The Agony of No-shows

[Anabstercorian]

So, it's game day, you've gotten yourself all riled up in preparation for the game, and then, oh, three out of five players don't show up. Only one of them calls to say he won't be making it.

How do YOU deal with this sort of let-down? Because it's made me grumpy.

 

[Nifft]

"B: Set a deadly trap."

-- N

What, there are other options?

 

[Morrus]

We tend to continue anyway, these days. We used to cancel the session, but it happens so often (I'm just as guilty as anyone else!), that we don't cancel unless the group is unfeasibly small. Just means the missing person misses out on some XP and treasure.

It's not a big deal, to be honest. We're all adults, we all have a lot going on in our lives, and if someone can't make it one week it's not an issue.

 

[reveal]

We get upset when it happens but we understand things come up and play anyway if we have enough people. Otherwise we just play board games.

However, I get extremely upset if people don't make any attempt to tell us they won't make it. With all of the avenues of communication available today (email, cell phone, pay phones, message board the group uses), I find it extremely rude to just let us sit around the table and wait for them to show up. If we're supposed to be adults, then act like it.

 

[TemplarSaint]

My table is rarely full. With my group, that can be a good thing, since "full" is currently ten PC's and the GM. And the table's made for eight. Plus, we have two people who have been guesting. My current campaign was designed specifically as a filler campaign for breaks in another player's campaign. I started everyone off in a military unit, Their squad are the Hextan Hammers, and when someone cannot make it, their sergeant just assigns the missing PC's to train new recruits. I have also designed the adventures to wrap in a night, so I don't have to worry about a PC making Part A but not Part B.

This definitely won't work for everyone's campaign, but it has worked very well so far for us.

 

[Dakkareth]

In our group we're only three most of the time, so usually the one who's the most likely to have something get in the way sends an email around and we decide whether or not we'll game and when each week. Of course, we're only so few because the two others can game maybe once a month and rarely on the same day .

 

[Nightchill]

Curious. If I have a player who no-shows a few times in a row without explanation I'll kick him out and get someone else in. I suppose, in this sense, I have the "luxury" of other players wanting to join (when I'm only willing to run for a maximum of 6 players). For all the time I invest in an adventure and in a campaign, punctuality is all I expect (and maybe a six-pack now and again...).

 

[IronWolf]

No show, no call? That would be apt to make me a little more upset I think. In today's day and age with email, instant messaging, message boards, land lines and cell phones it shouldn't be that hard for someone to communicate with at least the DM they won't be making it.

In our game we have had nights where folks can't make it. That's bound to happen on occasion. But in every case we generally knew well before hand who wasn't going to make it. At the very least we at least knew prior to game time.

 

[Aeson]

I have 7 players so if someone doesn't show we have enough. I try to play with who we have and if they die blame the no show

 

[Ashrum the Black]

I have five players, so if one person no shows then we continue on. If I have two no show then I will consider calling it a night. But for the most part folks act as adults and I know when folks aren't going to be there well in advance and we will either call the game or go the movies that night or something.

-Ashrum