions, a one shot of s&w wb by the book , a DCC weekend game, and even a few sessions of NEXT. It was my intention to mix things up, and hone in on a best set of rules for them. Generally they have drifted back to OD&D variants.

But this past weekend, I pitched a Return to Sandpoint PFBB game with a Halloween theme, and they balked. Halloween was fine, but no desire to go back to the original characters, and rules. So I figured I would on the fly all the PFBB stats I had written up to OD&D .

They show up sunday, and my son says that they want to tell me something. OK?. We like our FR characters the best, and we like FR the best and we like the D&D game with the cards, and powers, and we want to stick with that for awhile. We want to go to much higher levels than we have, and no more changes to other D&Ds.

I felt like a complete ass. I was so bent on finding the perfect ruleset for them, I overlooked their desire to enjoy their characters, and the setting. I was really surprised they chose the edition they did. Had I been paying attention, I probably would not have been surprised. I apologized profusely for everything and felt horrible about their disappointment. I PROMISED them we would go down the road they wanted to, and hopefully their characters would live long enuff to reach higher levels i also told them that in our after session discussions, do NOT be afraid to let me know how they really feel.

So I ran the first two scenes of our Halloween game on the fly with the cards and powers game, and we all had a blast! Thanks to slyflourish, and quickleafs cheat sheets it worked great. Had some.great roleplay, investigation, and combat. After session everyone was positive, and could not wait to get to part 3, next session.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There is much to be said for campaign continuity. Its like a comfy sweatshirt you're going to break out for the fall weather...

 

[Iosue]

Um, isn't that the plan working as intended? It sounds like they found the best set of rules and campaign setting for them.

 

[D'karr]

They show up sunday, and my son says that they want to tell me something. OK?. We like our FR characters the best, and we like FR the best and we like the D&D game with the cards, and powers, and we want to stick with that for awhile. We want to go to much higher levels than we have, and no more changes to other D&Ds.

From the mouths of babes... LOL

I had a similar issue but with a particular campaign (overarching metaplot, sandbox, 3.x game). I kept asking the players if they were enjoying themselves, and they never said they were disappointed. When we stepped out of that campaign to do a one shot that was when they sprung the "surprise" that they were not enjoying X, Y & Z of the other game. It was a simple fix for me, I preferred the new stuff anyway, but players don't always tell you everything.

I like the new campaign much better, it's mostly player driven (no metaplot), sandbox (episodic), 4e game. They are really enjoying the freedom much more, and I'm enjoying the preparation time decrease a lot more.

 

[JeffB]

I did convert their characters from the OD&D game to 4e, and continued the game in the Realms. But we did jump around GH, Wilderlands, the known world, etc., with some other PCs.

At any rate, time to re-up the DDI sub.