Pathfinder 1E Should I kill off players who don't show?

[Naoki00_]

I'm the DM of a game that's been running for a good while now (going on 2 years), but recently there has been a huge issue in trying to run it lately, 2 of the players aren't showing up like they should. Now this apparently happens for a number of reasons, and despite them both saying how much they enjoy the game and want to meet, they keep having 'things' to do that for some reason take all day long to do on the one day of the week we meet. Since we only meet once a week, this has gone on for a months time, with them finally coming...only to have something else to do the next week.

Seeing as we all set this day aside specifically for game day I feel like it's hard to really be lenient, as because of how the game is currently set up we CAN'T player if they don't come, all the encounters and plot hooks I have are assuming all the players show. I can retool these of course but doing that every time and having to plan for both them coming and them not is wearing thin on my time and enthusiasm of running the game, and it's severely annoying the other players, who have suggested that we just move the game on without them and that if they don't show up again to have their character summarily dumped down a ravine or dragons mouth.

I'm not sure if this is the proper action, but as these players hardly even return my calls or messages I can't even talk to them about it reliably, and feel a little pressured into doing SOMETHING about it, is the suggestion the way to go or should I try something less drastic?

 

[Cadence]

Seeing as we all set this day aside specifically for game day I feel like it's hard to really be lenient, as because of how the game is currently set up we CAN'T player if they don't come, all the encounters and plot hooks I have are assuming all the players show.

Do you have enough players to go on without them?

If so, can you simply either NPC their characters or make them party-run characters when their actual players don't show? (Basically have them shamble along with the party until they're desperately needed, in which case either you or a rotating group of present players can roll for them).

That would save you the rewriting trouble more than killing the characters, wouldn't it?

 

[Ahnehnois]

Should I kill off players who don't show?

No. Killing players is against the law and is completely immoral.

I do not recommend killing their characters either.

 

[Naoki00_]

Do you have enough players to go on without them?

If so, can you simply either NPC them or make them party-run characters when their actual players don't show? (Basically have them shamble along with the party until they're desperately needed, in which case either you or a rotating group of present players can roll for them).

That would save you the rewriting trouble more than killing the characters, wouldn't it?

well yes and no, we have 4 players total, and part of the problem is that these are the player types that would get angry knowing we either left them behind a great deal, and they have their character sheets so we don't know their stats or such, so we can't really even 'fake' play them

 

[Naoki00_]

No. Killing players is against the law and is completely immoral.

I do not recommend killing their characters either.

this made me lol pretty hard

 

[Morrus]

Why do you have to kill the characters? If they don't show, can't you just carry on without them? I don't think "punishing" your players by killing their characters is ever a solution to anything. Just move on, keep playing, and if they show up their characters were off doing something else off-camera.

I personally try not to have plots dependent upon certain players being present. Especially if that's players who often can't make it. You need to tailor your game to your group, and if it's an unreliable group you can't really run a game that requires a reliable group. The campaign needs to be something a little more casual. Sucks, but there's not a lot to be done about it.

 

[Morrus]

well yes and no, we have 4 players total, and part of the problem is that these are the player types that would get angry knowing we either left them behind a great deal, and they have their character sheets so we don't know their stats or such, so we can't really even 'fake' play them

If they get angry because you play on when they repeatedly can't make it, the problem stops being a game issue and becomes a general douchebag issue. Let them know that you will play without them, and anger is not a socially acceptable response to that. This would apply to any social activity, not just gaming.

 

[willvr]

Eh.

Talk to them. See if it's possible they could dedicate it if it was less often. Lots of people can't dedicate one day every week; but fortnightly or monthly might work.

If you're insistent on it being weekly, is there anyone else in the area that you could lure in? If half the group says weekly is the way to go; the other half say it's fine but don't show, you have a problem of some sort.

 

[Quickleaf]

Don't try to kill their characters anymore than your try to kill any other PCS...that is regularly and with vigor

Lots of ways to handle no-shows. I would just bring it up next time you all meet (or group email I thats preferred) and say: "Look, I need to address a game issue. When you two don't show up to the game nights, it throws off my adventure planning and diminishes the effectiveness of your team. Do you guys want a more episodic play style where you can jump in or not depending on your availability? Or is something else going on that we need to clear the air about? Would twice a month be a more manageable schedule? I want the game to be fun for all of us, and when you two show up, it's great, it's just that gettin you to show up is like herding cats."

 

[Naoki00_]

Why do you have to kill the characters? If they don't show, can't you just carry on without them? I don't think "punishing" your players by killing their characters is ever a solution to anything. Just move on, keep playing, and if they show up their characters were off doing something else off-camera.

I personally try not to have plots dependent upon certain players being present. Especially if that's players who often can't make it. You need to tailor your game to your group, and if it's an unreliable group you can't really run a game that requires a reliable group. The campaign needs to be something a little more casual. Sucks, but there's not a lot to be done about it.

If they get angry because you play on when they repeatedly can't make it, the problem stops being a game issue and becomes a general douchebag issue. Let them know that you will play without them, and anger is not a socially acceptable response to that. This would apply to any social activity, not just gaming.

Well I brought this here because personally I don't feel like it might be the best idea, but with how this has become a trend and the other players are visibly upset by it and actually suggesting that they would like drastic action makes me at least want to think of something to do, it's only recently that they even did this, we've been running in this game for nearly 2 years and it's never happened, and it's winding done to the climax and the loss of any tension from having things on hold I think is their issue.

Eh.

Talk to them. See if it's possible they could dedicate it if it was less often. Lots of people can't dedicate one day every week; but fortnightly or monthly might work.

If you're insistent on it being weekly, is there anyone else in the area that you could lure in? If half the group says weekly is the way to go; the other half say it's fine but don't show, you have a problem of some sort.

Unfortunately this isn't really a game that people can just 'walk in on', since it's a world we as a group have made and expanded on as we've played, with a story that has advanced over a while. Honestly if it wasn't that they haven't shown up in so long and so infrequently I wouldn't mind, but it's quickly being problamatic