New Player out of Nowhere!

[Flatus Maximus]

...who also happens to be my supervisor at work...

 

[Aeolius]

That's when you have the random orc that killed him shapechange back into a red dragon, smile and fly off.

Or a kobold kills him with a pitted dagger that is called "red dragon" because of all the rust.

 

[EnochSeven]

I have sent an e-mail to the player and will get to discuss the game with him before we play on Saturday. I'm happy that I got a new player because they are rare where I live. I don't want to rock the boat but it is my house and I have three small kids. Now I'm pretty sure that my friend (who also happens to be my supervisor at work) wouldn't invite some creep to my house, but still, I think asking me first would have been in order.

3 kids in your house? Yeah, you need to know who it is stepping through that door.

Gaming with your supervisor sounds terrible. I think I'd hate that, I hope your relationship with him is solid.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

The fact that the player doing this to you is your supervisor puts you in a difficult position. Did you tell your group that you wanted more players to join the game? If so then it is a little more understandable what your player has done. If not then I think it is a bit out of line.

The way I see it there is 1, possibly 2 people who have the final say in who can and can't join a game.

1. The DM. He's the one who has to put the most effort into the game. There may be many reasons why he doesn't want to add another player in. He may not be comfortable with adding more players beyond the current set-up. Maybe he's having enough trouble with the campaign as it is and doesn't want to work another player in to the plot. Whatever the reason may be, he should definitely be able to decide if someone can come into the game.

2. The person who's house the game is at. Other than the DM, I think this person also should gets a big say, if not an outright veto power, in who can and can't join the game. It is their house that the people will be coming in to after all.

The reasons for them not wanting someone in their house could be varied. They may be a big non-smoker and not want someone who is a chain smoker in the house. Maybe they don't feel comfortable with someone bringing a weapon in to their house (I don't know of anyone that does but I have read on the boards here and on RPG.net of several gamers who always carry a weapon with them). In the end it is their house and they should be able to decide who can and can't come in to it.

I think anyone can ask if another person can join the game, but they definitely shouldn't be able to tell the group that another person is joining. I think that even the DM who hosts the game at his house should check that bringing in another player is ok with the rest of the group. It is just the polite thing to do.

Olaf the Stout

 

[GSHamster]

Okay, I have two players in my game with room for two more. Suddenly out of the blue, one of my players fires me an e-mail saying "hey one of my buddies wants to join the group, here's his character he'll be there the next game" (which is this coming Saturday). Great, I have a new player.

I think you're over-reacting a bit. You say there's room for two more. Your players know this, and they know that your game would be better with an additional person. So when your current player found someone new, he grabbed the new person for your game.

Maybe you should consider trusting your friend's judgement. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it will work out.

 

[Edgewood]

Gaming with your supervisor sounds terrible. I think I'd hate that, I hope your relationship with him is solid.

Actually we were friends before he became my supervisor and we are very solid in that regard. Not an issue.

 

[Edgewood]

Maybe you should consider trusting your friend's judgement. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it will work out.

I trust his judgement just fine. My issue is that I could have been asked rather than told, that's all. Just a courtesy thing from my point of view considering we're playing at my house and I have three kids. I like to know who's coming to dinner, if you catch my drift. Also, I just like to meet with the player before the character is made, have some input, answer questions they may have and get to know the player a bit. I don't think that's asking too much.

As for whether my players knew there was room for more, of course they did. I'm glad I have third player! One more and I'll have a full crew!!

 

[Jdvn1]

Personally I reserve the right to include and exclude players entirely at my own preference. I've had enough of players trying power games on me, wanting me to chuck out somebody they don't like. And if a player annoys me enough I'll exclude him and I won't ask anyone's permission.

Obviously as a player I respect the GM's right to include and exclude players at their whim, likewise. It's very important that the GM be happy with the numbers, personalities, and other aspects of the group and that the players respect the GM's decisions.

Out of curiosity, do you (and others) view a game you GM as "my" game or "our" game? Assuming the other players aren't jerks (read: I enjoy playing with them), the opinions of the players should matter.

 

[S'mon]

Out of curiosity, do you (and others) view a game you GM as "my" game or "our" game? Assuming the other players aren't jerks (read: I enjoy playing with them), the opinions of the players should matter.

The game I GM is my game; of my players the game Mark GMs is Mark's game, the game Francis is about to GM is Francis' game, the game Judith GMs away from the Meetup is Judith's game, the intro game Steve GMs is Steve's game - most of my players are also GMs, with authority over their own games.

Edit: I'm about to finish up GMing and play in Mark's game for the next 3 months, so my poor abused players will have a chance to get their revenge.

 

[Piratecat]

I trust his judgment just fine. My issue is that I could have been asked rather than told, that's all. Just a courtesy thing from my point of view considering we're playing at my house and I have three kids.

I'm right there with you. The new guy could be the coolest, best player in the world, but it's polite to ask before inviting someone over to your house and into your campaign.

Jdvn1, Sagiro and I definitely refer to our campaigns as "our" games. We talk with the players before imposing any weird rules, because they're our friends and just as important to the game as we are, but the DM has final say when making decisions. I think that makes it authoritative (as opposed to authoritarian or consensus) decision-making.